Vector Squared -- Community News! -- Issue #36

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Introduction
Let us start off this issue by explaining the reason we skipped a week. Seeing as there were barely any Daily Updates last week, and no new information about the game in general, we didn’t have much to write about. Thus we delayed the issue in hope of more topics to cover, and indeed, that we got. So this week, let us look into the new NPC AI, screenies and gameplay features, as well as the usual articles such as the “Art Feature”, “Daily Update Summary” and more! Welcome to Vector Squared Issue #36!


Content

• Daily Updates
• WhatCulture Article
• Art Feature
• Suggestion Spotlight
• Starbound Chronicle- October edition
• Boss Idea Factory
• Question of the Week
• Closing Comments

Daily Updates
There was a delay between updates due to Tiy having internet problems, and the devs being too busy working on the game.

• 24th Septemer - NPC AI has received additional attention, with behaviours such as sitting down, sleeping at night and not bumping into obstacles. NPCs are also configurable via JSON and LUA files, which will allow for various parameters, values and dialogue to be set. Guard NPC will be similar, but have different behaviours, dialogue and equipment. Molly also gave an interesting statement, which can be seen below (in addition to an image of a village)

“Most of what we’re doing to prepare for beta involves configuring each tier of the game– implementing the relevant objects, configuring things like ore spawn rates, monster types/abilities, finishing up dungeons, etc. We’ve also still got folks working on minibiomes, which are ever-useful in adding some diversity to the landscape.” - Molly


"Create-a-hat Contest, anyone? Also, cash register."

• 25th September - “Villager” NPCs have been added, and can call for guards when attacked. They also have varying stages of dialogue based on hostility; calling for help, encouraging guards and when they reach safety. A new dungeon has also been hinted at.

"Stop right there, criminal scum!"


"Don’t blink. Don’t turn your back, don’t look away, and above all; don’t blink. Good luck."

• 26th September - Abilities such as jetpacks and wings are being coded into some armors, with the hope of having these effects work on top of tech. Work has also been made on NPC guards and their use of melee weapons. And also, a sneak peak at another dungeon.

"From the new dungeon; Flynn’s Arcade."

• 27th September - Tiy is back! Anywho, more work was made on NPCs, including having them know what range to use melee or ranged weapons at and better navigation. The devs are now pushing to have NPCs match the area they come from. Meanwhile, George is working on Hylotl dungeon content, and Rho on Floran dungeon content. Kyren is looking at problems regarding how ships are saved, Bartwe is addressing a performance issue regarding NPC shopkeepers / questgivers, Omni is adding energy costs to the grappling hook and Armagon is putting the finishing touches on Glitch villages.

"My cousin is out fighting dragons, and what do I get? Guard duty."

• 28th September - Mostly work on NPCs, with additional AI improvements. An example is “silent chat”, where they approach each other and their lips will move as if in a conversation out of earshot. They also behave differently based on time of day, call each oher by name, egg on attacking guards, escape from danger and call guards if they witness an attack on another villager. The next step will be to add NPC vendors and questgivers. The Glitch village is now entirely finished as well.

*Benny Hill Theme plays*


"Think you’ll get your own squad after what happened last night?"

• 29th September - More NPC work, including character dialogue based on race. The aim is to have around 40 responses per race for standard NPCs. Their AI has also been improved, particularly with daytime activities (such as wandering outdoors and working fields). There is also a limit on how many guard NPCs will chase you after commiting a crime.

"Oh, behave."

• 30th September - Even more NPC work, with refinements to AI and behaviour. Daytime activities have been improved, along with the response to hostile players. Guards can now flank and take turns attacking. In addition, Glitch speech has been finished. Performance and a serialization issue have also been looked at, and another dungeon is on the way.
• 1st October - A second Floran dungeon is in the works, and changes are being made to the first to make the game more age-friendly. NPC trading is also in the works, along with various bug fixes.

"Meanwhile, at Woolworths."

By Jonesy


WhatCulture Article

Website WhatCulture did an article on Starbound which is totally worth the read. It's a detailed, well-prepared article covering the many reasons why exaclty you should by hyped! You can check it out here!

- WackyWocky


Art Feature
One fad that seems to have taken over the art forums is artists doing free avatar commissions. Not that this is a bad fad or anything, so let us indulge in it as well. Cheerful_Toe here has conceived a method of “HD”-ifying your pixelated character. Let us provide a few examples:







So if you want your pixel avatar to get a nice HD makeover, head on over to the thread here and send Mr.HappyFootDigit a request!

And to Cheerful_Toe, keep up the good work! Loving it!

- WackyWocky


Suggestion Spotlight
So Gene here has come up with a quite nice suggestion, one that not only will provide quite a bit of atmosphere and fun, but also be highly useful. Especially early on in-game. Let me present his idea “Ship AI (Artificial Intelligence) as Guide and Virtual Assistant”.

What Gene essentially wants add is these guys, on your ship:

“What can possibly go wrong?”

Gene wishes to fill the gap in Starbound that is the lack of a “Guide NPC”, and the best way to do this would be on on-board AI which guided you along and give you tips throughout the game. Such as:



He also suggested having each AI differ in personality and speech by race:

Glitch:


Hylotl:


This idea seems like a great way to help players early on, but would it get slightly tedious end-game, having a backseat-gamer pestering you constantly about your choices? Always watching...always judging? Nope, Gene’s got the answer for that too, a Mass Effect style relationship possibility!



At least, as Gene pointed out, for some races:



Nonetheless, a well thought out suggestion which would definitely be a good addition to Starbound. Well done Gene!

- WackyWocky


Starbound Chronicle- October edition!
So, the month of September has come and gone, and you know what that means! We got an all-new issue of the Starbound Chronicle! In this edition, they confirm that the Starbound Beta will be released in 2013. You heard it here first; less than 3 months until Beta! From what they say they are working on: "Balancing combat, implementing tier-based objects, armors, weapons, and tools," it certainly sounds like Starbound is shaping up to be quite the beta-ready product. These things, by the way, are also stated to be "a bug, big part of getting Starbound beta-ready." I bet we'll all be playing Starbound in no time. Also, there was a Community Spotlight this month! They features Daemonster, who was already featured on Vector Squared several issues back, as well as WakeskaterX. WakeskaterX made some fine pixel art creations. Here are the links to Daemonster and WakeskaterX's threads, respectively.

http://community.playstarbound.com/index.php?threads/the-novakid-bandit.25910/

http://community.playstarbound.com/index.php?threads/daemonstars-fanart.28894/

Also, we got this little guy!



How cute horrifying!

Overall quite a short Chronicle, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It's good to know that the beta is on the horizon, folks!

Well that's it for this week!

~ LazerEagle1


Boss Idea Factory
Ever play a video game, fight the boss, and think “I can totally make a better boss than this!” Well of course you have, you’re a gamer! But don’t fret just yet; instead, you take your creative juices and slosh them around your cranium as you come up with ideas for Starbound.

“But nobody cares about my ideas” you say? Nonsense! Mosey on over to Tiy’s thread and submit your ideas. So if you’ve ever wanted to fight a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater, then this just might be your chance.

Still reading, what are you waiting for? There is already a plethora of fantastic ideas there and it would be just a shame if you didn’t add yours!

-Strife


Question of the Week
So with all the advancements in NPC AI and speech, are the any specifics you are hoping for? Shop owners that try to convince you to buy their stuff? Random events such as the guards arguing with a citizen or a cook cursing over a burnt steak? Or how about fish that swim away from you...no, wait, that’s already there.

Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it in the comment sections below!


EDIT:

• Added the "WhatCulture Article" article. Sorry for the late addition, we didn't see it until directly AFTER we posted.

Closing Comments

• Thanks for reading!

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Blue’s Fanmade Newspaper Archive

 

Haha! Thanks dude!

 

I definitely dig the AI idea. Thumbs up

 

So I saw an Oblivion, Skyrim, and an Austin Powers reference. I also think there was a Dr. Who one but I'm not sure because I don't like Dr. Who.

Am I correct?

 

I find this article..... GOOD.

 

I love Doctor Who so I thought the Doctor Who reference was hilarious

 

With the AI thing maybe simply rather than having it always on add a Consult AI button or an AI On/Off toggle