As far as more content goes, be sure to check out the mods and tools that are beginning to appear. Watch for announcements here on this forum, and at the Infinite Space Federation site.
We also make announcements about mods on the Digital Eel news page, like The Mizendar Galaxy, a recent redux of a popular SAIS mod released for Weird Worlds.
Infinite Space Federation forums
http://s7.invisionfree.com/SAIS_Forum/index.php?
Infinite Space Federation
http://www.freewebs.com/strangefederation/
Digital Eel
http://www.digital-eel.com/
It's possible that we might release extra content in the future. These would likely be ship mods and the like available as quick downloadables. But we do have other games to make (!), so we'll have to see how things go. (No promises at this time.)
I'd love to see a completely decked-out total conversion happen. I've heard some amazing ideas from some people. But again, we'll have to see what appears. After all, complex mods take time to make and test. Weird Worlds was born 6-7 months ago. Let's talk again at the end of the year.
pfreak, there are high score lists in the game for each map size. When you first start playing, you'll see one every time you play the game as you fill them up, and you can invoke the high score lists from the main menu as well.
As for the game itself, I can understand some of your points, guys. It may be that you just don't like the style of game it is? It's like a boardgame really. An "animated boardgame" with realtime combat is what I call it.
On size, Weird Worlds, like SAIS, is in the category called "beer & pretzel" games (or "pop & potato chips" if you prefer). All I mean by that is that it is not designed to be as complex as a full blown wargame for lots of reasons. Keep in mind though that you'll be paying $35 to $50 for the bigger games.
SAIS costs $15, which is almost ridiculously cheap (but we believe that cheap need not automatically mean that a game stinks!). Weird Worlds is two or three times the game (SAIS) in terms of the overall presentation -still, we did not feel that we could charge any
more than $25 for it. That price seemed about right, you know?
Strange Adventures In Infinite Space
http://www.digital-eel.com/sais/
I was just thinking that if Weird Worlds was an actual boardgame (which would be so cool --and a perfect fit) its retail price would probably be in the $50 to $75 range. Ouch!
On combat, SAIS and Weird Worlds feature combat ala Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. It's naval style combat, really, and obviously not a shoot 'em up.
Ships usually appear facing each other in combat, though a long way away from each other. While some battles can be fought head on there will be many situations when that strategy will not work. Some of them are obvious, like when there are multiple groups of different adversaries in battle at the same time. Some are more typical, like when the weapons, systems, hulls and hardpoints you and your adversary posses really matter or differ, or when you are surrounded. Some situations are unpredictable and surprising, like when enemy ships can teleport or are cloaked, etc.
As far as variety, there are around 125-130 ship systems, drives & thrusters, weapons, treasures, artifacts and lifeforms available in the game. 9 alien races. 30 or so different ship types (I forget! lol). Intelligently randomized maps in three sizes. A combat simulator, just for fun and combat practice. Rare and super-rare events, two of which are "save the galaxy" type events/quests that may appear only once in every ten to twenty game sessions. Etc. Lots of stuff, not as much as Dominions 3 (!)
, but again, this is a "beer & pretzel game"-sized game.
I hope this helps. Thanks SO much for your comments (and keep them coming). What you do is help us make more pleasing games in the future!