The Worlds II update expands the scale of Hello Games’ already-sprawling space sim with deeper oceans and gas giants.
@[email protected]
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151M

Why is trillions in quotes? Did they add them or not?

@[email protected]
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121M

It’s a procedurally generated universe(s). These systems haven’t all been pre-generated, but will rather be generated to explore when a player visits a system for the first time.

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Right, but that still counts. Although I guess it’s kind of an “if a tree falls in the forest” question. If the world doesn’t exist unless you find it, was it really there before?

zqps
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The point is rather how meaningful this statement is. It doesn’t really matter if your algorithm can come up with trillions of ways to place trees, if it’s the same handful of trees it’s still gonna feel samey after the third time.

@[email protected]
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21M

Hmm, true

@[email protected]
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151M

I write a planet generator. All of the planets are the same to begin with, so realistically I can only generate “1” planet. Then I add one toggle which is random, if it’s on the planet will be completely water. I now have “2” planets. Now I add another toggle for one huge mountain, I can now generate “4” planets (dry,water,dry-mountain,water-mountain). Keep adding toggles, sliders and parameters until you have “trillions” of possible planets and you’re done.

The funny thing is that the changes are cumulative, so if I release a game that can generate X planets and I add a binary toggle I can now claim I added X planets to the game. If I add a slider from 0-9 then I added 10X planets. So since No Man’s Sky already had a giant number of planets, adding trillions of them could mean something as stupid as they added a new resource to the game so now every planet can have that resource in different amounts.

@[email protected]
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61M

I thought I’d check which 2^N gets you to a trillion, it’s N=40. So you can have 40 parameters per planet and add one more, then suddenly you’ve created an extra trillion planets.

@[email protected]
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41M

And that’s assuming just toggles, if each parameter has 10 levels you only need 12, then add one toggle and you get trillions. Heck, I can name 12 parameters that have at least 10 different values off the top of my head:

  1. Amount of water overall (oceans and lakes)
  2. Amount of mountains
  3. Amount of Forrest on the land
  4. Amount of life forms
  5. Temperature
  6. Amount of moons/rings
  7. Size
  8. Amount of rivers
  9. Whether the landmass is one big continent or multiple small islands
  10. Amount of volcanoes
  11. Amount of caves
  12. Amount of iron (or any other resource)

Congrats, if you now add a does the planet rotate toggle you’ve created trillions of planets.

CodexArcanum
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Well that’s good, I was just getting close to running out of the old planets.

@[email protected]
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321M

Kind of wild they keep going.

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231M

if all it takes to keep a developer improving their game is to hype it to the moon and then turn it into a meme when it releases then maybe we should do that more often /s

forreal forreal though these game devs are the shit and I’m grateful for all the work they keep putting into this

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71M

All it takes is people with a vision.

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-11M

And a willingness to lie out your ass and fraudulently market for years

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21M

I thought we Internet rabble had decreed “no mans sky is good now”. Am i behind the times? Do i need go find my pitchfork?

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11M

I’m in the minority that doesn’t support fraud 🤷‍♂️ I don’t care how much time and effort they put into the game after stealing millions of dollars

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11M

I respect that.

Cethin
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To be fair, I think most of the more recent changes are just backporting engine upgrades and stuff from the new game they’re working in. That’s still a lot more effort than just saying that, but it’s not like they’re developing explicitly for NMS anymore.

It also let’s them test the upgrades in a real environment before the new game launches, preventing another mess at launch. It’s a smart use of resources, keeping people discussing how well you maintain the old game going into the new game. It’s free press, along with probably more sales.

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21M

Thanks for explaining this! :)

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891M

I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, as the review scores keep improving so obviously folks are liking it, but you’re not alone if it still doesn’t click. They keep polishing it and piling on more stuff, but the base game is still rather disjointed and in my opinion, easy to burn out on. Procedural generation doesn’t mean any of the procedurally generated things are going to be interesting.

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91M

Yeah seriously, no matter how much they tack on, it still doesn’t make the base game fun to play. Nothing more boring than a game that feels like a job.

Cethin
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I love Factorio, and many other games some call “job simulators.” Done well, games can feel like jobs and be good. The difference is when it feels grindy, or if it feels like you’re doing novel things and actually accomishing things. NMS just feels grindy, and like you’re doing the same thing over-and-over, without any reason to continue.

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211M

Yep, I had my fun on it, but without true PVE it’s just another exploration/building game.

@[email protected]
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91M

You mean PVP? It’s got Playter vs Environment in spades.

@[email protected]
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91M

No PvE. This being a coop game, it’s missing real challenge for pve.

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11M

Did you forget that single-player and perma-death are things?

That said, the real problem with what you’re looking for vs this game is down to the premise: Interstellar travel without tech that feels like cheeting isn’t a pew pew space-ship game. Generation-or-cryosleep-ship-simulator-gone-wrong isn’t out … yet.

Cethin
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A punishment isn’t the same as challenge.

For example: The souls games have very little punishment (especially compared to their contemporaries when the older games released, where you load a save on death). You die and collect a thing you picked up in that period, nothing lost. They’re very challenging though. Ramping up punishment is a form of challenge, but permadeath doesn’t make it more fun, just adds a big punishment to worry about. That can be good, but NMS’s combat is not good, compared to other games that do the same things.

This isn’t to say it should do things differently. There’s plenty of reasons for it to remain as bland as it is, because it makes it approachable and it also easily functions with the proc-gen terrain. This is only a statement on what it is, not the quality of it.

@[email protected]
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Huh? No, I’m literally talking about coop PvE. It would be nice to have a challenge when I am in space or when I’m trying to build a base.

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It just sounds like you don’t like single player games.

Cethin
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Lol. What? I like single-player games, but I mostly agree with this person. Most of the challenging games are SP (primarily) all the souls/souls likes are SP. Not liking NMS is not even close to being the same as not liking SP games. People are allowed to not like NMS. It’s boring and grindy and it (to me) never feels like you’re progressing in any meaningful way.

If you like it, that’s fine. It doesn’t mean anyone who doesn’t doesn’t like SP games.

@[email protected]
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01M

Yeah, imagine wanting to play games with people you actually know in meatspace. You might even have to touch grass. Horrid thought.

@[email protected]
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11M

Which is? Admittedly I’ve only played the game for a couple of hours, but I remember there being PvE, so you’re going to have to be more specific into what is it that you think is missing.

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31M

It has no real pve. It’s got a few things that might attack you on a planet or the pirates in space. But there is no real danger in the game. There aren’t factions on planets trying to kill you or systems controlled by groups that require a lot of work to clear out. Planets feel lifeless and space feels like a walk in the park… add in 2 friends or more and it’s a joke.

@[email protected]
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11M

By that definition Minecraft also doesn’t have PvE. Factions are not required for a PvE, and lots of PvE games don’t have them.

You could say that you wanted the PvE to be harder, or more unforgiven, or even more complex with factions. But to say the game has no PvE is just wrong.

@[email protected]
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31M

Minecraft has no real PvE. It’s literally not billed as a pve game, pve on Minecraft is a side thought. My example with factions is just that an example, it’s not to say that the game lacks pve because it doesn’t have them. I don’t care how hello would implement more pve but I just want more of a challenge. NMS has no real challenge because it lacks real pve.

@[email protected]
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31M

It seems like the kind of game that sort of requires a lot of time to make it really click, but I wasn’t having fun within the first 2 hours, so it got refunded.

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I had a blast starting out and discovering new materials and what I could do with them, upgrading my ship and guns, building bases, etc. I hit a wall when I unlocked most of what I wanted and was just logging on every few hours to check my settlement and send my fleet out. The quests are repetitive, exploring planets isn’t really exciting, and the combat system is honestly not great. There’s like 2 viable weapon attachments and the only hostile things are critters and robots, the latter of which are basically the cops so the more you kill the more come to kick your ass so you either have to fight wave after wave or run for your life.

Oh and the planetary vehicles are pretty cool but I think you have to have them on your capital ship to use them elsewhere, but I don’t have the upgraded drive to be able to actually take it to the places I would really like to have them. So I just move my ship around the surface instead, and that takes fuel just to launch it which is a hassle.

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61M

I confess I haven’t popped back in for a few updates now but it still was missing the slick/dynamic animal behaviour that even the very first trailers had, which I was most interested in.

NoFuckingWaynado
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I like to pop in every time they drop an expedition. Those let you speedrun the game and get reacquainted with it with not much effort. You also get introduced to whatever new thing they added. It’s a bit like playing ARK on a 20x resources 20x taming server so you can just play the game without so much grind.

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Just more procedurally generated and boring as fuck “new planets”

Cethin
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To be fair, what this really means is that it adds more options for proc-gen. This means planets will be more diverse, which is good. The actual number of them is totally pointless, but it’s easier to report in than the tangible effect.

@[email protected]
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241M

I wonder how many trillions of floors Diablo 1 had if they had used this weird way of marketing No Man’s Sky uses.

Isn’t the game’s universe randomly generated and had nearly infinite worlds since launch? 🤨

@[email protected]
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51M

Yeah, there’s still quadrillions of planets unexplored. This is just icing on the cake I guess?

“we added more shit nobody will ever see!”

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21M

I mean yeah but it’s still cool

Chaotic Entropy
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It adds more complexity and distinction between planets, at least.

LostAndSmelly
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31M

Close, proceduraly generated so psuedo-randomly to ensure that no planets are exactly alike. If you spend enough time in game it does begin to feel a bit like more of the same. Within 24 hours of this update I had already found a few things I had never seen anything similar to in the game.

@[email protected]
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21M

Were they interesting? Or at least enough of a change to make them significant? Or are we talking random rock model here?

SatansMaggotyCumFart
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I found a planet where half the aliens had a star on their belly and they excluded the other aliens from all the activities so the two groups were locked in a bitter eternal civil war.

@[email protected]
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301M

When they say “trillions of new planets” they mean one new biome with the plants and rocks in a trillion different places.

I Cast Fist
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I’d trade that update for one that fixed the jank combat. I will continue to complain about the gun being auto-holstered after 2 seconds without firing as one of the worst parts of combat, so “line your shot” is a terrible strategy because by the time it’s lined, you’ll miss due to the animation creating a 1s lag between click and shot.

The almost random targeting of what you’ll interact with when holding E is another big annoyance.

Capital ships are a total letdown, too. All they do is sit around motionless in space. Can’t destroy anything bigger than a fighter.

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21M

Hey, at least they added inventory sorting!

You know, after a decade of people asking for it. And without fixing the several fundamental design flaws that made the inventory a nightmare to use without sorting in the first place.

But at least they thinly papered over one of the game’s most hated bits!

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1M

Can anyone recommend a decent space sim? I’ve talked myself in and out of buying No Man’s Sky a dozen times, and all this shade will probably remove it from my wishlist.

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11M

NMS is ok. I play it from time-to-time, and probably have 10s of hours in it. In survival mode, it feels similar to subnautica; or I guess most survival games (I personally haven’t played many). The breadth of mechanics is huge, but they all lack depth. Combat on ground and in space is very simplistic, for instance. Space combat is just pressing a button to have your ship auto-lock on a target, pressing another button to switch between anti-shield and anti-hull weapons, then pressing the shoot button. I really don’t like the cartoonish aesthetics of the other sentient alien races, or my character.

I used to really like the Freespace and Wing Commander games when I was a kid; and haven’t really played anything comparable (i.e. high production value with good stories and voice actors).

I’ve played X4, just for maybe an hour or so, and it seems like it’s another sandbox-like game.

LostAndSmelly
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I fucking love No Man’s Sky. I play video games to relax. Most of the time I ignore objectives and find my own way around. I used to follow people and creatures around Skyrim. I had been playing a ton of Red Dead Redemption 2 just to go ride hourses and look at stuff. My friend Trudi had me play 20 minutes or so on her computer and I bought my copy that day. I have been playing it off and on for a few years now.

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I’m enjoying x4. I also liked Elite Dangerous but that one was more limited in what you could do. They have added more in the years since I’ve played it though

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I wouldn’t base your decision on what Lemmy says. They’re pretty unreasonably salty about the game. Reviews from players are very positive and the game’s only $23 right now.

  • Despite what they’re saying, there is actually a lot of legitimately interesting and sometimes fantastical biomes and this update has added even more.
  • There are a lot of different parts of the game that you can pretty casually engage in. Various missions, settlements, settlement management, ship collecting, manufacturing, fleet management, trading, piracy, archeology, and more.
  • It’s a relaxation game for me. Just hop on, pick a direction, and go. Do whatever piques your interest in the moment.

If “casual” and “relaxing” are dirty words for you, then it probably isn’t up your alley. It’s certainly not going to be intense and action packed (though it does have its moments). But it’s a good game if you, like me, sometimes get tired of the sweaty online shit, crunchy brain melting games, and the overall weight of life in the real.

@[email protected]
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51M

There’s a lot of different types of space sims. What kind of gameplay are you looking for?

Chaotic Entropy
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Depending on what you want, Freespace 2 and all its mods/updates are still excellent. Wing Commander Saga is a standalone game based on it of remarkable quality.

I Cast Fist
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71M

Depends on what you want out of the game. Freelancer is old, but it’s still one of the best experiences you can get. If you really want to feel like a nobody pilot going from rags to riches, X4 or Elite: Dangerous can scratch itch, but both have considerable learning curves, with X4 allowing you to own space stations and pilot anything from fighters to frigates.

Chaotic Entropy
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11M

Where can you get Freelancer these days…?

I Cast Fist
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21M

Only in yo ho ho seas 🏴‍☠️

Chaotic Entropy
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21M

It’s annoying that it isn’t at least on GOG, it’s such a prime candidate.

I Cast Fist
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21M

True. It’s been number one requested game, but its copyright hell is among EA and Microsoft :(

@[email protected]
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41M

I put so much time into Freelancer. The multiplayer was really fun if you had a friend to fly with.

Rebel Galaxy feels a lot like it, but it’s focused on capital(ish) ship combat (broadsides, etc) instead of fighters.

I Cast Fist
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21M

I need to get back on Rebel Galaxy, I think I got some 2 or 3 missions past reuniting with your aunt. The sound track is fucking amazing, though the gameplay being essentially naval battles in space really let me down at first, as I personally prefer 6 degrees of freedom, but the game does all things well.

@[email protected]
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21M

Yeah, the soundtrack is perfect for the vibe the game is going for.

@[email protected]
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31M

Not really a sim, but def a fan of space games. Void Crew has been great.

@[email protected]
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41M

Just play NMS. Get it on sale if the price is a concern. It’s neat.

@[email protected]
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-91M

Recalling when two people found the same planet and did not see each other, disproving any implied multiplayer -

What’s the birthday paradox look like for “trillions?”

@[email protected]
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41M

I’ve played with two of my children at the same time. During the Utopia expedition, we saw dozens of other players. Where have you been?

@[email protected]
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-81M

Did you know the word “recall” refers to events that happened in the past, when things were different?

Dadd Volante
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21M

You’re referring to something from the initial release. Which isn’t relevant anymore.

That’s like complaining that Bethesda hasn’t released the Creator’s Kit for Skyrim (since it was a legitimate complaint at one time) and expecting it to be a solid addition to the conversation.

Don’t be a dick just because you’re a decade out of the loop.

@[email protected]
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01M

You’re referring to something from the initial release.

Yes, I am. Why can you only interpret that as a complaint about right now?

When someone goes ‘hey, remember–’ that doesn’t mean they’re unaware of anything that’s happened since.

I had a stray thought about mathematics and a silly moment from a decade ago. Y’all are being dicks by reading that as impossible ignorance. Like I just woke up from a coma and this was the most pressing thing to comment on.

Dadd Volante
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11M

I’m just returning the attitude you’re giving others.

If you don’t enjoy how it makes you feel, maybe work on how you talk to people.

Cause all you got handed to you was the same energy you were throwing out.

@[email protected]
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11M

Right, sorry, I shouldn’t have started calling people names. No wait that was you.

I should’ve taken a jovial attitude to a bizarre accusation. Oh wait I did.

I shouldn’t have picked a fight with anyone to begin with, hey wait, I didn’t.

What you’re doing is projecting the shittiest possible reading of literally two sentences and assuming that must be exactly how I meant it. You’ve barged into someone else’s misunderstanding and made it a personal argument. No amount of politely picking that apart - for example - by agreeing, and asking why referring to the past must be a complaint about the present - will dissuade you from this course.

If you don’t think that’s a case, tell me how else I could have phrased anything, to avoid this abuse.

Dadd Volante
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01M

Thanks for the essay I’m not gonna read

FiveMacs
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-81M

I still want my money back. I’ve tried all their updates and the game still feels bleh, underwhelming and just overall boring

@[email protected]
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I can only speak for myself but I didn’t like it because it felt like the same experience over and over. I admit I haven’t played since launch, but back then, i quickly realized all the planets had the same minerals. They had different randomized animals and colour’s but they were generally just the same. And then I lost interest, because I was hoping to be able to find rare minerals, unique items, stuff that wouldn’t exist in other parts of the universe, and perhaps he able to trade it with other players or npcs.

I guess I wanted a different game than what the makers wanted.

Looking at the video now, it still looks like the same basic experience with improved graphics.

@[email protected]
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Yeah, they overpromised and then didn’t deliver on half of what they claimed. That they are applauded now for doing some of what they said they’d do is laughable to me.

Ogmios
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41M

I think of it like an oil slick on a pool of water. Very pretty, but absolutely zero depth. They indulge heavily in the aesthetic of a space sim, without actually having anything of substance tying it all together into something coherent.

@[email protected]
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-11M

Honestly I think it is time they put NMS to bed and focus on their upcoming title, LNF.

They have added so much over the years, and I understand as their first project they are probably incredibly attached to it, but lately it has been feeling like diminishing returns on updates.

What good are a bunch of new planets gonna do when they still all basically look and interact the same as every other planet?

@[email protected]
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81M

They have added new planet types and civilisations. Indont play the game but its being heavily praised all day that theybhave greatly expanded with gas giants, full water planets and lost/failed civilisations. Sounds fairly impactful.

@[email protected]
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51M

I do play the game and I can say from experience it isn’t.

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