WHAT IS ORBITAL DAWN?

THE CONCEPT.

Orbital Dawn is a game about the logistics of space exploration. The core gameplay revolves around building space stations and habitats. At the outset, you have a smattering of rockets, space station modules and spacecraft left over from the early space programs. Assemble them into a working station, crew it up and keep it supplied. Once assembled, you can start researching and exploring a web of technologies: build bigger rockets, unlock new methods of propulsion, or focus on improving crew health and station habitability.

As you progress, you will build more stations in more locations. You will also build modular ships, which are essentially mobile stations, allowing you to take large crews on interplanetary trips. New propulsion technologies will cut down on travel time. Start mining moons and asteroids to depend less on launches from Erua. Discover exciting new resources only available in space.

Later, you will be able to terraform worlds, build launch rings, create megastructures, and design generation ships to travel to new star systems.

Technological progress is non-linear, and insights into new research come at random. You will need to adapt to the technologies that become available.

THE STORY.

An Earth-like planet on the far side of the galaxy, Erua hangs like a precious jewel. After decades of fierce competition, the people of East and West joined under a new identity: The United Eruvean Society. A world on the brink of nuclear war now found itself entering a new era of peace and prosperity.

It is now year 0 of the New Common Era. The industries of Erua have been brought under the control of an expert system known as QUATRO, the QUantum Advanced Telematic Resource Optimizer. Public polling has shown a robust interest in continuing the exploration of space. The old space programs of East and West are ready to join forces and unlock the mysteries of the universe.

And yet, danger still looms. Scientists have found that the excesses of the old order have damaged the environment and started a chain reaction that could make the planet uninhabitable in a few short centuries. The exploration of space has become ever more vital. Will science find a way to reverse the catastrophe? Perhaps new forms of clean energy can be found. Terraforming research could find a method of repairing Erua’s polluted atmosphere. Space habitats might help to alleviate the strain of overpopulation. Or perhaps a new home could be found somewhere amongst the glittering stars…

THE ROADMAP.

Phase Zero.

Basic proof of concept. Build a space station in LEO. Unlock bigger rockets to build a Moon station.

Phase One.

Make a more complete game. Implement a full star system. Build any number of space stations, modular ships, surface bases. Asteroid mining, asteroid capture. Terraforming and early megastructures.

Phase Two.

Wish list and hypotheticals. Bend the rules of spacetime with the Ansible and Light Speed. Build a network of wormholes. Choose from multiple starting scenarios.

Phase Three.

Mystery awaits…