Info about Space Engineers:

Official game description:
DELUXE EDITION
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The Deluxe Edition includes the standard **Space Engineers** game, an **exclusive "Golden" skin set** for your character and tools, the first **Space Engineers** build from 2013, all tracks from the **original soundtrack**, over **200 unpublished digital concept images and never seen videos** and a **special badge**!
About the Game
==============
Space Engineers is an open world sandbox game about designing, building and testing your own space machines. Construct ships, stations and planetary bases in a fully destructible environment, then explore planets and space, mine resources, survive hazards and engage in combat alone or with friends in Creative or Survival modes.
Play solo or in multiplayer, from small co-op outposts to huge community servers. Start with a simple lander, grow into a mining and industrial empire, or focus on warships and planetary fortresses – the game gives you the tools and physics, you decide what to build.
Space Engineers uses a volumetric physics engine: every block and voxel has mass, inertia and damage. Ships break apart, stations crumble and terrain can be drilled, carved and reshaped, so your engineering choices really matter.
Space Engineers is grounded in real engineering and hard science fiction, driven by realism and plausible near-future technology. Think modern space programs extrapolated into the future: realistic ships, stations, tools and systems where everything is built and simulated block by block. It’s about the machinery you build, not about magic or scripted set-pieces.  
**Why play Space Engineers (SE1) now?**
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*   10+ years of active development with many free updates every year – and still ongoing
*   Huge Steam Workshop with thousands of ships, bases, mods, scripts and scenarios
*   Stable, feature-rich sandbox ideal for long-term saves and big community servers
*   All DLC is cosmetic-only – everyone plays with the same gameplay
*   Active player base, dedicated servers and modding community
**Core features**
-----------------
Build anything
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*   Design and pilot small and large ships, asteroid stations and planetary bases
*   Over 200 functional blocks: thrusters, rotors, pistons, turrets, conveyors, production blocks and more
*   First- and third-person building, symmetry tools and blueprints for fast large-scale construction
*   Manual building in Survival: weld to assemble blocks, grind to disassemble and reuse components
Fully destructible world
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*   Voxel planets, moons and asteroids with atmospheres, gravity and climate zones
*   Drill, cut and blast terrain; carve tunnels, craters and underground bases
*   Ships and structures take block-by-block damage and can break into pieces
*   Deformable and destructible objects with real mass, storage capacity and integrity
Play your way
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*   Creative – unlimited resources, instant building, no death
*   Survival – manual assembly, resource and power management, death/respawn
*   Singleplayer or multiplayer (co-op or competitive) with privacy settings and dedicated servers
*   Scenarios, Workshop worlds and custom worlds so you can start in exactly the kind of universe you want
**Endless replayability**
-------------------------
*   Super-large worlds with procedural asteroids and exploration encounters
*   Exploration systems that add ships and stations to discover, capture and conquer
*   Visual Script Editor to create your own missions, game modes and campaigns
*   Cargo ships, factions and AI-controlled threats to interact with – or defend against
Modding & scripting
-------------------
*   Deep Steam Workshop integration for worlds, blueprints, mods and scripts
*   Modding API in C# to change game behaviour and add new systems
*   Programmable block for in-game automation and custom logic
*   Support for custom textures, models and many other mod types
Systems & survival
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*   Electricity, power grids and generators powering your entire base or ship
*   Oxygen and hydrogen for life support and thrusters
*   Weapons and combat blocks for ship-to-ship battles and base defense
*   GPS, remote control, voxel hands, controller support and more quality-of-life tools
*   Extensive language support with official and community localizations

Release date: Feb 28, 2019

Categories: Sandbox Creation, Base Building, Survival, Crafting, Mod Support, Multiplayer, Physics Simulation, Space Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 90; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization strategies, particularly the excessive and overpriced DLCs that are seen as necessary for a full gaming experience. Many users feel that the developers are more focused on profit through DLCs rather than improving the game itself. The high cost and the pay-to-win nature of some DLCs are major points of contention.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary issues highlighted by users revolve around the lack of in-game documentation, complex mechanics that are not well-explained, and technical issues. The dependency on external wikis and guides disrupts the gaming experience, and the steep learning curve is a significant barrier for new players. Additionally, technical issues such as the need for high-end specs and encountering bugs further detract from the overall experience.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant technical barriers for playing the game on Linux and the Steam Deck. Key issues include performance problems, poor controller support, and a perceived lack of developer support for Linux. Despite these challenges, many users still enjoy the game and recommend it, indicating a strong core gameplay experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community finds the base game to be of good value, especially when purchased on sale. Many reviews highlight that the base game, priced around $20, offers a substantial amount of content and is worth the money. Some reviews mention that the game is worth its price even without the DLCs, and others emphasize the value when the game is purchased at a discount. The general sentiment is that the base game provides a good experience and is reasonably priced, particularly when on sale.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 300.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that players spend a significant amount of time both playing the game and investing additional hours into learning through external resources like videos and articles. One player mentions spending 300 hours in survival mode alone, indicating a deep and prolonged engagement with the game. Another player states they have spent a few hours playing the game, but this is only a fraction of the total time invested, including external learning. Additionally, a player mentions being addicted after 38 hours, suggesting a substantial initial investment to reach a high level of engagement.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and poor tutorials, making the initial experience frustrating and overwhelming. However, once players overcome these hurdles, they often find the game enjoyable and rewarding.
  - Stance: Fun after initial hurdles
  - Anchor: Overcoming the initial learning curve
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Poor tutorial system; Overwhelming controls; Lack of clear guidance
  - Unlock drivers: External resources like YouTube tutorials; Spending significant time learning game mechanics
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Using mods; Creative mode; Multiplayer
- Player Archetypes:
  - Creative Engineer (buy)
    - Motivation: Building and creating complex designs
    - Playstyle: Creative and experimental building, modding, and customization
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Builder; Modder
    - Reference games: Minecraft; No Man's Sky
  - Social Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Cooperative play and social interaction
    - Playstyle: Cooperative building, exploring, and engaging in multiplayer battles
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Co-op Player; Multiplayer Enthusiast
    - Reference games: Planetside 2; EVE Online
  - Learning Survivor (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning and mastering the game mechanics
    - Playstyle: Exploring game mechanics, following guides, and gradual skill improvement
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Newbie; Learner
    - Reference games: Kerbal Space Program; Dark Souls
  - Hardcore Survivor (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering survival mechanics and overcoming challenges
    - Playstyle: Focused on survival, resource management, and overcoming environmental challenges
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Survivalist; Hardcore Gamer
    - Reference games: 7 Days to Die; Empyrion


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:
- Creative and imaginative gameplay (weight 0.43): The game encourages creativity and experimentation, allowing players to build and design freely. This freedom fosters inventive thinking and problem-solving.
- Building and construction freedom (weight 0.35): Players enjoy the freedom to build various structures, bases, and spacecraft. The building possibilities are vast and allow for limitless creativity.
- Extensive mod support (weight 0.34): The game has a huge range of mods available, making it easy to integrate and enhance gameplay. This modding capability adds variety and extends the game's longevity.
- Deep and complex gameplay (weight 0.25): The game offers depth in gameplay with technical and complex mechanics. This complexity adds to the game's depth, making it engaging and rewarding.
- Strong and supportive community (weight 0.19): The game boasts an incredible and dedicated community that is helpful and passionate. This community support enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Regular updates and improvements (weight 0.15): The game receives frequent updates that bring improvements and optimizations. These continuous updates keep the game fresh and enhance performance.
- Variety of activities and playstyles (weight 0.14): The game offers a variety of activities and playstyles, catering to different preferences. This versatility ensures that players can find something they enjoy, whether it's building, exploring, or combat.

Common complaints:
- Poor tutorial and UI (weight 0.29): The game has been criticized for its poor tutorial system and user interface, making it difficult for new players to understand and navigate the game.
- High cost and overuse of DLCs (weight 0.19): Players feel that the game and its DLCs are overpriced, and there are too many DLCs required to access certain content, which can be a significant financial burden.
- Developer focus on DLCs and sequels (weight 0.16): Developers are criticized for focusing on releasing cosmetic DLCs and sequels instead of optimizing the current game and fixing existing bugs.
- Game-breaking bugs (weight 0.15): The game is reported to have various bugs that can be game-breaking, causing instability and significant issues during gameplay.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.14): The game has a steep learning curve, which can be daunting and frustrating for new players trying to understand the complex systems.
- Buggy physics engine (weight 0.14): The physics engine in the game is reported to be buggy and inaccurate, leading to various issues and glitches that affect gameplay.
- Lack of gameplay direction (weight 0.07): Players feel that the gameplay lacks direction and can feel incomplete, leading to a less satisfying gaming experience.
- Grid and sub-grid limitations (weight 0.07): The game's grid and sub-grid mechanics are criticized for being ill-conceived and limiting, preventing proper functionality of many blocks.
- Complex and unintuitive controls (weight 0.06): The controls and UI are described as complex and unintuitive, making the game difficult to play and navigate.
- Grindy progression (weight 0.06): The game is criticized for being grindy, requiring players to spend hours grinding to progress.
- Weak quest and economic systems (weight 0.05): The quest and economic systems in the game are reported to be weak, needing improvement to provide a better gaming experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Extensive building mechanics (weight 0.48): The game offers a wide range of building options, including space stations, spacecraft, cars, planes, and various other structures. Players enjoy the modular and physics-driven construction aspects.
- Exploration and survival (weight 0.2): Players can explore planets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies. The game includes survival elements such as mining and resource gathering.
- Physics-based gameplay (weight 0.16): The game's physics engine is a core aspect, providing realistic interactions and challenging gameplay. Players appreciate the physics simulation and its integration into building and engineering.
- DLC and mod support (weight 0.15): The game features additional content through DLCs and supports mod integration from platforms like Steam Workshop. However, there are some issues with DLC integration and pricing.
- Multiplayer and community (weight 0.11): The game offers multiplayer modes, including cooperative gameplay and community interactions. Players enjoy the multiplayer experience and community engagement.
- Creativity and customization (weight 0.11): Players appreciate the creative aspects of the game, including design challenges and customizable gameplay. The game allows for extensive customization of settings and structures.
- Sandbox and survival elements (weight 0.07): The game is a sci-fi sandbox with various survival elements. Players enjoy the open-world exploration and space warfare simulations.
- Automation and AI (weight 0.06): The game includes automation potential with AI blocks and programming. Players enjoy the creativity and automation aspects of the gameplay.
- Game mechanics and balance (weight 0.05): The game features interesting mechanics and design features. However, there are some issues with game balance and mechanics that players have noted.
- Pirate encounters and missions (weight 0.05): Players encounter pirates and other challenges, adding excitement and missions to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.19): The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including poor graphics, long loading times, and unstable performance. These issues are frequently mentioned and affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.12): The game crashes frequently, which is a significant issue affecting gameplay stability.
- Game runs well on decent hardware (weight 0.1): Some players report that the game runs smoothly and performs well on decent hardware. However, there are also mentions of occasional lag.
- Major bugs and stability issues (weight 0.1): The game has numerous bugs that persist and can be quite annoying. These bugs contribute to the game's instability and crashes.
- Multiplayer performance issues (weight 0.1): There are notable performance issues in multiplayer mode, including low FPS and stability problems.
- High hardware requirements (weight 0.08): The game requires a decent computer with good RAM and GPU to run smoothly, often needing higher specifications than advertised.
- Network and server issues (weight 0.07): There are problems with network code, server stability, and disconnects, affecting multiplayer gameplay.
- Graphical and audio glitches (weight 0.06): Players experience graphical glitches and audio issues, such as crackling, which detract from the gameplay experience.
- Save and progress issues (weight 0.05): Players report issues with saves being corrupted and progress being lost, which is a significant problem.
- Compatibility and technical issues (weight 0.05): There are various technical incompatibilities and issues with specific hardware or software configurations.
- Control and menu issues (weight 0.05): There are problems with camera controls, menu scrolling, and random control failures, which can be frustrating for players.
- Performance varies widely (weight 0.02): The game's performance can vary significantly depending on the hardware and specific configurations, leading to inconsistent experiences.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for creative builders (weight 0.25): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy building, engineering, and creative problem-solving. It is particularly suited for those who like space themes and constructing spaceships.
- Highly recommended despite issues (weight 0.14): Many players highly recommend the game despite some issues. It is suggested for all ages and is particularly enjoyable for those who like creative and engineering challenges.
- Mods enhance gameplay (weight 0.06): Using mods is highly recommended to improve the gaming experience. Players suggest trying the game with mods and friends for a more enjoyable time.
- Try Space Engineers 2 (weight 0.05): Some players suggest trying Space Engineers 2 as an alternative. This recommendation is for those who might be looking for a different experience within the same genre.
- Consider other games (weight 0.04): Players recommend trying other games like Subnautica and Satisfactory for a more guided experience. This is suggested for those who might find the current game too open-ended.
- Play with friends (weight 0.04): The game is more enjoyable when played with friends. This social aspect is highlighted as a significant positive point by many players.
- Check community content (weight 0.03): Watching YouTube content and visiting the subreddit are recommended before buying the game. This helps in understanding the game better and making an informed purchase decision.
- Adjust game settings (weight 0.03): Starting with 'Safe' settings and no NPCs initially is recommended. Additionally, playing with increased inventory and lower tech requirements can tone down the grind factor.
- Backup saves regularly (weight 0.02): It is advised to regularly backup your game saves to avoid losing progress. This is a practical tip to ensure a smooth gaming experience.

Other player notes:
- DLCs mentioned (weight 0.02): Some reviews mention DLCs, but no specific details or context are provided.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's steep learning curve, complex controls, and lack of adequate tutorials. Additionally, frequent game crashes, physics engine bugs, and save file corruption issues contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.15): Players find satisfaction in the game's creative building aspects, the depth of the building system, and the sense of accomplishment from engineering and piloting their creations. The game's robust tools, variety of gameplay, and long-term enjoyment also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.14): Players are excited about the game's vast creative possibilities, the freedom to design and experiment, and the engaging gameplay mechanics. The anticipation for the sequel, Space Engineers 2, and the variety of activities and creative freedom also contribute to this excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game's creative freedom, the variety of gameplay options, and the engaging process of building spaceships. The fun gameplay experience, especially when playing with friends, and the unique and diverse gameplay elements also contribute to their enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of content, poor game quality, and the developers' focus on DLC sales rather than addressing community concerns and fixing bugs. The shift in focus from engineering to survival and the lack of meaningful single-player experiences also contribute to this disappointment.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Players experience joy from the creative possibilities and physics-based gameplay, as well as the positive experiences with friends. The game's unique physics and building mechanics, along with the freedom to build and experiment, contribute to this joy.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's creative and automation features, as well as the long-term enjoyment and excitement for the successor. The positive aspects of building and exploring in the game, along with the multiplayer and mod support, contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the developer's continued support and content updates, as well as the game's creative freedom and variety. The educational and entertaining aspects of the game, along with the ongoing updates and new content, contribute to this appreciation.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players are angry due to game crashes, limitations, and the lack of updates, with a focus on the sequel instead of fixing current issues. The presence of bugs causing loss of progress and negative multiplayer experiences also contribute to this anger.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Players feel nostalgic as they remember the game's prime and compare it to playing with Legos. The memorable moments in space and the wish to have played the game as a child contribute to this nostalgia.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are enjoying the game's engineering sandbox and well-structured sandbox environment. The unique and engaging gameplay experiences, along with the creative freedom, contribute to this enjoyment.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for improvements and solutions, as well as the potential for others to enjoy building various creations. The purchase of the sequel and continued play also contribute to this hope.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players are grateful for the developer's responsiveness to community feedback and the active community. The updates and DLC, along with the positive impact on cognitive abilities, contribute to this gratitude.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by the unique and unpredictable experiences, such as watching creations self-destruct and unexpected physics interactions. The humorous and entertaining aspects of the game contribute to this amusement.
- Loneliness (weight 0.01): Players feel lonely due to the lack of friends to play with and the absence of story and NPC interactions. Playing alone in the infinite space contributes to this feeling of loneliness.
- Frustration (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to the game's complicated controls and the rough initial experience. The steep learning curve and the difficulty in understanding the game's mechanics contribute to this frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.01): Players feel disappointed due to the game's broken state and the annoying presence of DLC parts in the menu. The unmet expectations and the game's issues contribute to this disappointment.
- Confusion (weight 0): Players are confused due to the game's inadequate in-game descriptions and surreal, chaotic events. The lack of clear instructions and the complex mechanics contribute to this confusion.
- Love (weight 0): Players love the game due to their personal attachment and overall enjoyment. The game's unique features and engaging gameplay contribute to this love.
- Admiration (weight 0): Players admire the game's beautiful visuals and the developers' support and encouragement of modding. The game's impressive graphics and the developers' commitment to the community contribute to this admiration.}