The games developed under the Kitfox publishing banner have long been celebrated for their delightfully eccentric patch notes and bug reports, a testament to the intricate systems and simulations they offer. Titles like Dwarf Fortress have gifted us memorable lines such as “Undead dwarf contracted were-chameleon curse” and “Cats dying for no reason – alcohol poisoning?” Just before its 1.0 release, Caves of Qud introduced an intriguing feature: “You can voluntarily amputate your own limbs.” This week, another gem from Kitfox’s collection has emerged, further enriching this unique legacy.
Ostranauts Update v0.14.5.18
Ostranauts, the early access hardcore space simulation crafted by Blue Bottle Games, has just rolled out Update v0.14.5.18, which includes a particularly striking line in its patch notes:
- Corpses should no longer become hotter than the Sun and explode the ships/stations they are on.
This whimsical note encapsulates the depth of temperature simulation within Ostranauts, suggesting that players may have experienced the bewildering phenomenon of a deceased character triggering a catastrophic thermal event. It appears this issue had been simmering for some time.
Blue Bottle founder Daniel Fedor shed light on the situation in the update notes, stating, “With the help of some player saves, we were finally able to figure out why some stations were becoming so hot they exploded from pressure.” He elaborated that a flaw in the body heat code had created a scenario where temperatures could rise indefinitely if left unchecked.
While this alone poses a significant challenge, Fedor noted that if this overheating bug occurred within EVA suits, it could lead to air inside reaching temperatures exceeding those of a star. The removal of a helmet in such cases would result in a rapid expansion of superheated air, culminating in a dramatic explosion of the station.
Such is the beauty of the worlds we create in gaming.
As an admirer of Kitfox’s portfolio of unconventional games, I must admit that I have yet to immerse myself in Ostranauts—largely due to my own limitations. While I can transform a fledgling Dwarf Fortress into a thriving metropolis and navigate the treacherous landscapes of Qud, I fear that even my affinity for complex systems might be outmatched by the demands of Ostranauts’ Newtonian flight physics. However, with newfound insights into what Blue Bottle is developing, I realize it’s time for me to embark on a ship salvaging expedition in the boneyard. At least now, my body won’t inadvertently trigger a thermal disaster should things take a turn for the worse.
