User:Konggamedev/sandbox

Lead Paragraph

Besiege is a strategy sandbox video game developed and published by Spiderling Studios. The game was released for Windows, macOS and Linux in February 2020, which followed a five-year long early access phase. A console version for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S was released in February 2022. Besiege is the game that contains a sandbox toolkit to build your custom siege engines. The game can be played single or online multiplayer with multiple community mods and steam workshop to play around with.

Gameplay

Besiege allows players to build whatever they can imagine, using outlandish medieval siege engines to destroy castles and armies or complete an objective. There are collections of mechanical parts that can be connected to build a machine. At each level, there is an objective that players have to complete. For example, 'destroy all of the building' or 'kill all the troops. Besiege is well-known for keeping the task simple and opening to endless possible approaches, not limiting player imagination.

Having a lot of mechanical parts opens the endless possibility for the player to create modern machines such as automobiles, propeller planes, or even grandfather clocks. After a 'Besiege Multiplayer and Level Editor' update, it allows players to go against each other. Knocking down the castle, pitting the vehicle creations against each other. And the best one yet, allowing many players to work on one complicated machine together.

Development

Pre-Alpha Update

On November 7th, 2014, Spiderling Studios posted the menus and physics update. Key features - Build interface improvement, Center of mass, Time controller, Save and load, Undo and redo, Machine translation, Machine rotation, Ground tool, Delete mode, Custom key Binding, Bin tool, Machine stats, Free build mode, Camera resetting, Control navigation, Game options.

Alpha Release

On January 17th, 2015, Besiege alpha version is available. The developer posted the Greenlight Trailer and steam greenlight page.

Steam Release - V0.02

On January 28th, 2015, Besiege is available to purchase on Steam. The steam version was not yet support the Mac and Linux. Some fixes and improvements have been added along with the 0.02 version update.

Minor Update 4 - V0.04

On February 23th, 2015, Mac and Linux supported have been done along with the release of 0.04 version minor update.

Additional Content

• Wooden pole block
• Slider block
• Small balloon block

Improvements

• Tool to see machine's overlaid key mapping
• Flip propeller, New propeller art
• Asymmetrical Decoupler
• Flamethrower toggle mode
• Contractible spring toggle mode
• Less friction cog
• Blood on boulder and plow block
• Copy-paste shortcut
• Close tab shortcut

Minor Update 5 - V0.05

On March 10th, 2015, Spiderling Studios posted 0.05 version patch note with the announcement of the upcoming 0.1 major update. They mentioned about the new 0.1 island which would be ready in 4-6 weeks. The game is moved to Unity 5 (previously used Unity 4), which potentially improves the game performance and steam integration system is in-progress. After the developer have received a lot of difficulty adjustment feedback, they have considered and decided to make sure that the game is not too difficult for casual players while providing some tough goals for more skilled gamers.

Additional Content

• Large wheel block
• Ball join block
• Small flame torch block

Improvements

• Auto mode wheel
• Auto mode cogs
• Auto mode flying spiral
• Optimized wooden block mesh
• Harder balloon pop
• Improved wheel menu
• .bsg file explains all variables
• Can type numbers in Key-mapping/Parameter tuner
• Proper highlighted block in Key-mapping/Parameter tuner
• Better swivel joint art

Major Update 1 - V0.08

On April 27th, 2015, The developer decided to name the version 0.08 instead of 0.10 as the first major update, due to the version number is the features milestone toward the full game. The update introduces the new island, Tolbrynd, which starts with 5 levels (10-15 levels to be added later)

Additional Content

• New Island, New environments, NPCs & Structures
• 5 New Levels
• Drill block
• High Friction Grip Pad block
• Physics-based brick system

Improvements

• Player prompted upon Island completion
• Island completion sets it on fire
• Changed water on main planet menu
• New audio feedback upon Island & level selection

Changes

• Camera now moves parallel to floor
• Increased camera far clip plane from 500 to 1500.
• Cannon ball is now 2x heavier
• Boulder now breaks above a certain impact force

Minor Update 6 - V0.09

On May 24th, 2015, Spiderling Studios announce that v0.10 update will be released in around 6 weeks.

Additional Content

• Large Cog Block
• Small Wheel Block
• Shrapnel Cannon Block

Improvements

• Reorganised Block Tabs
• Locomotion Tab
• Redesigned icon for Mechanical Tab
• New texture for Blade block
• Grip pad is more rigid

Major Update 2 - V0.10

On July 16th, 2015, Spiderling Studios announce that their team has been expanded so they can implement more exciting features with higher production speed.

Steam Workshop

Besiege can now easily share and download other players' siege engines through Steam Community.

New Levels

New 5 levels have been added to the game.

Additional Content

• Steam Workshop Support
• 5 new levels
• Remote Grenade Block
• Small Propeller Block

Improvements

• Changed background color for new machine thumbnails
• Grabber can grab static objects and the ground

Changes

• Can freeze Unpowered Cogs rotation by using the key-mapper tool

Minor Update 7 - V0.11

On August 21st, 2015, Spiderling Studios posted the 0.11 version patch note with several issues fixed

Additional Content

• Water Cannon Block
• Rope & Winch Block
• Drag God Ability
• Zero Gravity God Ability

Improvements

• Improved Spikeball visuals
• Created new ‘God Powers’ section in the settings menu
• Optimized Knights in Ipsilion
• Improved visuals of block selection menu

Changes

• Explosive Decoupler now has stronger joints
• Lowered particles emitted on wood collisions
• Removed drag on Metal Spike Ball
• Removed drag on Wooden Pole
• Reduced Grabber SFX volume
• Moved Plow to Armor Tab

• Better swivel joint art

Major Update 3 - V0.2.0

On October 24th, 2015, The developer announced the major update along with the engine changed to Unity 5. There is the video compared between the game runs in Unity 4 and 5.

Update 11 - V0.23

On December 20th, 2015, 5 new levels are added to the Tolbrynd island.

Update 12 - V0.25

On February 6th, 2016, version 0.25 has some new features, fixes and improvements, along side with optimizations.

New Levels

New 5 levels have been added to the game.

Additional Content

• New Search Function
• CTRL + F Hotkey

Improvements

• Improved Key Mapper window
• Key Mapper Reset Option
• Wheels and cogs Toggle Option
• Drills can be controlled
• Saw rotation speed can be altered
• Balloon string length can be be changed
• Power slider to Cannons
• Cannon balls inherit the velocity of the cannon used to fire them
• Water Cannons has a Power slider
• Water inherits the velocity of the Water Cannon that produces it
• Wheels Auto-brake option
• Grabbers can toggle Auto-Grab
• Holding X or delete for more than half a second starts deleting blocks behind the cursor
• Changed War Machine save format, xml
  • Special characters can now be used in machine names
  • Each block now has an individual GUID when saving
  • Blocks now store their scale in the save file (can be edited in save file)
  • Blocks now save an unlimited number of hotkeys, toggles and sliders
  • Blocks now save an unlimited amount of custom data
  • Improved access to AddPiece, BoundingBoxController and MachineObjectTracker.
• Can double-click or CTRL+ A in a slider’s text field to select all
• Improved Timescale slider, Easier to drag
• Added clicking sound effects to copy, paste and close options in the block mapper
• Undo now works for un-deleting machines
• Improved how the translate tool moves war machines
• Opening a block that can’t be customized in the Key Mapper tool now displays a message
• CTRL + SHIFT + Z shortcut for redo
• Warning when attempting to start simulation with god powers activated

Update 13 - V0.27

On March 19th, 2016, Spiderling Studios introduces some improvements and extra blocks.

Camera Block

• The player can attach the camera block to the siege machine which gives the better environment navigating experience and flying machines control.
• Camera block contains 4 different modes

Rocket/Firework and Large Unpowered Wheel

• Rocket can be used as an explosive offensive weapon or add some thrusting force to the siege machine

Additional Content

• Camera Block
• Rocket/Firework Block
• Unpowered Wheel

Improvements

• Pistons can be extended in build mode
• Flying block has a reverse option
• Flipping a Steering Hinge also flips the hinge’s limits
• Flamethrower has a range slider

Changes

• Blocks with ID 8 will no longer be loaded, this fixes an issue a lot of people experienced with Spaar’s Modloader
• Modding Related:
  • Custom data can be saved to machines, with events trigger
  • Added More BlockMapper types: In all: MKey, MMenu, MToggle, MSlider, MColourSlider, MLimits.
  • The offset position and rotation of ghosts can be set easily
  • Undo/Redo accounts for rotation/translation changes.

Update 14 - V0.30

On June 6th, 2016, The developer has added 2 new sandbox levels with the new customizable skin/model loader feature to the game.

The New Sandbox

• The new bigger sandbox level has been added to expand some player's idea.

The Skin Loader

• With the Skin Loader feature, the player can import the custom model and texture to replace the game's default block.
• The developer planned to create the skin loader tutorial video in the future.
• The player can view how to use the feature in the forum.

Additional Content

• New Sandbox Level
• New Barren Sandbox Level
• Skin Pack System

Improvements

• Makeover Source Cube Block
• Steam workshop support for Skin Packs

Update 15 - V0.32

On August 10th, 2016, the version 0.32 is announced containing the numbers of bug fixes and the new symmetry tool

The New Symmetry Tool

• The player can symmetrically build the machine.
• The block placement can be mirrored in all 3 axes

Bug Fixes

• Version 0.32 has delivered 62 bug-fixes with some improvements to the game
• There is a huge change to joint system with improved stability.

Additional Content

• Symmetry Tool

Improvements

• Undo/redo works with the flipping of blocks
• Increase performance of Pin block by changing to a kinematic system
• Switching from camera block to default camera has a smoother transition
• New option, "More Accurate Physics" that increases physics accuracy
• Various GUI tweaks
• Switched engine to Unity 5.4.0f3 offering increased performance due to:
  • Improved multithreaded job execution (Engine).
  • Improved multithreaded rendering (Engine).

Update 16 - V0.35

On September 8th, 2016, Spiderling Studios has completed Tolbrynd island with the last 4 campaign levels.

Additional Content

• 4 new campaign levels, completed Tolbrynd island

Update 17 - V0.4

On November 6th, 2016, version 0.4 contains the first 4 levels of Valfross island. The newly added level is a freezing blizzard continent settled by axe wielding warriors.

Additional Content

• 4 new campaign levels and the new Valfross island

Update 18 - V0.42

On January 14th, 2017, version 0.42 introduces 3 new blocks, including Crossbow Block, Log Block, Vacuum Block. The developer has decided to improve some blocks texture and model to make the graphics more dated.

Additional Content

• Crossbow Block
• Log Block
• Vacuum Block

Improvements

• Updated Models & Textures for the following blocks:
  • Cannon
  • Shrapnel Cannon
  • Spike
  • Hinge
  • Ballast
  • Bomb
  • Bomb Holder
  • Decoupler
  • Balloon Rope
  • Flamethrower
  • Rope & Winch

Update 19, Version 0.45 & The Multiverse Announcement

On April 7th, 2017, Spiderling Studios updated the game to version 0.45 and announce the upcoming big addition to the game.

The Besiege Multiverse

• Besiege Multiverse is a combination of Multiplayer and Level Editor, which are the most requested features from the community.
• The player can create an up-to-8 multiplayer session, with a custom level editor, and game objective.
• The level editor can be simulated with friends in realtime.
• The developer aimed to release the Besiege Multiverse feature by the end of the 2017 third quarter.
• The first-buy price will increase $2 after the release of Mutliverse Update

Version 0.45 And Other Development News

• 2 new Valfross campaign levels have been added
• The localization system is in its final stage of development. The player can soon upload the custom translation as a steam workshop.

Besiege Multiplayer and Level Editor Released!

On December 9th, 2017, Spiderling Studios has released the biggest update so far, Besiege Multiverse Alpha. The players can test their war machines cooperatively with other players. The developer has created a level editor with lots of features to play around. There is the Besiege Level Editor introductory guide posted for anyone who wants try it out.

Reception

Another Rock Paper Shotgun article by Jay Castello which is a released-version review published on March 2, 2020. Jay Castello admired the game varieties that kept her engaging and trying to construct the new better siege engines. Although there was some lack of guidance that was mentioned in the article, the game has had a strong community support with mods, guides, tricks created by people who have a very good handle on besiege construction tools since the game was released early-access in 2015.

On the date September 22nd, 2022, Besiege has Overwhelmingly Positive all reviews on steam with 95% positive reviews from 39,871 reviews, and Very Positive recent reviews with 93% positive reviews from 171 reviews.

Worth a Buy (Game review youtuber) published his Besiege (early access) video review on January 23, 2015 after he had played the game for 1 hour. He mentioned that the game caught his eye with its look and cheap price of 6$. The game building mechanic is fun with lots of crazy weapons to equip and experiment with. Worth a Buy summarizes that this game is fun, cheap, and really worth a buy.

PC Gamer article by Rick Lane, Besiege lets you build siege weapons in a medieval fantasy realm. It contains four Kingdoms, with each Kingdom having many levels in it. The level is nicely crafted, with objectives for you to do in order to pass the level. Each level is designed to make you come up with a new mechanic with different tasks for you to do. You will be given a building area at the start of the level. Besiege provides a toolkit that’s easier to understand compared to Kerbal Space Program, but lacks a good tutorial to guide the beginners. The toolkit contains a lot of objects for you to use and work with. You can build from cranes to flying machines with it. Besiege allows you to adjust individual object parameters such as power, speed and even binding it to do certain actions.