The hype train that is No Man’s Sky is at full bore right about now and there have been all kinds of details released in various ways in the last few months. It’s a very ambitious title to say the least. The idea of exploring an actual, full size, universe is pretty amazing. But just like anything as ambitious as this project, this game has had its fair share of criticism as well.
One of the biggest criticisms is this: What the heck are we going to do? A game this large is bound to have some pretty bland sections of the game. Maybe even more then some. So is it going to be one of those cases where after the initial “oohs” and “aahs” wear off it gets pretty boring?
Part of me is a little worried about that scenario. As impressed as I am with this game, I’m a little worried that it’s going to get pretty boring after a while and I know other people share this sentiment. So that got to thinking if it’s still worth a purchase. In defense of No Man’s Sky, I did some research and came up with 10 reasons I think this game will be worth it. I’m sure there are other reasons this game will be awesome but this is a good start.
1. Mining/crafting
This is a survival/sandbox game. I’m sure you all know what those are thanks to Minecraft and the countless other similar games on the market. You’ll do a lot of resource collecting and crafting. Which can be seen in action below.
Thanks for putting this article together. Good job.
Thanks!
great article dude, gave an amazing in depth look at what we have coming. im def checking this out day one. everything you stated is pretty much how i feel but i actually have positive high hopes and am wishing this game to be successful.
Thank you. I have high hopes as well. I hope it does as well and seems like it's going to.
Yes, great job!
Thank you :).
Awesome article.
This game reminds of Little Big Planet on the PS3.
I do wonder from a technical standpoint, how they are generating so many different stages?
I don't really know much about this game, but it does sound like it may get repetitive…
A friend of mine was saying that they created a ton of assets and they have an algorithm that randomly generates these worlds. Which means they can continue to add assets as time goes on and create even more content.
As Jawknee says, it's algorithmically generated and uses some base assets that can be modified on the fly. Hello Games also hand tuned the large number of equations. Which is one of the reasons the game has been delayed. They had to spend more time testing to ensure that the game wasn't an empty, barren universe, and that there was sufficient variety that worlds did not simply repeat over and over.
So they have equations that govern their universes' natural laws of physics, star system creation, galaxy formation, planet formation, environment, flora and fauna, alien life, etc. Even the life on the planets is assembled from those basic assets using procedures and equations. All of course driven by a random number generator.
Because the underlying universe is governed by the same equations and random number generator and seed value, the universe we play in will be the same. However, our starting positions are not. So you could run across a planet that Jawknee found first, called Jaw1, and then find creatures on the world that Jawknee names such as the lesser spotted Jawknee and the Crested Jawknee.
Wow, that sounds like a simulation of life itself…
Now imagine combining this with The Sims and a GTA style game-world & game-play…
It will probably never happen, but one can dream lol.
This is the game i'm looking forward to most this year. Even if it gets boring it is still unique enough and offers up enough options for me to play it on and off for a couple years.
Well said!
next to uncharted of course
Nice writeup Chris, I saw a new video on the PlayStation Blog today, I've been avoiding the videos of this game until now. It looks, plays and apparently feels like the old game "Elite" I played back in 1984 (on an Acorn BBC Micro, one of the wave of 8-bit home computers that were popular in the early-mid 80s).
Elite was a bare bones version of what No Man's Sky accomplishes. We used to dream of a version that let you land and explore, interact and so on. No Man's Sky hit's every check mark I can think of. This is the game I've been waiting for, all these years. I would go so far as to say this could be the ultimate sand box game.
That is awesome. I think that's cool that something you guys dreamed of is happening in a way. Thanks!
Great article!
I'm still a little worried it will feel empty. But this has she'd some new light on the game. I'm now interested in its release.
This is a great article! It really adds something to our site here because it's not something Ben would do often, and not at all for this game.
Variety +1
I ordered it some time back.
Maybe it will get boring, I don't know. But I'm not at the point in my life anymore where I need a game that will entertain me every waking hour. If I fire it up every so often after my initial jag, I suspect I'll be very happy.
Ya I feel like it's something I'm going to come back to here and there. After I play it for awhile of course.
Some fine work Chris, even makes me more interested in the game than I was. We need more of that.
yes, very good article.
"There is an entire universe to explore. Quite literally. That is what makes No Manâs Sky interesting, that sense of wonder" :
i couldn't agree more and it's more than enough for me!
One thing about the multiplayer aspect of not bumping into each other. Since we are all using the same game client, players could easily share their coordinates in order to link up with others in some kind of joint effort. I don't know how much the game facilitates this, and how it handles the multiplayer aspects when you literally bump into another player. But I feel certain that there will be forums/sites with threads full of people sharing coordinates.
good point
As per Sean Murray, the game is multiplayer, but not, you can see each others' discoveries, but you can't literally run into each other. I guess that like the Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy put's it;
Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist (pharmacy), but that's just peanuts to space.
So even if we are in the same system, the sheer scale will of course mean we can't contact each other directly in-game, no PVP, and no co-op.
I guess we'll have to see whether a particularly good trade route can effectively be shared with others or not.
Thanks!
great article dude, gave an amazing in depth look at what we have coming. im def checking this out day one. everything you stated is pretty much how i feel but i actually have positive high hopes and am wishing this game to be successful.
Thank you. I have high hopes as well. I hope it does as well and seems like it's going to.
Yes, great job!
Awesome article.
This game reminds of Little Big Planet on the PS3.
I do wonder from a technical standpoint, how they are generating so many different stages?
I don't really know much about this game, but it does sound like it may get repetitive…
A friend of mine was saying that they created a ton of assets and they have an algorithm that randomly generates these worlds. Which means they can continue to add assets as time goes on and create even more content.
Thank you :).
As Jawknee says, it's algorithmically generated and uses some base assets that can be modified on the fly. Hello Games also hand tuned the large number of equations. Which is one of the reasons the game has been delayed. They had to spend more time testing to ensure that the game wasn't an empty, barren universe, and that there was sufficient variety that worlds did not simply repeat over and over.
So they have equations that govern their universes' natural laws of physics, star system creation, galaxy formation, planet formation, environment, flora and fauna, alien life, etc. Even the life on the planets is assembled from those basic assets using procedures and equations. All of course driven by a random number generator.
Because the underlying universe is governed by the same equations and random number generator and seed value, the universe we play in will be the same. However, our starting positions are not. So you could run across a planet that Jawknee found first, called Jaw1, and then find creatures on the world that Jawknee names such as the lesser spotted Jawknee and the Crested Jawknee.
Wow, that sounds like a simulation of life itself…
Now imagine combining this with The Sims and a GTA style game-world & game-play…
It will probably never happen, but one can dream lol.
Nice writeup Chris, I saw a new video on the PlayStation Blog today, I've been avoiding the videos of this game until now. It looks, plays and apparently feels like the old game "Elite" I played back in 1984 (on an Acorn BBC Micro, one of the wave of 8-bit home computers that were popular in the early-mid 80s).
Elite was a bare bones version of what No Man's Sky accomplishes. We used to dream of a version that let you land and explore, interact and so on. No Man's Sky hit's every check mark I can think of. This is the game I've been waiting for, all these years. I would go so far as to say this could be the ultimate sand box game.
This is the game i'm looking forward to most this year. Even if it gets boring it is still unique enough and offers up enough options for me to play it on and off for a couple years.
Great article!
I'm still a little worried it will feel empty. But this has she'd some new light on the game. I'm now interested in its release.
next to uncharted of course
Well said!
That is awesome. I think that's cool that something you guys dreamed of is happening in a way. Thanks!
I ordered it some time back.
Maybe it will get boring, I don't know. But I'm not at the point in my life anymore where I need a game that will entertain me every waking hour. If I fire it up every so often after my initial jag, I suspect I'll be very happy.
This is a great article! It really adds something to our site here because it's not something Ben would do often, and not at all for this game.
Variety +1
Some fine work Chris, even makes me more interested in the game than I was. We need more of that.
yes, very good article.
"There is an entire universe to explore. Quite literally. That is what makes No Man’s Sky interesting, that sense of wonder" :
i couldn't agree more and it's more than enough for me!
As per Sean Murray, the game is multiplayer, but not, you can see each others' discoveries, but you can't literally run into each other. I guess that like the Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy put's it;
Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist (pharmacy), but that's just peanuts to space.
So even if we are in the same system, the sheer scale will of course mean we can't contact each other directly in-game, no PVP, and no co-op.
I guess we'll have to see whether a particularly good trade route can effectively be shared with others or not.
Thanks for putting this article together. Good job.
One thing about the multiplayer aspect of not bumping into each other. Since we are all using the same game client, players could easily share their coordinates in order to link up with others in some kind of joint effort. I don't know how much the game facilitates this, and how it handles the multiplayer aspects when you literally bump into another player. But I feel certain that there will be forums/sites with threads full of people sharing coordinates.
Ya I feel like it's something I'm going to come back to here and there. After I play it for awhile of course.
good point