So a few of the other developers for the freeware BSG Diaspora and I a few months back decided we wanted to start work on a commercial 4x space strategy game project. This led to Lord of Rigel getting started.
There's a number of indie 4x games out there like Stardrive and MORE, but we're hoping to add a bit of extra polish and character above some of the current titles out there.
We're aiming for basically an updated Master of Orion 2, fixing some of the more flagrant gameplay issues (micromanagement) and adding quite a bit of character into the game in the form of backstory and the design and play of different species.
We've had a bit of progress over the past few months, particularly on the programming front of things. But art wise we have some fun ships from two of the species so far the Humans and the Kzinti-like Katraxi.
Overall the idea behind the different fleets for each species is to have them instantly recognizable in silhouette. Each ship class (ex. frigate, destroyer, cruiser) has a set model, but ship classes themselves are fully customizable.
We also recently launched the website:
http://www.lordofrigel.com
Human Frigate (.p3d)
http://p3d.in/6D4sq
With the humans we wanted a symmetrical look that felt somewhere between the sleek look of the Federation and the more militaristic look of Star Wars' Empire.
Katraxi Cruiser (.p3d)
http://p3d.in/iVrpR
With the Kats we wanted something that felt like many of the honorable warrior species in scifi (Kzinti, Klingons, Kilrathi). Their ships are "spiky" and asymmetrical too for a quick contrast.
Anyway I'm hoping to occasionally update this thread as art gets done. At the moment we are also looking for some additional art talent although our current team is rather small (currently two dedicated 3d artists and one 2d artist).
Also attached is concept art for the frigate and two early screenshots of how things are looking.
Posts
Lookin good...nice to see some art from ya!
Newman just finished up the Katraxi battleship and so here it is!
http://p3d.in/4MkuI
We've also been working on setting up our concept page on Greenlight:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=323788034
We wanted to go turn based since there's a few good real time ones out there like Sins of a Solar Empire and Stardrive.
On the turn based side of things, although I've really enjoyed Endless Space, it just didn't quite have the combat side and feel we're aiming for.
http://www.lordofrigel.com/Downloads/Galaxy_Demo.zip
Next will be the tactical combat demo, which will showcase the various ship models posted earlier (and more).
But here's the new Human fleet and a fleet size scale chart!
Also the logo of our furry friends the Katraxi who just want to wipe out humanity.
Or is the starbase like a drident and the battlestation a "ring" with a bow?
Anyway nice work in general.
Skipping ahead straight to what I was converting into the engine today, the Selach our aquatic trader species frigate:
Pretty heavy influences from the Xindi aquatics and Seaquest.
Good luck with the project, looks good.
Current Projects:
Ambassador Class
Tharrn female.
Basically we wanted to evoke Klingons, Romulans, and Narn designs with them.
Well the plan is to support the game with a few expansions that will add onto the core of it (so things like gas giant species, star living species, and fully nomadic ones in DLC things that require new mechanics) so eating four years of life is the plan
But I'd rather say whoever they're fighting looks more Romulan....
We've also been working more on our aquatic species the Selach:
Here's the Cruiser, Destroyer, and previously shown Frigate:
The Cruiser is a bit more Whitestar like.
We're also aware of the newly announced Master of Orion game, we're doing something a bit different than their direction and I'm looking forward to playing both games. (personal note the Selach wouldn't beat the Trilarians in a fight, they'd just sell them their guns and crush them under interest and debt)
I'm loving the aquatic species.
I remember the days of "1024x1024, are you f**king mad?!?!?!?"
I also second/third the comment on the aquatic species. It's nicely alien and also quite believable.
That was probably back in the days when 1GB of RAM was a lot.
https://p3d.in/GGy0n
Design influences from the Cylon Hub and Minbari starbases should be pretty apparent. The Battlestation will likely draw a little more from some of the Minbari designs from the defunct Into the Fire game for B5.
Also, the Tharrn fleet (to scale):
Here's also a sheet of some of the early Tharrn head concepts, we settled on a hybrid of T-Rex and Godzilla:
The Tulocks are our silicon based species who live in extreme environmental types.
Also, showing off the Tulocks fighting the Kats:
Question RE game mechanics... is "destruct" basically "self-destruct" and if so is there really a need for it to be a prominent option It seems somewhat defeatist to say "hey, you'll need this button frequently!!"
As for it being really prominent, well it is a good option for when you're being boarded or if you're outclassed. Warp core breaches can pack a pretty heavy punch!
Edit- Instead of making a new post I might as well show off the Selach battleship model here:
https://p3d.in/Q3aS0