Info about SpaceEngine:

Official game description:
**SpaceEngine** is a 1:1 scale science-based Universe simulator, featuring billions upon billions of galaxies, nebulae, stars, and planets, all shown at their full real-world scale. Explore Earth and our neighboring worlds in the Solar System, orbit a black hole in a galaxy billions of light-years away, or visit anything in between seamlessly, with no transitions.  
All of time and space are yours to explore – cruise between the stars at a million times the speed of light, and accelerate time to watch the orbital motions of a thousand worlds play out before your eyes. Every planet you encounter in your journey will feature procedural 3D terrain with detailed textures. Everything you see in the sky – stars and galaxies, planets and moons, asteroids and comets, black holes and neutron stars, star clusters and nebulae – are yours to explore at the press of a button.  
Spacecraft with Newtonian physics and pilot-assist autopilot features (in early development but fully usable) are yours to fly anywhere in the universe in the Flight Simulator mode. SpaceEngine is also very friendly for creators of mods and add-ons – create your own planets, star systems, even galaxies, import your own spacecraft models, create custom GUI skins, and more, all easily sharable with others.  
With SpaceEngine, the possibilities are limitless.  
**SpaceEngine Planetarium capabilities:**  
*   **Astronomy**  
    All types of celestial objects are represented: galaxies, nebulae, stars and star clusters, planets and moons, comets and asteroids. Known celestial objects are represented using data from catalogs: galaxies (NGC/IC), stars (HIPPARCOS), star clusters, nebulae, and planets (Solar System and known extrasolar planets). Regions of space not yet cataloged feature procedurally generated objects: galaxies, stars, star clusters, nebulae, and planetary systems.  
*   **Controls**  
    You are free to move around the universe – travel seamlessly between any object and any distance, from surface to orbit to interstellar and intergalactic space. Moving through space is as easy as "click and go", as well as game-style free flight using the WASD keys or a gamepad. Also, time travel is possible: you can accelerate, decelerate, or reverse the flow of time, and jump to a specified date. Detailed interactive tutorials will familiarize you with the controls.  
*   **Graphics**  
    Volumetric 3D models of galaxies and nebulae with interstellar dust clouds, and 3D landscapes on planets and stars. For many Solar System bodies, actual data from space probes is used, with huge, high-resolution texture packs available as free DLC. For unmapped and procedural planets, the surface is generated procedurally using your computer's GPU. Other features include realistic atmospheric scattering, eclipse shadows, animated auroras and comet tails, and physically-based light warping near black holes and neutron stars, with animated accretion disks and jets.
*   **Physics**  
    Realistic and physically-based generation of procedural objects (galaxies, star systems, planets) and their physical properties (mass, radius, temperature, atmospheric parameters, etc). The orbital motion of planets, moons, and stars in multiple-star systems are accurately calculated and displayed. Realistic space ship design concepts and physics: orbital motion, atmospheric flight model, and Alcubierre warp drive physics.  
*   **Virtual reality**  
    SpaceEngine supports Oculus (via native library) and SteamVR (HTC Vive, Valve Index, WMR and other headsets). Support of VR controllers is partial: you can select objects with one controller and move around with the other one. Please note that VR support is still a work in progress, and new users should become familiar with the program in 2D before trying to use VR.  
*   **Sound**  
    Original background music tracks made by many authors, with context-sensitive playback. Sound effects for planetary environments and space ships are in development.  
*   **Tools**  
    Built-in tutorials will help you start using the Planetarium. Search for celestial objects by name and search for the nearest star systems. Browse the cosmos using a scalable Universe map and planetary system chart. Saving, exporting, and importing of locations is supported, which can easily be shared between users. The program keeps an automatic journal of objects you have recently visited. Learn every detail about the objects you find using the built-in “Wiki” info system, with additional hand-written descriptions of many known objects. Display the orbital paths of celestial objects, labels and markers, constellations, and other informational tools.  
*   **Multi-language support**  
    Currently SpaceEngine is available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Croatian, Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Catalan, Chinese, Japanese, Korean languages. Many new localizations are under development. Only localizations which are 100% complete are displayed on the Steam store page, but you can enable others in-game.  
*   **Modding**  
    SpaceEngine supports creating and importing user add-ons: catalogs, models and textures for deep space objects, planets, and space ships. Spacecraft models, representing both real and fictional designs – including from popular sci-fi franchises – are commonly imported and shared by the community on the Steam Workshop.

Release date: Jun 11, 2019

Categories: Simulation, Space Exploration, Educational Simulation, Procedural Generation, Virtual Reality, Mod Support, Custom Asset Support, Scientific Simulation

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Highly Praised; summary: Users overwhelmingly praise SpaceEngine for its educational value, immersive experience, and credibility. The application is seen as an interactive encyclopedia and a tool for learning about celestial bodies, providing a beautiful and satisfying experience. The integration with Wikipedia and the detailed parameters of celestial bodies enhance its educational and professional appeal.
- Proton/Linux: score 75; verdict: Barely Playable; summary: The game experiences significant compatibility and stability issues on Linux, with frequent crashes and rendering problems reported. Many users recommend playing the game on Windows for a better experience. Despite some positive experiences, the overall consensus indicates that the game does not work well on Linux, even with Proton GE.
- Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several critical issues impacting user satisfaction. Stability issues, including frequent crashes, are a significant concern. Compatibility problems with Linux and Proton are also prevalent, often requiring users to switch to Windows for optimal performance. Performance issues, particularly on lower-end configurations, and control difficulties further detract from the overall experience. These technical barriers collectively contribute to a less-than-ideal user experience, necessitating attention from developers to address these issues.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across different hardware cohorts, with most players reporting high frame rates and good optimization. However, there are some issues with crashes and performance drops in specific scenarios, particularly on lower-end hardware or when using non-Windows operating systems.
  - Sample size: 155 (5% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 92 reports): The game runs well on this hardware, with high FPS on various settings, though some users report crashes and performance drops near black holes.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 29 reports): The game is well-optimized, delivering high FPS at 1440p, though performance drops in demanding scenarios like near black holes.
  - Caveats: 155 of 3308 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $25.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that multiple users explicitly state that the game is worth around $30. Several reviews mention that the game is worth the price, with specific mentions of $30 and 29 euros, which aligns closely with the current base game price. The consistent mention of the game being worth around $30 suggests that the community considers this a fair price point.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided indicates that players often spend several hours exploring and getting lost in the vast universe of Space Engine. The reviews mention spending hours flying around the universe, checking out star systems, and exploring various celestial bodies. This suggests that the typical session length can be quite long, often spanning several hours. However, there is no specific mention of the total time required to complete the game or its story, nor is there detailed information about endgame content. Therefore, the confidence level is moderate due to the lack of specific playtime metrics for all categories.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially offers an exciting and terrifying experience, particularly for space enthusiasts, but tends to become boring within 30 minutes to an hour of play.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Initial exploration and discovery
  - Time to anchor: 0h 0m
  - Friction: Need to learn mechanics; Repetitive gameplay
  - Unlock drivers: Initial excitement; Beauty of the game
  - Conditions: Interest in space; Relaxing gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - Educational Space Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Learning and visual exploration
    - Playstyle: Exploring and capturing visuals, using the game as an educational tool.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: 天文爱好者; space enthusiast
    - Reference games: Universe Sandbox; Stellarium
  - Professional Astrophysicist (buy)
    - Motivation: Scientific accuracy and educational value
    - Playstyle: Using the game for detailed exploration and educational purposes, appreciating the scientific accuracy.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: trained, professional astrophysicist; 天体物理在学的博士生
    - Reference games: Universe Sandbox
  - Passionate Space Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Passion for space exploration
    - Playstyle: Immersive exploration, often using VR for a more engaging experience.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: space explorer; cosmic explorer
    - Reference games: Elite Dangerous


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:
- Detailed Astronomical Information (weight 0.63): The game provides detailed information about celestial objects, including orbital parameters, planetary geology, and other astronomical data. This makes it a useful tool for both education and exploration.
- Educational Value (weight 0.52): The game is highly recommended for space and astronomy enthusiasts due to its educational content. It helps users learn about the solar system, celestial bodies, and various astronomical phenomena, making it suitable for educational purposes.
- Freedom to Explore (weight 0.5): Players have the freedom to explore the entire universe, including galaxies, stars, and planets. The game offers a vast and fun exploration experience, allowing players to visit and interact with various celestial bodies.
- Procedural Generation of Celestial Bodies (weight 0.46): The game offers procedural generation of celestial bodies, creating unique and detailed planets, stars, and other cosmic objects. This feature allows for endless exploration and discovery of varied and realistic celestial phenomena.
- Stunning Visuals and Graphics (weight 0.39): The game features astonishing and realistic visuals, including impressive graphics with photorealistic scenes and jaw-dropping sights. The visual fidelity and rendering are highly praised for their breathtaking quality.
- Comprehensive Universe Model (weight 0.38): The game includes a wide-scale 3D representation of the universe, featuring every known celestial object such as planets, stars, galaxies, and black holes. It provides a complete model of the observable universe at a 1 to 1 scale.
- Realistic Universe Simulation (weight 0.3): The game is noted for its highly accurate and realistic simulation of the universe. It includes accurate representations of celestial objects and astronomical events, providing a believable and robust space simulation experience.
- Good for Space Lovers (weight 0.25): The game is described as a great experience for space lovers and enthusiasts. It offers a unique and enjoyable exploration of space, making it a recommended choice for those interested in astronomy and space exploration.
- Positive Gameplay Experience (weight 0.21): Players generally describe the game as beautiful, cool, and excellent. The gameplay is praised for being very good and enjoyable, providing a positive overall experience.
- High-Quality Planetarium Software (weight 0.21): The game is noted for being a very good planetarium software with hyper-realistic and detailed 3D models. It offers great views of the solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond, making it a complete astronomy tool.
- Planet Exploration (weight 0.18): The game allows players to explore and even enter planets, providing accurate details and the ability to discover exoplanets. This feature enhances the exploration experience by offering a close-up view of various celestial bodies.
- Worth the Price (weight 0.13): The game is considered worth the price, especially for those who enjoy space exploration and astronomy. It offers good value for the price, particularly when on sale.
- Astronomical Observations (weight 0.11): The game allows for unique astronomical observations, including observing Earth, star trajectories, and planetary movements. This feature provides an interesting and educational perspective on various celestial events.
- Screenshot Capabilities (weight 0.1): The game includes tools for taking high-resolution screenshots, allowing players to capture beautiful and detailed images of the universe. This feature is appreciated by those who enjoy documenting their exploration.

Common complaints:
- Procedurally generated planets lack realism (weight 0.25): Many planets in the game are procedurally generated and lack realistic atmospheric effects, often resulting in repetitive and unrealistic appearances.
- Camera bugs and general bugginess (weight 0.14): The game suffers from various bugs, including camera issues where the camera moves by itself, contributing to an overall buggy experience.
- Lack of interactivity and purpose (weight 0.14): The game is criticized for its monotonous gameplay and lack of a compelling story or purpose, making it seem boring to some players.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.11): The game is reported to crash frequently, indicating poor coding and stability issues.
- Texture and object loading issues (weight 0.08): Players experience bugs where textures fail to load, and objects disappear, affecting the visual quality and gameplay experience.
- Unclear and counter-intuitive controls (weight 0.08): The controls are not clear initially and can be overwhelming and counter-intuitive for new players.
- Lack of gameplay elements (weight 0.06): The game lacks traditional gameplay elements like missions or combat, which may disappoint players expecting such features.
- VR performance and UI issues (weight 0.06): Players using VR encounter performance issues and a clunky user interface, detracting from the overall experience.
- Non-functional search tool (weight 0.05): The search tool in the game is reported to be non-functional, limiting the ability to catalog and search for items.
- Lack of certain astronomical features (weight 0.05): The game does not show the real density of stars or include certain features like stellar motion speeds and cosmic structure labeling.

Gameplay feedback:
- Procedural Generation of Celestial Bodies (weight 0.51): The game features a highly detailed procedural generation system for creating celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and galaxies. This includes realistic simulations using astrophysics equations, detailed planetary geology, and the ability to explore and edit these bodies.
- Immersive Exploration of the Universe (weight 0.42): Players can explore a vast universe with billions of planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae. The game allows for immersive travel through various cosmic bodies and events, providing a rich and detailed exploration experience.
- Realistic Universe Simulation (weight 0.32): The game offers a realistic and scientific simulation of the universe, including accurate astronomical data and interactive simulation experiences. It serves as both a planetarium and a space simulator.
- Planet Customization and Landing (weight 0.25): Players can name, create, and land on planets, with tools for customization and editing. This feature enhances the exploration and interaction with celestial bodies.
- Open-Ended Space Exploration (weight 0.21): The gameplay is centered around open-ended exploration of space, allowing players to discover and study different planets, galaxies, black holes, and nebulae. It also includes educational elements about astronomy.
- Realistic Visuals and Endless Content (weight 0.14): The game features realistic visuals and real-time rendering, providing an endless amount of content with infinite planets, stars, and galaxies to explore.
- Educational and Observational Gameplay (weight 0.13): The gameplay includes educational content about astronomy and observational gameplay elements. Players can learn about celestial bodies and events while exploring the universe.
- Realistic Space Travel Mechanics (weight 0.12): The game includes realistic space travel mechanics, such as traveling at light speed and faster-than-light travel. This allows for efficient exploration of the vast universe.
- Astronomical Observation and Tools (weight 0.12): The game provides scientific tools for astronomical observation and data analysis, ensuring accurate and true astronomical data support.
- Unique Features and Tools (weight 0.1): The game includes unique features such as time travel to observe planetary rotations and changes in constellations, and a search engine to find specific types of celestial bodies.
- Spaceship Mechanics (weight 0.08): Players can fly and drive spacecraft, adding a dynamic element to the exploration and travel within the game.
- Flying Through the Universe (weight 0.07): Players can fly through the universe, from Earth to the edge of the universe, providing a sense of scale and freedom in exploration.
- Predicting Celestial Events (weight 0.07): Players can predict and view celestial events, adding a dynamic and interactive element to the exploration.

Performance notes:
- Optimization and performance (weight 0.21): The game has mixed reviews on optimization, with some users reporting poor optimization and others praising its smooth and optimized performance.
- Runs well on various hardware (weight 0.18): The game runs comfortably on medium graphics and performs well on lower-end hardware, including older computers and most PCs.
- Crashing issues (weight 0.12): Several users have reported that the game crashes occasionally or constantly, which affects the overall gaming experience.
- Performance issues on certain systems (weight 0.12): There are performance issues reported on laptops, older systems, and when using high settings. Some users experience lag on lower-end devices.
- Texture and rendering issues (weight 0.09): There are reports of bugs with textures not loading and general texture rendering issues, which can impact the visual quality of the game.
- Resource utilization (weight 0.07): The game utilizes around 70% of CPU, GPU, and RAM, and does not fully utilize VRAM, indicating efficient resource management.
- High FPS on maximum settings (weight 0.07): Users report high FPS on maximum settings, indicating good performance on capable hardware.
- Minor bugs and issues (weight 0.07): There are reports of minor bugs, including a record bug causing lag and issues with specific graphics cards.
- Mixed reviews on system requirements (weight 0.06): There are mixed reviews regarding the system requirements, with some users finding them decent and others reporting issues with hardware requirements.
- VR performance and support (weight 0.05): There are performance issues reported with VR, indicating that VR support might need improvements.
- Interface and loading issues (weight 0.05): Some users experience interface freezing and long loading times, which can be frustrating.
- Specific performance scenarios (weight 0.04): Users report FPS drops near supermassive black holes and lag when recording or taking screenshots, indicating specific scenarios where performance might be affected.
- Customizable graphics settings (weight 0.03): The game allows every setting to be changed to fit the user's PC, providing flexibility in graphics configuration.
- Performance on modern hardware (weight 0.03): The game runs well on modern hardware with no performance issues, indicating good optimization for newer systems.
- Game accessibility issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of the game not letting users play, which can be a significant issue affecting accessibility.
- Outdated engine (weight 0.03): Some users mention that the game uses an outdated engine, which might affect performance and compatibility.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for space and astronomy enthusiasts (weight 0.48): The game is highly recommended for those interested in space, astronomy, and related fields. It is praised for its educational value and appeal to space enthusiasts, making it a must-try for anyone curious about the cosmos.
- Recommended for a broad audience (weight 0.15): The game is suggested for a wide range of players, including kids and adults, as well as those who enjoy quiet, reflective experiences. It is seen as a versatile game that can appeal to many different types of players.
- Worth the price (weight 0.12): Many reviews indicate that the game is worth its price, especially when on sale. Players feel they get good value for the cost, making it a worthwhile investment.
- Suggested improvements and features (weight 0.08): Players have suggested various improvements, such as better planet textures, more realistic celestial bodies, and a 'like the naked eye' feature. These suggestions indicate a desire for enhanced visual and realistic experiences.
- Alternative games and comparisons (weight 0.07): Some reviews mention alternative games like Universe Sandbox and Universe Simulator. These comparisons suggest that fans of similar games might enjoy this one as well.
- Positive reviews in different languages (weight 0.07): The game has received positive reviews in various languages, indicating a broad international appeal.
- Good for educational purposes (weight 0.06): The game is noted for its educational value, making it a good tool for learning about space and astronomy. It is even suggested that it should be mandatory in high school curricula.
- Fun and realistic exploration (weight 0.05): The game is praised for being a fun tool to explore a hypothetical version of the known universe with a high degree of realism.
- Technical and platform requests (weight 0.03): There are requests for specific technical improvements, such as a Mac version of the game. This indicates a demand for broader platform availability.
- Good for screenshots (weight 0.03): The game is noted for its visual appeal, making it good for taking screenshots. This suggests that the game has strong aesthetic qualities.
- Enhanced experience with good hardware (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those with good monitors or VR equipment, indicating that high-quality hardware can enhance the gaming experience.
- Gift for science-loving friends (weight 0.03): The game is suggested as a good gift for friends who love science, indicating its appeal as a thoughtful present.
- Investment in future projects (weight 0.03): Some reviews suggest investing in such projects for the future of science and technology, highlighting the game's potential impact beyond just entertainment.
- Unique experiences and suggestions (weight 0.03): Players have shared unique experiences and suggestions, such as playing specific music near a black hole, indicating the game's potential for creative and immersive experiences.
- Useful for creative professionals (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for sci-fi writers to understand scale, suggesting its usefulness for creative professionals.

Other player notes:
- Request for gameplay enhancements (weight 0.03): Players are requesting additional features such as a faster time speed and the inclusion of the current date within the game.
- Desire for screensaver mode (weight 0.03): Some players have expressed interest in having a screensaver mode added to the game, likely for aesthetic or practical purposes.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.24): Players are thrilled by the vast exploration possibilities and the detailed, realistic graphics of celestial bodies in the game. The VR experience, educational value, and the ability to traverse the universe freely also contribute significantly to this excitement.
- Awe (weight 0.18): The visual beauty and vastness of the universe depicted in the game evoke a sense of awe. Players are impressed by the stunning graphics, the scale of the universe, and the detailed visuals of celestial phenomena.
- Frustration (weight 0.1): Players experience frustration due to high PC requirements, game crashes, and various bugs. Issues with controls, performance, and the lack of tutorials also contribute to this frustration.
- Joy (weight 0.07): The joy comes from the fun and adventurous gameplay, the beauty of the graphics, and the freedom to explore and discover different planets and celestial bodies. The educational value and the detailed, immersive space exploration also bring joy to players.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players are satisfied with the game's value for the price, its suitability for all ages, and the accurate astronomical data. The ease of searching for celestial bodies and the overall positive experience contribute to this satisfaction.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the realistic visuals, the vast universe, and the scientific accuracy of the game. The scale and detail of the simulation, along with the development effort, evoke a sense of admiration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Disappointment stems from bugs, lack of realism in planet generation, and issues with VR mode. Players also feel disappointed with the lack of gameplay, slow development, and the perceived lack of value in the Pro version.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players express love for the game due to its features, the ability to explore the universe, and the realistic simulation. The game's size, realism, and the personal connection to space exploration contribute to this love.
- Relaxation (weight 0.03): The game is found relaxing due to its calming soundtracks and the stress-relieving experience of exploring star systems, galaxies, and planets. The game's design for relaxation and its ability to remove stress contribute to this feeling.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's visual quality, simulation aspects, and educational value. The beautiful visuals of the universe and the recognition of the developer's enthusiasm also contribute to this appreciation.
- Fear (weight 0.02): The game induces fear due to the vastness and unknown aspects of the universe, leading to existential realizations and astrophobia. The scale and horror in VR, along with the terrifying scale and emptiness of space, contribute to this fear.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Players feel nostalgia as the game reminds them of childhood experiences of stargazing and revisiting old hobbies. The emotional connection to personal memories and child-like wonder contribute to this nostalgia.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): The complexity and beauty of the procedural generation of the universe, along with the vastness of the universe to explore, evoke a sense of amazement. The ability to click any random dot and see a whole galaxy also contributes to this feeling.
- Wonder (weight 0.01): Players experience wonder through the exploration of the universe and the sense of scale and depth. Seeing the Milky Way from another galaxy and the overall exploration experience contribute to this wonder.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from camera bugs, unrealistic visuals, and difficulty in flying spacecraft. Players also feel confused when they are unable to find specific planets or features.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the procedural generation of planets, wanting to see specific astronomical events, and finding unique celestial bodies. The desire to explore and discover new things in the game contributes to this curiosity.}