Current Game Status
As of now, the game stands in the following state:
- Stable and fully playable.
- Through Steam's branch feature, you can experience two entirely distinct versions.
- The current version experiences some performance issues in the later stages of Mars terraforming. Unrestrained expansion of your base can lead to significant frame rate drops.
- Most MODs from the Steam Workshop are functional, but be cautious as some may conflict, preventing game saves. In such instances, removing the buildings and units added by conflicting MODs and uninstalling those mods may salvage your saves.
Reshaping Mars' Development Journey
The development of Reshaping Mars spanned three and a half years, commencing in early 2020, and it was introduced to early access in August 2021. At that juncture, it was a Mars terraforming game characterized by a hexagonal grid and a macro perspective.
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Towards the end of 2021, I released a free DLC for this version: "The Rise of Locke Industries," which introduced the playable faction "Locke Industries" and a new storyline, the "AI Crisis." At this point, Reshaping Mars played like a macro-strategy combined with real-time strategy (RTS).
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Subsequently, a slew of new ideas sprouted within me. I envisioned players exploring a full-scale Mars, diverging from the hexagonal chessboard. This vision led to the complete restructuring of the gameplay. In essence, apart from minimal artistic assets and reused music, this became an entirely new game.
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This endeavor consumed a year and a half of my time. In late 2022, I initiated testing for the new version, which was officially released in March 2023, marking the conclusion of the early access phase.
The new iteration of Reshaping Mars shifts away from the macro perspective. Players are now akin to commanders of a base, tasked with constructing a thriving Martian city and utilizing it to eco-engineer the planet.
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My Current Situation
The number of reviews can provide insight into Reshaping Mars' sales performance. Frankly speaking, considering three years of development and accounting for various revenue shares, it hasn't yielded a particularly robust commercial return. Moreover, it fails to provide the necessary support for me to continue crafting new content for Reshaping Mars.
During restless nights, I often contemplate whether I should have adhered to the early access version's trajectory instead of revamping the entire gameplay. I ponder whether launching a separate game with the new gameplay framework might yield better commercial returns.
I also ponder the many players who hold fondness for the older version and question whether I've wholly disappointed their expectations.
Overthinking may not alter the reality. I console myself with the fact that I've laid bare my full imaginative vision of terraforming Mars to you all. Through the steam branch feature, you can experience these two vastly different versions, and that should suffice.
Thanks and Apologies
Some words are difficult to articulate, but certain circumstances necessitate candor: Reshaping Mars will temporarily transition into an inactive state. There won't be new content updates for the game in the near future. If you're curious about the game's playability and whether it's worth purchasing, please refer to the beginning of this article.
Thank you to all the players who have purchased the game or participated in testing; this is your greatest support to me.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the community friends who have accompanied me on this journey. Your encouragement and suggestions have held significant meaning for me.
To friends who have been eagerly awaiting updates, I offer my sincerest apologies for falling short of your expectations. I express my deepest regret here.
The script code for this game can be found under game\default_game\static_db\package, while the UI code resides in game\default_game\ui\script. These are Lua scripts that I hope will be of assistance to anyone interested in game development.
Future Plans
Reshaping Mars marked my inaugural independent game development endeavor. Creating this game was akin to embarking on an adventure, and I'm grateful to have had your companionship along the way.
As previously mentioned, Reshaping Mars represents my first independent game creation, but by no means is it the last. I'm already in the early stages of conceptualizing a new game project, poised to embark on this fresh journey shortly.
I intend for this project to have a shorter development timeline, certainly not spanning three years or even an additional year and a half. My aspiration is for this project to yield more substantial financial stability. With this, I can indulge in certain endeavors, much like I did when I embarked on creating the new version of Reshaping Mars.
The following words don't constitute promises, but I nevertheless hold hope for their realization: "Terraforming Mars is humanity's most likely monumental achievement in the near future. Both the community and I harbor countless lofty dreams for Reshaping Mars. When I possess the budget and resources necessary, I'll be more than willing to reinitiate this project and bring these exciting ideas to life."
