Outer Wilds (PC/XB/PS/Switch) - Open World Space Mystery. Out now on Switch.

deathofcows wrote:How did you clock this out of interest? Does it start to actually move in the solar system space proper? And how does it know the Supernova is happening? Why would the whole Stranger moving even affect the dam?

Just wondering out of interest! I'd be glad for a good reason as I did wonder why the dam happened to burst in the 22 minute window in which we happen to visit!

Not sure where to begin answering. I'm guessing you never found the Stranger's control room? The ship log spells out what is going on in there, so you wouldn't have had to figure it out yourself (is why I imagine you didn't find it (unless you didn't read the ship log for every single thing you found)). It's accessible via the top of the dam before it breaks, or after it breaks via the secret elevator on the sunward side of the Stranger. There's a display inside which shows a picture of the sun going through its end of life cycle, as well as the Stranger moving away from it (I think it starts moving roughly 10 minutes in). It's just another example of the inhabitants fearing the inevitable and doing everything in their power to delay it as much as possible, up to building a pending-supernova detector into the Stranger so it can move out of the way to extend their "lifespan" within the dream just a little.
If it didn't move it would simply get caught in the supernova like (almost) everything in the solar system.

Thing 2: if you shoot a scout at the dam its structural stability readout displays 100% until the lights flicker and the Stranger jerks into motion, at which point it starts to drop in real-time.

As for why it breaks just because the Stranger starts to move... why didn't it break before then? It's made of wood, and nearly everything else made of wood has rotted away! I suppose we must imagine it was simply built to a higher standard than everything else, but even it took some structural damage after hundreds of thousands of years. Then the sudden movement of the Stranger was simply the straw that broke the camel's back.

OldSoulCyborg wrote:

deathofcows wrote:How did you clock this out of interest? Does it start to actually move in the solar system space proper? And how does it know the Supernova is happening? Why would the whole Stranger moving even affect the dam?

Just wondering out of interest! I'd be glad for a good reason as I did wonder why the dam happened to burst in the 22 minute window in which we happen to visit!

Not sure where to begin answering. I'm guessing you never found the Stranger's control room? The ship log spells out what is going on in there, so you wouldn't have had to figure it out yourself (is why I imagine you didn't find it (unless you didn't read the ship log for every single thing you found)). It's accessible via the top of the dam before it breaks, or after it breaks via the secret elevator on the sunward side of the Stranger. There's a display inside which shows a picture of the sun going through its end of life cycle, as well as the Stranger moving away from it (I think it starts moving roughly 10 minutes in). It's just another example of the inhabitants fearing the inevitable and doing everything in their power to delay it as much as possible, up to building a pending-supernova detector into the Stranger so it can move out of the way to extend their "lifespan" within the dream just a little.
If it didn't move it would simply get caught in the supernova like (almost) everything in the solar system.

Thing 2: if you shoot a scout at the dam its structural stability readout displays 100% until the lights flicker and the Stranger jerks into motion, at which point it starts to drop in real-time.

As for why it breaks just because the Stranger starts to move... why didn't it break before then? It's made of wood, and nearly everything else made of wood has rotted away! I suppose we must imagine it was simply built to a higher standard than everything else, but even it took some structural damage after hundreds of thousands of years. Then the sudden movement of the Stranger was simply the straw that broke the camel's back.

Thanks for reply!
I completely forgot about the control room but now it makes more sense. And using the scout on the Dam is a good idea I hadn't thought of.

And as an aside the alternate entrance into the control room from the landing bay was another great hidden in plain sight moment!

OldSoulCyborg wrote:Thing 2: if you shoot a scout at the dam its structural stability readout displays 100% until the lights flicker and the Stranger jerks into motion, at which point it starts to drop in real-time.

Had no idea about this, that's very cool!

Reading your explanation I was also struck by the silliness I'd never realised of them going as far as having the ship detect and move away from a supernova, but not building the dam to a better spec... I'll let it slide

On that point I guess rather than arbitrary it's more just coincidental. The other planetary phenomenon just feel more fundamental I guess to their premise whereas a dam burst isn't really where my mind immediately goes with a ringworld. Not to say it's a bad setup in any way, just to try and explain why it didn't hit quite the same for me. It wasn't like oh of course compared to say the shifting sands between the twins.

Just started this (Went with Xbox rather than Switch) and it’s got a great vibe, feels like a cosy game but has a weird, unsettling undertone to it all. One thing I will say against it so far is I’m not a fan of controlling it, I can’t seem to get to where I actually want to go most of the time. I will stick with it though as I’m keen to see more, hopefully the controlling of things clicks soon.

ITSMILNER wrote:Just started this (Went with Xbox rather than Switch) and it’s got a great vibe, feels like a cosy game but has a weird, unsettling undertone to it all. One thing I will say against it so far is I’m not a fan of controlling it, I can’t seem to get to where I actually want to go most of the time. I will stick with it though as I’m keen to see more, hopefully the controlling of things clicks soon.

It does! I'm now really fond of the jump-thrust combo (R2 and X) - it might not be Metroid Prime-levels of 1st-person jump with a whoosh - but it's probably close!

Also remember the ship has autopilot and lock-on (I think dad up and L3 respectively).

Regardless I'd say it's worth the investment to get used.

Also I recently read the phrase 'Metroidbrania' to describe these kind of titles. Obviously it's tongue in cheek and kind of silly but also kind of accurate?

I really need to play this soon. I saw my wife playing parts of it and I thought it looked interesting. Don't think I saw anything to spoilery hopefully!

ITSMILNER wrote:Just started this (Went with Xbox rather than Switch) and it’s got a great vibe, feels like a cosy game but has a weird, unsettling undertone to it all. One thing I will say against it so far is I’m not a fan of controlling it, I can’t seem to get to where I actually want to go most of the time. I will stick with it though as I’m keen to see more, hopefully the controlling of things clicks soon.

Don't forget: when in space (or other zero-g/near-zero-g environment) you can press and hold 'A' to match the momentum of whatever you're locked onto (or, if not locked onto anything, matching momentum with whatever large thing (planet, star, space station, comet, etc.) you're closest to).
You can do this in either your ship or your spacesuit, and it might be the single most useful thing you can do if you're struggling with moving around in 3d space.

I’ll fire it up again tonight and see how I get on, I’m hoping it clicks because I love the idea and look of it.

ITSMILNER wrote:I’ll fire it up again tonight and see how I get on, I’m hoping it clicks because I love the idea and look of it.

Not that I’ve bought it for Switch (no idea how well it even runs to be honest), but I loved the look of it but never got on with it when I tried it briefly on Game Pass. So tempted to give it another go though.

I’ve had a better time on it tonight, it still feels fiddly but I guess as it’s representing space that’ll be why

Made a little bit more progress (I think) as I found Gabbo and had a chat about things.