New Updates

Hello All,

I will be using this thread to outline some of the new features we'll be adding to the game, as well as how we will be improving on basic features. I will also use this thread to give previews of all new content relating to the Unity3D version of Port Galaxy. So make sure to check back here for something new!

We love feedback, of any kind. It is what helps us improve on the game, and we want to try and make everyone happy! So please, help support Port Galaxy as well as MMOCCForum by keeping threads active. Not just this one, all games listed on this forum benefit from user activity. Keep active, keep the discussion going, and we'll deliver some great results.

Basic Improvements
Character Customization & Inventory

• Players will be able to collect clothing items. Meaning each player could have unique clothes. There will be default clothes available to all, as well as clothes for Supernova Members. There will be rare clothes and other clothing items for sale in shops.
• Each player will be able to set a 4 digit pin to protect their inventory.
• Colours will be highly customizable, we want players to be able to customize everything.
  

Room Creation & Buying Furniture

• There will be default room layouts to choose from, as well as room layouts for Supernova Members.
• There will be furniture for normal players and Supernova Members.
• Furniture colours, wall and floor colours, lighting, and more will be customizable.
  

Room Navigation

• Will be semi-realistic.
• Must go to a central location to look for rooms, and choose a transportation method.
• For easy access players can still 'link' or favourite rooms and go there instantly.
• Navigation for the Space Port and for Planet environments is separate. For example you cant be on a planet and go to a room on the space port.
  

Chat

• Chat will be customizable. Players can personalize their own chat.
• Group chat will be available.
  

New Features

• Group Chat (as mentioned above)
• Player Levels & Ranks
• Quests, Challenges
• Mini-Games. We have a maze one in mind right now, with a platform maze mini-game later.
• & Probably the one I'm most excited for. Each planet will have a selection of player-owned living spaces. These are private rooms players can buy, but there are a limited number available. Players will be able to sell these living spaces as well. This will create a sort of virtual real estate market within the game.
  

& A bit more on that and the Jungle Planet. We have begun development on the planet environment and have some really great jungle assets to work with. The planet will however be somewhat limited to a small area until we can continue with development. We will have a jungle area, and a section of an overgrown city. Keep in mind, these will still be large areas since we're working with 3D here. One building will contain the living spaces players can buy and sell. The building itself will be a public space, meaning you can walk through the main lobby, the hallways, go in players rooms, giving a fairly realistic experience. There will be bigger more luxurious rooms on the upper floors. We have not yet decided on how many of these rooms to sell, but we were thinking around 50. On each planet we'll offer these 'enhanced' limited availability living spaces. We'll also have at least one for free which everyone can create, to keep it fair and let everyone live on a planet if they want.

To name a few other features, which are more just benefits of Unity. We'll have Anti-Aliasing and possibly offer the game in various qualities. The game will be available in various resolutions and full screen. We'll have video textures, realistic water, shadows, lighting, glowing effects, and other great things.

As always, let us know what you think. I'll be posting previews in new posts.

Hello,

My question is will there be a possibility that players could purchase land plots from planets? Being able to build homes by purchasing walls, floors, doors, windows, etc. from shops that are sold individually? Let's say that you're in a planet that is mainly a forest. Then that planet will specifically sell things based on the theme such as log cabin walls. A futuristic planet will sell holographic glass walls and so on..... It could be something similar to the Sims home builder. I believe players will appreciate and have pride that they have built a unique space to their liking. We could have competitions to see who built the best spaces.

All sounds great. Excited for the release!

"Limited-Availability living spaces"
A huge "no-no." All players like to have their own space, something they can call their own. This would create a huge cluster of ridiculously priced spaces when/if your game gets successful.

I just saw it on your FB page, that's what I wanted to say. Everything else sounds pretty promising.

(04-08-2012 09:10 PM)BetaCitizen Wrote:  Hello,

My question is will there be a possibility that players could purchase land plots from planets? Being able to build homes by purchasing walls, floors, doors, windows, etc. from shops that are sold individually? Let's say that you're in a planet that is mainly a forest. Then that planet will specifically sell things based on the theme such as log cabin walls. A futuristic planet will sell holographic glass walls and so on..... It could be something similar to the Sims home builder. I believe players will appreciate and have pride that they have built a unique space to their liking. We could have competitions to see who built the best spaces.

Hi Beta,

I am not sure if we will ever add this feature. Though I'm sure a lot of players would like this, I've always like pre-designed 'homes' better. When the game is released there will be a lot of customization features for rooms though. We've already discussed a 'Homes' feature for in the future, which is more like what you've said. So it's not something we couldn't add in the future.

(04-09-2012 03:11 AM)LasuniColin Wrote:  "Limited-Availability living spaces"
A huge "no-no." All players like to have their own space, something they can call their own. This would create a huge cluster of ridiculously priced spaces when/if your game gets successful.

I just saw it on your FB page, that's what I wanted to say. Everything else sounds pretty promising.

Like with other games, prices for 'limited edition' things can get ridiculous like you said. It does however offer a unique and fun change to private rooms and creates a real estate market. We wanted to offer something other than furniture and clothes for players to buy, and rooms is what we've come up with for now. However, as I had stated in the original post there will be at least 1 unlimited option for all players to make a room, so they can live on the planet too. All players can create their own rooms on the Space Port, and on each planet. The 'limited availability' living spaces are completely separate. Some of them will also be reserved and given away as prizes. We will also clearly state that more could be released on the same planet at a later date. For example, if we release 50 spaces in a building on the jungle planet, and find players love them we may decide to release another building with 50 more. That would be the extent of it though. Hope this clears some things up.

(04-09-2012 05:52 AM)PortGalaxy Wrote:  Like with other games, prices for 'limited edition' things can get ridiculous like you said. It does however offer a unique and fun change to private rooms and creates a real estate market. We wanted to offer something other than furniture and clothes for players to buy, and rooms is what we've come up with for now. However, as I had stated in the original post there will be at least 1 unlimited option for all players to make a room, so they can live on the planet too. All players can create their own rooms on the Space Port, and on each planet. The 'limited availability' living spaces are completely separate. Some of them will also be reserved and given away as prizes. We will also clearly state that more could be released on the same planet at a later date. For example, if we release 50 spaces in a building on the jungle planet, and find players love them we may decide to release another building with 50 more. That would be the extent of it though. Hope this clears some things up.

What happens if someone manages to bag a limited room, logs off and never plays again. What happens then?

That is a very good point xLite. We will add a purchase date to the database so we can check when rooms were purchased and when a player has last logged in. I believe that if a player buys a limited room and leaves for a long period of time we would be able to put that room for sale at it's original credit value. This would be stated in a notification before a player buys one. Thanks for the good idea.

Hello All,

I see I haven't posted since April 10th, so I figured it was time for a status update.

We've been working on our graphics for a couple months now. Unfortunately, our character artist decided to lie to us for a month, and did not complete the job he was asked to do. Now, we are considering using the Vostopia Avatar system for Unity3D. With their system, we will be able to add customizable characters to Port Galaxy almost instantly. Their avatars are highly customizable, and not only that, but you can purchase additional character assets. 'Avatars for all' - You can use your Vostopia avatars on Port Galaxy, and any other game using their system. If a new game uses their system, all custom content from that game will be available on every game using the system. If we move forward with this, we plan on creating a good selection of custom character content for Port Galaxy players. You'll have complete freedom to use any content in the Vostopia system, even if it's from other games. I feel this is a good thing, it allows players to be more unique and creative with their characters, and since Port Galaxy is set within an entire galaxy, the possibilities for how you could look are endless anyway.


Look too cartoony? I thought so at first, but they look more realistic in-game and fit in the space port quite well!

There are many benefits for us as the developers as well. We get to focus on creating character assets (clothes, etc) right away. We save a lot of money in time that it would take to build a custom system like this in to Unity. It also solves a lot of problems relating to performance issues that can occur with Unity3D MMO's. Lastly, it lets us sell character content through various payment portals and help monetize our game so we can continue to develop!

In other news, our environment/prop artist has been hard at work. The Space Port itself is finished, except for a few changes I'll be getting done before the release. He's moved on to prop design - furniture - and we have a good selection of furniture so far. I'll be releasing previews of this soon! We're also working on our 'Overgrown City' planet environment. I will be personally designing the outside jungle areas while our environment artist is going to be making the city and interior. We have a really nice plan for moving forward with the living quarters in one of the city buildings. More on that soon as well.

We'll be moving on to programming soon, and I estimate we'll have an Alpha/Beta product ready within the next 2 weeks. Much has already been done, so I hope to see you all in-game soon

Uploaded an exclusive preview of some furniture on our homepage!
http://www.portgalaxy.com

Pretty awesome, I might try it after it releases