Info about Ostranauts:

Official game description:
Planned Features
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About the Game
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In a solar system cut-off from a ravaged Earth, you play as a scavenger trying to make a living in the dredges of space. Wage-slave scrapper life isn’t enough anymore, and at last you’ve pulled together the funds (plus a hefty loan) to have a go at independence.  
Based in the same universe as Blue Bottle Game’s last hit NEO Scavenger, learn to manage your dysfunctional crew and ship as you fend off bankruptcy...or worse.
Every choice you make will affect the outcome of the game. In character creation, you’ll use a Career Kiosk to shape your character’s background, income, and qualifications. Use it to customise your traits and skillset, which will be essential when managing your ship, its crew, and anyone sticking their noses in your business. You’ll start out the game with enemies, ex-lovers, and acquaintances to seek out… or avoid. Just remember your early decisions will affect your options and outcomes in conversations down the line.
Build your dream ship from the ground up, using detailed, functional parts. Scavenge “pre-loved” parts in the boneyard to upgrade your ship - finding old or rare parts in the system is much cheaper than tracking down the original manufacturer. Who has time to scour the solar system? Hook up subsystems, add extra power and fuel, and be sure to replace parts which have worn out during your adventures. Parts are essential to your experience and will change how your ship feels to fly.
“I cannot change the laws of physics, Captain!” In Ostranauts you will be piloting a ship under the laws of Newtonian flight, learning to fly using in-world manuals and sheets. It will be your job to manipulate control panels, flip switches, and to resist the urge to press the big shiny red button… Every craft has a different flight feel based on thrusters, hull mass, and how you’ve customised the ship. Remember to use a light touch whilst docking, and try not find yourself in the outer rim with an empty fuel gauge.
Even in the darkest corners of space, you are not alone. Each character you encounter runs an AI that is constantly making choices based on their current needs and past experiences. They have physiological and emotional needs, ranging from basic wants like food, oxygen and water all the way up to deeper needs like intimacy and security. As captain, keep an eye out at the space port, scout out a crew and build those relationships. Your background will shape out how you are able to interact with other characters and if they will join your ship - have you developed a silver tongue or does fear rule your ship?
Based in the same universe as NEO Scavenger, Ostranauts will be rich with lore for those who wish to explore. After the collapse of civilization on Earth, colonies and factions formed - colonising other planets, moons and asteroids - with only those able to adapt to the harshness of space able to survive. As states and corporations spread their reach through the System, whispers of unexplained phenomena are creeping through back channels.
Blue Bottle Games encourages players to join the Discord, share modding ideas, and to help grow the world of Ostranauts. Modders who want to make their experience more unique are able to edit a wide variety of game data - most of the game's data is in plain-text files for easy access. If you have an inquiry, send us a message in either the Blue Bottle or Kitfox Discord.

Release date: Sep 10, 2020

Categories: Ship Combat, Ship Customization, Survival, Character Customization, Resource Management, Exploration, Simulation, Narrative Adventure

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Mechanics Clarity; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the complexity of game mechanics, which often require external resources like wikis and guides to understand. Additionally, technical issues and a steep learning curve are notable concerns. The complexity of mechanics is the most severe issue, impacting the user experience significantly.
- Proton/Linux: score 35; verdict: Playable with Tweaks; summary: The game can run on Linux using Proton, but it requires specific launch options and performance tweaks to run smoothly. There are some performance issues, particularly during time dilation, but these can be mostly smoothed out with Proton Experimental. Overall, the game is playable on Linux with some initial setup and tweaking.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several key issues with the Steam Deck experience. The most prominent concerns include the lack of cloud save support, control and UI issues, and performance and stability problems. These issues significantly impact the user experience, making the game less enjoyable and more cumbersome to play on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well on higher-end hardware with 12-15GB VRAM, though some users report performance issues and occasional hiccups. Users with 8-11GB VRAM experience more noticeable performance problems and instability.
  - Sample size: 30 (4% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 13 reports): The game runs well on higher-end hardware, though some users report occasional hiccups and performance issues.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 9 reports): Users in this cohort experience noticeable performance problems and instability.
  - Caveats: 30 of 782 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that many users find the game worth the full price, suggesting a positive sentiment towards the base game's value. Several reviews mention that the game is worth its price even with its flaws, and some users express that they would gladly pay full price, indicating a fair price range that aligns with the current base game price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 50.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime in hours. The first quote mentions '50+ hours' invested in the game, indicating a significant time commitment for game completion. The second quote suggests that players will either play the game for '>50 hours' or refund it, reinforcing the idea of a lengthy playtime for full engagement. The third quote again mentions '50+ hours of game time,' which supports the typical total time to finish the game. The fourth quote mentions 'roughly 70 hours' of playtime, which further supports the idea of extensive playtime for game completion. There is no specific evidence provided for story completion, session length, or endgame playtime, so these fields are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and can be tedious initially, but it becomes rewarding and fun after players invest significant time and overcome the early challenges.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Moving beyond the starting gameplay loop
  - Time to anchor: 5h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Tedious micro-management; Confusing tutorials; Tedious inventory management; Poorly implemented hauling commands; Under-explained and overcomplicated docking process
  - Unlock drivers: Rewarding atmosphere; Sense of progression; Overcoming initial challenges
  - Conditions: Willingness to invest time; Tolerance for early tedium; Interest in complex and immersive gameplay; Enjoyment of steep learning curves
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Sim Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of complex, realistic simulations and the challenge of mastering them.
    - Playstyle: Immersive, methodical, and patient. Enjoys figuring out complex systems and tolerates bugs and a steep learning curve.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: sim fan; hardcore gamer
    - Reference games: NEO Scavenger; Dwarf Fortress; Kenshi; Space Station 13
  - Sci-Fi Lore Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersion in a rich sci-fi universe and enjoyment of the narrative and role-playing aspects.
    - Playstyle: Role-playing focused, enjoys the narrative and setting. Tolerates complexity for the sake of immersion in a beloved sci-fi world.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: sci-fi fan; lore enthusiast
    - Reference games: The Expanse; Aliens; Firefly
  - Chill Grinder (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of a challenging yet relaxing gameplay loop with slow, rewarding progression.
    - Playstyle: Patient and persistent. Enjoys the slow burn of progression and the chill yet challenging experience.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: grinder; chill gamer
    - Reference games: Hardspace: Shipbreaker; Escape from Tarkov


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique and enjoyable game (weight 0.32): The game is praised for its uniqueness and originality, offering a fun and interesting experience. Players find it enjoyable and amazing, with a fantastic and one-of-a-kind gameplay.
- Immersive and detailed gameplay (weight 0.28): The game offers a rich and immersive experience with detailed mechanics, deep lore, and an engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate the in-depth simulation and the unique, detailed setting.
- Excellent space simulation (weight 0.28): The game is highly regarded as a space simulation, offering a unique and satisfying experience for space and sandbox lovers. It features well-simulated spaceflight and high-detail space environments.
- Deep and complex systems (weight 0.22): The game features complex and deep systems, including ship building and various mechanics that provide a lot of depth and complexity. This makes the game mechanically complex and addictive.
- Frequent updates and active developers (weight 0.18): The game receives regular and frequent updates, with active developers who are constantly improving the game. This rapid development and frequent updates are appreciated by the players.
- High potential and quality (weight 0.16): The game is seen as having tons of potential and is of high quality. Players believe it could be brilliant and is coming together well with excellent underlying concepts.
- Variety of activities and systems (weight 0.12): The game offers a variety of activities and systems, allowing for different roles and activities. This includes various quests and technical systems that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Engaging and immersive storytelling (weight 0.11): The game features an engaging plot with unique and engaging stories. The convincing storytelling and immersive gameplay loop keep players invested.
- Unique blend of survival and RPG (weight 0.1): The game offers a great mix of survival, salvaging, and RPG elements in space. This blend scratches an itch for fans of various genres and provides a fun scavenger survival experience.
- Worth the purchase (weight 0.09): The game is considered worth the purchase and the time and money invested. Players find it worth every cent and highly recommend it.

Common complaints:
- Game plagued by bugs (weight 0.48): The game is frequently described as buggy, with numerous reports of critical and game-breaking bugs that significantly impact gameplay and stability.
- Poor UI and controls (weight 0.3): The UI design is criticized as poor, cluttered, and confusing. Controls are also noted as awkward and cumbersome, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- Performance issues (weight 0.28): The game suffers from various performance issues, including memory leaks, high memory consumption, stuttering, and frame drops.
- Lacks content and tutorials (weight 0.2): Players report a lack of sufficient content and tutorials, making it difficult for new players to understand and enjoy the game fully.
- Needs more polish (weight 0.16): The game is seen as rough around the edges and in need of significant polishing and refinement to improve overall quality and player experience.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.15): The game has a steep learning curve, making it challenging and potentially frustrating for new players to get into.
- Overly complex mechanics (weight 0.12): The game's mechanics are often described as overly complex and confusing, which can be overwhelming for players.
- Frustration and difficulty (weight 0.11): The game is described as very challenging and unforgiving, with a high level of difficulty that can lead to significant setbacks and frustration.
- Combat system issues (weight 0.07): The combat system is criticized as janky, unintuitive, and messy, feeling like it was tacked on without proper integration.
- Lack of localization (weight 0.06): The game lacks localization for certain languages, such as Russian and Japanese, which limits accessibility for non-English speaking players.
- Crew management problems (weight 0.06): Crew management is noted as unreliable and in need of improvement, causing frustration among players.
- Slow development cycle (weight 0.05): The development of the game is seen as slow and under-developed, leading to concerns about the game's future improvements.
- NPC behavior issues (weight 0.05): NPCs in the game sometimes exhibit silly and janky behavior, which can be immersion-breaking and frustrating.
- Graphics need improvement (weight 0.05): The graphics are criticized as unclear, lacking, and cluttered, suggesting a need for visual improvements.
- Quality of Life improvements needed (weight 0.05): Players feel that the game needs better Quality of Life features and improvements to enhance the overall gaming experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Shipbreaking and salvaging mechanics (weight 0.29): The game includes shipbreaking and salvaging as primary activities. Players can disassemble ships, scavenge parts, and manage inventory.
- Extensive ship customization and expansion (weight 0.28): The game offers a wide range of options for building, upgrading, and customizing ships. Players can expand their ships and manage various aspects of ship maintenance.
- Complex ship management and systems (weight 0.24): Players can manage various spaceship systems like atmosphere, pressure, and electrical wiring. The game features complex mechanics and emergent storytelling.
- Hardcore space survival simulation (weight 0.24): The game is a hard sci-fi space-life simulator with a focus on survival elements. It includes managing survival needs such as hunger, health, atmosphere, and ship maintenance.
- Top-down 2D space simulation (weight 0.12): The game is a 2D top-down space sim with a focus on survival in space. It features a gritty and realistic space simulation.
- Character creation and development (weight 0.11): Players can create and customize their characters with detailed options. The game includes skill advancement and backstory creation.
- Spaceflight and docking mechanics (weight 0.09): The game features well-simulated spaceflight and docking procedures. Players can explore space and engage in orbital mechanics.
- Quests and main story (weight 0.09): The game features a variety of quests and a main story line. Players can engage in missions and discover secrets.
- NPC behavior and interaction (weight 0.09): The game includes complex NPC behavior and world simulation. Players can interact with NPCs and experience a complex dialog and mood system.
- Various activities like piracy and trade (weight 0.09): The game offers a range of activities including piracy, odd jobs, salvaging, and trade. Players can engage in different gameplay styles and missions.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues on various systems (weight 0.19): The game has performance problems across different systems, including lower-end and modern hardware, leading to choppy gameplay and frame rate issues.
- Frequent freezing and stuttering (weight 0.16): Players experience frequent freezing, stuttering, and slowdowns during gameplay, which significantly impacts the gaming experience.
- Poor optimization and high resource usage (weight 0.12): The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including high CPU and RAM usage, which leads to long loading times and overall poor performance.
- Bugs and jank (weight 0.1): Players encounter various bugs and janky behavior, including minor stutters and occasional disappearing NPCs and items.
- Game crashes and stability issues (weight 0.09): The game has stability issues, including crashes and game-breaking bugs that can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.
- Occasional lag spikes (weight 0.08): Players report occasional lag spikes during gameplay, which can be disruptive and affect the overall experience.
- Runs on low-end systems (weight 0.07): Despite performance issues, the game can run on low-end systems, including laptops with minimal specifications.
- Memory leaks causing performance issues (weight 0.06): Memory leaks in the game lead to stuttering and other performance problems, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Slow load and save times (weight 0.06): The game has slow load and save times, which can be frustrating for players and disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Compatibility and hardware issues (weight 0.04): There are compatibility issues with specific hardware, and the game may not perform well on certain configurations.
- Steam Cloud and save corruption issues (weight 0.04): Players report issues with Steam Cloud and save corruption, which can lead to lost progress and frustration.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for specific fans (weight 0.13): The game is recommended for fans of specific genres or themes, such as Space Station 13, hard sci-fi, space themes, realism, and deep simulation games.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.11): The game is highly recommended by many players, with several giving it a perfect score of 10/10. It is considered worth buying and definitely recommended.
- Wait for more polished state (weight 0.1): Many players suggest waiting for the game to be in a more polished state unless you are very patient and love the genre. It is recommended to wait for more bug patches or until release for a smoother experience.
- Suggestions for game improvements (weight 0.09): Players have various suggestions for improvements, such as adding more ship parts, increasing tasks, enhancing playability, improving sleep mechanics, and redoing graphics.
- Recommended for complex mechanics (weight 0.06): The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy complex mechanics and detailed games.
- Watch Quill18's playthrough (weight 0.06): Players recommend watching Quill18's playthrough for a good starter guide, learning the basics, and gaining a better understanding of the game.
- Watch community videos (weight 0.06): Players recommend watching community videos, including playthroughs on YouTube, to grasp the fundamentals and understand the game better before buying.
- Join Discord for help (weight 0.06): It is highly recommended to join the Discord for more information, help, and quality-of-life improvements through mods.
- Try in early access (weight 0.06): Players suggest trying the game out while it is still in early access to watch its development and provide support to the developers.
- Research and read manual (weight 0.04): It is suggested to do some basic research about the game and its various systems, as well as reading the in-game manual.
- Excited for future updates (weight 0.04): Players are looking forward to future updates and are excited about the potential improvements and additions.
- Unique experience with negatives (weight 0.03): A unique experience awaits players if they can live with the negatives, suggesting that the game has some flaws but is still worth trying.

Other player notes:
- Request for Steam Cloud Saves (weight 0.05): Multiple players have expressed a desire for the game to support Steam Cloud Saves, which would allow them to access their game progress from any device.
- Translation mod links (weight 0.05): Players are sharing links to translation mods, indicating a demand for localized versions of the game.
- Context menu haul option (weight 0.02): Players have suggested adding a haul option to the context menu, likely to improve inventory management or item transportation.
- Cameras in station corridors (weight 0.02): There is a suggestion to add cameras in station corridors, which could enhance security or surveillance aspects of the game.
- Add a strip club (weight 0.02): Some players have suggested adding a strip club to the game, possibly for additional entertainment or gameplay mechanics.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated primarily due to a multitude of bugs, crashes, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. The steep learning curve, clunky controls, and lack of clear tutorials or guidance also contribute significantly to this frustration, making the game feel unpolished and difficult to navigate.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the unique and immersive gameplay experience, which includes ship customization, exploration, and detailed mechanics. The game's depth, complexity, and engaging gameplay loop, reminiscent of other popular games, provide a fun and addictive experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.17): Players are excited about the game's unique and in-depth gameplay mechanics, which include ship customization, exploration, and future updates. The anticipation of new content and the game's potential for unique stories and roleplay experiences also contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players feel satisfied with the game's deep mechanics, immersive gameplay, and the sense of accomplishment from overcoming challenges. The enjoyable core gameplay loop and the developer's dedication to fixes and improvements also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players are disappointed due to the game's unfulfilled potential, persistent bugs, and lack of content. Issues such as poor graphics, lack of language support, and underdeveloped mechanics also contribute to this disappointment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.06): Players are enthusiastic about the game's depth, complexity, and unique gameplay elements. The variety of gameplay styles, detailed mechanics, and the developer's active updates and improvements fuel this enthusiasm.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Players express hope for the game's future improvements and potential. They believe in the game's setting and possibilities, anticipating that it will improve and develop further over time.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players find amusement in the game's funny combat mechanics, humorous situations, and the freedom to engage in playful activities. The game's lighthearted approach and emergent storytelling contribute to this amusement.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the game's fantastic gameplay, detailed mechanics, and the thrill of discovery and achievement. The engaging and rewarding gameplay moments bring a sense of happiness and excitement.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game's detailed and fun mechanics, as well as its engaging space concept and deep gameplay. The flexibility in building ships and the regular updates contribute to this strong affection for the game.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Players maintain a positive outlook on the game despite its bugs and flaws. They appreciate the game's depth, development progress, and overall enjoyable experience.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to the game's complex mechanics, lack of quality-of-life features, and translation issues. Crashes and poorly explained mechanics also add to this frustration.
- Optimism (weight 0.01): Players are optimistic about the game's potential for community mods, interesting quests, and ongoing progress and updates. They see a promising foundation and future developments.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's concept, detail, and the developer's work. The depth and variety of features included in the game are highly appreciated.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the game's unique blend of gameplay mechanics, engaging plot, and the mix of chill experiences with moments of horror. The variety of features keeps them involved and interested.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's underlying quality, depth, and concept. The complexity and setting of the game are highly valued.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are anticipating future updates and features, looking forward to the game's full release and continued development. They eagerly await improvements and new content.
- Enthusiastic (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's core gameplay and mechanics. The unique blend of genres and engaging gameplay elements excite them.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's detailed and rewarding gameplay experience. The variety of activities and the cool aspects of the game bring them joy.}