Alpha 19.5 | Prettier Moons & Bug Fixes | Now Available
Feb 8th
Updated textures and coloring for Ganymede, Sedna, the Moon, and Earth’s city lights
Run Steam to update to Alpha 19.5, or buy Universe Sandbox ² via our website or the Steam Store.
Alpha 19.5 is a small update which introduces a few graphics improvements, including updated coloring for Sedna and better textures for Ganymede, the Moon, and Earth’s city lights. It also includes a bunch of minor bug fixes, like correcting the scale for the new Juno model, fixing the appearance of rocky planets affected by supernovae, and addressing some smaller issues with volatiles and Roche fragmentation.
We are also happy to welcome our new team members, Mat and Jacob. As our new QA Lead, Mat has dived right into the project and has been busy finding and documenting bugs, which has already helped us for this update. Jacob is our new developer who will be working full-time on building and improving the VR experience.
And a warm, belated welcome to our new producer, David, who helped us get on track for Alpha 19 and continues to push us in the right direction as we move into 2017. We’re very excited for all of the new features and improvements coming to Universe Sandbox ² this year.
Check out the full list of What’s New.
For the latest Universe Sandbox ² news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Hiring a VR Developer (Unity)
Jan 6th
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Giant Army is looking for someone with a strong background in VR and Unity game development to join our team. You will be responsible for the continued development and improvement of our VR experience in Universe Sandbox ². If you love VR, science/astronomy, and Unity, this is your dream job!
This is a full-time, remote position.
Join us. We’re making something incredible that’s unlike anything else.
Photo Credit: LPVR Gaming
Your Role
- Own the VR experience by building, improving, and optimizing as needed
- Brainstorm ideas for features and interactions that make it a uniquely compelling VR experience
- Work closely with Dan Dixon, creator & director, to execute on the vision for VR
- Willingness to experiment and quickly prototype to get everything “just right”
- Untap Universe Sandbox ² VR’s full potential by bringing (and maintaining) features to parity with our desktop version
Ideal Candidate
- Loves VR gaming and is excited about the challenges that come with new technology
- Is a self-driven and talented programmer
- Writes clean code that is comprehensible to teammates
- Has already explored Universe Sandbox ² VR and loves it
Mandatory Qualifications
- Hands-on VR development experience
- (Strong C# & Unity Engine experience) || (Experience with an entity component model & object-oriented programming)
- Familiar with version control (we use GitHub), task-management system (we use ZenHub), unit tests, code reviews, and so forth
- Works collaboratively (and remotely)
- Passion for science and astronomy
Company Overview
Giant Army is the company behind Universe Sandbox ². Our headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, USA, with team members across the United States, Germany, and Denmark.
Team members enjoy a flexible, collaborative environment. We strive for work-life balance, and we pursue the features that get us excited about science. We do the work so that we can share that with others. We’re committed to creating an accessible experience that can’t be found elsewhere.
Science is for everyone, and we welcome all qualified applicants.
Product Overview
Universe Sandbox ² is a space simulator that merges real-time gravity, climate, collision, and physical interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. It’s more than a game; it’s a way of experiencing and learning about reality in a way that’s never been done before.
Universe Sandbox ² was recently named the Best VR Experience of 2016 by the Escapist and has a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam with 94% positive user reviews out of over 3000+.
How to Apply
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Email us: jobs at universesandbox.com
In the email, please include:
- Relevant email subject
- Link to or copy of your resume or CV
- Relevant code sample/s
- Answer these questions:
- What is the most appealing part of this opportunity?
- What is your favorite VR experience and why?
- Where you initially heard about this job posting
GIF Contest Winners!
Dec 24th
Thank you to everyone who submitted to our Universe Sandbox ² GIF contest! There were a lot of great submissions, and we loved seeing all the different ways our fans use Universe Sandbox ² to explore and experiment with the universe. If you’re a winner, we’ll be reaching out to you soon to send you your prize. If you’re not a winner, there’s always next time! And without further ado…
Grand Prize
Earth being eaten by a neutron star. What’s not to like? Great framing, a great sample of simulation features in Universe Sandbox ², and an overall impressive and tasteful display of destruction. This gets the grand prize of a $50 Steam gift card!
Submitted by astalemarshmallow:
Runner-Up
A near-miss between Mars and Earth makes the oceans boil away. A very unique experiment that deserves a $25 Steam gift card.
Submitted by @Valareos:
#UniverseSandbox Anyone can make planets hit. But this is a near miss that boils away oceans. Imagine the fireball in the sky from THAT one pic.twitter.com/GYsrKopxg0
— Bryan Bartlett (@Valareos) December 5, 2016
Honorable Mentions
The following GIFs may not have won the top prizes, but we enjoyed them too much to not mention them. These users will be getting a couple Universe Sandbox ² codes for their friends and family.
Best Pandering
We love when our fans love Universe Sandbox ².
Submitted by DashingElektron:
Submitted by @robloxiscool191:
@UniverseSandbox #UniverseSandbox I love Universe Sandbox
pic.twitter.com/FjuYaBfpu8
— EfficientEngine (@EffEngine) December 4, 2016
Best What-If
So that’s what would happen if Jupiter had Saturn’s rings and Saturn came back for revenge. The more you know…
Submitted by @Goldenknight_01:
https://twitter.com/Goldenknight_01/status/805506373790351361
Best Trip Around the Drain
Turns out there’s a lot in common between space and your sink.
Submitted by @BestPotatoGamin:
3 Saturn's (with rings) orbiting a black hole #UniverseSandbox pic.twitter.com/5UsudFneDu
— SpacePotato(Pluto) (@BestPotatoGamin) December 6, 2016
Submitted by No. 60 Neodymium:
Submitted by DirtyKaya:
Most Artistic
A beautiful and abstract cosmic dance. Submitted by Flingdagger:
Most Terrifying
This surface-cam perspective of a slowly expanding supernova is making us anxious. In a good way! Submitted by DeadpanGod3:
Thanks again to everyone who submitted! Stay tuned for future contests.
For the latest Universe Sandbox ² news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Alpha 19.4 | Juno & the Return of Craters | Now Available
Dec 21st
Run Steam to update to Alpha 19.4, or buy Universe Sandbox ² via our website or the Steam Store.
Alpha 19.4 introduces a brand new model for the Juno spacecraft, which you can find in Add > Objects > Juno. Juno entered into orbit around Jupiter this past July. Its goal is to understand the gas giant’s origin and evolution.
This update also fixes two of the bigger issues introduced in Alpha 19: displacement mapping (3D craters) works again, and city lights once again turn off after collisions and high temperatures.
Check out the full list of What’s New.
For the latest Universe Sandbox ² news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Universe Sandbox ² GIF Contest
Dec 3rd
Update December 16: Contest Closed!
Thanks everyone for your submissions! We will be announcing the winner in the next couple of weeks.
So it’s clear at this point that you all love blowing up planets. But now we want to see exactly how you blow up planets.
Which is why we’re having a Universe Sandbox ² GIF contest!
Submit your GIF before midnight PST, Thursday, December 15, and you’ll be considered for the Grand Prize: a $50 Steam gift card and shoutouts on our social media. Please see below for full instructions on how to submit a GIF.
Of course, you don’t have to show us exploding planets. We love to see how our fans explore and utilize all of the tools and features in Universe Sandbox ². Be creative. So how do you submit a GIF for the contest? Easy!
How to Submit a GIF via Facebook or Twitter
- Open Universe Sandbox ² and start colliding planets (or delicately balancing orbits)
- Record your GIF (press F9 to Start/Stop, or click Video > Start/Stop Video Capture)
- Click Share once the GIF is processed
- After it’s done uploading, select either Share on Facebook or Tweet (alternatively, select Copy URL to Clipboard and manually share on Facebook or Twitter)
- Your Tweet/Facebook post MUST be public and MUST include the #UniverseSandbox hashtag in order to be considered for the contest! (If you’re sharing on Facebook, you will have to add #UniverseSandbox yourself; it is automatically included in Tweets)
How to Submit a GIF via Steam
- Open Universe Sandbox ² and start colliding planets (or delicately balancing orbits)
- Record your GIF (press F9 to Start/Stop, or click Video > Start/Stop Video Capture)
- Click Video > Open Video Folder to show where the GIFs are stored on your computer
- Upload your GIF to the Universe Sandbox ² Artwork page, no Facebook or Twitter necessary
- Visibility MUST be set to Public and it MUST be uploaded to the Community Hub, not your profile
Happy GIFing!
Hiring a QA Lead
Dec 2nd
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Giant Army is looking for a video game/simulation tester to join our team. You will work independently to create, maintain, and regularly execute the Universe Sandbox ² test plan on pre-release builds. It is essential that you are able to write up detailed bug reports and proactively work with the team to ensure they’ve been fixed.
The ideal candidate should have a scientific inquisitiveness when identifying potential bugs (“Should Jupiter be this hot?” “Wouldn’t that have destroyed the moon?”). We have an astrophysicist on the team; it’s okay to not know the answers, but you should be comfortable asking questions. Familiarity with Universe Sandbox ² is a bonus, but not required.
This is an hourly, remote, contract position with flexible hours.
Join us… we’re making something incredible that’s never been done before.
Your Role
- Create and maintain a comprehensive test plan for the entire game
- Regularly review internal builds to make sure new features and fixes work as intended
- Review forums, videos, and feedback to identify user-reported bugs
- Log clear, concise descriptions and reproduction steps of all issue to our GitHub repository
- Communicate with our developers on Slack to help squash bugs
Ideal Candidate
- Has experience with game/software testing and methodology, ideally in a lead capacity
- Has already spent many hours exploring Universe Sandbox ², loves it, and has spotted a bug or two
- Maintains a flexible schedule which allows for varying hours (depending on where we are in development cycle)
- Is comfortable testing with Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and VR hardware
Mandatory Qualifications
- Ability to write clear descriptions and reproduction steps for bugs in English
- Detail-oriented and an eye for noticing when things aren’t quite right
- Intuition about science and how our simulations should work
- Comfortable working in a remote environment (the whole team is remote)
- Must own a Windows machine
Company Overview
Giant Army is the company behind Universe Sandbox ². Our headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, USA, with team members across the United States, Germany, and Denmark.
Team members enjoy a flexible, collaborative environment. We strive for work-life balance, and we pursue the features that get us excited about science. We do the work so that we can share that with others. We’re also committed to creating an accessible experience that can’t be found elsewhere.
Science is for everyone, and we welcome all qualified applicants.
Product Overview
Universe Sandbox ² is a space simulator that merges real-time gravity, climate, collision, and material interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. It’s more than a game; it’s a way of experiencing and learning about reality in a way that’s never been done before. Early access now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
How to Apply
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Email us: jobs at universesandbox.com
In the email please include:
- Relevant email subject
- Link to or copy of your resume or CV
- Answer to this question:
- What is the most appealing part of this opportunity?
- Pick a game you’ve played or worked on recently and write a bug report (bonus points if you pick Universe Sandbox ²)
- These don’t need to be long. Succinct and clear is best.
- Where you originally heard about this job posting
Disintegration Update | Alpha 19 | Now Available
Nov 8th
Run Steam to update to Alpha 19, or buy Universe Sandbox ² via our website or the Steam Store.
Please note, this is an update for the desktop mode only. We will now be focusing on an Alpha 19 VR update. In the future, these two modes will be merged and won’t require separate updates.
In Alpha 19, simulations are more dynamic, realistic, and exciting. Why?
1. Tidal Forces Now Tear Apart Planets
When one body gets too close to another body of higher mass, tidal friction will begin to heat it up. And if it’s close enough, Roche limit fragmentation will tear it apart, leaving a trail of fragments.
A major theory for the formation of Saturn’s rings is that the rings were once a moon orbiting Saturn, before its orbit took it within the Roche limit and it was torn apart.
Home → Open → Physics tab
Home → Tutorials → 11- Tidal Forces
2. Planets Are Now Vaporized by High Temperatures & Supernovae
Whether by a supernova or extreme tidal heating, bodies now lose volatile material as their temperatures rise. The required temperature and type of volatile loss factors in the body’s material composition and mass.
There are also new visuals for supernovae, and their appearance varies based on the type of the star.
3. Improved Performance, Appearance, & User Control for Particles & Fragments
A new performance budgeting system knows when to let particles and fragments stick around, and when to get rid of them to keep everything running smoothly and accurately.
Particles and fragments are now much more varied in appearance, from hot to cold, rocky to gaseous. They can also now be individually- or group-selected, to easily watch, move, or delete them, or even convert them into bodies.
4. Explosions Look More Epic & Cause “Shockwaves”
Combined with the improvements made to the particle & fragment system, explosions look a whole lot better in Alpha 19.
Also, explosions now simulate an expanding bubble of exploded material, which can collide with other planets, heating and ripping them apart.
Home → Open → Explosions tab
5. You Can Record Animated GIFs
Easily & instantly create animated GIFs like the ones above of planetary movement & destruction.
Press F9 to Start/Stop Video Capture
Or click the Video button in the bottom right for Start/Stop Video Capture and Video Capture Settings. These settings can also be found through Home → Settings → Video.
6. “New” Labels, Stats, & Sorting Options for Sims
All sims new to Alpha 19 have a “New” label which is replaced with a check mark once the sim has been opened.
You can hover over the sim tile to see sim stats, like when you last opened it, and you can now sort the sim list using the options next to the search bar.
7. New Object Models
We’ve improved the models for the Saturn V 3rd Stage rocket and New Horizons probe, and added The Great Pyramid of Giza and a new police box object.
Home → Open → Human Scale tab → Human Sized Objects
Add → Objects tab
8. New Music
Two new, original tracks by our composer, Macoubre.
9. And Hundreds More Improvements & Bug Fixes
With nearly an 8-page list of new features, improvements, and fixes, this is our biggest update by far. We’re very excited with all of the changes and would love to hear what everyone thinks!
Check out the full list of new features, improvements, & bug fixes in What’s New.
For the latest Universe Sandbox ² news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Help Us Test the New Alpha 19 Preview
Aug 18th
Thank you for your patience while we get Alpha 19 in top shape. We’ve hit a few snags in development, but it’s now looking better than ever, and we’re very excited to let everyone try it out.
We’d appreciate it if you could test the new preview version of Alpha 19 and let us know what you think.
Once you’ve opted in, please follow the start-up instructions and run the performance test.
Thanks for testing and for your patience!
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Universe Sandbox ² news.
How to Opt In to the latest Alpha 19 preview
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
What’s New & Improved in Alpha 19 x5
• Improved tidal heating & Roche fragmentation
• Improved explosion effects
• New fragment system for cold/hot, rocky/gaseous fragments
• Improved volatiles
• Many, many bug fixes
Check out the new tidal forces and explosions effects:
• Home > Open > Physics tab
• Home > Open > Explosions tab
Hiring a 3D Artist
Aug 2nd
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Giant Army is looking for a 3D artist to create realistic spacecraft models for Universe Sandbox ², a space and gravity simulator with a 94% positive rating on Steam.
You will research accurate materials, measurements, etc. and work with the project director’s feedback toward a high level of realism and detail. You will also work with the lead graphics programmer to ensure the models and textures can integrate well with the game engine. You must love creating realistic models and you must be a collaborative worker.
This is a full-time, contract position.
We hope you join us in making something incredible that’s never been done before.
Your Role
- Create realistic models and textures for spacecraft and spacecraft parts
- e.g. Saturn V, N1, New Horizons
- Create models for other in-game objects on an as-needed basis
- e.g. human-sized objects, collision fragments, VR interface items
- Work with and implement the project director’s feedback toward a high level of realism and detail
- Work with the lead graphics programmer to create efficient models which integrate well with the Universe Sandbox ² engine
- Help change the way the world perceives our universe and fragile planet
Ideal Candidate
- Self-driven and talented 3D modeler and texture artist
- Strong attention and dedication to detail
- Familiar with technical limitations and how models function within a game engine
- Excited about helping develop a tool that allows users to experiment with simulations, pushing the boundaries of what has been done in real-time for public consumption
Mandatory Qualifications
- Appreciation for realism and detail
- Strong knowledge of modeling and texturing
- Proficient in 3D modeling software
- Excited about science and astronomy
- Familiar with version control and some kind of task-management system
- Works collaboratively
Company Overview
Giant Army is the company behind Universe Sandbox, a space simulator that’s sold hundreds of thousands of copies on Steam. Our headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, USA, with team members in Washington DC, Missouri, California, Germany, and Denmark.
Team members enjoy a flexible, collaborative environment. We pursue the features that get us excited about science. We do the work so that we can share that with others. We’re also committed to creating an accessible experience that can’t be found elsewhere.
Science is for everyone, and we welcome all qualified applicants.
Product Overview
Universe Sandbox ² is our core product that lets the user explore and learn about our amazing universe and fragile planet while creating and destroying on a scale they’ve never before imagined. It’s more than a game; it’s a way of experiencing and learning about reality in a way that’s never been done before. Early alpha access now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
How to Apply
This position has been filled. Thank you to everyone who applied.
If this still sounds like an ideal job for you, please reach out. We are always looking for more help from the right candidates.
Email us: jobs at universesandbox.com
In the email please include:
- Relevant email subject
- Link to or copy of your resume or CV
- Link to portfolio/samples
- Answer to these 2 questions:
- What is the most appealing part of this opportunity?
- Why are you a good fit for this position?
- Where you originally heard about this job posting
Updated 2016 Roadmap
Jun 20th
We’re now halfway through 2016, and that means it’s time for an update on the 2016 roadmap we shared at the beginning of the year.
What’s Completed?
1. Virtual Reality
This was a big one for us. Our recent blog post gathered some of the really amazing feedback we’ve been receiving about Universe Sandbox ² in VR.
We’re very proud of the results, and look forward to continually improving the VR experience. Check out the trailer below.
2. Tidal Forces
The new tidal heating and Roche limit effects add another element of realism to Universe Sandbox ², and they also look really cool. In Alpha 19, bodies now heat up and can be torn apart by tidal forces if they approach other bodies closely enough.
3. New Object Models
You’ve probably heard of the Great Pyramid of Giza, but have you ever seen it floating through space? Below is a preview of some of the pyramid blocks which will be available, but of course we’re also adding in the whole pyramid.
We’ve also added improved models for the New Horizons probe and the third stage of the Saturn V rocket, as well as a new, shiny police box. See more.
4. Bug Fixes
Our new Quality Assurance team member, Steven, has been busy testing, tracking down bugs, and assuring that when those bugs are squashed, we’re not inadvertently breaking anything else.
With Steven’s help, and the help of our new developer, Jonathan, we’ve been able to fix a big list of long-standing issues. For a complete list of what’s been fixed, see our release notes.
What’s Next for 2016 and Beyond?
1. Alpha 19
We’re rounding the corner on Alpha 19, which should include the tidal forces, new models, and bug fixes mentioned above, as well as some beautiful new supernova visuals.
2. VR Update
Right now the VR version is separate from the desktop version, so Alpha 19 will only be a desktop update. But we’ve been looking at feedback on the VR version, and we plan to address some of these issues with a small VR update after we release Alpha 19.
This VR update should include:
- A new tutorial to better explain controls & mechanics
- Save and Load
- A bunch of bug fixes
3. Alpha 20
Alpha 20 is looking like it’ll be a very big and exciting update.
Here’s what we hope to include in Alpha 20:
- Automata (more planetary details)
- Increased spatial resolution for a planet’s data means that it’s possible to affect values locally
- For example, this should help with local temperatures, like impact and laser heating; terrain deformation; and, further down the line, life simulation
- Total body fragmentation
- Combined with the new tidal forces and explosion effects in Alpha 19, total body fragmentation should be a very impressive effect
- Merged VR and desktop versions
- After merging we’ll be able to release updates for VR and desktop simultaneously, and more easily integrate features for both versions
- Complete feature parity for the VR interface will take longer, but this is an important step in that direction
- Rewritten user interface
- Allows for scaling the interface for higher resolutions and…
- Language localization (coming later)
4. Alpha 21 & Beyond
After Alpha 20, we’ll be setting our sights on some even bigger projects:
- Stellar evolution
- The new model supports 16 star types, versus the previous 5
- The result should be more dynamic and accurate properties for stars, as well as smoother transitions between types
- If we’re lucky, we’ll have this ready for Alpha 20, but a safer bet is Alpha 21
- Life simulation
- There’s a lot of planning to do on this, but the Automata tech coming in Alpha 20 should help pave the way for the beginnings of life simulation
- Space megastructures
- These accidentally made it into an experimental build of Alpha 19, and if you had a chance to see them, you know that they’re very cool, but they still need a lot of work before they are more interactive and less CPU-hungry
- Mobile
- We just hired a dedicated mobile developer, Dave Nelson, who will be working full-steam on a mobile version of Universe Sandbox ²
- This is still in preliminary phases and we don’t have a timeline for release yet
- Steam Workshop support
- Being able to share saved simulations and objects will open up the creative potential even more
- Language localization
We’re very happy with the progress we’ve made so far in 2016. And we’re very excited for what’s in store for the rest of 2016. We hope you share our enthusiasm for exploring this crazy and ambitious project.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news.
Get instant access to Universe Sandbox ² on Steam Early Access.