SpaceGen: A rather silly open source pulp scifi world generator

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#1

This isn’t quite a game (yet), but an open-source generator for pulp sci-fi settings inspired by How to Host a Dungeon and the Dwarf Fortress world generator. You can view an animated description of the setting’s evolution, pause at any time, and export a detailed description of the world as a text file. To try it out, launch the program and keep hitting space to advance, or press R to enter auto-advance mode and come back later. You can move around with the arrow keys and see information about planets by putting the cursor over them.

http://www.zarkonnen.com/images/images/154.jpg

Download (450 kB jar file).

Example Text Output

GitHub Page (source!)

#2

I like the pixellated graphics ;D

#3

Cute! :smiley:

Interface:

  • full screen mode option, it is hard to use if you have higher resolution on the desktop
  • the text file is more fun to read that the simulation, add buttons at the top that will list “civilizations”, “planets”, “history” and just display there the text.
  • the text next to planet is hard to grasp, maybe start each sentence with * or -? And maybe make the titles (like Lifeform and notes:) a different colour and/old bold.
  • when there is more than one event per turn only last is displayed. I don’t know how it could be improved.
  • make important events, like emergence of a new species, flashy. Maybe show a picture of these? Anyway, make sure that this even is always displayed, because I lost track of one civilzation and got confused (until I read the text file).
  • there should be an info when you hover your mouse over a certain icon on a planet.
  • the icons at the top of the planet (coins, ships, science bulbs) are completely mysterious.
  • each civilization should have a flag, it should be displayed over their planets (right now it is a mystery who owns what unless you read all the texts carefully.
  • when a planet has a lot of events not all fit on the screen (need some “scroll” feature, or even better, make “details” button next to a planer which will open a page with all the information.

Gameplay:

  • there should be more “biological” events. More than one spiece existing at the same time. More lifeforms at once.
  • there should be slower development of races. Like, there should exist a primitive race without flight capabilities for many turns. Right now a race suddenly appear and they start with spaceflight, which is a bit weird.
  • there should be more “cities” events. These civilizations always build laboratories and military bass immediately after colonization, without any notion of making the houses of the new planet :slight_smile:

Overall, as a player I enjoyed it and was glad someone coded it :slight_smile: The premise and mood is generally OK, the most desired is the improvement of the interface. I hope you improve it and release next version soon :slight_smile: