First updates for the demo!
The Fortified Space demo is now out in the world, and I couldn’t have hoped for a more successful launch! My deepest thanks to all of you who picked up the demo and gave the game a try so far. The increase in wishlist numbers for the full game has been mind-boggling as well, and I’m certainly more motivated than ever to continue building and improving on Fortified Space. I never thought this game would get the amount of positive attention that it has so far.
One of the things I’ve loved the most about this demo launch is hearing all the new ideas that you have, whether it is quality-of-life improvements or thoughts on where the game should go in the future. Someone even suggested adding in planet colonization and civilization building. Look, at this point in development, technically anything is possible, although some ideas might take longer to implement than others! Anyway, I’ve been listening and taking lots of notes. To that end, I’m happy to announce the following initial updates to the demo, based on player feedback:
Improving ship handling and flight mechanics: You know, I wasn’t that surprised to hear that some of you ended up spinning uncontrollably into deep space on your first playthroughs. Your ship can have a bit of a kick! To improve how your ship handles, I added a speed limit where previously there was technically none. Hopefully, it will feel more like you’re piloting a starship and less like you’re flying a runaway horse!
Ship shields and incoming missile tracking: Those missiles really sneak up on you, don’t they? Don’t worry, I hear you! To enhance the ship-to-ship combat experience, I’ve added energy shields to your ship that automatically activate in the presence of an enemy vessel. These shields auto-rotate to face the closest missile, and can absorb two hits before failing. This way, not only will you be better protected, but you’ll also know which direction incoming missiles are coming from. Just watch where your shield faces and you’ll know where to aim your defense turret. I also slightly lowered the speed of the missiles at normal difficulty to make it a more enjoyable fight.
Steam Achievements: I added several Steam Achievements for you to collect in-game! See if you can unlock them all. Hopefully, in the process, you’ll get a fuller demo experience.
Improved Farming Instructions: I added better prompts to guide you through the hydroponic farming process. There is also now a pop-up showing growth progress, so you don’t have to keep going back to the controls to check! Hopefully this makes it easier to do other activities while you wait for your plants to mature.
I’m very excited to keep building and improving as more of you continue to play the Fortified Space demo. I want to make sure the game is the best it can be, and all of you are such an important part of that. Thanks for being here, and I hope you’re having fun!
Nightsail Game Studios