Universal Duality

 

 

 

 Time certainly flies, when one is having fun.

I've been sucked into playing Dual Universe, a game I first heard about a few years ago, which recently went beta. To be honest, I have probably played far more of this game than is healthy for me, spending almost every non-working hour inside this interesting and somewhat unique world.

For those who like building games, like Minecraft, think of that game, but set in space, on a much more vast scale and scope.  

Currently, the game has but a single solar system, with multiple planets (and moons) where one can explore, mine, and exploit. However, the plan is to increase the number of solar systems, adding at least one at full release. 

While the industrial elements are set, as in the players cannot currently manipulate or change their function or appearance, it may be that there will be various skins for such in the future as the option exists to do so, although only the default skin exists. 

           In the interplanetary hauler owned by my org, getting ready to head to the planet, Thades.
 

Where the game shines is not in the fully destructible environments found on procedurally generated planets and moons, or in the very real scale of the game where time is a significant factor when planning a trip to another planet (I took a recent 2.5hr hop to a nearby planet), but in the extreme diversity in player constructions, fully supported by voxel editing and a myriad selection of materials with which to build, all produced by players. 

There are currently 20 different ore types for miners to delve into, split amongst five tiers, with the higher tiers found progressively deeper in the soils of the planets and moons. I've only mined down to about -1000 meters, but I've heard of other players going several kilometers down, searching for the elusive and rare Tier 5 ores.

                          Yes, that is a player's base, which looks exactly like a Rubik's Cube.
 

One can build not only static constructs in the form of ground bases and factory installations, but space ships and even space stations (that's no moon!). Player groups are called organizations and the one to which I belong is very small, but we are in the process of preparing to build a large trading station in the safe zone, between three planets and their moons. 

At the time I am writing this blog post, I am awaiting two of the members of the org (who live in Germany) to join me in mining for the raw materials from which our soon to be constructed station will be built. 

                                       Some player's voxelmancy on display at a nearby market
 

There are numerous YouTubers playing the game, as well as Twitch streamers whose game content does a good job of showing of certain aspects of the game.

While the game is not a perfect version of itself, being several game crashing bugs that are still in need of squashing, the developers are actively and earnestly seeking to improve the game's performance, balance, and content. Over the next year, PVP will be be expanded and improved, player markets deployed, and several other important QOL changes are to be implemented, not the least of which is an expansive update to environment graphics.

                              Enroute to Thades, a planet gouged by some stellar object.
 

The game is subscription based, but at roughly $6 a month, I am more than getting my money's worth. 

If any of you readers are in the game or end up playing, drop me a line here. Perhaps we can work together, there.