0RBITALIS (Game)

0RBITALIS

GAME » on April 16, 2014

Players use the forces of gravity to launch probes in minimalist solar systems.

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Overview

0RBITALIS is a minimalist simulation game where players must find a suitable path through ever more complex solar systems to achieve their probe's goals. It originated from a simpler gamecreated at the Ludum Dare 28 gamejam with the theme "You Only Get One", which was improved and expanded, eventually being released as a commercial game on Steam Early Access.

Gameplay

The game consists of individual levels grouped into themes, each requiring the previous level to be 'won'. Levels themselves consist of assorted astronomical objects from stars to planets to asteroids and other more exotic objects, all with their own gravity and moving on predefined paths through the level. Each also includes a 'probe' which the player has limited control over; they can choose its initial direction and speed, but not position, and with no further control once it is launched. Instead, the probe is directed only by the gravitational forces of the level's other objects. To assist the player, the probe's path is constantly predicted several seconds into the future and shown. The probe is the only object that is affected by gravity, with everything else in levels following preset paths. The goal on most levels is to keep the probe alive for a certain time, requiring a path (rarely resembling a typical 'orbit') that avoids any solid obstacles or sending it too far from the solar system until that timer completes. Later levels have more complex variations on the goal. Although the goal is usually ten seconds or less, an online leaderboard allows players to compete in finding the most successful path far past the required time with no real upper limit. Restarting a level shows the last attempted cursor position to allow for fine tuning of a path, and the launch settings of successful players can be optionally shown as a hint.

Levels

Many level names and designs refer to concepts (such as the lagrange point) or to known extrasolar systems, though others are imaginary or currently impossible. The groups themselves are not named in the game but are represented as individual constellations. Each group also has additional named 'hidden' levels.

Group 1 - tutorial and basic examples * 0RBITALIS
3753 CRUITHNE
LAGRANGE
GLIESE 581
14 HERCULES
INNER SOL
14 HERCULES
Group 2 - more difficult systems (faster movement, longer timers, more gravity, higher obstacles, etc) * 90 ANTIOPE
7472 KUMAKIRI
OORT CLOUD (introduces elliptical orbits)
90377 SEDNA
Group 3 - even more complex/unpredictable systems * ALPHA CENTAURI
P ERIDANI
TV CRATERIS
Group 4 - introduces antigravity, i.e. objects that repel the probe * GEMINORUM
BETA CRUCIS
OCTANIS
GAMMA POLARIS
DELTA CYGNI
Group 5 - objects with gravity that varies cyclically over time * CENTAURUS X 3
HULSE TAYLOR
SOLARIS
Group 6 - the 'timer' only changes when the probe is within a certain radius of a specific target * CANIS MAJORIS
PROBE ONE
ALCOA
PROBE TWO (includes two separate targets, each contributing to half of the timer)
1P HALLEY
Group 7 - levels where the aim is to collide with the target as fast as possible, with shortest times scoring highest * 9P TEMPEL
P2C 257
P2A 870
IKEYA SEKI
RHEA
KORONIS (includes many small objects, with the target changing every few seconds)
Group 8 - multiple probes from different positions launched simultaneously must all be kept alive * LUHMAN 16
IRIS 7
CASTOR
MU ARAE
DIGITALIS

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