Ascent:The Space Game (Ascent:TSG) will be officially on sale on Steam this week, beginning February 27th, 2015. Those players that purchased the PC version of the game in the past will receive a free Steam key for the game on the release date. Since Ascent:TSG is constantly evolving, I highly recommend using Steam to install the game since it automates the patching process.

The game has gone through significant changes over the past few months:
- Orbital Space Bases (OSB's) are stabilized.
- Colonies have a new Hierarchy of Needs (HoN) mechanic.
- New paint designs for all ships (I like the sexy leopard skin).
- User Interface modifications and back-end optimization.
- Map improvements (you can now see player-created warp gates).
- Space station docking and disembark (watch robots load/unload your ship).
- Mining is more challenging (beware the dog bones!)
- Many bug fixes (and wonderful new ones).
- Louis, the official cat of Fluffy Kitten Studios, has been made head of Human Resources.

Come join us this weekend and re-experience the game.
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Prolapser

Jam (the developer) has made an important status update post on the forums. The main contents are posted below:

http://forum.thespacegame.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=931


KickStarter

KickStarter has paid up. We now have the absolute bare minimum funding to do what we wanted to do with visuals and UI while I continue to add new features.

We most likely don't have enough for a complete new UI at this level, just some part time/contract work to improve what we've got. We'll try to focus on the really annoying and ugly bits first.

However, I expect we'll be able to do a lot with art, going beyond replacing the last of the ships. The game will look a LOT better when we're done.


KickStarter Rewards

I've sent surveys asking for an email address for each tier. Be careful to get this address correct, as we'll be sending your reward keys there.

Although it is true we aren't obligated to deliver beyond the $10 mark until January, I will try to get all the premium and SC keys out separately as soon as I can. Obviously for things like new ships etc we will stick to the schedule on the rewards page.


The Company

Given how we did in the KS (barely scraped by, now operating on "we can just move forward barely with this budget" money), we have had some discussions with potential investors. No promises but there is the potential for us to obtain more funding and really do this properly.

We are now in the top 100 on Steam Greenlight. This is INCREDIBLY exciting. Although there is no guarantee Valve will greenlight us any time soon or even necessarily at all, getting a release date on Steam would change... everything.

In the mean time, I am trying to continue very carefully but as quickly as we can with the funding we have. I have to watch every dollar going out the door pretty carefully or we'll run out before delivering on our promises, and I need to manage things as best I can to make sure there is as much as possible that can be put into UI work as well.

We have had KS money for a little over a week, and we're looking at office space, PCs etc. The possibility of having more funding in the near future complicates everything though.


The Game

Development has been slow as hell lately. I don't mind admitting that the 33 days of the KickStarter burned me out horribly, but I feel a whole lot better now, especially now we're getting traction on Steam. I hope to return to our breakneck development pace soon, however there is a lot of other work to do as well, and the long term picture is a lot more critical right now.

Axcent:TSG has raised the $35k AUD needed to modernize the graphics for the game. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the campaign. See you in the game.

Ascent: The Space Game (ATSG) has officially started a Kickstarter (KS) campaign to raise funds to hire a professional graphics designer. His purpose is to upgrade the look-and-feel of space ships and to improve the user interface. We encourage everyone to donate a few dollars early in the campaign to boost the fund pool.

http://kck.st/1CAk0M1


The ATSG KS has excellent rewards for small contributions:

• For a $5 contribution or higher, you get your name in the video game! Your name could be an NPC trader, contract handler, or even a pirate! (Confirmed by developer)
  
• You also receive Stellar Credits, a valuable currency in the game for your colonies.

The rewards keep getting better the more you contribute:

• A planet will be named after you.
  
• Obtain the first stealth ship in the game called the Hawk.
  
• Obtain the first freighter in the game called the Bowhead, which has a very large cargo capacity.
  
• Receive a Steam key once ATSG is Greenlit.
  
• Receive a ship pet named Greg.
  
• Procure terraforming devices to modify moons and planets.
  
• Take ownership of planets and star systems. Your player-owned colony neighbours pay you Stellar Credits as rent!

The developer has invested heavily to bring this unique space game experience to the gaming community. Please contribute what you can and leave a message of support on the Kickstarter.

Thank you everyone!