Gallery

178 images

• Prologue · in-engineEarth, before the end.Open larger: A mid-century city at dusk: brick blocks, office towers and Art Deco skyscrapers lit window by window under a smoggy orange sky.
• Prologue · in-engineIt was over in less than a week.Open larger: A mushroom cloud with a burning cap rising beyond the city's towers at night, smaller strikes flaring on the horizon to the right.
• Prologue · in-enginePeople thought it was snow. I suppose they wanted it to be.Open larger: A snow-dusted city street of brick and stone buildings, abandoned cars and a truck under the street lamps.
• Prologue · in-engineThen the power started failing.Open larger: The city from above at night as its districts go dark one by one.
• Prologue · in-engineLaunches for those who could leave.Open larger: A rocket climbing on its exhaust above a dark, snowbound city.
• Prologue · in-engineDEEP SURVEY 3, at Sun-Earth L2.Open larger: A space telescope with a gold segmented mirror and a layered sunshield, against stars.
• Prologue · in-engineThe mirror that found Nova Eridani.Open larger: Close-up of a telescope's gold hexagonal mirror segments.
• Prologue · in-engineFound back when finding it was simply good science.Open larger: A green and brown world turning in its star's light, against the stars.
• Prologue · in-engineGenesis, in Earth orbit, years before the war.Open larger: A long uncrewed spacecraft in a lattice assembly frame above a healthy Earth.
• Prologue · in-engineSeeds and frozen plant embryos, soil cultures, algae and plankton.Open larger: Close-up of a seed-vault drum with stencilled canisters, one reading PINUS NE-4.
• Prologue · in-engineGenesis carried no crew.Open larger: A spacecraft trailing a violet plasma plume through deep space.
• Prologue · in-engineDecades later, Genesis reached a world that had been alive for a very long time.Open larger: A spacecraft above a cloud-streaked green world.
• Prologue · in-engineTrial Site A.Open larger: A grassy valley floor with mountains beyond and a lander in the distance.
• Prologue · in-engineThat one lived.Open larger: A young pine seedling in a ring of fresh soil beneath a lander's leg.
• Prologue · in-engineEarth's plants and microbes grew in among the native life.Open larger: An aerial view of pine forest spreading over a coastal slope towards the sea.
• Prologue · in-engineNot always the way anyone expected.Open larger: Glowing native fungi and plants at the foot of tall pines, a field station behind.
• Prologue · in-enginePart ours and part its own.Open larger: A forested coastline beneath snow-capped mountains.
• Prologue · in-engineBy then there was very little left to act on it with.Open larger: A brown, clouded Earth seen from orbit.
• Prologue · in-engineA freighter still being built, taught to be a colony ship.Open larger: A large freighter hull lit by work lamps, a dish and refit gantries above it.
• Prologue · in-engineThe crossing took eighty-four years.Open larger: A ship with a domed bow shield firing a bright drive plume as it leaves its frame.
• Prologue · in-engineArrival over Nova Eridani.Open larger: A long ship with a truss spine above a green and blue planet.
• Prologue · in-engineThe ESV Meridian.Open larger: A close view along the Meridian's weathered crew module.
• Prologue · in-engineInside Genesis: the holds, and the live cultures at the end of the aisle.Open larger: An aisle between racks of white seed canisters stacked two high, green status lamps on every bay, and at the far end the green glow of upright culture tanks.
• Prologue · in-engineSealed enclosures in the bay.Open larger: A ring of orange floats in the shallows off a sandy beach, holding a sealed enclosure in the water, with grassland and mountains beyond.
• Prologue · in-engineOut in the bay, the algae and plankton began to establish themselves.Open larger: The same shore seen from high above: a strip of beach, young pines on the slope behind it, the enclosure ring small in the dark water.
• In developmentYou wake in the recovery suite.Open larger: A recovery bay seen from the cradle, the title ESV MERIDIAN on screen.
• In developmentYour first words to Melanie.Open larger: First-person view from the recovery cradle with dialogue choices.
• In developmentThe expedition visor.Open larger: A visor scan sweeping a dark ship compartment in cyan light.
• In developmentThe bridge.Open larger: The Meridian's bridge with consoles and a central chair.
• In developmentThe bridge window.Open larger: The NOVA ERIDANI plaque above the bridge window, the ship's spine beyond.
• In developmentThe helm.Open larger: The bridge helm under a warm-lit NOVA ERIDANI plaque.
• In developmentOperations.Open larger: Operations deck with a suit station and fabrication bench.
• In developmentEngineering.Open larger: Engineering bay with switchgear and warning lights.
• In developmentThe aft service corridor.Open larger: A ship corridor with repair lockers and emergency lighting.
• In developmentNova Eridani from the bridge.Open larger: The bridge windows with the shutters open: Nova Eridani beside the debris shield's boom, its seas, continents and weather, a thin blue glow of air at its edge.
• In developmentIn deployment orbit, 410 km up.Open larger: The command bridge in low orbit: the planet's curved horizon and a desert coast filling the port windows.
• In developmentThe drop pod berths.Open larger: The deployment bay: drop pod 01's rounded door, the shape of the pod's own hatch, with an inspection window above it and the launch terminal beside.
• In developmentBoarding drop pod 01.Open larger: Through the berth's open door and docking vestibule: the drop pod's hatch swung open, the survey beacon strapped inside it, seat 1 beyond.
• In developmentSeat 1.Open larger: Inside the drop pod: seat 1 with its harness, past the beacon case on the open hatch.
• In developmentThe burn to deployment orbit.Open larger: The Meridian over the planet's blue limb, its drive burning as it settles into deployment orbit.
• In developmentPod 01 leaves its hangar.Open larger: The Meridian's port flank: drop pod 01 coming out of its hangar between the open doors.
• In developmentThe retro burn.Open larger: The drop pod alone above the planet's horizon, its retro rockets firing.
• In-engine character renderMelanie, close up.Open larger: A close portrait of a young woman with freckles, grey-green eyes and copper curls, her gaze lowered.
• In-engine character renderMelanie, the Meridian's intelligence.Open larger: A three-quarter portrait of Melanie: freckled face, grey-green eyes, long copper spiral curls.
• In-engine character renderMelanie, full length.Open larger: Melanie standing, full length, against a dark studio backdrop.
• In-engine character renderMelanie's copper curls.Open larger: Melanie from behind: a mass of long copper spiral curls down her back.
• In-engine character renderHer hair, strand by strand.Open larger: Close detail of copper spiral curls, strand by strand.
• In-engine character renderMelanie in profile.Open larger: Melanie in profile, long copper spiral curls falling past her shoulder.
• In-engine character renderMelanie.Open larger: Head and shoulders of Melanie in a white jacket with a high collar edged in cyan light.
• In-engine character renderMelanie, the Meridian's intelligence.Open larger: A three-quarter portrait of Melanie: freckled face, grey-green eyes, long copper spiral curls. She wears her suit.
• In-engine character renderMelanie, full length.Open larger: Melanie standing, full length, against a dark studio backdrop. She wears her suit.
• In-engine character renderMelanie in profile.Open larger: Melanie in profile, long copper spiral curls falling past her shoulder. She wears her suit.
• In-engine character renderMelanie.Open larger: Head and shoulders of Melanie in a fitted white suit. She wears her suit.
• In developmentDrop pod 01 burning through the atmosphere, trailing fire and smoke.Open larger: Drop pod 01 burning through the atmosphere, trailing fire and smoke.
• In developmentFrom the seat during entry: fire past the window.Open larger: From the seat during entry: fire past the window.
• In developmentThe forward bay cover tumbles away as two drogue chutes steady the capsule.Open larger: The forward bay cover tumbles away as two drogue chutes steady the capsule.
• In developmentThree main parachutes fully open above the capsule.Open larger: Three main parachutes fully open above the capsule.
• In developmentFrom the seat under the chutes: forest below the window.Open larger: From the seat under the chutes: forest below the window.
• In developmentTurning back toward the bay before landing: the coastline below.Open larger: Turning back toward the bay before landing: the coastline below.
• In developmentThe retro burn: four plumes under the scorched heat shield.Open larger: The retro burn: four plumes under the scorched heat shield.
• In developmentTouchdown in the meadow at LZ-1, seen from the ground.Open larger: Touchdown in the meadow at LZ-1, seen from the ground.
• In developmentThe hatch open, the survey beacon case strapped to its inside.Open larger: The hatch open, the survey beacon case strapped to its inside.
• In developmentThe landed capsule in the meadow.Open larger: The landed capsule in the meadow.
• In developmentThe windward side, darkened by the entry.Open larger: The windward side, darkened by the entry.
• In developmentSeat 1 looking down: the beacon case under the window, suited hands in front.Open larger: Seat 1 looking down: the beacon case under the window, suited hands in front.
• In developmentFour couches back to back: the crew in their EVA suits.Open larger: Four couches back to back: the crew in their EVA suits.
• In developmentSeat 1 on final approach: the descent display and the coast below.Open larger: Seat 1 on final approach: the descent display and the coast below.
• Model renderThe forward bay (model view): three packed main canopies and two drogue mortars.Open larger: The forward bay (model view): three packed main canopies and two drogue mortars.
• In developmentSixteen kilometres of world.Open larger: An aerial view north over coast, forest and plateau.
• In developmentTowards the mountains.Open larger: An aerial view west towards the mountains.
• In developmentAbove the landing zone.Open larger: A meadow on a rise above the bay.
• In developmentField Station 01 and the pines it planted.Open larger: Pines around a powered-down field station.
• In developmentGenesis pines.Open larger: Earth pines on a meadow.
• In developmentWhere Earth forest meets native life.Open larger: Tall native growth with red tendrils among grass.
• In developmentThe western range.Open larger: Granite mountains with snow on their tops.
• In developmentIn the mountains.Open larger: A mountain valley with rock and sparse growth.
• In developmentThe badlands.Open larger: Red-rock badlands under a blue sky.
• In developmentThe dune sea.Open larger: A sea of sand dunes.
• In developmentThe lowlands by the delta.Open larger: Green lowland meadow with Earth trees, towards the river delta.
• In developmentThe highlands.Open larger: Dry upland with scattered rocks and native growth.
• In developmentGenesis's first lander, where the trial began.Open larger: A small white landing capsule on bare ground among tall pines, the sea beyond.
• In developmentThe furrow Genesis cut.Open larger: A long trench ploughed through grassland, debris along its length.
• In developmentSwimming in Foothill Lake.Open larger: A suited figure swimming in a lake, head and shoulders above the water, forested foothills beyond.
• In developmentDusk on Foothill Lake: a day passes in an hour.Open larger: A swimmer in a lake at dusk under pink and orange clouds.
• In developmentThe night sky from Nova Eridani: the real stars, seen from 10.5 light years away.Open larger: A clear moonless night over the meadow at LZ-1: the Milky Way rises over a line of pines, the sky full of stars.
• In developmentThe galaxy's heart passes almost overhead, and the Meridian crosses the sky on her orbit.Open larger: Looking straight up at night: the bright core of the Milky Way crosses the sky, with a single bright point, a ship in orbit, below it.
• In developmentLuma, the larger of Nova Eridani's two moons.Open larger: A close view of a grey moon, a little more than half lit, among a few stars.
• In developmentThe first evening.Open larger: Twilight at the landing site: the drop pod on the left, pines against a fading blue sky, the first stars coming out.
• In developmentCaught in the light.Open larger: A large many-legged native creature with plated, cracked hide, caught in a bright light in tall grass at night.
• In developmentAt dusk it is hard to see.Open larger: The same creature low in the grass at dusk, almost lost against the dark meadow.
• In developmentA delivery from orbit: the retro burn, a few metres above the beacon.Open larger: A white cargo capsule hangs just above the meadow under orange-and-white parachutes, its retro rockets lighting the grass beneath it.
• In developmentComing down under its parachutes onto the spot the beacon marked.Open larger: High overhead, a cargo capsule comes down under orange-and-white parachutes above a meadow, a drop pod in the corner.
• In developmentLanded: the capsule opens on the grass, its parachute laid out beside it.Open larger: The cargo capsule's petals lie open on the grass, its parachute spread beside it, a drop pod to the right.
• In developmentIts doors open: a store that stays for good.Open larger: The blue container with its doors swung back against its sides, the corrugated inside visible.
• In developmentRepainted survey orange: every container can take a colour of your choosing.Open larger: The same container repainted bright orange, doors open, in the meadow.
• In developmentTake things out, put things in: the container's contents beside your pack.Open larger: A two-panel loot screen: the player's pack on the left; the container's stock on the right, including algae culture, seed packets, compost, nutrients, a hoe, feedstock cartridges, a printer, potatoes, ration packs, filter cartridges and water pouches.
• In developmentThe field printer: it builds from feedstock cartridges, and there are only so many.Open larger: A white field molecular printer cabinet with a glass print chamber and a lit screen, standing in grassland.
• In developmentA homestead beside the landing zone: water from the sun, food from the soil.Open larger: A homestead on open grassland: solar stills under sloped glass covers, a white water tank, a filter stand, crop beds, a greenhouse and a prefab shelter, with pines and a distant mountain beyond.
• In developmentThe first garden.Open larger: Raised timber crop beds, a greenhouse, a water tank and a water filter stand around a prefab shelter on open grassland.
• In developmentWater and food: two gauges at the top right of the screen.Open larger: First-person view of the homestead with the in-game HUD: the current task at the top left, small WATER and FOOD gauges at the top right, and one of Melanie's lines as a subtitle at the bottom.
• In developmentSome of the survival items: water, food, farming and first aid.Open larger: A sheet of 24 item pictures on dark panels: canteen, water bladder, water pouch, jerrycan, drinking water, sea water, filter cartridge, RO membrane, ration pack, nutrition bar, cooked meal, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, corn, carrot seed, algae culture, algae paste, compost, nutrients, medical kit, alginate dressing, hoe and emergency flare.
• Model renderFrom ore to titanium: twelve of the colony's fifty machines.Open larger: Twelve industrial machines on their concrete pads: a blast furnace, an arc furnace, a steelworks, a rolling mill, a coke oven, a crusher, a foundry, a wire mill, an aluminium potline, a titanium works, a solar cell line and a chemical reactor, each with its own control post.
• Model renderWater, food and soil: the first machines a colony needs.Open larger: The homestead's machines: a solar still, a greenhouse, a raised crop bed, a field kitchen, an algae photobioreactor and a composter.
• Model renderWhere the colony's first glass comes from: the field furnace, the crusher and the chemical reactor.Open larger: Three machine models side by side: a brick field furnace with its chimney, a yellow jaw crusher over a washing screen, and a chemical reactor with two blue towers and a kiln drum.
• Model renderSMV-1, the Strider: the expedition's six-wheeled rover, built light for the voyage.Open larger: A six-wheeled rover from the front quarter: a sand-coloured composite cab with a split windscreen, LED lamps and a light crash beam, carbon fenders over big all-terrain tyres, and an open alloy frame and deck behind the cab.
• Model renderThe deck: two outside seats, breathing gas, transit cases and the solar wing.Open larger: The rover from behind and above: two seats back to back on the deck, carbon-wrapped breathing bottles, blue water cans, aluminium transit cases under orange straps, a solar wing of two panels, a ladder and the spare wheel at the back.
• Model renderBuilt light: a sealed composite cab, then an alloy frame round the battery bay.Open larger: The rover in side view: the cab with its door in grey primer, the alloy frame and bracing under the deck, the battery bay with its warning sign, six wheels under carbon fenders.
• Model renderAn all-terrain tyre on a forged beadlock rim; behind it, the hub motor.Open larger: Close on a front wheel: an all-terrain tyre with deep blocks and shoulder lugs on a forged alloy rim with eight windows and a black bolted ring.
• Model renderThe cell charger, between the middle and rear wheels.Open larger: A hatch in the rover's side between two carbon fenders, stencilled CELL CHARGER, with a row of green status lamps, vents and a handle.
• In developmentOver rough ground, each wheel finding its own.Open larger: The rover crossing mounds of grass and dry earth beside a stand of conifers, each wheel at a different height.
• In developmentAt the driver's door: press E to get in.Open larger: First-person view at the rover's driver door: the stencil SMV-1, the steps, the carbon fenders over the wheels and an interaction prompt.
• In developmentOne screen for everything: speed, battery and range, what is round you, and the map.Open larger: From the driver's seat: the steering wheel, and in the middle of the dash a single screen showing the speed, the battery, the rover from above and a map; grassland through the windscreen.
• In developmentThe outside view, from the mouse wheel.Open larger: The rover seen from behind in the outside view: LED tail lights at the frame's corners, a ladder, the spare wheel and the solar wing.
• In developmentFlat cells go in, charged ones come out.Open larger: The game's store window over the rover: three flat power cells and two charged ones in the charger, and the player's pack beside it.
• In developmentThe screen as it is drawn: the drive, the battery, the sensors and the map.Open larger: The rover's dash screen as the game draws it, driving: D, 22 km/h, the battery and its range, the rover from above with what its sensors see, the power to the motors, the map of the land and coast north up with the heading, and along the foot the cell charger, the solar charge and the cab air.
• In developmentSMV-1 as it lands: hull and running gear, and the list of what it still needs.Open larger: The rover's bare hull and running gear, no doors or glass, stand on the meadow beside a drop pod, with a panel listing what its assembly site still needs: alloy plate, glass, power cells, circuit blanks, sealant and fasteners.
• In developmentThe rover's menu: its battery and load, its cases, its charger and a cell from your pack.Open larger: The rover's menu over its side on the meadow: SMV-1 Strider, the battery, its range with what the cells in its charger would add, the load and solar charging; then 1 Storage (the cases on the deck, slots and kilograms), 2 Cell charger (the cells charged), 3 Put a cell in the battery (a cell from your pack).
• In developmentParked in the sun, the wing raised on its masts and turned to the light.Open larger: The six-wheeled rover side-on on the meadow, parked, its solar wing raised on its masts above the deck's cases and turned to the sun; the prompt reads E Interact and Right click Truck.
• In developmentGetting in with the battery low: the red lamp on the dash and the warning on the screen.Open larger: Inside the rover's cab with the battery low: a red lamp on the dash lights the wheel and the cab's side, and the dash screen shows 9 percent with a red band, battery low, stop in the sun to charge.
• In developmentA woodcutter station.Open larger: A small timber woodcutter station among pines on open grassland.
• In developmentForesters plant.Open larger: A robot planting saplings near a forester station on a coastal slope.
• In developmentSawmills cut.Open larger: A robot operating a sawmill under a timber shelter.
• In developmentHaulers carry.Open larger: A robot pulling a loaded cart towards a storage building.
• In developmentBuildings upgrade while they work.Open larger: An upgraded woodcutter building with lit windows and a porch.
• In developmentThe settlement grows.Open larger: An upgraded sawmill building with a settlement behind.
• In developmentCharging bays inside a woodcutter.Open larger: Inside a woodcutter building: two robot charging bays and a workbench.
• In developmentEvery robot is fabricated from parts.Open larger: A robot being printed inside a glowing fabricator chamber.
• In developmentThe habitat, landed.Open larger: A white prefab habitat with rounded corners, a band of dark windows and a lit doorway stands on the meadow; Melanie in her suit stands nearby and a drop pod sits to the right.
• In developmentDusk at the habitat.Open larger: The habitat at dusk under a pink sky, its doorway outlined in light, a drop pod beside it.
• In developmentInside the habitat: a desk and computer, a bunk, a wet cell and a galley.Open larger: Inside the habitat by day with its ceiling lights on: a desk and computer at the left, the bunk along the back wall, the wet cell's frosted door and the galley's sink at the right, and the grass outside through clear windows.
• In developmentSmart glass: one switch by the door frosts every window, and clears them again.Open larger: The same room with every window frosted milky white, lit by the two ceiling panels.
• In developmentThe colony terminal: the habitat's power at a glance, and the colony's management when you sit down.Open larger: First person at the desk in the EVA suit: gloved hands on the keyboard and the colony terminal on the screen, with the planet's time, the battery's charge, the solar power coming in and the power in use.
• In developmentAt the desk, as the rest of the crew sees you.Open larger: From behind and above: a player in a yellow EVA suit sits typing at the desk, the chair slid in, beside the bunk under the windows.
• In developmentThe bunk: lie down to rest, or sleep through the night once it is safe to.Open larger: Lying on the bunk in the EVA suit, seen from the head end, with the desk and the door beyond.
• In developmentAt night with the glass clear, the lights fall on the grass outside.Open larger: The habitat at night under the stars, its windows clear and lit, the light falling on the grass beside it.
• In developmentFrosted, the panes glow softly instead.Open larger: The same view with the windows frosted: the panes glow white and little light reaches the grass.
• In developmentBuilt by hand, brick by brick.Open larger: A brick house with a pitched slate roof and skylight on grassland.
• In developmentBuild mode.Open larger: Build mode interface with component lists and a timber shelter under construction.
• In developmentThe structure view.Open larger: Build mode structure view highlighting a timber gazebo beside a brick house.
• In developmentTimber frames.Open larger: A timber frame gazebo beside a brick wall on a grassy plain.
• In developmentCorners bonded brick by brick, course by course.Open larger: The corner of a red-brick cottage with white-framed windows and a shingled gable roof, standing in long grass.
• In developmentEvery brick laid in bond, every joint mortared.Open larger: Close view along a brick wall in stretcher bond, mortar joints between every brick, a white window frame at the right.
• In developmentWalls carry their bond on; openings can be left rough and bricked up later.Open larger: A long brick wall on a dirt pad with a lintelled opening, its courses stepping down at one end, pines behind.
• Model renderThe felling axe: forged head, curved haft.Open larger: A felling axe with a dark forged head, polished cutting edge and a curved pale wooden haft with a leather lanyard.
• Model renderStamped at the forge.Open larger: Close-up of the axe head: blackened forged steel stamped NOVA ERIDANI with an NE roundel, the edge polished bright.
• In developmentA new building lines up with its neighbour; the arrow shows which way its door will face.Open larger: Build mode: a blue hologram of a prefab shelter lined up end to end with a standing shelter, an arrow showing its door side.
• In developmentThe workforce.Open larger: A line of humanoid worker robots walking across grassland from a pine wood.
• In developmentThe worker robot, an original design.Open larger: Four views of the humanoid worker robot design.
• In developmentWalk up and talk.Open larger: A worker robot turned to face the player, with its spoken reply as a subtitle.
• In developmentA status report from the robot itself.Open larger: A robot reporting its battery, condition and task in a subtitle.
• In developmentAsk, or give orders.Open larger: A conversation menu of questions and orders for a robot.
• In developmentChange its job with a few words.Open larger: A robot under a timber porch, with a menu of roles to assign it.
• In developmentUp to four players share one expedition.Open larger: A crew member in a yellow EVA suit stands in long grass beside a white drop pod with an orange band, seen by another player; open grassland and hills behind.
• In developmentSet out together from the landing zone.Open larger: A suited crew member walks out across the grassland towards a stand of pines, the drop pod DP-01 in the foreground at the right.
• In developmentTwo crew, one landing zone.Open larger: A suited crew member beside the open drop pod on a grassy plain, pines and bare mountains behind under a cloudy sky.
• In developmentMake your own character.Open larger: The character creator: a figure beside the personnel record's appearance choices.
• In developmentThe inventory: every item with its own model and picture.Open larger: Inventory screen: a grid of item pictures (algae culture, canteen, carrots, drinking water, an emergency flare, ration packs, tomatoes, a water bladder and building kits) beside the player's figure on a turntable.
• In developmentEvery robot, at a glance.Open larger: Colony panel, Robots tab: five robots listed with role, task and battery; the selected woodcutter shows its battery, load, condition, current task, work statistics and a row of roles to give it.
• In developmentEvery building, at a glance.Open larger: Colony panel, Buildings tab: a sawmill's page with its picture, tier, assigned worker, power, status, log stock and production stats.
• In developmentThe quest journal.Open larger: Quest journal showing the Arrival quest and its objectives.
• In developmentPickups show with their picture and count, on their rarity's colour.Open larger: Five pickup notices stacked on the left of the screen: log and stone on green, power cell, felling axe and circuit blank on blue.
• In developmentThe recipe book: what makes what, from what, and where to find it.Open larger: Colony panel, Recipes tab, searched for 'water': a list of 34 water processes; the selected one, Distil sea water at the solar still, shows its time, power, what it takes and makes, its conditions and where its inputs come from.
• In developmentEvery machine has its own page.Open larger: Colony panel, a solar still's page: its picture, 12 % through distilling sea water at full rate in full sun, its order, the salt water in its basin and what it can make.
• In developmentA crop bed says what it needs, and where to get it.Open larger: Colony panel, a raised crop bed's page: growing potatoes, what is in the bed, and what each crop takes: seed, water and compost, and where the compost comes from.
• In developmentThe world map, north up, from the whole land down to a hundred metres.Open larger: The game menu's world map: an aerial view of the landing area with the coast and the bay to the east, the player as an arrow in the middle, a north mark and a scale bar.
• In developmentNo magnetic fix on Nova Eridani, until the compass is set from the sun.Open larger: Two views of the compass strip at the top of the screen: on the left it reads NO MAGNETIC FIX; on the right it reads 090 degrees, east, with a small amber mark where the sun stands.
• In developmentThird person on the meadow, with the round minimap.Open larger: Third person on the meadow: the suited player from behind, Melanie beside them and a drop pod beyond, with a round minimap at the bottom right.
• In developmentThe world map, zoomed in close.Open larger: The world map zoomed in to a twenty-metre scale: grass and scrub in close detail, the player marked by an arrow.
• In developmentHealth, stamina, water and food at the bottom left, the minimap at the bottom right.Open larger: First person beside the rover's door: health, stamina, water and food in one panel at the bottom left, the round minimap at the bottom right, the compass at the top and the current task at the top left.
• In developmentThe title screen, with the Meridian behind the menu.Open larger: The title screen: the game's name and menu at the top left, the Meridian above the curve of the planet behind them, and stars.
• In developmentSettings: a volume for each kind of sound, and Discord activity.Open larger: The settings page over the title screen: graphics quality, display mode and vertical sync, master volume with separate voices, music, sound effects and menu sounds volumes, subtitles, navigation assistance, reduce flicker, turning item previews and show activity on Discord.
• In developmentWhat friends see on Discord: a picture for each place, the mission, and day or night at the landing zone.Open larger: Six activity cards, each with a picture from the game and an NE badge: in the main menu (the Meridian over the planet), watching the prologue (a city at dusk), aboard the ESV Meridian (the bridge), building in the sandbox (a brick house), Landing Zone 1 by day (the drop pod on the grass) and Landing Zone 1 by night (pines under the stars).
• SchematicThe Meridian, side profileOpen larger: Blueprint-style side profile of the Meridian: a layered forward debris shield on a long boom, a compact crew module, drop pods, a long cargo spine lined with containers, a fabrication module, solar arrays, radiators and the drive section. A dimension line runs the full length.
• SchematicEarly settlement surveyOpen larger: Top-down survey map: contour lines, a river, natural pine forest, a forester planting zone with rows of saplings, a woodcutter station, charging point, sawmill, storage and a construction site linked by tracks and dotted robot routes. An amber warning marks a stalled sawmill output.
• SchematicMasonry courses, openings and lintelsOpen larger: Elevation of a brick wall built in running-bond courses on a stepped foundation that follows sloping ground. A window and a door opening have bricks removed and lintels above them. The top course is being drag-placed, shown as outlined ghost bricks.
• SchematicTimber frame and support validationOpen larger: Axonometric view of a timber post-and-beam frame on a foundation slab. One post and the beam it carries are highlighted with a load path arrow. A ghosted beam projecting past the frame is marked with a red cross as unsupported. Dashed rafters suggest a future roof.
• SchematicWoodcutter station, three tiersOpen larger: Three side elevations. Tier 1 is an open timber lean-to with a tool rack of axes, a sharpening bench, a log pile and a charging post. Tier 2 is a brick building with a timber roof, lintels and a covered log store. Tier 3 is a clad industrial unit with integrated lighting, a roller door, enclosed equipment and a service arm.
• SchematicRobot fabricator bay, plan viewOpen larger: Plan view of a fabrication chamber: component storage racks feed a conveyor to a circular assembly platform where four manipulator arms surround an outlined chassis. Diagnostics screens line the top wall, and a commissioning area leads to three charging docks.