We're still working hard to get Alpha 19 polished and ready to go. We hope to have it ready in the next few weeks.

What's new in the Alpha 19 preview:

• Tidal Heating & Roche Limit Physics
• Improved Explosion Power
• New Models for Saturn V 3rd Stage, New Horizon Probe, and a Police Box
• Automatic Simulation Quality Settings

Until Alpha 19 is ready, you can read about what's coming below and try out a preview version by manually opting in via Steam:

1. Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library
2. Click on ‘Properties’
3. Select the ‘Betas’ tab
4. Set the dropdown menu to 'alpha19preview'
5. Close the Properties window
6. Steam will now update Universe Sandbox ² to the preview version
7. Once updated, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Read more about the new features on our blog:
http://universesandbox.com/blog/2016/04/alpha-19-preview/

We're still working hard to get Alpha 19 polished and ready to go. We hope to have it ready in the next few weeks.

What's new in the Alpha 19 preview:

• Tidal Heating & Roche Limit Physics
• Improved Explosion Power
• New Models for Saturn V 3rd Stage, New Horizon Probe, and a Police Box
• Automatic Simulation Quality Settings

Until Alpha 19 is ready, you can read about what's coming below and try out a preview version by manually opting in via Steam:

1. Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library
2. Click on ‘Properties’
3. Select the ‘Betas’ tab
4. Set the dropdown menu to 'alpha19preview'
5. Close the Properties window
6. Steam will now update Universe Sandbox ² to the preview version
7. Once updated, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Read more about the new features on our blog:
http://universesandbox.com/blog/2016/04/alpha-19-preview/

Giant Army is looking for both a Simulation Developer and a Producer to join our team to help improve Universe Sandbox ².

More info and how to apply:

Hiring a Sim Developer

Hiring a Producer



You will work with scientists and developers to improve and create geophysical and astrophysical simulation code. This code must smoothly integrate with the other systems in Universe Sandbox ², including running in real-time under computational restraints. You must be an experienced programmer with a broad toolkit of numerical techniques, and a collaborative worker.

More info and how to apply: Hiring a Sim Developer



You will work closely with the project lead with the overall goal of making Universe Sandbox ² even more awesome. You will also work with the team as a whole to organize and prioritize tasks and projects, while helping ensure goals are met within established time-frames. You must be self-directed, organized, and an excellent communicator.

More info and how to apply: Hiring a Producer

Giant Army is looking for both a Simulation Developer and a Producer to join our team to help improve Universe Sandbox ².

More info and how to apply:

Hiring a Sim Developer

Hiring a Producer



You will work with scientists and developers to improve and create geophysical and astrophysical simulation code. This code must smoothly integrate with the other systems in Universe Sandbox ², including running in real-time under computational restraints. You must be an experienced programmer with a broad toolkit of numerical techniques, and a collaborative worker.

More info and how to apply: Hiring a Sim Developer



You will work closely with the project lead with the overall goal of making Universe Sandbox ² even more awesome. You will also work with the team as a whole to organize and prioritize tasks and projects, while helping ensure goals are met within established time-frames. You must be self-directed, organized, and an excellent communicator.

More info and how to apply: Hiring a Producer

For the past few months our highest priority has been adding in HTC Vive/SteamVR support for Universe Sandbox ². The team's hard work has paid off: we now have a fully-functional virtual reality version which allows you to walk and fly around your simulations, melt planets with a giant laser, then grab them and hurl them off into nothingness with a flick of the wrist.

The best way to experience the amazing sense of scale and immersion in Universe Sandbox ² VR is to put on a headset and check it out for yourself. But if that's not possible, then here's a trailer for Universe Sandbox ² VR, featuring user-created VR gameplay videos courtesy of Brad Lynch and Count Lorek of BMcD Gaming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txVJH1STuR4

Universe Sandbox ² now includes both the desktop version and the new VR mode. So anyone who buys Universe Sandbox ² will also receive Universe Sandbox ² VR, and anyone who already owns Universe Sandbox ² can access the VR mode at no extra charge.

If you own Universe Sandbox ² on Steam and have access to a Vive, just run Steam to update. Then launch Universe Sandbox ² and select "Launch Universe Sandbox ² in Steam VR Mode" in the popup dialog box.



Thanks to Valve, we were able to demo our VR version of Universe Sandbox ² in the Steam booth two weeks ago at GDC, the world's largest professionals-only video game conference.

We received great feedback from everyone who stopped by for a demo, with many agreeing that it was one of the most compelling VR experiences they had tried.

PC Gamer assistant editor Tom Marks said Universe Sandbox ² "was one of the coolest thing [he's] tried on Vive so far." Check out the video below for his discussion of Universe Sandbox ² VR (starts at 43:22):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQchzhUWZ6Q&t=43m22s
 
Here's a small write-up from Rock Paper Shotgun editor Graham Smith: Universe Sandbox ² Now Has a Virtual Reality Mode

In another article about VR, Graham mentions Universe Sandbox ² as one of the few upcoming VR games which he thinks "look spectacular."

And here's an older article from UploadVR, based on an interview with Dan, creator and project lead on Universe Sandbox ²: Literally Play Pool with the Planets in Universe Sandbox ² VR



We still have work to do, but we've already got an enjoyable and impressive VR experience. Beyond adding polish to the interface, we also have to work on getting the best performance possible in order to keep up with VR requirements of 90 frames per second. With VR it's crucial to meet this requirement in order to keep the risk of motion sickness at a minimum.

We'll continue to work on the VR version as well as the desktop version, and we'll release updates when they're ready. We don't support Oculus Rift yet, but we're looking into adding this in once the Touch is available.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For the past few months our highest priority has been adding in HTC Vive/SteamVR support for Universe Sandbox ². The team's hard work has paid off: we now have a fully-functional virtual reality version which allows you to walk and fly around your simulations, melt planets with a giant laser, then grab them and hurl them off into nothingness with a flick of the wrist.

The best way to experience the amazing sense of scale and immersion in Universe Sandbox ² VR is to put on a headset and check it out for yourself. But if that's not possible, then here's a trailer for Universe Sandbox ² VR, featuring user-created VR gameplay videos courtesy of Brad Lynch and Count Lorek of BMcD Gaming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txVJH1STuR4

Universe Sandbox ² now includes both the desktop version and the new VR mode. So anyone who buys Universe Sandbox ² will also receive Universe Sandbox ² VR, and anyone who already owns Universe Sandbox ² can access the VR mode at no extra charge.

If you own Universe Sandbox ² on Steam and have access to a Vive, just run Steam to update. Then launch Universe Sandbox ² and select "Launch Universe Sandbox ² in Steam VR Mode" in the popup dialog box.



Thanks to Valve, we were able to demo our VR version of Universe Sandbox ² in the Steam booth two weeks ago at GDC, the world's largest professionals-only video game conference.

We received great feedback from everyone who stopped by for a demo, with many agreeing that it was one of the most compelling VR experiences they had tried.

PC Gamer assistant editor Tom Marks said Universe Sandbox ² "was one of the coolest thing [he's] tried on Vive so far." Check out the video below for his discussion of Universe Sandbox ² VR (starts at 43:22):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQchzhUWZ6Q&t=43m22s
 
Here's a small write-up from Rock Paper Shotgun editor Graham Smith: Universe Sandbox ² Now Has a Virtual Reality Mode

In another article about VR, Graham mentions Universe Sandbox ² as one of the few upcoming VR games which he thinks "look spectacular."

And here's an older article from UploadVR, based on an interview with Dan, creator and project lead on Universe Sandbox ²: Literally Play Pool with the Planets in Universe Sandbox ² VR



We still have work to do, but we've already got an enjoyable and impressive VR experience. Beyond adding polish to the interface, we also have to work on getting the best performance possible in order to keep up with VR requirements of 90 frames per second. With VR it's crucial to meet this requirement in order to keep the risk of motion sickness at a minimum.

We'll continue to work on the VR version as well as the desktop version, and we'll release updates when they're ready. We don't support Oculus Rift yet, but we're looking into adding this in once the Touch is available.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

We've been working on a handful of big projects, all of which have a lot of puzzle pieces with their own complexities and obstacles. It takes a while to get all these pieces to play well together, and then longer to get these projects working with everything else that's already in Universe Sandbox ². There are a lot of moving parts in this universe simulator.

Our priorities have been on adding in the new Roche limit and total body fragmentation (see video below), creating and fine-tuning the VR experience with the HTC Vive, and implementing our new tech for improved planetary details and interactions (for example, melting a planet with a laser).

Until we get these up and running, here are a few things to check out if you missed them:

• Two videos from Thomas, our physics programmer, showing off the new, work-in-progress Roche limit fragmentation.
  
  When a small celestial body approaches a larger body at a distance inside the Roche limit, it begins to disintegrate due to tidal forces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTduLQh_Hc0
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hDxIiYM6s8
  
  
• Exploring Some Lesser-Known Features
  Check out this list of some commonly requested features which are actually already in Universe Sandbox ².
  
  
  
• Working Through the N-Body Problem in Universe Sandbox ²
  There's a bit of complexity when it comes to accurately simulating the motions of hundreds to thousands of objects interacting gravitationally.
  
  
  
• Gravitational Waves & Universe Sandbox ²
  The discovery of gravitational waves is a huge deal, and we're happy to say that Universe Sandbox ² developer Jenn Seiler played a part. But they won't be coming to Universe Sandbox ² anytime soon, for a few reasons which we explore in this post.
  

We don't have an announced release date for Alpha 19. But we're working hard to get it ready. Thank you for your patience as we continue to make Universe Sandbox ² better and better.

Stay up to date with the latest Universe Sandbox ² news:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

We've been working on a handful of big projects, all of which have a lot of puzzle pieces with their own complexities and obstacles. It takes a while to get all these pieces to play well together, and then longer to get these projects working with everything else that's already in Universe Sandbox ². There are a lot of moving parts in this universe simulator.

Our priorities have been on adding in the new Roche limit and total body fragmentation (see video below), creating and fine-tuning the VR experience with the HTC Vive, and implementing our new tech for improved planetary details and interactions (for example, melting a planet with a laser).

Until we get these up and running, here are a few things to check out if you missed them:

• Two videos from Thomas, our physics programmer, showing off the new, work-in-progress Roche limit fragmentation.
  
  When a small celestial body approaches a larger body at a distance inside the Roche limit, it begins to disintegrate due to tidal forces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTduLQh_Hc0
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hDxIiYM6s8
  
  
• Exploring Some Lesser-Known Features
  Check out this list of some commonly requested features which are actually already in Universe Sandbox ².
  
  
  
• Working Through the N-Body Problem in Universe Sandbox ²
  There's a bit of complexity when it comes to accurately simulating the motions of hundreds to thousands of objects interacting gravitationally.
  
  
  
• Gravitational Waves & Universe Sandbox ²
  The discovery of gravitational waves is a huge deal, and we're happy to say that Universe Sandbox ² developer Jenn Seiler played a part. But they won't be coming to Universe Sandbox ² anytime soon, for a few reasons which we explore in this post.
  

We don't have an announced release date for Alpha 19. But we're working hard to get it ready. Thank you for your patience as we continue to make Universe Sandbox ² better and better.

Stay up to date with the latest Universe Sandbox ² news:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

Happy New Year! 2015 was an exciting year for us.

A few highlights: Universe Sandbox ² got a whole lot faster thanks to multiple physics refactorings, it was made a lot prettier thanks to a new user interface and a slew of eye candy upgrades, and we released on Steam Early Access with extremely positive reviews which haven't stopped coming in.

The good news is that we don't plan on slowing down.

Check out our blog for our 2016 roadmap.

We’re committed to making Universe Sandbox ² better and better as we continue to create something that’s never been done before. We hope you’re as excited as we are about the future.

Happy New Year! 2015 was an exciting year for us.

A few highlights: Universe Sandbox ² got a whole lot faster thanks to multiple physics refactorings, it was made a lot prettier thanks to a new user interface and a slew of eye candy upgrades, and we released on Steam Early Access with extremely positive reviews which haven't stopped coming in.

The good news is that we don't plan on slowing down.

Check out our blog for our 2016 roadmap.

We’re committed to making Universe Sandbox ² better and better as we continue to create something that’s never been done before. We hope you’re as excited as we are about the future.