Hey everyone,

In our last post, we gave you a general overview of SkyRig and your mission with Thorne Industrial. Today, we're going to get into the nuts and bolts (quite literally) of one of the most crucial aspects of the game: the building system. This is where your engineering creativity comes to life, allowing you to construct the complex Rigs that will be key to your success.

Our aim for SkyRig's building system is to provide a unique yet intuitive 3D experience. We've focused heavily on ease of use and clear user experience (UX) to ensure that building feels natural and empowering, rather than cumbersome.

So, how does it work? You'll be attaching parts to other parts in three-dimensional space to construct your Rigs and processing factories. When you select a part from your UI menu, you enter a placement mode. In this mode, you can freely move the part around on a flat plane. To build vertically, you simply use the Q and E keys to move the part up or down a level, enabling full 3D construction.

Each part comes with a number of structural attachment points. The system is designed for flexibility: as long as any two parts are connected at at least one structural attachment point, it's considered a valid and stable placement. This allows for a great deal of freedom in how you design your structures.

Gaseous elements are fundamental to operations in SkyRig. You're not just collecting them; you're actively managing them within your Rigs:

• Collection & Storage: You'll need to gather gases from the atmosphere and store them effectively.

• Movement: Gases must be moved efficiently between different modules on your Rig.

• Synthesis: A critical part of the game involves synthesising new compounds by combining different gases within your Rig.

To facilitate this, you'll be building pipes using a simple draggable tool. These pipes are essential for ensuring the smooth flow of gases throughout your intricate designs.

In SkyRig, a 'Rig' is your player-constructed factory, designed to operate in any sector you can access. The building process begins by selecting your chosen sector and entering 'build mode'. At the absolute heart of every Rig is the Rig Core. This central component comes with a balloon attached by default and provides multiple structural attachment points, giving you a solid foundation to expand from.

Once in Build Mode, you'll have access to a comprehensive menu detailing all available parts, including their associated information which is crucial for making informed design choices. As mentioned, parts connect at these attachment points, allowing you to expand your Rig in any direction.

Purpose of Rigs

Your Rigs serve multiple vital functions within the game:

• Collect Gases: They are your primary means of extracting valuable gaseous elements from the planet's atmosphere.

• Descend Deeper: By configuring them correctly with appropriate modules, Rigs allow you to venture further into the atmosphere's perilous lower layers.

• Create New Compounds: They act as your on-board laboratories and factories for synthesising new gases and compounds from collected elements.

Parts are the fundamental building blocks you'll use to create your Rigs. The combination and layout of these parts will dictate your Rig's function and efficiency. There will be a set list of parts available for you to choose from as you design.

Working Ranges and Performance

A key aspect of each part is its optimal working range for both temperature and pressure. For instance, a Heater might perform best within certain temperature and pressure parameters.

• Impact on Efficiency: Operating outside a part's optimal range won't necessarily lead to immediate failure. Instead, its performance will degrade. This could mean reduced output, slower processing times, or increased resource consumption. This mechanic encourages thoughtful design for ideal conditions without overly punishing slight deviations, ensuring players must consider environmental factors when building.

While most parts are free to build, some specialty parts will require specific components that are only unlocked upon completing missions. For example, new Rig Cores might require Batteries to be available.

A Glimpse at Some Key Parts:

• Flotation Modules: Essential for lift, keeping your Rigs airborne. Each balloon module also expands your available build space.

• Gas Intakes: Your primary tools for extracting elements directly from the atmosphere.

• Power Sources: Generate the electricity needed to run most of your Rig's functions.

• Heat Shields: Crucial for protecting your Rigs against the extreme temperatures found as you descend deeper.

• Coolers: Used to cool down gases for processing.

• Heaters: Used to heat gases to specific temperatures for reactions.

• Pressurisers: Put gases under pressure, essential for many synthesising processes.

• Filters: Allow you to separate one specific gas type into a new pipe, while the rest continue along the original flow.

• Rig Core: The central control component of your Rig.

• Generators: Used to power the Rig and its various components.

• Pipes: The circulatory system for moving gases around your Rig.

• Conveyor Belts: Used to transport solid compounds and materials around your Rigs

• Drone Platforms: Quick transfer of resources between separate Rigs 

• Combiners: Modules used to combine different gases and other compounds to synthesise new materials.

We're incredibly excited about the depth and flexibility the building system brings to SkyRig. It's designed to let you truly innovate and adapt your designs to the challenges of the gas giant. We can't wait to see the ingenious Rigs you'll construct!

Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into other aspects of SkyRig's development.

The SkyRig Development Team

Greetings, Space Engineers!

Welcome to the very first look behind the curtain of SkyRig. We've been pouring our passion into crafting a 3D builder and science exploration game that pushes boundaries, and we can't wait to finally share it with you. This introductory post will lay out what SkyRig is all about and set the stage for your journey as a new player.

At its core, SkyRig is a 3D builder where you construct complex, floating scientific experiments called Rigs. These Rigs are designed to operate within the dense, multi-layered atmosphere of a gas giant.

Our goal is to offer a unique building experience combined with scientific discovery and resource management within a challenging environment.

You'll step into the role of a solo operator for Thorne Industrial. This company began its journey in the 1900s as a mining operation, built on an ethos of aggressively undercutting competition through infamously lax safety standards. That ambition, now centuries old, drives their deep-space expansion.

Your core objective is to establish and grow a mining outpost on this gas giant, eventually transforming it into a major intergalactic trading hub. You won't be alone, however. You'll be assisted by C.A.N.A.R.Y OS, an AI assistant specifically developed by Thorne Industrial to streamline deep-space mining operations and, quite pragmatically, reduce staffing costs. C.A.N.A.R.Y OS will help manage your contracts and guide the construction of your Orbital Hub.

Together, you and C.A.N.A.R.Y OS will expand the Orbital Hub, open new trade routes, and develop cutting-edge technologies. The long-term goal is to engineer increasingly sophisticated mining machines and ultimately tap into the planet's core to discover a powerful new super-fuel – all crucial steps for you to climb the corporate ladder within Thorne Industrial.

Let's break down the general flow of the game as you explore the gas giant.

Early Game: Getting Started

You'll begin with a small floating hub and access to the first, uppermost layer of the gas giant's atmosphere. Initial objectives will focus on setting up basic gas collection, building your first Rigs, and synthesising essential gases. Missions will guide you through these steps, helping you collect and process gases to unlock new technologies and expand your capabilities. This phase is about learning the fundamental mechanics of building and resource management in this unique environment.

Mid-Game: Scaling Up and Facing Challenges

As you progress, the mid-game involves scaling up your gas production. This means constructing more Rigs, optimising existing infrastructure, and unlocking advanced technologies. You'll gain access to the mid-atmosphere layer, where you'll find more valuable and complex gases.

However, this expansion also introduces new challenges:

• Increased Complexity: Synthesising higher-tier compounds requires more intricate processes and Rig designs, demanding careful resource balancing and system upgrades.

• Environmental Hazards: The mid-atmosphere presents intense storms, frequent lightning, and extreme temperatures. You'll need to develop and implement advanced protective measures like heat shielding and robust energy systems to ensure your Rigs survive.

• Resource Management: Keeping your operations running efficiently without depleting energy or raw materials will require strategic planning.

This phase is about adapting your strategies to handle these growing difficulties while continuing to optimise and expand.

Late Game: Deep Exploration and Discovery

To continue your research and unlock the final technologies, you'll need to descend into the lower atmosphere. This is a high-risk endeavour, as extreme temperatures and frequent storms can easily destroy unprepared Rigs.

The ultimate goal, and what we're currently working on for the end-game conditions, is to reach and establish Rigs in the deepest atmospheric layer. Here, you'll aim to discover and synthesise a new, previously unattainable compound.

Let's look at the basic gameplay loops.

Player Objectives

Your main objectives in SkyRig include:

• Descending: Building Rigs to explore deeper into the atmospheric layers, discovering new elements as you go.

• Discovering New Compounds: Discovering and synthesising new compounds by creating more complex scientific machines.

• Fueling Progress: Completing missions to earn currency which can be used to unlock technologies that provide access to more advanced parts and capabilities for your Rigs.

The Orbital Hub: Your Base of Operations

There are two primary gameplay areas: the Orbital Hub and the Planetary Atmosphere.

The Orbital Hub is your base, located at the top of the playable area. It's where you'll access the Tech Tree, Contracts, and Hub Upgrade screens.

The Planet: The Environment

Below the Orbital Hub is the gas giant's atmosphere, where most of the Rig construction and movement takes place.

The planet's atmosphere is divided into five distinct layers, each with unique properties like average temperature, pressure, and storm frequency. Understanding and adapting to these environmental conditions will be crucial for successful Rig operation.

We're working hard to make SkyRig a compelling and engaging experience. We believe its unique setting and building mechanics will offer something fresh for players.

We'll be sharing more details about specific mechanics, art assets, and overall development progress in future posts. We're eager to see the kinds of Rigs you'll create and the discoveries you'll make in the depths of the gas giant.

Keep an eye on our social media for further updates!

The SkyRig Development Team