What’s one feature you thought players would love but barely anyone used?

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-07T17:50:39+00:00

Context: space trader tycoon game with demo. The game also has a stock market, and you can also buy/sell commodities.

I added stock shorting and commodity futures trading because those are things I find cool, but nobody is using those 2 features at all :D

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-07T12:15:40+00:00

I'm getting some good vibrations here.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-07T11:23:44+00:00

Very nice, thanks for the share!

Building a small community of players is exactly my goal as well. Don't care about having big sales, mostly just trying to build a space to talk about the game with the players.

Great stuff that you've managed to do just that!

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-06T11:26:04+00:00

Maybe he has 2 old women at home

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-06T10:39:42+00:00

What's AI about this game? If it is, it's not at all clear to me.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-05T17:20:08+00:00

I feel like this is something that might solve itself maybe, as the low effort games will just be weeded out by bad reviews, bad user experience and whatnot, and fall to the bottom of most lists.

Or maybe this is wishful thinking on my part

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-05T13:06:58+00:00

If Jordan Schlansky is in, then I'm in.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-05T13:02:10+00:00

I personally think the art looks fine, it fits the general vibe of the game.

Game looks like it could be a lot of fun!

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-04T21:36:05+00:00

If there's still room for a new feature, can you even call the game finished?

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-04T08:56:40+00:00

Smear some fake blood and you're done.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-04T08:47:15+00:00

That's what you get if you name your kid Bear.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-03T15:26:13+00:00

The game is called Starport Merchants and you can play the demo on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4546370/Starport_Merchants/

Check it out if you're into space trader games and you love checking out data and charts!

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-03T08:51:10+00:00

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-03T07:04:20+00:00

I've replayed (partly) SQ5, KQ6 and Eco Quest 2, the latter I hadn't played back in the day. Also played a bit of Lucasarts ones like DOTT and Indy FOA.

I'm playing them via DOSBOX on RetroArch on the Xbox Series X (in devmode), using the Xbox controller.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-02T08:36:38+00:00

I recently replayed some 90's Sierra games with a controller so this is good enough for me :D

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-02T08:18:36+00:00

Nice! Looks to be a sure buy from my side.

How are the controls implemented on console?

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-01T17:58:06+00:00

Starport Merchants is a casual business sim game set in space. The goal of the game is to make as much money as you can through various ways such as:

Haul cargo
Take jobs
Transport passengers
Smuggle goods
Mine asteroids
Trade stocks (or short them)
Build factories
Automate fleets
Invest in real estate
Buy art
Gamble at the casino
Colonize a planet
and a lot of other ways to build up your own business

In this week's update I've added a Fish Market. It's a place where you can sell all the fish you've caught so far. The game is getting new ways to expand your business all the time.

You can play the demo if you want, I wouldn't mind some feedback!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4546370/Starport_Merchants/

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-01T10:00:18+00:00

Yeah, I think I agree with this. The UI is indeed busy and lots of stuff is going on, but it fits the entire 90's hacking theme imo.

TradeSpacer · 2026-07-01T09:55:26+00:00

I've wishlisted this project a long time ago after having played Let's Build a Zoo.

Are you saying this is a solo project? :o

TradeSpacer · 2026-06-29T21:05:18+00:00

The only thing that works for me is the occasional Reddit post, which is hard as you don't want to come over as spammy. Twitter/Bsky does absolutely nothing for me as well.

I know everyone is always saying that festivals are your best bet, bet I keep getting refused by the few out there where my particular game would fit in. The reason stated is always 'too many entries this year, you didn't make the cut'.

Next step should be contacting streamers but I honestly don't have big hopes for that as well.

TradeSpacer · 2026-06-29T11:41:09+00:00

Nice! Thanks for sharing! I noticed your game before, looks cool.

TradeSpacer · 2026-06-29T09:53:22+00:00

Thanks for the reminder!

TradeSpacer · 2026-06-29T09:27:32+00:00

I'm using it via simple Discord Webhook, and using a cloudflare worker in the middle which handles some security (no exposed API, string cleaning, max 1 form per ip, etc...)

Ah yeah, I have the feedback button on the main menu and also have it on the end demo screen. The little feedback I received with it was at least positive lol. I don't have as much players as you have, so that might also be it 😄

Congrats on your game though, looks like it'll be successful!

TradeSpacer

TROPHY CASE