Greetings, Space Explorers! We are excited to announce that Dark Moon is joining the Steam Space Exploration Festival! Add Dark Moon to your wishlist, follow its development, and be the first to know about our progress towards release! Meanwhile, we are heading out to study the mysterious phenomena that you might encounter while struggling to survive under the harsh lunar conditions! Today, we want to share some insight on the most complex and unpredictable elements of the mysterious Moon phenomena. Years of human activity on the Earth's satellite, including intensive resource extraction, tunnel drilling, base construction, and various scientific experiments, have led to drastic changes in the lunar environment. These actions, combined with a recent catastrophic solar flare, have made the environment on the Moon not only unpredictable but also extremely dangerous. [b]Mysterious Lunar Phenomena[/b] The environment on the Moon has grown so inhospitable that surviving on its surface has become a significant challenge. See below for some of the phenomena you will have to face during exploration: [b]Cold[/b] Extreme drops in temperature can halt any extraction activities. During the worst of freezes, the Excavate function becomes unusable, forcing you to spend additional time on the map before you can proceed. In the worst case scenario, survival should take precedence over mission progress. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Fog (Darkness)[/b] A thick fog enveloping the Moon's surface renders Mechaplex scanning impossible. While other functions remain unaffected, the inability to detect threats or hidden resources can prove deadly. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Electromagnetic Storm[/b] These destructive events freeze all movement on the lunar surface. Your units and vehicles will be immobilized, losing valuable time and health. To survive, you will need to find shelter and wait the whole thing out. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/1c970ac6a0d795f456a7925a8f4ff10c3b57e255.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Lightning Storm[/b] During these events, smaller units not bunkered within the Spider will be damaged. On the other hand, the storm charges your energy reserves to full capacity until it subsides, which could be crucial for survival later on. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/a7bdce1369e0a567caf3eec105fcecfcb4589602.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Meteor Shower[/b] When the sky starts to "rain," Mechaplexes must quickly reach the designated point for evacuation. Every second spent outside during a meteor shower inflicts ever-increasing damage to your units, so speed will be crucial. For readers with a keen eye: stay tuned, as we are going to share something interesting really soon! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/1db050e95a2a097f40dff1ac1161c1756d02965b.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Earthquake[/b] Though brief, these tremors can destroy your buildings and significantly reduce your Spiders' and units' health. Surviving this phenomenon requires not only good preparation, but also quick reaction time. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Dust Storm[/b] This phenomenon will effectively halt your activities, forcing you to wait it out in a safe location, losing precious time when every second could determine the mission's success. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/9e4cfd32124d613c0850ce0f1b24a4dfa5c7cc01.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Aura[/b] During this event, you must immediately evacuate with your Mechaplexes to a designated location to avoid severe damage. Random units may be afflicted with radiation sickness, impacting their functioning. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/caa9097fb2385af904b5002e8aa8066eaf3f8e4e.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] [b]Mechaplex Intelligence and Limitations[/b] Some of these phenomena are so powerful that the Mechaplex's AI may refuse to access certain areas. When that happens, your convoy may have to circle the Moon and attempt to reach said locations on its next pass. This will delay the mission's completion but could also save your units' lives. Survival requires not just strength, but also flexibility and the ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions. We hope this additional layer of challenge not only enhances your gameplay experience but also sparks reflection on the fragility of life in the face of mysterious lunar phenomena. Prepare yourselves, since the Moon may become even more hostile than ever before. That is all for now. Thank you for reading, and remember that only those who stay out of the light have a chance to survive on the Dark Moon! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/36350847/98906a3b0c6175915002c53c43e5707aa952aeea.png[/img] Join our [url=https://discord.gg/6B4bp3AHB8]Discord server[/url] today!