Celestial Command (tuxdb.com)

Celestial Command is a realistic sandbox space game which unites real space flight, real orbital mechanics, and all the fun of classic space action games.

We want to show how games about space actually should look, without silly vacuum friction and the maximum speed limit. As in the real world, everything in this game is in continuous motion in orbit.

Realistic Orbital Mechanic

This game is not about silly vacuum friction and maximum speed limitation. It is about real physics and orbital mechanics like in the real world! Get to know with orbital maneuvering, launching satellites and protecting planets from asteroids.

Fully customizable Ships

You can build your own ship part by part. Each part of the ship is individual, it has own functions and parameters. Therefore, abilities of your ship are completely dependent on the modules from which it is assembled. You can build small explorers, large industrial ships, carriers, defence satellites or whatever you want.

Ship Management

All resources of the ship are limited. Including fuel, energy, ammo and parts for repair, so store them and use them wisely.

Command a Fleet

You are not bound to the single ship. You can build as many ships and space stations as you want. And you can switch between them anytime.

Seamless Star System

Explore a procedural world filled with planets, asteroids, space stations and other fun stuff. The world of the game is completely seamless, you can zoom out from your ship to the whole star system.

Gather Resources

Survey asteroids for useful resources, extract it from planets or salvage wreckage of defeated enemies.

Multistage Production System

The extraction of raw materials is not enough to build a new ship. You need to process raw materials in special facilities to produce parts that are required to construct ship's modules.

Fight the Enemy

Build various types of devices to fight against enemies. Cannons, lasers, rockets, shields and other useful devices.

There you can explore the procedural world, find the resources, build any type of ships or space stations which you want, command your fleet and fight with enemies.

The game is 2D, so it is pretty easy and fun to play, but we implemented unique graphic style, which allows it to look like 3D with modern lighting and effects.

Also, the game has now been in active development, so if you are interested, check out our development blog for new features and future plans.

The game will become full 3D!

As we said in previous posts, ship building is the most important aspect of the game and for the next update we are trying to add many new parts in order to make ship building more diverse and open now possibilities for creativity.

Some time ago, when we already prepared large parts for capital ships and started to thing how to add even more freedom and creativity to the ship building, we thought it carefully and came out to the simple conclusion:

2D physics has more restrictions and disadvantages than advantages.
Full 3D physics will add extreme amount of freedom and creativity for ship building process.

People often asked us for a various 3D features such as:
Possibility to place turrets on top of the ship like on real life battleships
Hangar bays with drones
Solar panels which placed horizontal and not blocked with the ship itself
More "vertical" ship design instead of flat ships

We even created items in the FAQ to explain why these features can't be implemented (due various restrictions related to 2D physics):
https://trello.com/c/CUsCP7ut
https://trello.com/c/WB6s9LZF

But if we will make the game full 3D, these issues related to 2D physics will be no longer relevant and features listed above will be possible!
So we decided to do that!

Important to mention that the main advantage of 2D physics it is simplicity of control and navigation. You can fly your ship using only WASDQE buttons and no need to worry about 3-rd dimension. This is actually pretty important because navigation in 3D space could be complex and confusing.

However there is a solution which allows to keep that advantage even in full 3D.
Most objects still will be located on horizontal plane, such as asteroids, stations and other ships so you still will be able to control your ship using only WASDQE buttons.

Even if the ship is drifted a bit on vertical axis - we added a new special stabilizer which will automatically keep ship in horizontal plane.
But if you wish to leave horizontal plane, you no longer bound to it and you can do that.

Here is some examples of new 3D ships with new modules and weapons
Possibilities for ship building now is really amazing!
Game Description Image

Indicators of altitude relative to standard zero plane

What about orbital mechanics, orbits now can be not only equatorial but inclined too

Customizable point light sources which also may act as flashing lights

Customizable spotlight sources

Changed the way how modules are placed, Now after placement it appears as transparent object which become active after engineering module will work on it for several seconds.
It should make construction process much more convenient.
Game Description Image

If you lose part of your ship, blueprint for reconstruction will be automatically created so you can repair your ship easily on shipyard. This feature is extremely helpful for repairing after combat.

Also we want to say special thanks for everyone who supports us on Patreon! Without your help we would not have enough funds to develop such a large and long update.
Fortunately, with you help we can do it!

When it will be released? We are not sure yet, but after this blog post we will try to post progress reports more often.
Also, due large amount changes and possible bugs we will release it in experimental build first, but it will be available for everyone and no additional access will be required.
We will publish a news when it will be done.

Thanks!