Over the past week, I've been working on improving the aesthetics of the game. Here is a list of changes that I've made so far:
I've added a HUD-type display for orbital speed, altitude above ground, and vertical speed. The HUD also shows where the vehicle is going and which direction is straight down and level with the horizon. The velocity direction indicator is even color-coded to let you know if you're going to make a safe landing.
When the update is released, you'll be able to toggle between surface-relative and command module-relative speed and distance displays.
In the top-right corner, the text display of the fuel and speed has been replaced with a visual representation of how full your tanks are.
Demo of the HUD.
Speed direction indicator is blue to indicate a landing score of 1,000+ points.
Speed direction indicator changes color as you accelerate. Red is bad!
What is shown here is subject to change by the time the update is published. I'm also working on improvements to the in-game menus and the various screens that the menu items take you too. There will be a dedicated help screen and a new settings screen.
Solar Lander a 2D space lander that simulates orbital mechanics and the conservation of angular momentum. Players fly around in an Apollo-style lander, land on the surface of a planet, and then redock with the command module to advance to the next level. You start out in orbit around a planet and docked with the command module. It is your job to make a safe landing on the surface of the planet, then get back into orbit to redock with the command module. Each planet has it's unique characteristics based on real life planetary bodies with procedural terrain generation. Because this game takes place in space, there is absolutely no sound in this game.