No Man's Sky - Waypoint | Switch version out now

[Talk Show Host]

@Dinobot I was actually talking about improving things like the galaxy map, needless busywork, etc.

 

On your point, it's true that most of the game is window dressing, but it would be impossible to be otherwise in such a scale, especially on a free update.

 

The fact that its limits don't necessarily negate its awe has to be considered an extremely important videogame achievement and, hopefully, set the base for a bigger and better sequel which will tackle the more complex issues you mention. 

 

I think gamers have an ability to restrain themselves from "undressing" a game in order to maintain its allure which transports them in another world. I think this update really cashes in on that ability and captures our imagination on what is possible in a space game (always in analogy to its competition of course). 

[Guest]

Quite, although the point is that they couldn't do a really in depth update because it's not been built with enough depth from the start.

[MK-1601]

Hnnng, PS4 branch is still waiting for the save game fix.

 

They should make the right hand side of the Dual Shock touchpad a hotkey for photo mode.

 

The galaxy map couldn't work like E:Ds because it's procedurally unpacking stuff as you scroll around. It was designed at a time when there was very rarely any need to hyperjump back to a previously visited system, which doesn't excuse how bad it is but explains why it's not been a priority.

 

I don't mind that NMS is basically a terrain generator first and foremost with everything else being pretty much the bare minimum needed to support hopping between planets. Considering the size of the team and the complexity of what it has to do, I'm glad they focused on getting that key part of the game solid instead of spreading themselves too thin.

[Davros sock drawer]

2 hours ago, Dinobot said:

 

Yes, but underlying code would be near impossible to change. I.e. the creatures. They have no real dependencies or ground-up eco system. A creature will just appear somewhere, for some reason.

They have no habitats or homes. There was little thought to implementing them as part of the game world proper. I.e. where do they sleep? Where do they drink? Do the birds ever land? Why don't some creatures live in trees. If a creature is named as a burrowing creature, are they solitary or do they have a matriarchal or patriarchal system in place.

 

Nothing is connected in any intelligent way. It simply hasn't been considered, or if it has, it was discarded to get it working.

 

90% of the game is window dressing...

 

Two things on all that.

 

1) It's not a criticism as such, as noted Elite went for realism and it can be an absolute asshole.

2) That's also why they have focused mostly on the crafting and building system. It's a LOT easier to add, because the  base systems were already there. Changing how the rocket fuel works is relatively minor to going back and ripping up the world to actually give it more depth. 

 

Fucking hell, talk about wanting the moon on a stick!

 

Are you aware of any game, even one, that does everything that NMS does, PLUS all the things you’re suggesting?

[MK-1601]

Creatures could be a lot better without adding a great deal of simulation complexity I think. The simplest thing: sitting animation. It's weird that you get creatures trotting around in deserts and tundra instead of hiding in shade or huddling around food sources/water. Would make encounters more interesting as well if you don't know if they're going to scatter, ignore you or defend themselves.

 

Realistically creatures are always going to be local/random like GTA peds, but a teensy bit more situational awareness and varied behaviour wouldn't go amiss.

[Fry Crayola]

I encountered my first planet with extreme weather this evening. This was manageable for about a minute outside, or about twenty seconds during the very frequent extreme storms.

 

I had no launch fuel, and there wasn't much in the way of minerals nearby, so that became a fun experience indeed.

[Guest]

52 minutes ago, Davros sock drawer said:

 

Fucking hell, talk about wanting the moon on a stick!

 

Are you aware of any game, even one, that does everything that NMS does, PLUS all the things you’re suggesting?

 

When I said "it's not a critisicm of the game"...you read that bit?

 

However, for sure, there could have been better thought to some areas at the start. It would have meant a little more depth now and some extra expandability.

 

Are you aware that it is possible? And no where near as complicated as you think.

 

[Darwock]

After the update last week I had a quick go of my pre-existing save from 2017. I was on a space station, and just wanted to check out the new layout. I was completely thrown off by what felt like added momentum/inertia on the controls. Spent a couple of minutes lunging back and forth trying to stop in front of some of the aliens to talk before giving up in frustration.

 

Last night I started a new normal mode save to try and reset my expectations. Spawned on a scorched planet (the clouds spawned about 5 seconds later), immediately started losing shield but spotted a cave a few meters away. Ran in there only to find there are now toxic gas clouds in caves, and that stripped my shield completely. Turned around to boost back out but ran out of thrust before I could exit and fell down hard. Dead in about 20 seconds. I had to double check I hadn't put it on survival mode by mistake (I hadn't).

 

Given the extensive time I already put in to this game in its former state I'm not sure I can muster the dedication to adapt to these changes. On the face of it everything just felt the same, but more annoying.

[Mike S]

6 hours ago, Vorgot said:

You have to have it out for firing and just tap reload, don't hold it. I had an issue with this as well, but thats how I got it to work.  

 

Thanks. 

 

Will try that next time I fire it up.

[pastry]

My Boltcaster wouldn't load ammo either. I decided to delete it and build it again.. but haven't made the Chromatic Metal I need yet to do so. Hoping that fixes it!

 

[Monkeyboy]

On the subject of creatures and how they interact with the world, the other day I saw a group of them moving momentarily like a herd as a larger predator chased them down. They then scattered in rather random directions, running around in that silly way that most of the creatures do, and the spell was broken.

 

As much as I'm loving the game, the creatures can still be a bit disappointing sometimes. I tend to find that the ones that most closely resemble Earth animals are the most convincing. A bit like this space goat, a video I made back on the early days of the game on PS4...

 

 

[Jarik]

4 hours ago, Ste Pickford said:

Another weird niggle I've got in my game.  I've got the blueprint scanner, and done a lot of the expanding base quests and computer archive / data quests,  but I don't have the ability to build the little ramp up to the door in the round base buildings.  It's not available to buy in the blueprint scanner list.

 

So I've got this quite large base with several rooms, terminals and hired staff, but I can barely get through the door as I have to do a little jetpack jump every time, and if the weather is bad then I get blown sideways and miss the door.

 

I built a little hut as a base but because the floor I built it on wasn't perfectly level I couldn't just walk in the door & I also didn't have a ramp.  So I just used the Terrain Manipulator to raise up the ground in front of the door into a small slope.  Works like a charm.

[PyramidFace]

On 30/07/2018 at 06:58, Thor said:

Why on earth would that make a difference?

 

Ta-da!:

 

11 hours ago, Flub said:

Patch PS4 just got is

 

Bug fixes:

PS4 only: Resolved some stability issues seen in some specific timezones

 

[SteveH]

I have found my first really valuable item buried at one of the monoliths. It seems to be some kind of plant I think, worth 14,000,000! So, do I sell it, or is it possible to plant it and grow more of the same? Has anybody found anything similar, as it doesn't seem to be regular plant life from what I can tell? I'm quite a way off having anywhere to plant and grow it yet, if indeed it can be done. 

[Talk Show Host]

5 hours ago, Monkeyboy said:

On the subject of creatures and how they interact with the world, the other day I saw a group of them moving momentarily like a herd as a larger predator chased them down. They then scattered in rather random directions, running around in that silly way that most of the creatures do, and the spell was broken.

 

As much as I'm loving the game, the creatures can still be a bit disappointing sometimes. I tend to find that the ones that most closely resemble Earth animals are the most convincing. A bit like this space goat, a video I made back on the early days of the game on PS4...

 

 

 

I once saw a three headed mushroom family, with very small three headed mushroom children, jumping around. Their routines were pretty convincing as far as three headed mushroom families go. 

[SpagMasterSwift]

After exploring around my base in the search for more rocks I discovered that it’s sitting on top of a huge cave system that is full of these Humming Eggs which I’ve been cracking open and making Space Guacamole out of (selling them).

 

 

I’ve built a basic base to house a couple of technicians in the hope that I’ll get some new base parts at some point. Dropped in a couple of landing pads to encourage alien visitors over for a bowl of Space Guacamole. Added some biodomes, not sure what plant the kids are into on this planet yet but planning ahead. 

 

Best bit was connecting the ancient Portal up with a series of pipes to my base and plugging my base portal into the centre of it. I intend to add more connected piping at some point as it grows and evolves.

 

 

 

[Vorgot]

8 hours ago, pastry said:

My Boltcaster wouldn't load ammo either. I decided to delete it and build it again.. but haven't made the Chromatic Metal I need yet to do so. Hoping that fixes it!

 

Just tested mine and tapping the reload button works, holding it doesn't. Not very consistent with other functions, but there you go!

[jiroczech]

Patch has fucked my save, every time I load now it'll crash within 5-10 seconds. Bollocks. (On PS4Pro)

[tobert]

Couple of noob questions:

 

1) I found an A class ship and decided to swap my starter ship for it. It has loads of damaged slots but I thought I could trade it for a better one at a space station. However when I went to do this it was only worth 600k. Presumably I need to repair the slots to increase the value?

 

2) how you do develop your base and get a buggy? I seem to remember doing this fairly quickly last time I played by following the base quest lines but I can't remember how I trigger these.

 

 

[Jarik]

Seeing all the weird & wonderful ideas that people are coming up with for Base Building makes me wonder if the idea was for the players to be the ones to add personality to this copy-paste universe, & desirability for certain locations.  There are no cities on the planets, but if someone was to build an impressive enough base, that would be kind of like a city wouldn't it?  and people would want to come see it, like that player who put Sean Murray's face on a planet that could be seen from space.

 

Of course, that's not something the online really supports, but perhaps if the game sticks around long enough, it will.  Players building more & more elaborate bases, perhaps even competing for land & resources, shaping this empty universe into something more interesting.

[Mike S]

17 hours ago, Vorgot said:

You have to have it out for firing and just tap reload, don't hold it. I had an issue with this as well, but thats how I got it to work. 

 

9 hours ago, pastry said:

My Boltcaster wouldn't load ammo either. I decided to delete it and build it again.. but haven't made the Chromatic Metal I need yet to do so. Hoping that fixes it!

 

 

Tapping worked for me, thanks @Vorgot..

 

On the subject, the need to hold the button for a second or so whenever actioning something is a real drag and makes any interaction that little bit more tedious. 

[yashiro]

You can mod it out on PC.

[Pob]

10 minutes ago, Jarik said:

Seeing all the weird & wonderful ideas that people are coming up with for Base Building makes me wonder if the idea was for the players to be the ones to add personality to this copy-paste universe, & desirability for certain locations.  There are no cities on the planets, but if someone was to build an impressive enough base, that would be kind of like a city wouldn't it?  and people would want to come see it, like that player who put Sean Murray's face on a planet that could be seen from space.

 

Of course, that's not something the online really supports, but perhaps if the game sticks around long enough, it will.  Players building more & more elaborate bases, perhaps even competing for land & resources, shaping this empty universe into something more interesting.

This is what seems amazing to me. I can't quite get my head around that idea that this is a single galaxy that people can populate with their own bases, that anyone visiting that location can see. So that Sean Murray face - you can just fly there and see it according to the tweets and articles. So surely people have already colonised a planet with multiple adjoining structures. Surely there must be some limits on that?

[Guest]

9 hours ago, Monkeyboy said:

On the subject of creatures and how they interact with the world, the other day I saw a group of them moving momentarily like a herd as a larger predator chased them down. They then scattered in rather random directions, running around in that silly way that most of the creatures do, and the spell was broken.

 

As much as I'm loving the game, the creatures can still be a bit disappointing sometimes. I tend to find that the ones that most closely resemble Earth animals are the most convincing. A bit like this space goat, a video I made back on the early days of the game on PS4...

 

 

 

That's the thing. Once you scratch the surface they pretty much just act and react the same.

Fun at first it's suddenly not uncommon to be on a barren looking rock in the middle of the sea. Turn around. And then several small creatures have appeared.

 

Maybe they can re-work it, however having something more like a proper (basic) ecosystem would be more interesting.

It opens up a LOT more world building possibilities, and moves the game towards what it now wants to be. A building/tweaking game, based around planet ownership and care.

 

Totally at odds with its original pitch of exploration and survival, yet that's where it's going to end up anyways. If players are playing it like that, then cater for them.

[Ste Pickford]

This is a game system version of the uncanny valley.  They've come quite close to a convincing simulation of real ecosystems - I know it's not aiming for realism, but it's a lot more realistic than most video games - and because it's getting close, all we can see are the flaws and the ways that it fails to properly simulate real ecosystems.

[pastry]

Yeah there's some cool stuff in there – i started mining a plant and the enormous land-octopus-like creature nearby got spooked and ran off in a most mincy manner. I know that' in itself is very easy logic, but the fact there's a seperate animation for nervous states and it's all procedural... that's pretty amazing!

I would love to see animals grazing and moving in herds (insert Jurassic Park's Sam Neill!), and of course things like poles, even altitude--based temperature, and – yes – gravity... but what we've got is already very special.

 

[tobert]

3 hours ago, SpagMasterSwift said:

After exploring around my base in the search for more rocks I discovered that it’s sitting on top of a huge cave system that is full of these Humming Eggs which I’ve been cracking open and making Space Guacamole out of (selling them).

 

 

I’ve built a basic base to house a couple of technicians in the hope that I’ll get some new base parts at some point. Dropped in a couple of landing pads to encourage alien visitors over for a bowl of Space Guacamole. Added some biodomes, not sure what plant the kids are into on this planet yet but planning ahead. 

 

Best bit was connecting the ancient Portal up with a series of pipes to my base and plugging my base portal into the centre of it. I intend to add more connected piping at some point as it grows and evolves.

 

 

 

 What happens if you plumb in a portal to a base?  (I am so far behind this having only constructed my initial space shed!)

[SpagMasterSwift]

LOL, nothing mate - its all just aesthetics. 

 

Edit - also the Space Guacamole is a lie

[Lochenvar]

7 hours ago, SteveH said:

I have found my first really valuable item buried at one of the monoliths. It seems to be some kind of plant I think, worth 14,000,000! So, do I sell it, or is it possible to plant it and grow more of the same? Has anybody found anything similar, as it doesn't seem to be regular plant life from what I can tell? I'm quite a way off having anywhere to plant and grow it yet, if indeed it can be done. 

 

The thing I found, that was worth 11million, was some kind of plant too. I just sold it. Didn't even think to try and plant it.

[chamberlago]

1.52 fixed my save so I was able to play again last night! Did I just spend most of my time in photo mode? No comment

In regard to some of the discussion about the lack of variation of climate etc on a single planet I seem to remember the developers talking about how part of the reason for that was to encourage people to keep planet hopping so they would eventually end up at the centre and finish the story, you weren't "supposed" to stay on any one planet for all that long, which makes sense but could just be a fancy explanation for a technical limitation. Of course, a lot of the stuff they've added since launch like base building does encourage you to stay on a single planet for a long time so these issues become more obvious.