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FTL: Faster Than Light cuts cost by 30% for the next week [Update]
Both the PC and iPad versions of strategic spacefaring roguelike FTL: Faster Than Light are 30 percent off until July. The game is a mere $6.99 (£4.99) for the next week, which amounts to a pretty good deal for one of the better games available on the iPad in particular. The Steam version is discounted until June 30. FTL began as a Kickstarter project, earning $200,542 in April 2012 on the funding platform. The game launched on PC later that year and received multiple Best of the Rest nods from Joystiq before arriving on iPad this past March for $10. It launched the same day as the game's Advanced Edition expansion, which was freely tacked on to both versions. Those with both the PC/Mac game and its iPad counterpart can transfer their save files between the two as well, granting extra incentive for players to spend a few bucks this week. Keep in mind: FTL will not work on first generation iPads, only iPad 2 tablets or better. Update: FTL is part of today's Summer Sale deals on Steam, so it's a whopping 60 percent off ($3.99) for the next two days. [Image: Subset Games]
FTL: Advanced Edition shoots for $10 on iPad
FTL: Advanced Edition on iPad aims for parity with the desktop version, and it includes the full game plus the massive expansion hitting PC soon – and it will cost the same as the PC game, $10. Co-founders of FTL studio Subset Games, Matthew Davis and Justin Ma, recognize that for a mobile game, this is a "premium" price point. "Presumably the higher price point will make players a little bit more discerning on whether or not FTL will be something that they're interested in," Ma tells Joystiq at GDC. "Which is funny, because we're very expensive on iPad with the same price that's extremely cheap on PC. It could even be the same users that have the different perception of what is a $10 game, just based on the system." The Advanced Edition is a "pretty huge expansion," Ma says, and it adds polishing touches that Subset couldn't fit in the launch game, even though they wanted to. There's a new "Return to Stations" button that scatters the crew back to their set positions, and on iPad, you can drag a finger to select all workers and move them at the same time into one area, or drag to open a series of doors. Drag to change the levels of the energy bar in the bottom left corner, too. Davis says that one in particular feels really nice. One thing that didn't translate perfectly to the iPad is the dual-ship view. When your ship encounters another on PC they both populate the screen at the same size. On iPad, one is bigger, and you can change the dominant ship by tapping the one you want to inspect. Tap an attack action, and the enemy ship enlarges. "FTL works really well with the general way you play on iPad, just because you can pause it at any moment, come back later, and all the little events are bite-sized moments – " Ma says, and Davis adds: "You can do a jump and play that for two minutes – " Ma continues, "So that works out very well. And in that way, it's kind of casual, it's just you have to be able to put up with severe disappointment." FTL: Advanced Edition is due out "soon," the team says.
Grow your own crew in FTL: Advanced Edition's Clone Bay
FTL: Advanced Edition is due to launch as a free expansion on PC, Mac and Linux, and as a standalone game on iPad this year. Developer Subset Games has revealed some new systems for the expansion, which also boasts new alien races, equipment and an additional sector to explore. Ships will remain capped out at eight systems total, Subset writes on its blog, so players will need to prioritize systems around preferred play style. The post also introduces a Clone Bay where you can simply grow a clone of your dearly-departed crew member – but if the cloning process is interrupted, then that crew member will be lost forever. Hacking drones will allow players to target individual systems when encountering enemy ships in space. Sending a drone to hack the enemy shields, for example, will immediately drop all shields and open up the vessel to major damage. Finally, Subset is also adding a Hard mode to the game. Subset Games still hasn't given us an official launch date for FTL: Advanced Edition yet, but has said both the iPad game and the expansion for existing platforms will be made available at the same time. [Image: Subset Games]
FTL: Advanced Edition adds new species of alien scavengers
If everything goes according to plan, "early 2014" should see the debut of FTL: Advanced Edition, a free expansion for intergalactic roguelike FTL: Faster Than Light adding a new alien species and new subsystems for your ship, among a host of other features. Like oversized metal locusts, the Lanius are driven by an insatiable desire to consume. Unlike locusts however, the Lanius subsist on metals and have no need for biological processes such as eating or breathing. While a lack of air might choke out less virulent species, the Lanius just shrug it off, completely removing their need for functioning life support systems on board a ship. Surprisingly, this apathy toward oxygen may be a beneficial adaptation as members of the Lanius species innately drain all oxygen from the air surrounding them. As you'd expect, this makes them poor diplomats but excellent candidates for a boarding party. Along with the new race comes new subsystems and drones. These include a new battery backup subsystem which provides reserve power in a pinch and a drone designed specifically to hunt and destroy other drones. Helpfully, developer Subset Games will introduce a third layout option for every ship found in FTL that should offer a bit more room for your new gadgets. If booting up your laptop or desktop computer seems too strenuous, you'll be happy to know that FTL: Advanced Edition will also be appearing on iOS, marking the game's first appearance on a mobile platform.
