What is SpaceChem?
SpaceChem is a chemistry simulator... in space! It's actually much more exciting than it sounds. SpaceChem is a puzzle game where you build reactors that turn particular input molecules into particular output molecules. It's kind of difficult to explain, but it makes more sense when you just dive in. This video from the game's website does a much better job of introducing it than I ever could, so just watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVDYxYpneag&feature=player_embedded
SpaceChem is one of the few puzzle games I've played where you truly are allowed to design your own solution rather than being forced to figure out the solution the developers intended. As an example, take a look at these screenshots.
Those are examples of a completed reactor. They both solve essentially the same problem in vastly different ways. I'm sure there are a hundred other solutions for that particular level (and those screenshots only show a single reactor, whereas up to three may be used in that particular puzzle).
SpaceChem features integrated YouTube uploading for sharing your solutions, but honestly, it's not that effective. It speeds through the solutions too quickly, and in multi-reactor levels, everything is too small to make out what's going on anyway. Regardless, it's still kind of cool.
The demo is up on Steam, and multiple people (including myself) have gotten four hours or more out of it -- plenty of time to see whether you like the game (you will). The in-game tutorial system leaves a lot to be desired, but most of it can be figured out through trial and error, and I'm sure people here can answer any questions you might have if you get stuck. According to the developer's website, keys purchased from it can be registered on Steam, so feel free to give them all your money.
Player-Created ContentHoly Shit! Stop the Reactors!
Introducing ResearchNet, the official intergalactic-intranet used by SpaceChem for sharing reaction engineering research!
Arriving in the form of a free, not-yet-dated update for SpaceChem, ResearchNet will allow you to create your own research assignments, share them with friends, and submit them to the Journal of Reaction Engineering, an in-game “publication” featuring the best assignments made by both SpaceChem engineers (you guys) and Zachtronics Industries designers (me).
Reviews
These are all pretty much spot on.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun review - "A friend of mine once pointed out to me that good puzzle games make you feel smart, and the best puzzle games provide a sort of double-blow whereby first of all you feel smart, and then you’re filled with a feeling of respect for how smart the puzzle itself was. By this criteria, SpaceChem could be the best puzzle game I’ve ever played. You never stop feeling awed by the game’s design, and when you complete a level you feel like some kind of floating, untouchable genius, not fit to eat the food of mortals."
PC Gamer review 89/100 - "As much mental workout as excellent puzzle game, SpaceChem challenges and entertains, plus it has an engaging story."
Eurogamer review 90/100 - "SpaceChem and Super Meat Boy. One is a game of atomic engineering, the other is about a skinless kid and his hot girlfriend. There's not too much common ground there, except on this essential level: they both nail the "Look what I made!" factor. Overcome a challenge in either of these games, and you get the urge to call someone into the room, point at the screen and proclaim, "Look what I made!"
Tips, Tricks, and Other Useful Information
Spoilered in case you really just want to figure out every little thing on your own. Post any other tips, and I'll add them to this list.
- The shape of your output molecules is irrelevant. If you have the correct elements and the correct bonds, you're good.
- You can fire bonders remotely, meaning you can drop an element onto a bonder and then hit the bonding command later during the path to fire the bonder.
- Paths can be made to U-turn in a single square by using an arrow to turn the path back on itself.
- Attempting to bond when the atom you're bonding cannot support any more bonds has no negative consequences (i.e., hydrogen can only be bonded once, no matter what -- learn your periodic tables!).
- If the inputs are coming from another reactor you made they will show up where you dropped them. So if you have the red and the blue waldos dropping the same element but on different squares they will show up in different squares on the next reactor.
- If you cause a waldo to stop on top of a command (by running it into the edge of the screen, for instance), the command will continually execute.
- Sensors can be used to make waldos pause for a time by directing them against the edge of screen as seen in this screenshot:
- Output symbols block a waldo's progress if the output pipe is full and there's something in the output zone. Therefore, you can use an output to pause a waldo's progress until the output pipe is clear -- useful for syncing your various reactors.
Posts
You can buy the game directly from Zachtronics and register your key through Steam, if you don't mind PayPal. This is a great way to support Zachtronics. If you don't mind PayPal. I'm sad, because I hate PayPal.
So I'm going to get this directly though Steam. I just thought I'd throw that out there if anyone wanted to show a little extra support and doesn't have a problem with PayPal.
Steam profile.
Getting started with BATTLETECH: Part 1 / Part 2
Yeah, but then once you figure out a tricky puzzle, you feel like a goddamn genius. Can't beat it.
I did get some sweet scores that I will post shortly.
I´m now to the point where two different elements can enter the same reactor and so you have to plan for both. This was the last puzzle I solved.
I stopped playing since the next level is called "No Ordinary Headache", this is what I was getting after playing the game 3 hours straight so I´ll leave this for tommorow...
I could have just made the first reactor go slower instead of putting that huge buffer pipeline in between them. If you can't be bothered to slow down a previous reaction they're a quick fix though.
This is the last reactor in the previous shot:
You should see this one in motion, it's like a dance.
Peterdevore, those are some nice reactors. :^:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C59znE8IvKU
It's a pretty cool system and way better than screenshots.
edit: I suddenly have forgotten the trick to embedding youtube vids, apparently?
edit the 2nd: Ok, I see now. Thanks for the heads up, Claw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkv9De8-atE
The youtube forum embedder does not like the hd=1& inside a youtube link like there is in the one SpaceChem spits at you.
Man I feel really dumb right now, everyone is better at this game than me... :?
Also anyone knows if there is a video for this level done with only one reactor? When I saw that someone had done it I tried to think of a way to do it but came up with nothing.
With regards to the 1 reactor solution to that level, it's really hard to fit in all the logic to do the operations, as you can see in this youtube solution:
Well I had logics and programming classes in university, but only basic stuff on the first semesters. Well here is hoping for a game were you improve an industry layout in order to increase production and productivity. Yeah, I would totally kick everyone´s ass in that game... :P
As for the 1 reactor solution it is cluttered but at the same time elegant, awesome! I also really need to remember for some levels that if you bend molecules but don´t change the elements in them it is still the same molecule.
Wow, I just realized that you don't have to match the output's shape, only the number of atoms and types of bonds. That would have been handy to know earlier.
Aaaand I just bought this. Expensive Steam week for me. Oh well. I guess that's what income tax returns are for. :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8o3PASSyXI&feature=channel_video_title
At least it looks really impressive when it's running
Heh, I also tought that about the bonders, just look at the mess I made (that worked tough!) that is in the op...
Here's mine for that same level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Lwu8vCcyU
Also, I've burned dinner two different nights because of this game. :shock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6M_6bZsjLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBZKSJD8qvA&hd=1
Was mine.
Youtube to prove it actually functions. :P Fullscreen 720 and you can make it out relatively well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aacGJgNlPds
Symptoms: everything (the game, Windows, keyboard + mouse, etc.) stops working. The screen image just freezes and nothing works (toggling Num/Caps Lock doesn't do anything, for instance.) The sound continues for a second or two, then the same millisecond or two loops repeatedly. Only way to fix it is to reboot the computer using the physical power button on the front.
Causes/when it happens: First happened when I first got to the very first production stage. Rebooted, and was able to place a generator and partly drag a pipe out to connect before it crashed again. Next reboot revealed that it did save my progress, but it crashed when I tried to edit the generator. Newest crash: trying to fill out an output note.
All the stages before the production levels (i.e. where you just have to solve the base puzzle) worked without a hitch.
Event viewer doesn't show anything, other than "the previous shutdown was unexpected". So yeah :?
Had already uninstalled and reinstalled it, but tried verifying again just in case: nothing out of the ordinary. Tried repairing .Net 4.0 which worked, but launching the .Net 3.5 SP1 installer didn't seem to cause anything to happen.
The game just crashed again when I dragged one of the pipes back to it's starting storage silo. Hmph
We think alike, but since at the time I didn´t know you could put the bond+ outside the bonders I came up with this overly complicated solution. But I still like it, specially the dance they do to bond everything when all the elements are in place...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW2xH-IvfV8
I've quit a stage frustrated and with my head buzzing, and the next day I look at it again and go "Crap! There it is, why didn't I see that before?!" and solve it in 10 minutes.
Almost finished the demo, definitely buying this, but should I wait for a Steam sale? Hmmmm...
Hey Secret Santa!
Yeah. Look at this cluster of crazy I came up with at four in the morning. It's not pretty, but it's mine, so I love it anyway. :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmaohiXo5ac
I spent way to long coming up with that, but it's not like I was going to sleep anyway, and I needed something to keep my mind occupied. This game does that so well.
edit: Wow, sorry for the double post. I'm still not very with it at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe6obh7GcmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krneH_JkILI
On the top left you get N2 25% of the time and O2 75%, on the bottom left you get H2O 67% of the time and NaCl the other 33%. With this you need to make both HNO3 and NaNO3. I had to restart this level from scratch 3 times, one of them I was doing the last reactor when I realized it wouldn´t be possible to do it the way I was thinking. The second reactor is the bottleneck, I tried to improve it´s design to improve it´s speed but haven´t been able so far. Still the sense of accomplishment when finally finishing a puzzle like this is something amazing...
Red = spawner, Blue = worker