Matrix Games Forums

Hello all,

During the past two weeks we've been working on the implementation of the mix-and-match functionality. Unlike other changes we've been doing since the EAP started, this one requires substantial changes in the code and in the assets. We still have some work left to do, but I wanted to share some screenshots with the results of our work.

The first change is that rockets are no longer obtained by opening regular programs. Now there's a separate overlay, which is accessed via the 'Solar System' screen, that displays a list of all the rocket programs along with the properties of their respective rockets and a button to open them. Opening a rocket program adds that rocket to your inventory and you're able to assign SET personnel in order to improve its reliability.

We've also added another overlay (which is accessed via the 'Solar System' screen, too) that displays a list of all the mission components that belong to the 'Regular Programs'. This overlay provides a handy way to see your stats and assign/remove SET personnel. I think you'll love this feature, it will certainly save you some time since it will be no longer necessary to hunt down each mission component by digging all the way through the Program Categories -> Programs -> Mission Configurations -> Mission Components hierarchy.

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The other important change is in the 'Mission Configurations' screens. Up to 0.7.15, you'd cycle across the different mission configurations and hit the 'Schedule Mission' button in order to start the process of assembling it. Now the game will display an empty slot for each booster required which, when clicked, will show a list of all the available boosters than can be used for such a mission given the combined weight of the payloads. Since the Explorer I satellite is quite light, all your available boosters are capable of lifting it into LEO.

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After choosing the R-7 booster, the 'Schedule Mission' button becomes available and we're able to proceed with the assembly process.

Notice that certain missions don't actually have an associated booster. In those cases, the 'Schedule Mission' button is available from the start.

Lastly, here's an example of a mission where the Explorer I booster is being launched on top of an R-7 booster.

We'll post another update next week.

Cheers,

Very impressive, I like. Good job. [:)]

Great! [&o]

Does mean now you can research the Saturn IB without open the short lunar missions?
If affirmative, the cost of the programs will be revised to down?

You always could research Saturn 1B without the Lunar missions; it's also used for the Pegasus satellite.

The fixed costs of the programs will go down, because you're paying for the boosters separately. If you're able to reuse the same boosters at a high rate, you can net some savings. If you try to stay historical with the match ups, you may not see much net difference. In fact, the program already gives you credit if you already have the booster that a new program uses.

ORIGINAL: CowboyRonin

You always could research Saturn 1B without the Lunar missions; it's also used for the Pegasus satellite.

The fixed costs of the programs will go down, because you're paying for the boosters separately. If you're able to reuse the same boosters at a high rate, you can net some savings. If you try to stay historical with the match ups, you may not see much net difference. In fact, the program already gives you credit if you already have the booster that a new program uses.

Yes but i never research the Pegasus, in the actual state of the game its a waste of money.

The savings are great, obviously, but my first utility with the new system will be start the research of rockets in advance the main program. Playing you never had the money to buy the Apollo program when the program gets available, you must wait several seasons. If the program divide the cost in two..you gain time.[;)]

ORIGINAL: fremen

ORIGINAL: CowboyRonin

You always could research Saturn 1B without the Lunar missions; it's also used for the Pegasus satellite.

The fixed costs of the programs will go down, because you're paying for the boosters separately. If you're able to reuse the same boosters at a high rate, you can net some savings. If you try to stay historical with the match ups, you may not see much net difference. In fact, the program already gives you credit if you already have the booster that a new program uses.

Yes but i never research the Pegasus, in the actual state of the game its a waste of money.

The savings are great, obviously, but my first utility with the new system will be start the research of rockets in advance the main program. Playing you never had the money to buy the Apollo program when the program gets available, you must wait several seasons. If the program divide the cost in two..you gain time.[;)]

That will all change in the update that will be coming after the mix-and-match functionality. We're reworking the spreadsheet in order to remove the X-15 -> Mercury -> Gemini -> Apollo dependency, so you'll be able to jump straight to Apollo if you want. The penalizations will be quite high, but it will still be doable.

Notice that the Pegasus uses a Saturn I, not a Saturn IB. The rest of the things mentioned by CowbowRonin are spot on.

Cheers,

I really like the mix and match feature, but it seems you should still need to spend some R&D time to mate the payload and booster. It would make more sense if when you open a program, you select the booster from the list and then do a nominal amount work to combine booster and payload into a system, rather than picking a booster “off the shelf”.

Thats it! Much better [:D] [&o]

I agree-Possibly a 1-2 season delay from the first flight with the satellite/booster combination?