"Objects in Space" - if Space Ships were Nuclear Submarines

Bryll · 07-01-15, 06:16 PM

So, I debated whether to put this here or under 'projects', but in almost every way I think it makes more sense to post here. (But I won't be irked if a Mod moves it)

So, I've been a long-time SubSim lurker, player and gamer. And also a coder.

Three years ago I began a game development studio with my brother, and I've been toying with building a sub sim for most of that time. The result, just announced, is something very different, but that I think will interest quite a few folks here:

Objects in Space is not a sub-sim, technically - it's a space trading game. But instead of flying around with a joystick, every part of this game is built around modern nuclear submarines. It's even in 2D, with nebulas and asteroid fields providing some break-up to the environment.

Aesthetically, we've borrowed heavily from the cold war submarines we've visited at museums, but with what we're calling a sort of 1980s "modem-punk" style.

It looks like this:

The interior of the ships are 3D-modelled, but I've built a virtual screen system so I can render shiny, submarine-like 2D control systems on each screen. They're a sort of half-way between 688(i) and the interior of the Russian space craft from 2010: The Year We Make Contact.

The main mechanics involve stealth, emissions control and plotting a solution on enemies (or just avoiding them).

Unlike sub sims, I could make this a lot more configurable than a real sub would be, so your ships are fully customisable. You can yank out one system and replace it for another, and even define which systems you want on or off during EMCON mode.

Anyway, I'm hoping some of you are interested. It's just been announced, and it's in alpha now, and I'd love to hear what those of you who share my love of submarines think of the idea!

You can read more at the game's web site, but please post me questions here if you've got any!

http://www.objectsgame.com/

Rohan Harris
Flat Earth Games
Sydney, Australia

ikalugin · 07-02-15, 03:04 AM

Looks great!

Bedndarc · 07-03-15, 01:06 AM

The picture is impressive. You do not want to record video?

Bryll · 07-09-15, 07:46 AM

Thanks! Video is coming, but we wanted to make sure we could show a full combat encounter, and we're still putting sound in place too, so we wanted to fix that up a bit first.

Bedndarc · 07-09-15, 01:34 PM

Well, I'll wait

Bryll · 11-07-15, 03:52 PM

The gameplay video is out! It's an early combat alpha, but you will clearly see where we've taken heavy inspiration from submarine warfare.

In fact, it's only going to get more subsim-like as we work on it. Sensors suites are next!

Julhelm · 11-07-15, 06:18 PM

Looks very interesting but I'm not a fan of the overly pixelated graphics.

Lightningy · 11-09-15, 01:04 PM

Looks amazing

ChristopherTarana · 02-15-17, 10:42 AM

I like it! It reminds me of a cross between Red Storm Rising and Echelon! I have designed addons for Orbiter Space Flight Simulator, and I can appreciate the work needed! Orbiter is another excellent platform for saying "What if"? I can see some of the ships I did being used like modern subs. Another author did a version of Capt Nemo's Nautilus for Orbiter.

Thanks!

Christopher Tarana

pitti · 06-06-18, 11:50 AM

I've got a Beta-key. The game is very exciting. Great Sounds, great Story and a very good atmosphere. It is one of the games I'm looking for.

Giesemaschine · 07-20-18, 12:25 PM

This looks awesome!

auricom · 07-27-18, 03:26 PM

Have been playing the early access version for a few weeks now.

Can confirm it is a lot of fun, and very very submarinie .. Simple, but 'simmy'

If you like spaceships, and submarines.. This one is for you. Seems to be going good places. Developers have been very active patching bugs leading to the full release.

Game is fairly challenging too, not a cakewalk and pretty open ended.. You can ignore the story and just go mission around, or hunt pirates, or hunt the good guys.. Exploration, salvage -- there is a lot here.

07-01-15, 06:16 PM	#1
Bryll Watch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	"Objects in Space" - if Space Ships were Nuclear Submarines So, I debated whether to put this here or under 'projects', but in almost every way I think it makes more sense to post here. (But I won't be irked if a Mod moves it) So, I've been a long-time SubSim lurker, player and gamer. And also a coder. Three years ago I began a game development studio with my brother, and I've been toying with building a sub sim for most of that time. The result, just announced, is something very different, but that I think will interest quite a few folks here: Objects in Space is not a sub-sim, technically - it's a space trading game. But instead of flying around with a joystick, every part of this game is built around modern nuclear submarines. It's even in 2D, with nebulas and asteroid fields providing some break-up to the environment. Aesthetically, we've borrowed heavily from the cold war submarines we've visited at museums, but with what we're calling a sort of 1980s "modem-punk" style. It looks like this: The interior of the ships are 3D-modelled, but I've built a virtual screen system so I can render shiny, submarine-like 2D control systems on each screen. They're a sort of half-way between 688(i) and the interior of the Russian space craft from 2010: The Year We Make Contact. The main mechanics involve stealth, emissions control and plotting a solution on enemies (or just avoiding them). Unlike sub sims, I could make this a lot more configurable than a real sub would be, so your ships are fully customisable. You can yank out one system and replace it for another, and even define which systems you want on or off during EMCON mode. Anyway, I'm hoping some of you are interested. It's just been announced, and it's in alpha now, and I'd love to hear what those of you who share my love of submarines think of the idea! You can read more at the game's web site, but please post me questions here if you've got any! http://www.objectsgame.com/ Rohan Harris Flat Earth Games Sydney, Australia

07-02-15, 03:04 AM	#2
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Looks great! __________________ Grumpy as always.

02-15-17, 10:42 AM	#9
ChristopherTarana 中国水兵 Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 280 Downloads: 190 Uploads: 0	Subs in Space I like it! It reminds me of a cross between Red Storm Rising and Echelon! I have designed addons for Orbiter Space Flight Simulator, and I can appreciate the work needed! Orbiter is another excellent platform for saying "What if"? I can see some of the ships I did being used like modern subs. Another author did a version of Capt Nemo's Nautilus for Orbiter. Thanks! Christopher Tarana

07-03-15, 01:06 AM	#3
Bedndarc Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Russia - Astrakhan Posts: 43 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The picture is impressive. You do not want to record video?

07-09-15, 07:46 AM	#4
Bryll Watch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Thanks! Video is coming, but we wanted to make sure we could show a full combat encounter, and we're still putting sound in place too, so we wanted to fix that up a bit first.

07-09-15, 01:34 PM	#5
Bedndarc Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Russia - Astrakhan Posts: 43 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well, I'll wait

11-07-15, 03:52 PM	#6
Bryll Watch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The gameplay video is out! It's an early combat alpha, but you will clearly see where we've taken heavy inspiration from submarine warfare. In fact, it's only going to get more subsim-like as we work on it. Sensors suites are next!

11-07-15, 06:18 PM	#7
Julhelm Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Icy North Posts: 692 Downloads: 189 Uploads: 0	Looks very interesting but I'm not a fan of the overly pixelated graphics.

11-09-15, 01:04 PM	#8
Lightningy Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks amazing

06-06-18, 11:50 AM	#10
pitti Seaman Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Posts: 37 Downloads: 802 Uploads: 0	I've got a Beta-key. The game is very exciting. Great Sounds, great Story and a very good atmosphere. It is one of the games I'm looking for.

07-20-18, 12:25 PM	#11
Giesemaschine Bosun Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 62 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 0	This looks awesome!

07-27-18, 03:26 PM	#12
auricom Mate Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Have been playing the early access version for a few weeks now. Can confirm it is a lot of fun, and very very submarinie .. Simple, but 'simmy' If you like spaceships, and submarines.. This one is for you. Seems to be going good places. Developers have been very active patching bugs leading to the full release. Game is fairly challenging too, not a cakewalk and pretty open ended.. You can ignore the story and just go mission around, or hunt pirates, or hunt the good guys.. Exploration, salvage -- there is a lot here.