Hello! We are happy to introduce, probably the most significant update during entire development of Celestial Command.
Despite the fact that this update have a version 0.8, this is only a first update in sequence. New game mode is made on more than 50%, but still quite raw. For now we decided to release it as soon as possible in order to show you an idea, but during next few updates we will add more and more significant improvements in this mode. First of all, we want to explain why we decided to implement this new game mode despite the fact than during entire development we advertised a game, as a space game without "unrealistic liquid space". Orbital mechanics in the current state causes a lot of technical restriction in the game. The concept when absolutely everything in constant movement it is very unusual concept for game development. Both in technical and gameplay terms. Such gameplay have very complex learning curve, however, many users definitely like other features of Celestial Command, such as ship construction, trading, combat, but don't like how movement works. In orbital space, such terms as "distances" or "locations" is very unobvious and hard to understand.
So we decided to implement a mode which will bring more classic gameplay using existed functionality of the game. So in this game mode, terms of distances, enemy bases and locations is much more familiar for users. Besides that, performance is much better, there is thousand of asteroids and almost hundred of space stations can work with good FPS.
Plus, this game mode allows us to implement some new features which impossible in orbital mode, for example, path finding, it means that now it will be possible to encounter a NPC traders or pirates which will really travel across the world and they will avoid all obstacles (this feature not implemented yet, but will be added in the next few updates)
However, we do not have intentions to make the game "casual". Physics still much more complex than in most classic space games. In this game mode, mass of the ship (and cargo) have very significant impact on acceleration and maximum velocity, and also on fuel consumption. In such game mode it is very interesting to find a proper balance between amount of cargo, size of the ship, amount of fuel, consumption of fuel, desired velocity etc. In the next update we will improve a physics so size of the ship and its shape will affect its maximum velocity.
Important to note, we do not abandon development of orbital mode. Furthermore, many improvements of one game mode, instantly available in another mode. This is possible due flexible architecture which is based on the single core. Aerodynamic mode may even help to test new features and gameplay approaches in stable environment, before it will be added into orbital mode. Which is much more complex to develop new features.
Also we want to remind that you can discuss an update and communicate with us about everything in our Discord chat. link

CHANGE LOG

• Added brand new game mode with aerodynamic physics
• New game mode: Added exhaust effect for small engines which is good for visualization of velocity and "sense of speed"
• New game mode: Added speedometer on the interface which shows velocity of active ship
• New game mode: Interface buttons which have sense only in orbital mode (such as orbital grid and stabilize orbit) disabled in aerodynamic mode
• New game mode: Added moons around a planets
• New game mode: Added new asteroids belt with many huge static asteroids and small dynamic asteroids which can be moved or destroyed.
• Square grid now have small grids up to 100 meters which is also important for visualization of velocity
• Small asteroids now have bigger size and now they have 8 sectors with resources. Asteroids will be destroyed when all 8 sectors will be depleted. This feature adds more sense to special ships which have several mining lasers around asteroid
• Asteroids now have different HP based on its size
• Significant optimization of core which improves a performance in several times. Loading of games and ships now much faster.
• Localization files updated, thanks for this for community