We did plan to get this update out sooner, but we fell into the trap of "let's just add this one last thing." Before we knew it, Kevin and Pedro had completely redesigned the Droo Space Center with a new raised launch pad, sixteen hangars, new runways, taxiways, a vehicle assembly building, dock, and a bunch of other new stuff. Planet Studio has been retooled to allow building up structures using a hierarchy of sub-structures so now you can customize and build your own bases on your planets. It's completely changed the feel of the game. I no longer have a compelling desire to blast off and leave Droo. Now I kinda want to hang out close to the ground and check out all of the nooks and crannies, of which there are plenty now.
Here are the highlights from the update:
- Planet Studio for Windows/Mac
- Added 20 new celestial bodies:
- Completely redesigned Droo, Cylero, Luna, Tydos, Urados, and Juno
- Added two new planets: Vulco and Sergeaa
- Added eleven new moons
- Added one new comet
- Added new runways, buildings, and launchpad.
- Added new gauge part.
- Added new launch steam visual effects.
- Added Screen Space Ambient Occlusion.
- Atmospheres now render in the main menu, map-view, and planet studio.
- Allow targeting launch sites during flight
Pedro has been insanely busy in Planet Studio working on new planets. He's completely redesigned the existing five planets and then added two additional planets, eleven new moons, and a controversially named comet. Pedro has an extraordinary eye for detail and the new planets really show it. They are packed full of details and it will breathe new life into your explorations.
Here's a before/after comparison of the original five stock planets.
The two new planets, Vulco and Sergeaa. Vulco is a tidally locked ball of very dark rock completely melted in the face pointing at Juno. The danger of the hot lava and its pitch black dark side makes this planet a very mysterious place to explore.
The second planet, Sergeaa, has a very rough surface that goes from huge volcanoes to gigantic lava lakes. It's covered in very dense green clouds, with an atmosphere so dense that traveling across its surface won't be a trivial task.
Our tilted gas giant isn't alone anymore in his journey through space:
Jastrus is a small ice moon sitting inside the last gap in Urados' rings.
Boreas is a much bigger ice moon covered in craters and very long cracks that run from pole to pole.
Taurus is a rocky moon with a very thick atmosphere. Its rough surface is home to some really large methane lakes.
Hypatchion is a very old ice and rock moon, and although the looks may point at it, it's not pumice, it's just covered in thousands of craters.
Check out the SRC Discord server and you can find more sneak peeks under the #updates channel. Or, just grab the new update and see them firsthand.
The full release notes are here.