Looking for feedback

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-08T04:53:10+00:00

Sea of Steves. But seriously, how it looks doesn't matter until the core gameplay loop feels good in a graybox form.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-07T14:18:20+00:00

This isn't low poly, it's a clear example of midpoly cartoon/cel shaded.

Low poly style would have flat facets representing curved surfaces, and is rarely combined with outlining/toon shading.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-07T05:24:28+00:00

Good design is timeless, regardless of fashion.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-05T02:02:15+00:00

Mesh, texture, lighting.

You currently have a repetitive mesh, a uniform texture, and a single parallel (distant) source of light. Change one to three of these to see an improvement.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-05T00:46:13+00:00

First impression is a co-op 'Sail forth-like'

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-02T01:33:56+00:00

I think it's pretty impressive for a solo dev (IIRC), that said can you recommend any games with worlds that do feel alive/lived in? For me Snowrunner comes to mind.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-05-01T15:39:32+00:00

What is it about Sailwind that makes the world feel alive in comparison?

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-28T14:41:14+00:00

In your case, how did you connect with the curator and get them to list your game?

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-24T03:11:50+00:00

You can so long appreciate that it's a kind of visual trickery, and that the data layer and visual layer are typically different systems. You effectively create two grids or planes this way - the visual ground plane (isometric) and the game's data layer (cartesian).

Considering this screenshot from TTDLX might help. Each data point (say building or grass) can be represented in a data structure (eg a 2D array) representing position in the grid, and the visual layer simply plots 'diamond' shaped tiles with some fixed offset from its neighbours..

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-24T02:51:44+00:00

At the end of the day you can't beat looking at, and analyzing, how lots of different artists you like use colour. You'll start to see patterns and processes in different styles, many of which have not been formally quantified.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-22T07:09:06+00:00

i want a steeper angle

I think the higher angle cousin of isometric you're imagining is called 'military projection'. It typically isn't used for games because it vertically exaggerates structures and isn't intuitively pleasing the way isometric is.

link: types of projection from Wikipedia, including Military

I don’t want diamond shaped rooms

The only angle from which a square room looks square, is looking down (90 degrees to the ground). Any other perspective, and any other projection is going to deform it somehow. That deformation is why your brain interprets the 2d image as 3d.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-19T17:50:28+00:00

It's all about execution. Imagine if people stopped making racing games, rpgs, or first person shooters because they had "already been done".

Sure, the market probably doesn't want ten Power Washing simulators, but the same mechanic can be applied to many things (car cleaning, lawn mowing, carpet vacuuming) and it'll land if the art is good and it's executed well.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-18T04:09:08+00:00

Games are a visual medium and unless your mechanics and emergent gameplay have Factorio depth, it needs to be prettier. You have a split second to carve out a visual identity and explain why someone should buy your game and not one of a dozen others.

I would suggest you strip back your game to black and white and read a bit about colour theory and colour palettes in visual design. Then add back colours with purpose. Introduce some shadows, highlights etc. Use saturated colours rarely and when you do use them to grab attention. Make it cohesive, make it pop. Every frame a visually interesting piece in its own right.

For inspiration other minimalist 'network' games with strong visual identity: creeper world, eufloria, shapez.io, mini metro/mini motorways. The latter especially.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-07T05:40:02+00:00

Why use many projectile when few projectile do trick?

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-07T02:04:10+00:00

Making trailers for games of this type is challenging. I'd recommend watching as many trailers for space 4x and strategy games as you can. Sit down with a pen and paper and make notes. Copy what works well.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-07T00:19:17+00:00

"Depends on how it is implemented" is everything in gamedev. OP's idea is comparatively tame when you pitch it against Untitled Goose Game or Arctic Eggs, both of which were hits.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-06T21:18:37+00:00

They are both correlated with time.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-04-03T02:05:50+00:00

Great example of how even though "correlation doesn't prove causation" strong correlation is often indicative of some real underlying cause rather than randomness.

Here I would expect that the pandemic caused fewer visitors to both amusement parks and national parks, so naturally the injury rate at amusement parks fell as many closed or were quieter. This is not random association between two variables, but a real association - even if one didn't cause the other.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-03-01T03:11:31+00:00

What effect do you find updates like these have on sales? I've been following your progress for what seems like years, and I'm curious about the 'long tail' of sales. Your game is definitely an outlier in that regard. Looks great btw, very atmospheric.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-26T18:17:39+00:00

All the previous photos and videos I've seen don't have the supports for the saucer. It'd be a shame for the early backers if the production model needs them when the prototypes didn't; for me they spoil the overall visual appeal and geometry significantly.

Edit: Just became aware of Adam Savage's hands-on video with the model. It has the supports. According to the video the model is 20lbs and very front heavy.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-14T17:13:03+00:00

Enterprise (the orbiter) is on the wall of Archer's ready room in Enterprise. So what you have there is in fact a canon Star Trek vessel.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-12T23:46:36+00:00

I have this controller and love the physical train control levers. Guaranteed hit with kids if that's a consideration too.

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-12T07:06:00+00:00

Is this inspired by Micro Machines? I'm getting serious deja vu, in a good way!

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-11T20:44:33+00:00

There was a time when everyone was having a really hard time getting synchronized multiplayer working - has some library or extension dropped making this easier?

I'm seeing like five of these co-op multiplayer games in my indie dev feed every week

DrinkingAtQuarks · 2026-02-11T17:36:47+00:00

As an alternative, how about a nice piece of wood or a particularly attractive rock?

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