Surviving Mars

[TheSwede]

Not heard about this game (and couldn't find a thread about it here either) until yesterday when CohhCarnage mentioned it on his stream that he was going to play it today, after having been given a copy from GOG. In any case, it looks interesting, like a Civilization/Sim City game in Space.

So, was wondering if anyone else heard about it and maybe if it is worth to preorder or not ?? Due to be out on the 15th of March.

Here is a couple short Announcement Trailers from Paradox Interactive's:

Some useful tips from panos but in spoiler incase anyone prefer to learn the hard way.

Spoiler: Useful tips

a) Yes. Had to rely on the switches heavily. Also got a lot of tricks trying to combat my failures....
Things I learned the hard way, and are not covered by any youtuber, who plays on "easy" or "normal" difficulty....

Switches are paramount.
Create a simple network on pipes and power lines. Not a straight line from point to point, but having more than one route to the dome & tanks.
Split the production of water into unconnected segments. And each one connects to the dome. Same applies to Oxygen.
If something fails, only that small segment is affected, not whole network. The dome can work as the interconnecting hub moving the stuff around.

Air & Water pipes can go through buildings. That way you have just a small tiny segment of 1 pylon connecting 2 production/storage buildings. No need to go long lines over the power lines.
(same applies to the dome). Is waste of metal and prone to damage if something big hits he area.

Fuel production separate loop away from water loop. Can be placed anywhere. Better still get moistorizers to supply the fuel production, and when you get the upgrade adding 50% on the water production, build a tank.
That way if dust storm hits, the fuel production won't consume from reserves, but from any saved water.

Wind farms are waste of resources. Yes constant power but is only needed when you have colonists living. By that time there are other methods to maintain cheap power.
Solar power is working 2/3 of the day covering fully the two shiifts, so set accordingly even the unmanned units, works better.

On that also the trick to conserve power. If you have two farms, make one producing morning, the other at night.
Same applies when you build the machine part factory. Since you ain't going to fill up two shifts, more likely not even the first, turn the other off.

Flying drone network is for the lazy who want to burn resources at the start, when these are scarce. Two trucks are better, and allow you to move stuff around. When idling gather resources off the map.

Before you send off your rocket the first time from Mars back to Earth, make sure that you have allocated to the RC the maximum amount of drones, even those belonging to the rocket.
And protect those left behind by the rocket. they will be needed.

If you get the Fungal farm, build it. It doesn't take space in the dome, is built outside. That way you will have enough space for 2 apartments, 1 factory, on a third triangle groser, 2-3 parks and the restaurant (forgot it's name). That will leave you space to place an Electronics factory in the first dome also, or third apartment. Especially if you are in a good spot with 2 rare minerals, and 2 metal mines, 3 apartments are must, and go for the medical spire.

Original post here.

 

[TheSwede]

Yeah, I am following the game long time and have already done the big package pre-order.

Imho this forum is more on shooters.... the rest are classed as third world games....

Yeah I am thinking of doing a pre order. It sure looks interesting and you do seem to have to do some careful planning to make it all work. We'll see what happens.

Doesnt look too bad, Im generally more into games that I can co-op on, or multiplayer at least but looks like it could be decent. Not 34.99 decent for me but I see its £22 on cdkeys which is probably a more realistic price for this title for me.

Yup, it looks pretty decent indeed.

 

[TheSwede]

To make your mind, Quill18 has released 7 videos. The first five are just tutorial on very easy mode, the later two are from a new series on higher difficulty named "Meteor Mayhem"

Thanks, I'll have a look at those videos.

 

[TheSwede]

On PDX Twitch today they have a pretty advanced game live atm.
Lets put it that way, the choice atm is, die from the virus or suffocation.....


Tbh I do not expect a bad game from the Tropico 3/4/5 developers.

Thanks, watching it now. And just realized that Paradox Interactive is a Swedish game publisher.

Appreciating the heads up though. Pretty sure I be buying it, just got to decide if it be prepurchases or after it out.

They just mentioned they seen CohhCarnage playing the game (at 3:35:00 if you missed it and wanna see it), and I was there watching what he was doing so know exactly what they talking about !

 

[TheSwede]

Just found out that Keralis is doing a play through on the game as well. He done some amazing builds with Cities Skylines in the past so be checking out his videos as well.

Keralis Surviving Mars Build

 

[TheSwede]

I was watching Giant Waffle playing this on stream last night and from what I saw it looked really good. My only slight concern is that there didn't seem to be loads to do but I only watched for a little while so couldn't make a fair judgement. Hopefully as more content comes out it will give a better idea of what it has to offer.

Either way will be keeping a close eye as I loved Skylines.

There is different ways to play it from what I seen, all depending on what kind of Mission Sponsor you pick, the Commander and then there is the Mystery "Quests" that will break through as you play. Plus all these three adds to the difficulty of the play. Also, the Technology Tree is always randomized so you never know what you will find there. It wont be like in Civilization where you know exactly what path to go to get what technology. Lastly you have the landing zones, which you can pick one with plenty of resources, or barely none, different threats and how often they will occur.

If you want to learn more about the specifics, search for Quill18 who Panos suggested.

To make your mind, Quill18 has released 7 videos. The first five are just tutorial on very easy mode, the later two are from a new series on higher difficulty named "Meteor Mayhem"

 

[TheSwede]

Steam also have 10% off on the price for the moment.

I'm at work so wondering if anyone know if it has widescreen support, 21:9 ??

 

[TheSwede]

Can't seem to find if 21:9 is supported or not so guess will find that out later.

I did find this YouTuber though, that playing the game on a 485% Difficulty. Just started watching so no clue what troubles he be going to get. Surviving Mars - A playthrough on the hardest difficulty settings. Skye Storme If anyone want to look, at something that might be a total disaster.

 

[TheSwede]

Regarding the resolution, dropped question for you at the official FB page and at PDX forum.
As soon as I have reply I will let you know

As for the difficulty at 485%, I will be surprised if the rovers nuts and bolts will survive, let alone the human colonists.......

Thank you, much appreciated !

And yes, just started watching it and he was lucky with his landing zon, loads of resources right form the start so we'll see how things goes, he oploaded 11 videos so far so guess it gone fairly well.

 

[TheSwede]

Thank you @Panos ! Realy appreciate that you asked !

 

[TheSwede]

quoting Ivan-Assen from Haemimont Games as replied to my question about 21:9 and especially 3440x1440 question in the PDX forum.
(someone highjacked my question asking about 2180p which first time heard of).

Thanks again and yes, I saw the post just now. The chap that highjacked your thread replied back and was referring to 4k (3840x2160), the silly willy couldn't get any of the full numbers correct though.

And I been on the fence to buy it but knowing it be supporting 21:9 I just went and bought the package. It be keeping me busy next weekend when I'm off !

 

[TheSwede]

Ha,

Going to keep me busy for quite some time, including the overnight on release day alongside the Haemimont Games live streaming.
They will be sharing the coordinates of map on Mars they will be in, for everyone to play alongside. So second monitor is already up and running

I heard them mention that in the last twitch clip I watched, after you mentioned them. Do you have any clue when it due to start ?? I'm working Thursday to around 6pm (5pm your time) so might not be able to catch their live stream.

 

[TheSwede]

Ha,

Going to keep me busy for quite some time, including the overnight on release day alongside the Haemimont Games live streaming.
They will be sharing the coordinates of map on Mars they will be in, for everyone to play alongside. So second monitor is already up and running

Yup, with the way the game is set up, research screen being random and all the different places to explore it will get many hours played, looking forward to Thursday and start playing it !

Quill18's vids made me pre-order the game.
Looks grand.

Yeah, his videos are good, I'm glad Panos posted his name for me to check out, the tutorials definitely got my interest and when Tanos found out for me it support 21:9 it was that and I bought it as well.

If you want to see another play through of the game, on quiet an insane level check the below link out. It can be quiet challenging if you so wish.

I did find this YouTuber though, that playing the game on a 485% Difficulty. Just started watching so no clue what troubles he be going to get. Surviving Mars - A playthrough on the hardest difficulty settings. Skye Storme If anyone want to look, at something that might be a total disaster.

 

[TheSwede]

Regarding the difficulty, the guy missed a position where it was 490%..... Probably avoided it and didn't want to take a chance on it.
Also there guys are using the February build, not the latest as they do on PDX Twitch. So there is even higher difficulty mode if the player select the Paradox as sponsor. hahahah.

Yeah I saw he missed it too, was also mentioned in the comments but no reply from Skye about it though. Guess he ignored it.

I seen the Paradox Sponor too, think it was on Quill's18 streams.

Not decided what I do but might do the easy mode first, just to get a hang of things, then start a new around medium difficulty or so, we'll see what happens.

 

[TheSwede]

Regarding the difficulty, the guy missed a position where it was 490%..... Probably avoided it and didn't want to take a chance on it.
Also there guys are using the February build, not the latest as they do on PDX Twitch. So there is even higher difficulty mode if the player select the Paradox as sponsor. hahahah.

Actually, I was browsing through Paradox Forums and found this thread. The 7th post in there the poster says he seen another streamer finding a spot that has a 535% difficult level !

In regards to the Paradox Interactive Sponsor, will that one be for everyone once game is out or you have to sign up for it somewhere ??

 

[TheSwede]

Hmm, looks very interesting!

It sure does. If you not already watched them, I would suggest you to check out Quills18 youtube tutorials. Gives a bit more indepth view into the game.

 

[TheSwede]

The guy messed up his first video somehow though, you can see he only took 5 polymers/electronics and things, but in game he had 10 and was missing the drone hub prefab. Must have reloaded or changed something after you see the initial bit.

Quite like the idea of playing on very hard to give some challenge.

Nice catch, missed that. And yes, there is so many ways to get challened in the game, with what you pick and landing place etc. Really wishing it was Thursday already.

 

[TheSwede]

Yeah off to bed now...

I really like it, is very good fun, but that location where PDX said the competition is, holy crap. (raises the game to 345% difficulty, with Russian & Oligarch setup)
Took me 61 days to build the basic infrastructure up, and while I gambled to have the guys arrive on Mars, the frost hit again (5th time by now and lasts as week).
Water froze in the pipes, and the guys died from thirst.
The ground heater is still 30% at research.

Ouch.....

That's a big OUCH ! I had a look at the location and thought, *nope, that's not for me* then went and started elsewhere.

Although, having 2 small issues. Here is my starting location, as can be seen, should be plenty of things to find BUT...



As can be seen there, I barely found anything so far ? Althogh, maybe I been expecting to much after watched the YouTuber's ?? Or, come just to think about it, it might be deep under ground resources ?? Unless with my luck it is all on the none scanned side !



The second one is this. My farm for some reason I can only do one shift, if I click on the other it just closes the AM shift and move them to PM. All other places there is a "pause" sign and can be opened or closed without moving the people. Any idea as to why ? Or should I just tear it down and build a new farm and see if it works properly, unless that is the properly way ?



Although, saying the above I was a bit lucky with my first, and so far, only breakthrough. That did free up some personal.

 

[TheSwede]

So, made my second dome, plopped down a farm and still have two red X on PM and Evening Shifts. So either I missed something else you need to be able to run 2 or 3 shifts on the farms or it is bugged out for me ??

Could anyone let me know if you can have more then one shift on your farms, please ??

 

[TheSwede]

Could you post a screenshot please?

Sure, posted one earlier, here it is again. As you can see on the info screen, 2 red X for afternoon and evening shifts.

The second one is this. My farm for some reason I can only do one shift, if I click on the other it just closes the AM shift and move them to PM. All other places there is a "pause" sign and can be opened or closed without moving the people. Any idea as to why ? Or should I just tear it down and build a new farm and see if it works properly, unless that is the properly way ?