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Indie developpers deserve respect, more indie pearls on the net
*Zothen*
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And now to something completly different....

In our todays spotlight: Aurora by Steve Walmsley
Genre: free turn-based Space themed 4x game (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate)

Aurora was derived from Steve Walmsleys companion software for the Starfire board wargame (first released in the late 70s), and it also developed by himself only since 4(?) years.

Aurora does not have fancy pantsy visuals so the poor, conditioned "graphics whore" cant play this game. Usually I dont get attracted by games where the first look gives the impression of a expanded spread-sheet game, but Aurora was labeled the "dwarf fortress of space games" on the Bay12 forum, which got my attention.

Under the hood of this 4x pearl is a very unique, complex strategy game that lets not much wishes open. Basicly you develop colonies, conduct research, mine minerals and explore star systems that are connected with wormholes. Thats common.

What makes Aurora unique is e.g. the unit design. From small, fast, agile spacecraft to monstrous Superstardestroyers or deathstars everything is possible, by designing each component as you want it to be (based on your research, of course). Especially offence and layered defense loadouts are a science for itself - and its amazing to experiment with it.

The turn-based system of Aurora makes it unique, too. Turn lenght varies from 30day turns to 5sec turns, so research and development are rather long-term goals while intense combat breaks down to 5sec turns that offer great flexibility and application of different tactics.

An amazing example of the rich features is e.g. the missile design system. You can design missiles to your hearts wishes - fast and agile, slower but more punch, short-range defenders or - and thats really unique - multi-stage missiles. Yep, that means MIRV design!

Aurora is too complex to cover most features within a few lines, so I suggest to give it a try. The downside of Aurora is the steep learning curve and thats even a quest on its own for the oldest Bay12 member. The wiki covers only the basics and most advanced topics are covered in the forum. So diving into Aurora involves a lot of experimentation with many funny results. Freedom has its price, one could say...

Aurora is a great game for the player of complex board wargames and strategy arm-chair commander - if you have the will to dig through the initial learning curve. And its completly free.

Give it a try and have fun!

Website: Aurora
(you have to register on the forum to get access to the download)


An example of a ship design overview:
Code:
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Thermopylae class Destroyer Escort    10000 tons    850 Crew    1583.8 BP      TCS 200  TH 1120  EM 0
5600 km/s    Armour 4-41    Shields 0-0    Sensors 1/1/0/0    Damage Control Rating 5    PPV 24
Annual Failure Rate: 160%    IFR: 2.2%    Maint Capacity 495 MSP    Max Repair 96 MSP    Est Time: 2.07 Years
Magazine 984

NPO Energomash Magneto-plasma Drive (14)    Power 80    Fuel Use 70%    Signature 80    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres    Range 64.3 billion km  (132 days at full power)

Mk5 Guided Missile Launching System (24)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
CF/SPG-14 Missile Fire Control (4)    Range 1.1m km    Resolution 1
RIM-8B Scutum Defence Missile (984)  Speed: 40,000 km/s  End: 1.2m    Range: 3m km  WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 293 / 176 / 88

CF/SPD-12 Missile Detection Sensor (1)    GPS 96    Range 1.1m km    Resolution 1


The tactical system view with sensor contacts (red):
http://aurora.pentarch.org/download/file.php?id=214&t=1
pic expanded
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vet marshal wv

Posted Feb 25, 2010, 3:38 pm Last edited Feb 25, 2010, 3:50 pm by *Zothen*
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I'd like too to share the indie (and non) games that I'd liked the most, so I'm quoting from a list I did some time ago with my friends:

machinarium
gish
pontifex
triptych
creeper world
wesnoth
TA Spring (wrote some code of this  B))
spelunky
darwinia
fantastic contraptions
VVVVVV
torchlight

roguelikes (asci based games)
dwarf fortress
omega
adom


off topic (full games/oldies):
red faction guerrilla
morrowind
star control II
fragile allegiance
ultima underworld
master of magic

I'd like to write a review for those as you did but there are too many of them. maybe I'll do for some of the lesser known.
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vet wv

*Posted Feb 26, 2010, 8:20 am
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TA Spring is great, I was just telling Firefly and Grograt about it some time ago. However, IMHO the community is poop. It seems there's a lot of in-fighting amongst the various modders, with an aura of elitism within.
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vet wv zom

Posted Feb 26, 2010, 8:20 pm
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yeah. guess why I drop out from development?
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vet wv

Posted Feb 26, 2010, 8:26 pm
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Aurora looks like a MM re-make of Stars!
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marshal vet race1 elmsautumn wv

Posted Mar 7, 2010, 2:04 am Last edited Mar 7, 2010, 2:05 am by *Toecutter*
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*Toecutter* said:
Aurora looks like a MM re-make of Stars!


WHERE THE EFF HAVE YOU BEEN MY FRIEND!
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vet wv zom

Posted Mar 7, 2010, 3:50 am
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this is a project starting up to found indie developers:

http://www.indie-fund.com/

some great indie names are backing it (such 2d boy - the one behind world of goo)
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vet wv

Posted Mar 8, 2010, 1:33 pm
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One has to wonder, though, that for an indie developer, 2D Boy never interacts with his community. I can understand for mainstream developers e.g. Kornbob, but surely the feeling elicited from an indie dev not responding comes off as stuck up.
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vet wv zom

Posted Mar 8, 2010, 5:50 pm
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dwarf fortres style game, very beta. with crafting and smelting and mining and building and stuff, but in 3d and done as a fps

minecraft.net/
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vet wv

Posted Mar 16, 2010, 11:40 am
*Zothen*
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Ive posteda about Lugaru before - that fps-martial arts game with the cool ninja rabbit.

The sequel was renamed by Wolfire to Overgrowth. Still in development but it makes nice progress and pre-order (ugly invention btw) is already on.

A nice move is that they publish the alpha builds to the customers that preordered Overgrowth so they can fiddle around with the engine and editor.

Heres the link to the Wolfire Youtube Channel

Also very nice is the lead dev who had to dye his beard pink if the preorders hit 1000. ("ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?" hehe)

The Overgrowth webcomic.

Keep and eye on this!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs196.snc3/20365_269883666634_39924081634_4259952_968868_n.jpg
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vet marshal wv

Posted Apr 18, 2010, 10:40 am
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I've been playing XBox indie games recently. If you have an XBox, check out Miner: Dig Deep. I'm not sure if it even counts as a game - there's no way to lose, and very few threats. It's still fun though, in a mellow and relaxing sort of way, similar to flower on the PS3.
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vet wv marshal pvp2 cont

Posted Sep 6, 2010, 11:25 am Last edited Sep 6, 2010, 11:25 am by *Wolfsbane*
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Another indie pearl I've been sucked into for the past few days is

Minecraft. Minecraft site

Also developed by one guy. It is tons of fun and a lot like Dwarf fortress from the point of view of one lone dwarf against an unfriendly environment.

Check out some of the Let's play youtube videos of a guy named X-- I watched all of them, it was quite an entertaining playthru. Then I got the game and I've been sucked in.
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vet wv

Posted Sep 28, 2010, 11:09 pm
*Zothen*
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Yes, was already mentioned but its NOT like Dwarf Fortess! Not at all! Not like fortress mode, not like adventure mode... I really cant understand why folks try to compare them... Besides that both are awesome games...
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vet marshal wv

Posted Nov 21, 2010, 11:57 pm
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What it is a lot like is his previous game, wurm online.  That's well worth a look if you want a more serious, realistic version of Minecraft.
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vet wv marshal pvp2 cont

Posted Nov 22, 2010, 8:59 am
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Zombie Driver on sale here:

http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-ZD/zombie-driver

It has two new game modes since its initial release. While I can't say it terribly impressed me, it's not a bad game. In fact, it's pretty good, if you can get past the horrible car controls and poor camera choices.
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vet wv zom

Posted Nov 22, 2010, 9:43 am
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Free little Flash Game called "But That Was Yesterday."

http://jayisgames.com/cgdc9/?gameID=11

Pretty little thing. Moving. Play this through to the finish and tell me games can't be art.
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vet wv

Posted Dec 9, 2010, 1:16 am
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Armisius said:
Another indie pearl I've been sucked into for the past few days is

Minecraft. Minecraft site

Also developed by one guy. It is tons of fun and a lot like Dwarf fortress from the point of view of one lone dwarf against an unfriendly environment.

Check out some of the Let's play youtube videos of a guy named X-- I watched all of them, it was quite an entertaining playthru. Then I got the game and I've been sucked in.


yup - this game is awesome! Just got it today as an early xmas pressie from a mate. Someone look after my gang while I'm gone!
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vet wv combatL1 raceL1 deathrceL1 paintladder

Posted Dec 14, 2010, 10:30 am Last edited Dec 14, 2010, 10:30 am by Jeelz
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Just wanted to mention The Wonderful End of the World.  Not because it's particularly awesome, although it's not bad as Katamari Damacy ripoffs go.  No, I bring it up here because the people who made it used some of the same model packs sam used for Darkwind.  See how many vehicles you can recognise :)
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vet wv marshal pvp2 cont

Posted Apr 10, 2011, 8:49 pm
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Armisius said:
Another indie pearl I've been sucked into for the past few days is

Minecraft. Minecraft site

Also developed by one guy. It is tons of fun and a lot like Dwarf fortress from the point of view of one lone dwarf against an unfriendly environment.

Check out some of the Let's play youtube videos of a guy named X-- I watched all of them, it was quite an entertaining playthru. Then I got the game and I've been sucked in.


I saw a couple of videos of this a while ago...

Just looked like some guy hitting some rock, walking, hitting more rock.
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vet wv deathrceL1 marshal pvp2 zom pvp3

Posted Apr 10, 2011, 9:53 pm
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Minecraft seems silly. And everyone at my school won't shut up about it.

I've found The Void to be a wonderful game, as far as "art games" go. If you all like trippy horror and what's basically a business sim, you all will like it.
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vet wv

Posted Apr 10, 2011, 9:55 pm
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