Chat is Back!

When we swapped servers a while back, we found that we had some compatibility issues with the chat we were using, and the new server. Chat had to be moved (quickly!) to a less then fast method.
It’s back! For now, it’s public channel, with private, and team chat to follow shortly!
In other news.. tons of more enhancements, in speed of display, server connections, and of course, a few bug fixes along the way.
Last, and not least.. Planets have gotten a whole new look, or at least a few new ones. Log in, and take a look for yourself!

Space Just Got a whole lot bigger

That's right. we've expanded the universe!

http://www.thefarreachesofspace.com/index.aspx

To see how, start the game on your desktop, get an update and play!

This is a feature, we've always had ready to go: the ability to add more clusters of stars on demand. What's demand? Well, the clusters we have so far, are meant to be a training ground, close enough together that beginning players can explore, get around and trade with slower ships. from here on out, the stars will be further apart, allowing players room to stake out territory, without bumping into each other.

In other news.. combat improvements.. If you look at news on the site from today, you'll see there was more then one set of battles going on. A couple, appear to be instigated, with the looser having found a bug.. It's been corrected, and when correct a few people that had ships sent to some form of aggression, well that aggression kicked in big time. .and a few more people lost ships..

We've also add a number of small improvements to the user controls, and continue to ramp up to the big ownership of planets..

Last, and not least, we've gotten the shipeditor online, and are currently working out a few hiccups.. in a short time, you'll be able to design ships (and use them after approval), and ship models.. Look for new warships, and freighters in the near future.

Pictured here, is the new Xakian Repair Station, design Courtesy of monofuel

enjoy.

Dan

aka Sideovs

Recovering the Satellites!

New build of the game.. and the server is going to go down (briefly!) around 6pm EST (-5GMT) This will be version 1.0.2.72

what's in this update? A few fixes related to Missles, and the AI, and.. a new Class of Ships.

Satellites
What are those? well think of them as a ship, without an engine, or an extra cheap and small ship. Like ships, they have similar characteristics, but are often tasked for a specific purpose. The current crop in Data are nothing more then scanners in a thin shell. So. .want to spy on someone but not dedicate a whole ship? buy a satellite, and drop it off on the edge of their space. .

Yes, you can drop them off. as in you can load them in your cargo hold!
After you buy a satellite, right click on it, and dock. (on the more info button) after docking, right click again/and hit more.. your have the option of loading it in your cargo bay.

The Satellite will then appear in the status window, under other ship items.. want to release into space? highlight the item in the status window, and you'll have a launch button. .hit it, and you'll drop it off.

this of course opens the door to many possibilities in design.. Mines, armed defensive units, and the ability to launch smaller ships from cargo/storage..

The framework in place also allows for other non-ejectable ship items. including: repair modules, cloaking devices, and self destruct modules!

Any other ideas.. please.. pass them along.

Also, some of the ship models have been updated.. If you care to contribute, and are experienced at 3D meshes, please, give me a shout.

Well, off for a bit, but I'll be back later tonight. .and probably playing..

until then.. enjoy..

aka Sideovs