Greetings space explorers!
I always said overhauling the user interface would take a long time. I wasn't wrong. It's been 6 months, and it's not done yet.
But I'm tired of working in isolation, so I'm letting you try out the new controls.
Big Changes in the Beta Branch
- Freely zoomable map: your ship or away team are always in the middle of the action (and the screen), with readouts and controls around the edges
- Every screen is new: Most screens (officers, inventory, etc) are complete, but some aren't. You'll also get to see some totally new stuff, like the "diplomacy" screen and exciting new "herbarium".
- New character creator: customize your captain's appearance to your heart's content. Or randomize it and get on with your life. But I think this will be a fun time-sink for a lot of you ;)
- New warp screen: unlimited range (ok, 99 sectors!) with bigger readouts and a little "you are here" marker on the galaxy map. Sectors even have names!
- New death screen: (and victory screen too), with tracking of your personal "bests" in many stats, allowing you to track your progress across games.
- Improved keyboard handling: much of the information that you used to have to use mouse tooltips for is now just *there* on the screen. There are also some newly added keyboard commands, and almost everything is customizable.
- More settings: Unlock the frame-rate, change the size of your messages or whether things are displayed as icons or buttons or not at all. Automate processes. Control!
- Better Tooltips: You'll get more information, presented in a better-looking more organized fashion.
What's Not Done?
- Crafting: This will be the next big project, and it will be a complete rework of the crafting system giving you much better control of what you get.
- Asteroid Base Rooms: Just isn't done yet, but it will be.
- NPC Dialogue: Needs work.
- A few other things here and there: I'll get to it.
CLASSIC UI OPTION
We plan to include a "classic UI" option that uses the same basic layout as the current game, with the map on the left and all the UI on the right. But I need to get all the new stuff working before I can do that. But here's a mockup:
Plotting The Course To 2.0
The UI Overhaul is only the first step in the final push to version 2.0 and full release, but it is a BIG DEAL, and once that is done, I'll move on the reworking crafting and then what? Check the Star Map:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/551620/view/3714965613418825879
Put In A Good Word
If you're enjoying Approaching Infinity, please consider giving it a positive review on Steam. It really helps!