IAmA

Brief Summary

IAmA was a Q & A Session put up on [Reddit] by the developers of [KeenSoftwareHouse] on Friday, September 5th 20:30 20:30 CET (11:30 PST) for one hour. It however was extended by an additional 30 minutes. The community was given the opportunity to directly ask questions, and receive answers in real-time from the developers. An estimated 8,000 people joined in the conversation during the session.

Introduction

Quoted from KSH on reddit

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Hello Reddit, We are Keen Software House, developers of the video game Space Engineers. We are here with a few members of our team and we will be answering your questions about our sandbox game, Space Engineers, starting at 11:30 PST (20:30 CET). Answering your questions will be mostly Marek Rosa (CEO) – answering as KeenSWH - together with Ondrej Petrzilka (lead programmer), Tomas Rampas (lead artist) and Cestmir Houska (programmer). These are some links as proof that it’s really us :-) http://mirror.keenswh.com/Pics/KeenSWH_IAmA_Reddit_9_5.jpg. post on our Space Engineers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceEngineers/posts/328913713955597, and our Space Engineers Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpaceEngineersG/status/507166713524527107 We will be answering for approximately one hour since we start. We will do our best to reply to as many questions as possible, but please forgive us in case we miss some of them. This IAmA is about Space Engineers, so please try to stick your questions to this as much as possible. Fire away! Note: Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction and maintenance of space works. Players build space ships and space stations of various sizes and utilization (civil and military), pilot ships and perform asteroid mining. You can find more info about Space Engineers here: http://www.spaceengineersgame.com/about1.html

Index

General Questions

How far (as a percentage) would you say you are through development?

• Posted by: Madchef1975

One thing that impresses me so much about Space Engineers is the speed at which you are developing the game (compared with similar games) How far (as a percentage) would you say you are through development?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

This is hard to say... I would say that we have 50-80% of what we wanted to have in the game. But since we got new ideas every day (we were expecting this), plus the community wants new stuff, ... it's kind of impossible to say where are we right now.

What feature has been the biggest pain-in-the-ass to develop so far?

• Posted by: PhonicUK

What feature has been the biggest pain-in-the-ass to develop so far? And which planned feature do you anticipate being even worse?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

The hardest one to implement was probably the destruction/deformation feature... but it wasn't pain in the ass... it was a lot of fun ... actually, multi-player is a "hard" feature... takes a lot of time to debug and optimize

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

If I were to speak for myself, I'd say that the biggest challenge is working with the GUI and not getting mad. We just have a homebrew library for it and often we want to use it in a way that we didn't anticipate when first creating the library.

Apart from that, I'd say that no in-game feature is a real pain-in-the-buttocks. Especially programming new blocks and new features is always fun and rewarding. Nothing feels better than working hard on a new feature for that week and then reading the "Best update ever!" comments under the update posts!

Are there any plans to implement a campaign with story and missions?

• Posted by: LolosArt

Are there any plans to implement a campaign with story and missions?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

This is a very good idea we are considering

What's your favourite creation/constructive glitch you've found in the community?

• Posted by: EikeSky

What's your favourite creation/constructive glitch you've found in the community?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Yesterday I saw a max speed "hack" - you can move faster than our limit by setting up and launching a rotating structure which would accelerate you above the limits

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

I love the glitch where you can destroy almost whole asteroid with few explosive components

What's your favourite type of pizza?

• Posted by: twerktle

What's your favourite type of pizza?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Just the standard one, ham, cheese, pepperoni... nothing fancy :)

Will we (the PC users) also get XBOX One or PS4 controller support?

• Posted by: DeeSnow97

Hello Keen SWH! I heard you are making an XBox One release, so you definitely remake the controls with gamepad compatibility. Will we (the PC users) also get it? It would be fun if we could control ships with an XO or PS4 controller while building them with mouse/keyboard... (Sorry if anybody asked the same question, I haven't had time to read them all)

• Answered by: CestmirHouska (programmer)

I'm not sure about transferring the features from the XBox One to the PC, but you can be sure about one thing: We will never make compromises in the designing of the PC game because of XBox.

Will there be dedicated server software for linux?

• Posted by: swehunter2000

Will there be dedicated server software for linux? At the moment i only have linux servers that are running 24/7 and would like to run a SE server on that machine.

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

There's few obstacles which would consume a large amount of time, so we're not considering it anytime soon. At some point we'll start working on other platforms and this is when linux support will be added.

How much progress have you made with physics optimization?

• Posted by: xilandro

How much progress have you made with physics optimization? I'd like to think I've got a pretty decent PC (6 cores, 16gb RAM) but I still have issues when two large (Size, not just 'Large Ship') ships collide, or one collides into an asteroid, or a meteor hits, etc..

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

With physics it's hard, we won't be able to make it fully smooth all the time; especially with complex objects colliding. There's few tricks in our sleeves to make it faster, but it takes a lot of time. We can improve multithreading, that will help a lot on your PC :) We're also planning to improve large ship collision performance.

Is there a roadmap of how the game will evolve that we can see?

I want to start with, this is one of those games you wanna play a lot in like on years time when it's more complete! Questions, Is there a roadmap of how the game will evolve that we can see? Because there are a lot of features that I want and I feel there is no point telling you until you've told me what you want with the game, since it yours.

Also When will you add whitelist/password etc on servers. Because right now it's kinda pointless to start a server when any random person can enter and ruin all your hard work! :( This might be one of the best games I've ever played!

Gameplay

What is the current plan for in-game programming?

• Posted by: arkandy7

What is the current plan for in-game programming? Is the team looking at a more drag-and-drop style for those unacquainted with languages, a more traditional style, or a hybrid system?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

More traditional text-style programming, we are working on it right now

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

There will be traditional style and later maybe block-style programming. Each block will have it's function and you'll be able to connect them together.

What kind of PvE interactions with the world do you have planned/want for the future of the game?

• Posted by: arkandy7

What kind of PvE interactions with the world (besides solely building ships and surviving) do you have planned/want to plan for the future of the game? Will there be special events or other ships besides derelicts to interact with?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

We have some plans but now is a good time to re-thing this part of SE strategy/future (because now all features that were planned are already in the game so we can look on them as finished... in other words, now we are much more skilled in designing PvE for SE than we were 1.5 year ago)

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Recently we started to discuss AI in the team. When AI is available, it will be possible to make enemy bases, pirates etc.

Will the game have sectors?

• Posted by: arkandy7

Will the game have sectors (essentially multiple asteroid fields tethered together)? How will having larger maps with multiple fields work? Will they all be one map or will you 'jump' between sectors?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Hopefully we won't need sectors and the entire game will fit in one sector (no loading screen required when traveling)

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We started working on large worlds recently. Goal is to make game world much larger, with huge amounts of asteroids.

In the long term, might we see an option to make sound effects behave in a "realistic" way?

• Posted by: RyuujinZER0

In the long term, might we see an option to make sound effects behave in a "realistic" way, namely only hearing the sounds transmitted through your ship and suit, placing greater emphasis on interior ambience rather than distant objects?

[The concept was wonderfully demonstrated in SqueegyMackoy's mock up video] some time ago and would be icing on the cake of an already immersive experience.

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Yeah, we are working on a "realistic mode" for sounds. you will be able to switch between non-realistic and realistic in the "world settings"

• Posted by: RyuujinZER0

That's great, I know a lot of people who'll be very happy to hear that. Thanks for the response :)

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Our great inspiration is Gravity movie :)

Will you ever make it so explosions don'T hit systems through armor?

• Posted by: viotech3

Will you ever make it so explosions DON'T hit systems through armor?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Yes we are working on the explosions, so that the armor does it's job

Will you ever change from Float in the Space Calculations?

• Posted by: KaneHart

Will you ever change from Float in the Space Calculations or do you have any kind of plans on making so that things don't start to shake apart when you get further then 10km from spawn?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

We are trying to find some workaround for the precision of floating point calculations. I hope we just found it this week... so if things go well, some people will be happy :)

Will you implement Lifesupport Systems for Ships and Spacestations?

• Posted by: Asatyr2014

I´m Asatyr from Germany. For the Survival part of the game. Will you implement Lifesupport Systems for Ships and Spacestations?

To Marek: will you come to Hamburg/Germany for a cofé with one of your biggest fans? =)

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Hehe, we are considering to go to Gamescom (Cologne) next year. So if this goes through, then we would like to meet with everyone who can come visit us :)

What will be the maximum size of the scripts once we get programming?

• Posted by: gFleka

What will be the maximum size of the scripts once we get programming?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

This is hard to say right now, we just discussed it internally a couple hours ago... in-game programming will probably have some limits (so players won't kill the servers), but "modding API" should be quite unlimited.

Will you use a new block to implement programming, like Computer Block or AI Block?

• Posted by: gFleka

Will you use a new block to implement programming, like Computer Block or AI Block, and also if you do implement it that way will stacking multiple computer blocks enable you to have more powerful scripts?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Probably a new Computer Block... but these decisions tend to change during the actual implementation once we realize something we missed in the design

Will there be Planets later on in development and would there be procedurally generated content later on in development?

• Posted by: armedRaptor

Hey guys, absolutely loving the game, just two questions:

Will there be Planets later on in development and would there be procedurally generated content later on in development, E.G: different Asteroid fields, broken down space stations, broken down Ships of all sizes, abandoned fleets, etc.

• Answered by: KeenSWH

We can't promise planets or larger areas or increase in speed limit, but we are looking into this

How far have you got with the in-game programming feature and when it will be released?

• Posted by: JulMdama97

How far have you got with the in-game programming feature and when it will be released?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We have working C# scripts, it will be released in several weeks; this will include in-game programming and mod-like programming. Currently this is one of the most important features.

Are you planning to increase the max velocity in the near future?

• Posted by: JulMdama97

Are you planning to increase the max velocity in the near future

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Not in near future, main problem is bullet-through-paper problem which becomes more common with higher velocities.

Are you planning to add rails/sliders and 3d printers, if so, when?

• Posted by: JulMdama97

Are you planning to add rails/sliders and 3d printers, if so, when ?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Yes both, currently it's mid-term plan, several months probably.

Are you planning to add more weapons in the near future?

• Posted by: JulMdama97

Are you planning to add more weapons in the near future ?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We're planning to add slightly modified version of existing weapon quite soon; few other weapons little later. It will be similar to existing conventional weapons.

Can you list some planned features for survival?

• Posted by: JulMdama97

Can you list some planned features for survival?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We have started working on large worlds with big amounts of asteroids

Are there plans to add the ability to upgrade one's suit, equipment or even machines to allow for increased abilities?

• Posted by: muss02

Are there plans to add the ability to upgrade one's suit, equipment or even machines to allow for increased abilities?

• Answered by: CestmirHouska (programmer)

Yes, we'd like to add some sort of survival progress to the game at some point - tiered refineries and assemblers, better engineer tools, etc... This is why we added the possibility to modify the set of blueprints for the production blocks and added the Arc Furnace block, for example. We'll see where we'll go from there. A big inspiration, as always, will be the awesome community on the forums and of course the ever-imaginative modders.

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We're not planning upgrades in vanilla game anytime soon, but mods should be able to do that once there's modding API. Now it's possible to make mods for production buildings (specialized, different tiers...).

Have you considered having multiple items in one grid space if they don't touch or only if their edges touch?

• Posted by: raviool

Have you considered having multiple items in one grid space if they don't touch or only if their edges touch? For example putting down a window and then a barricade or something else that doesn't touch the window/touches only its edge in the same grid space.

• Answered by: CestmirHouska (programmer)

I actually had a bugreport from a guy who was upset because of windows detaching from the grid when their bounding boxes touched only by edges. It could probably be fixed by allowing the blocks to touch only at the edges.

As for blocks that don't touch at all - I'd vote for not allowing that because it would be way too confusing.

What sort of blocks are you planing to implement into the game later on in it's development?

• Posted by: SomeAristocrat

What sort of blocks are you planing to implement into the game later on in it's development?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We're planning programming block and delay/timer block soon. Later we're considering big Gatling gun for large ship, maybe with explosive ammo, rail block.

Is there a possibility of there being planets, randomly generated with life?

• Posted by: Darthjord28

Is there a possibility of there being planets, randomly generated with life?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Possibility of planets? Yes, a possibility. We're working on large worlds and one part of this is memory optimization for asteroids, it's nearly done. This should allow us to make larger asteroids which can be considered planetoids. Realistic planets with radius in thousands of kilometers...probably not, that would be very hard.

Will you add some sort of "oxygen level" mechanic?

• Posted by: tYn0_SK

Will you add some sort of "oxygen level" mechanic (Something similiar to FTL where you were able to kill boarders by venting out the oxygen)?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Not anytime soon, but I thing once there's modding API, there will be air pressure mods.

Do you think game may become some kind of MMORPG?

• Posted by: tYn0_SK

Do you think game may become some kind of MMORPG? What's the planned maximum number of players on one server?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

It will be problematic, because of unlimited building possibilities. More ships and stations equals more network bandwidth and more CPU for game physics.

Planets. Are you planning to add them?

• Posted by: tYn0_SK

Planets. Are you planning to add them?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Large asteroids would be possible. Planets with radius of thousand kilometers, hardly. At least not in same way as asteroids.

Do you plan going to NextGen Expo exhibition in Bratislava this year?

• Posted by: tYn0_SK

Do you plan going to NextGen Expo exhibition in Bratislava this year? If I remeber corretly you were there last year but I really didn't pay much attention to it, now I see the mistake I made :-/

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

I have no idea, maybe somebody else can answer this?

When will we start seeing development for the world/universe?

• Posted by: Backseat_Dog

When will we start seeing developement for the world/universe?

Will there be universe exploration? If so, will it be a procedurally generated universe maybe?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We've started working on large world this week, we would like to create huge, nearly infinite worlds with large amount of asteroids. Yes, it will be procedurally generated.

What other major blocks/features are you planning on implementing?

• Posted by: Professor-Falken

Besides the Programing Block and the 3D Ship Printer, what other major blocks/features are you planning on implementing?

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Large worlds with huge amount of asteroids and fixed precision issues. We're also considering AI ships and player made scenarios.

Are you dead-set on keeping things as realistic as possible, or will we see some 'futuristic but still possible' tech in the future updates?

• Posted by: xilandro

Are you dead-set on keeping things as realistic as possible, or will we see some 'futuristic but still possible' tech in the future updates?

• Answered by: CestmirHouska (programmer)

Realism-wise, we want to have the game as realistic as possible (of course, extrapolating the current technology to the future), while keeping the game fun to play and not too boring or too focused on bodily functions or such. As a good example, the gravity generators and mass blocks are not realistic at all, but they're simply so much fun to play with that we decided to keep them as they are.

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

We're trying to stay realistic. We know many people would like to see lasers, shields and teleporters. With modding API, it should be possible to implement these. We've helped few modders to add some of their mods and we're going to help them implement this if they're interested in.

Do you have any plans to make devices require regular maintenance?

• Posted by: xilandro

I'm a HUGE fan of having menial busywork. Do you have any plans to make devices require regular maintenance, even putting it into a config so those who aren't such a big fan of that can disable it?

• Answered by: CestmirHouska (programmer)

I don't think we'll be adding something that will require you to doo too much of maintenance, at least not to the extent that it would be the main aspect of the gameplay. That said, there is always the possibility (especially in the future with the scripting that we plan) that someone will create a mod that will do what you desire.

• Answered by: OndrejPetrzilka (lead programmer)

Except meteors, we're considering to add solar wind or solar flares, that will damage you ships and station unless hidden behind asteroid.

Modding

Are there any mods that you liked so much that you want to make them permanently part of SE?

• Posted by: Professor-Falken

Now that mods have been released, are there any mods that you liked so much that you want to make them permanently part of SE?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

Yes, we have mod which we would like to get into SE vanilla, now we need to talk with its author, get his approval and release it in some update. Hopefully this will open gates for other mod creators.

==

• Posted by: tyrsis

There is a lot of grass roots server mods coming out from players using Space Engineers Server Extender. (blueprints/shipyards, AI, warp drives, a whole host of other things that are coming out or already out for multiplayer dedicated servers.) Are you guys following any of those or familiar with the mods that come out for them? As one one of the devs of these extensions, I was wondering if you guys would be willing to open a line of communication with some of us in terms of maybe adding a few very small additions that would really help us in some ways (that would most likely take literally a minute to add)?

• Answered by: KeenSWH

We are amazed with all the mod ideas community came up with. Yes, we do follow the mods and try to think of what could be done to give the community better tools to work with. The open line is a good idea. But the opinion about what is easy to implement and whats not can be misleading. Sometimes it looks easy but is not due to various reasons. You can send the list of small additions to info@keenswh.com and add a note saying: Send to Tomas Rampas.

Non-categorized

Most of us prefer kebab to pizza

• Posted by: CestmirHouska

Most of us prefer kebab to pizza. You could say that KeenSWH is a place where kebab turns into code :-)

• Answered by: KeenSWH

hehe