2015 is slowly coming to a well deserved end, and here I am, providing you with a few final stats before the year ends. Sirius Onlines Development Process turned 16 years on 3rd Oct. Old enough that the oldest part of the source is now allowed to legally drink beer in germany.
The Recap
That the oldest part of the source is, you may ask? The creation of the 3D Window Environment, back when Sirius was an 800x600 window without mouse support and called NeOCracy and Starradon Online. I have posted a video of the first available Versions here on youtube and I still feel a bit violated having played that, and actually though of it being a marvel of software engineering.
Nonetheless, back to the current year. I tried to port Sirius over to Unity early this year, but Unity proved to be incompatible or unwilling to use certain technologies needed to support this game. Demoralized I stopped for a few months, tried to sell the franchise, made a spinoff game which never launched because said spinoff evolved to a LAN play prototype by accident.
Back on track I added stuff and asked people to test it over LAN, and as my communication skills linger around somewhere between anxiety and feeling spammy to even ask people about the game, I rented a server to test multiple clients on it and play locally.
This kicked off Sirius Online itself, as I called it PRELUDE before, thinking off making enough from prelude to create a decent paid team to make Online happen. But, as you read this... times have changed. By sheer sudden moment of mental insanity, I posted the demo in a few places and got contacted by Dan, my current (and hopefully for a real long time) publisher.
We worked out a bit of paperwork, and Sirius launched onto Greenlight. WIth a few nudges and actual hard work, Sirius got accepted to Steam in 24 Days, and started on Steam itself on 1st June. You won't believe how much work it is to set up all the Steam stuff. Sirius had been in the BIAB Bundle on Groupees before, and the earnings helped in giving the game new Ships, Decent Stations and a more stable server.
As some of you reviewers pointed out, the game didn't bode well at the start. Missing Content, Long term incentives missing, only one ship really usable. All that changed over time. I added global quests, more ships, more space, more content, new features, leveling, and a ton more. Recently Sirius saw the addition of a new market, which is WAY more accessible, a new player list, AI NPCs to shoot at, tweaks to leveling, shared loot and is currently getting the last refinements on some secret christmas surprise update. A heartfelt thanks to all the commenters on the forums, the mails, the helpful reviews, the creative nicknames I encountered online and the people supporting me in general.
The Tournament
End of 2015 there was the first annual tournament. Sadly only three players turned up, but nonetheless, fun was had. The next tournament is scheduled to be in May or June next year, with the hope for more players turning up.
The Giveaway
To celebrate the end of the year 2015 and Sirius' return to mostly positive ratings, I am going to giveaway some stuff. I will hide some questions in forum posts and answers in the coming week and the first one to inbox me the Answer to the question to the support mail address will receive a game of my choice and a Sirius Online Buddy Steam key.
The Future
I am preparing the secret Xmas update currently, introducing new elements like event-based location opening, new story locations, maybe a new tutorial, and fast moving stuff you might know after recent scientific real world event involving a shirt full of scarcely dressed women, a 67/P and a fascinating tone.
In the meantime I am preparing the launch of TWO more games. The first one called Super Space Pug is currently playable for free on [url]hs.playsirius.com[/url] with placeholder graphics and in an unfinished prototype. The Other Game I will announce between Jan and Feb 2016 and is an equally ambitious game to Sirius, just more... land based.
The Stats
In the entire online time of the Server since 01.06.2015 (or 06/01/15 in American) Sirius has achieved the following:
- Global Quests completed: 493
- Ore m³ mined total: 6.240.090 m³
- Money earned: 952.663.145 Cr.
- Players Killed in PVP: 15.630
- Player Logons total: 7.860
- Levels Gained in total: 19.254
- Belts Discovered total: 12.315
- No Name Trap Card Triggered: 655 times
- Players killed by AI total: 1.291
- Most Players online at the Same Time (CCU): 29
These are values that actually amaze me as a person. Since I have started livestreaming development, more and more people got involved into the game and kinda attached.
The Stig Conclusion
I am proud of having a community thats supportive, and yet realistic about whats possible and what not. Sirius has seen heights and depths, same as me and I am pretty thrilled for what 2016 will bring... so lets just say:
ONWARDS TO 2016!