2016 Came and went

: UPDATE :
So development throughout 2016 was pretty much derailed. I was in a continuous design loop where I would go through a design aspect based on the original specs and completely rip them to shreds; thus ensuring my continued zero-sum progress.

: PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE :
I have built, tested and then rebuilt the skyportalpha.com (wordpress) web site at least 4 times now. I have also been testing no less then four mySQL / Unity (C#) database solutions in the past few years. None do exactly what I need and my limited PHP skills are now holding me back.

: CONTINUOUS TRAINING :
I have also started numerous Udemy Unity courses and to keep with the running theme, completed none (yet). The most recent one, the RPG course has re-invigorated my development and has helped me to get back on track.

Post WWDC13

Damn you Apple.... I was all set, headed down the Unity (3d) trail and along comes SpriteKit. Arg, yes it's only 2d but I'm seeing a very cool multiplayer 2d game that Mac's and iOS devices can play together. Plus I have a tonne of unused 2d assests that will make the ship-builder portion, sweet!

Oh, wait... I didn't mention the ship-builder... Did I ;)

Okay after re-visiting and thinking about the (now) free iPhone add-on for the free Unity... well I really like FREE... and let's face it, a 3D game is much more immersive than any 2D game...

;-)

Still here, part Duex

Wow, designing a multi-player (server) game is quite the challenge but I'm really starting to "see" how it will all come together. Here's what I'm seeing, at this (early) stage:

Skyport-Alpha will be a 2-6 player, server based space simulation game. You will trade, explore and/or transport around a vast universe with both friendly and hostile alien environments. Not unlike both Elite Dangerous and RSI: Star Citizen (both of which we backed on kickstarter), Skyport-Alpha will be a space trader type game however it will not be an MMO, perhaps a new breed of Small Local Network Game (SLNG).

We will use Unity3D for development for numerous reasons one being it will allow us to offer a "lite" (free) version where the server can be run in a browser window (limited save/galaxy size).

Some of the early design we are working on now are seeming simple thing like launching the server, creating accounts and then connecting with the clients. To allow single player games we may have to develop a process to run the server inside the single player game, or simply run the server on the same computer.

Still Here...

We've spent the last several weeks designing, discussing along with learning Unity 3D.

We are moving ahead with some initial design concepts and really striving to make Skyport Alpha not your run of the mill space trader.

The one design concept that is at our forefront is Multiplayer. It's critical that we get a really fun game where a single player and a team (2 - 6) can play.

Our initial concept is where you can run a stand alone "server" and then join that server with your client.

While we are re-focusing the targeted devices to be Mac and PC, ideally we still want to release an iOS version at a later date.