Info about StarMade:

Official game description:
PLAY THE FULL ALPHA FOR FREE THROUGH THE DEMO!
==============================================
We are currently offering the **full version** of the game for **free** on our demo. This will be throughout Alpha as we believe a user wanting to purchase an open alpha game, should get to try out and test the current full state of the game first. We also need as many testers as possible, your reports, feedback and input is invaluable!  
**So... why should you purchase the game if it's currently free?**  
*   Support the developers!  
*   Purchased users will still have access to the latest updates when the demo stops being supported/updated in beta.  
*   Get it cheaper! As more features are added, the price will progressively increase. This will benefit those who supported the game earlier.  
*   We're adding upgraded only features to our Registry system, this will not directly affect any game features, however, it will give more access online. For example, blueprint hosting and multiple skin uploads for selection.  
    What are you waiting for? Click that demo button, and try out the full game for free!
    About the Game
    ==============
    \[PLAY THE FULL ALPHA FOR FREE THROUGH THE DEMO!\]  
    A voxel-based 3D sandbox set in the never-ending darkness of space. Create your own ships, explore new galaxies, stars and planets. Discover and salvage space stations, fight against pirates or opposing factions in multiplayer. Equip your ships with completely customisable weapons and conquer the galaxy. Trade and make a fortune, mass produce materials in gigantic factories. Design your very own space station. Create warp gates and network the universe at your front door.  
    The universe is a vast, mystical, beautiful, awe-inspiring place.... the universe is yours.  
    Built for scalability to facilitate massive fully interactable objects, almost anything is possible. Gameplay elements have been skillfully constructed to bring the ultimate space sandbox experience.  
    Dive into your own unique universe, and choose your path.
    Key Features:
    -------------
    *   **Procedurally generated infinite universe, with quadrillions of galaxies** - The universe is massive. It'd take approximately 10,000 years to cross from one end to the other! Singleplayer and Multiplayer worlds can be heavily customised with our extensive config options.  
    *   **Developed for scalability**\- We have a broad range of graphical and performance options that cater to our low-end users as well as those with heavy rigs and servers.  
    *   **Advanced Build Tools** - Powerful and easy to use building tools, quickly design awesome ships, stations and bases. Including functions: Copy & paste, undo, redo, replace, symmetry modes, shape assistance systems (spheres, cycles, torus and more) and rotation of templates.  
    *   **Modular Weapon Systems** - Combine weapon systems for countless configurations of weapons. From sniper beams to swarm missiles.  
    *   **Comprehensive Rail & Logic Systems** - Use the rail system to build moving parts. You can do anything from simple elevators, sliding or rotating doors, to complex cranes.  
        Tinker with our logic systems to control any system in the game, be it weapons, lights, rails, or explosives. Logic covers all basic gate types for convenient use (AND, OR, NOT, DELAY, Flip-Flop), allows in flight control and wireless connections between entities. You can use it for simple things like timers, switches, buttons. Or, build complex systems like working clocks and even a real CPU.
    *   **Community multiplayer (dedicated servers)** - Play with others in our community hosted servers. Our configs allow administrators to customise core game mechanics for a tailored experience. Most settings can be tweaked to squeeze the best performance out of hardware.  
    *   **Platform independent (Windows, Linux, Mac)** - StarMade is completely platform independent. We support the three most widely used operating systems.  
    *   **Free to play in alpha** - We offer the full game free to play while in alpha development. Play our game through this period for free while in return we receive invaluable feedback and bug reports.

Release date: Dec 4, 2014

Categories: Sandbox, Space Simulation, Voxel-based Building and Terraforming, Ship Building, Crafting, Multiplayer, Procedural Generation, Open-World Exploration


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 0.3h
  - Endgame: 200.0h
  - Reasoning: The first quote explicitly reports about 20 minutes per play session, supporting sessionLength of approximately 0.33 hours. The second quote gives 2500 hours of total enjoyment, but it does not establish completion time, story completion, or a clear endgame amount, so it is not mapped to those metrics. The third quote, translated from German, says players can lose hundreds of hours in the building menu; this supports a conservative long-term/endgame estimate of about 200 hours for sandbox building play. No review provides a game completion or story completion time.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report a brutal, poorly explained entry and steep learning curve, but say the game becomes very addicting once learned. No explicit time cue is given for when this shift occurs.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Learning the game
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: no real tutorial; vague videos that do not explain much; keybinds that do not seem to work right; steep learning curve; voxel-game jank
  - Unlock drivers: learning the game; reaching the rewarding experiences beyond the steep learning curve
  - Conditions: willingness to learn without a real tutorial; tolerance for voxel-game jank; active multiplayer community and populated servers; accepting the game's Early Access state
- Player Archetypes:
  - Early Access Multiplayer Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: To find an active multiplayer community for roleplay and PvP while waiting for meaningful content updates and full release.
    - Playstyle: Seeks hosted multiplayer servers for roleplay and PvP, but is currently limited by low activity and incomplete features.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Solo Relaxation Player (buy)
    - Motivation: To relax in a low-stress sandbox environment without needing other players.
    - Playstyle: Plays mostly or entirely in single-player mode and treats the game as a calm, personal relaxation space.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: solo
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Creative Ship and Station Builder (buy)
    - Motivation: To express creativity through ambitious station and ship construction projects.
    - Playstyle: Spends long sessions in the build menu designing and assembling large ships and stations.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Deep sandbox building freedom (weight 0.68): Players highlight the extensive freedom to construct ships and stations, with every creation being unique and supported by tools like rotation axes and rail systems. The building mode and blueprint system further ease construction and sharing.
- Fun alternative to Minecraft (weight 0.3): Reviewers describe the game as a fun alternative to Minecraft, with some even calling it better, and liken it to Minecraft in space with spaceships.
- Approachable yet powerful logic system (weight 0.23): The logic block system is praised for being well-designed and more approachable than Minecraft's Redstone, allowing even entry-level players to enjoy complex builds.
- Active development and updates (weight 0.22): Players appreciate that the developer still supports the game with updates years later and are happy it is back in development.
- Relaxing solo play experience (weight 0.22): The game is recommended for solo play as a relaxing experience, offering a fun way to pass the time.
- Worth the price for hours (weight 0.22): The game is considered worth many hours of playtime for its price, with reviewers enjoying a large amount of playtime.
- Massive potential and interesting mechanics (weight 0.21): Reviewers see massive potential in the game and find it has many interesting mechanics.
- Overall cool concept (weight 0.21): The game is described as a very cool concept and game, with reviewers adoring it.
- Nostalgic return to indie space (weight 0.2): The game provides a nostalgic return to indie space development type of game and was considered a great game back in the day.
- Simple yet deep systems (weight 0.13): The game has simple yet deep systems for building star stations, capital ships, and mining vessels.
- Great community on servers (weight 0.12): The community on hosted servers was great, enhancing the multiplayer experience.
- Sophisticated crafting system (weight 0.12): The game features very sophisticated crafting, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Improved planets in rebuild (weight 0.12): New planets in the rebuild look much better, according to reviewers.
- Shipyard system eases repairs (weight 0.12): The shipyard system allows for easily repairing ships, streamlining maintenance.
- Creativity without huge builds (weight 0.12): Newer updates allow for more room for creativity without having to build really super big, making it accessible.
- Long-term dedication to game (weight 0.11): One reviewer loves StarMade and will continue to run it, showing long-term dedication.

Common complaints:
- Prolonged early access frustrates players (weight 0.97): The game has remained in early access for many years, leading to perceptions of it being unfinished or abandonware. This is a frequent and specific complaint across multiple clusters.
- Steep learning curve and poor onboarding (weight 0.8): New players face a very steep learning curve, with almost nothing explained in-game. The tutorial is vague, and complex systems like towers, rails, and logic overwhelm newcomers, causing many to lose interest.
- Frequent drastic changes force relearning (weight 0.59): Systems change drastically every few months, forcing players to relearn the game. Veteran players are burnt out, and changes often feel unintuitive or not improvements.
- Turret building is frustrating and broken (weight 0.51): Building turrets for large ships is overly complicated and buggy, requiring excessive block counts or borrowed blueprints. Test firing can destroy the ship and cause spinning.
- Dead online community and playerbase (weight 0.45): The online playerbase is minimal, with few servers ever having players. The community is inactive, making multiplayer features effectively unusable.
- Severe performance and stability issues (weight 0.39): Players report frequent crashes, persistent errors that cannot be solved, and launcher download issues. These problems severely impact playability.
- Perceived as abandonware by some (weight 0.38): Some players believe the game is abandonware that will never be finished, citing the developer stepping back and unmet promises like the Universe Update.
- Controller support missing despite claims (weight 0.31): The product description claims controller support, but players find none works, even after testing multiple controllers. This is a clear case of misleading advertising.
- Mac and ARM compatibility issues (weight 0.31): The game does not work on Mac or ARM architecture, yet a misleading button for Mac users appears during purchase. This causes frustration and refund requests.
- Voxel jank and lack of story (weight 0.28): The game has a lot of jank typical of voxel games, and there is no story, only simple AI factions. This makes it feel like just a sandbox.
- Menu scaling and readability problems (weight 0.22): Menus shrink too small at modern resolutions, making text hard to read. There is a lack of menu and text scaling options.
- Keybinding and control issues (weight 0.22): Keybinds do not work correctly, and alignment controls are confusing without explanation. These issues hinder basic gameplay.
- Linux support regression (weight 0.13): Linux support no longer works as advertised, representing a regression from previous functionality.
- Community Discord hostile to questions (weight 0.12): The community Discord defenders attack users who ask questions, creating a hostile environment for newcomers.
- Refund support regression after window (weight 0.12): Support regression occurs after the refund window, preventing refunds for affected players.
- Login screens excessive (weight 0.12): Players complain about too many login screens instead of the developers focusing on making the game properly.
- Lack of multiplayer features outside roleplay (weight 0.12): The game has fewer multiplayer-specific features outside of roleplay compared to similar games.
- Written in Java (weight 0.1): The game is written in Java, which some players view negatively, though the reason is not elaborated.

Gameplay feedback:
- Spaceship and station building (weight 0.48): Players can construct a variety of spacecraft including capital ships, mining vessels, and combat ships, as well as star stations and other structures. The building system is a core feature, allowing for extensive customization and creativity.
- Sandbox voxel space game (weight 0.39): The game is a sandbox voxel-based experience set in space, often compared to Minecraft in space. It emphasizes building and playing with creations in a sci-fi setting.
- Multiplayer and solo play (weight 0.23): The game supports both solo play and hosted multiplayer servers, allowing players to engage with a playerbase online. This provides flexibility in how players interact with the game.
- Logic blocks and mechanisms (weight 0.22): The game includes logic blocks that can be tied together to create complex systems. Rotation axes and rail systems enable the building of functional mechanisms like hangar doors and lifts.
- AI factions and PVP (weight 0.22): AI factions are present in the game, and there is potential for both role-playing and player-versus-player interactions. This adds dynamic elements to the game world.
- Turret building and pivoting (weight 0.21): Players can build turrets for big ships, and turret pivoting points are a feature, allowing for adjustable aiming. This enhances combat functionality and customization.
- Universe generation rework planned (weight 0.21): Universe generation is a core game mechanic, and the planned Universe Update is a massive rework of core mechanics like universe generation. This indicates ongoing development and future improvements.
- Alignment and keybind controls (weight 0.18): The game involves alignment controls for orientation and uses keybinds for controls, which are standard interface features. These facilitate navigation and building.
- Weapon combination system (weight 0.13): Weapon types can be combined to create various effects such as rapid fire or increased range. This adds depth to combat and ship design.
- Blueprint sharing system (weight 0.13): A blueprint system allows players to save and share their ship and station designs. This facilitates community creativity and collaboration.
- Shield and power systems (weight 0.13): Shield systems and power blocks feature scaling and distribution mechanics, adding complexity to ship design and energy management. Players must consider how to allocate power effectively.
- Shipyard repair system (weight 0.12): A shipyard system is available for repairing ships, providing a way to maintain and restore vessels. This supports long-term gameplay and ship management.
- Crafting feature (weight 0.12): The game features crafting, allowing players to create items and components. This is a fundamental gameplay element for progression and building.
- Building and playing creations (weight 0.12): Players can build and play around with their creations, highlighting the sandbox nature of the game. This is a broad description of the core gameplay loop.
- Mass enhancers (weight 0.11): Mass enhancers are a specific block or feature in the game, likely used to improve ship performance. This is a niche but notable element for advanced builders.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.13): The game crashes constantly according to player feedback, severely impacting playability.
- Download stuck after Steam (weight 0.12): Users report that after initiating the download on Steam, the launcher cannot continue it, blocking installation.
- Unreadable menus at high resolutions (weight 0.12): At modern resolutions, menus shrink and text becomes unreadable, hindering navigation.

Recommendations:
- Avoid purchasing, seek free alternatives (weight 0.36): Multiple reviewers advise against buying the game, suggesting free downloads or repacks instead. They believe the game is not worth the money and recommend saving funds.
- Good for new players now (weight 0.21): Reviewers note it's a great time for first-time users to try Starmade, and new players should give it a chance. The game is welcoming to newcomers.
- Recommended for creative sci-fi fans (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for sci-fi enthusiasts with a creative streak, who should give it a chance. It appeals to those who enjoy imaginative building in a sci-fi setting.
- Wait for full release (weight 0.12): A reviewer states they would not buy until version 1.0, indicating the game is currently unfinished or lacking content. This suggests potential buyers should wait for a more complete product.
- Worth playing if free or bought (weight 0.12): A reviewer says to grab it free or buy it here, as it's worth playing. This suggests the game has entertainment value regardless of acquisition method.
- Use VPN as workaround (weight 0.11): One reviewer suggests using VPNs as an alternative method, likely to access the game or bypass restrictions. This indicates a workaround for availability or payment issues.
- Avoid if disagree with developer (weight 0.11): One reviewer advises not to buy if you dislike the developer's occasional activity. This reflects concerns about the developer's behavior affecting purchase decisions.

Other player notes:
- Prolonged early access status (weight 0.54): Multiple reviewers note the game has been in Early Access for many years, with some citing over a decade since 2014. This long development period is a recurring concern.
- Frequent Minecraft comparisons (weight 0.46): Players often compare the game to Minecraft, describing it as a space-themed alternative with a more accessible logic system. Some find it significantly deeper than early Minecraft.
- Development resumed with rebuild (weight 0.45): After appearing abandoned, the developer announced a full rebuild in a new engine and posted about it on YouTube. A Patreon was linked to support full-time development.
- Long-term developer support (weight 0.36): The developer has supported the game with updates for many years, and remains occasionally active. Development has been ongoing for nearly 12 years.
- Community-driven updates (weight 0.3): The developer has handed over updates and bug fixes to the community, which continues to keep the game functional. Community-driven changes are a main draw for some players.
- Free availability discrepancies (weight 0.3): The game can be obtained for free from the official website, yet it is sold on Steam. This pricing inconsistency is noted by reviewers.
- Declining community and content (weight 0.2): Almost no active community remains, and there are few newer content creators, with average videos being 7-10 years old.
- Active Discord community (weight 0.12): The community is active on Discord, providing a space for players to interact and share information.
- Large ship building capability (weight 0.12): Players can build ships over 600 meters long, highlighting the game's scale and building potential.
- Lack of story and simple AI (weight 0.12): The game has no story and features only simple AI factions, which may limit engagement for some players.
- Did not match Minecraft's momentum (weight 0.11): Despite similarities, the game did not gain the same momentum as Minecraft, according to some reviewers.
- Controller support claimed (weight 0.11): The product description claims controller support, though its actual functionality is not detailed in the feedback.
- Unfavorable No Man's Sky comparison (weight 0.1): One reviewer compared the game unfavorably to No Man's Sky, calling it a bigger disappointment.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players are frustrated by persistent technical issues such as crashes, unreadable menus, lack of controller support, and Mac incompatibility, as well as the inability to get refunds. They also cite the game's long early access period, constant system changes that force relearning, and a lack of proper tutorials, making it hard to get into.
- Disappointment (weight 0.28): Disappointment stems from the game remaining in early access for over a decade, a dead online playerbase, and misleading product descriptions. Many players feel let down by the steep learning curve, lack of content, and inactive community, leading to comparisons with No Man's Sky.
- Overwhelmed (weight 0.05): New players feel overwhelmed by complex systems like towers, rails, and logic that are not explained, and by a wall of text presented with a 20-second deadline in a tiny window.
- Hope (weight 0.05): Players hold hope that the full game will be finished and that the Universe Update will eventually be released.
- Shock (weight 0.03): Players are shocked that the developer still supports the game and releases updates after many years.
- Happiness (weight 0.03): Players are happy that the game is back in development.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Enthusiasm is driven by the game being back in development and the community actively working on it.
- Relaxation (weight 0.03): Players find relaxation in playing solo, treating the game as a relaxation room.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players love the freedom in ship and station building that no other game offers.
- Hesitation (weight 0.03): Hesitation arises from having to relearn everything after changes.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players enjoy the game because they have spent many hours playing it.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by returning to an indie space development type of game.
- Irritation (weight 0.03): Irritation is caused by people complaining about a free game they chose to pay for.
- Adoration (weight 0.03): The reviewer absolutely adores the game.
- Gladness (weight 0.03): Gladness is felt because the developer picked up the game again.
- Disapproval (weight 0.03): Disapproval is expressed toward the decision to hand over updates to the community instead of leaving the game abandoned.}