Terrain Regions
Design Decision
Based on Mars geological research, the game world is divided into distinct terrain regions, each with unique materials and gameplay properties.
Highland Centers (Southern Hemisphere)
Location: Southern hemisphere
Characteristics: Surface + exposed bedrock
Materials:
- Boulders and fragmented rocks
- Ancient lake bed segments (found at bottom of highland craters)
- Clays embedded in bedrock at crater rims
- Sulfates and carbonates
Gameplay Implications:
- Rougher terrain, more challenging navigation
- Resource-rich areas (exposed minerals)
- Crater exploration opportunities
Northern Lowland Centers
Location: Northern hemisphere
Characteristics: Younger, smoother, flatter material
Materials:
- Dirt & sand plains
- Fine soil covering
- More soil overall compared to highlands
Gameplay Implications:
- Easier traversal
- Different resource types
- Open plains for exploration
Polar Ice Caps
Location: At the poles
Characteristics: Thick layers of ice + dust mixed together
Materials:
- Soil layers
- Ice + dust mixture
Gameplay Implications:
- Extreme environment
- Ice harvesting potential
- Unique visual aesthetic
Canyons
Characteristics: Exposed cliff faces
Materials:
- Exposed ore deposits
- Raw minerals accessible on cliff faces
Gameplay Implications:
- Vertical exploration
- High-value resource extraction
- CO2 cloud formation areas
- Player spawning locations
Plains/Lowlands
Characteristics: Flat terrain with soil cover
Materials:
- Soil covering
- Fine dust on surface
- Underground water ice at subsurface (spawning mechanic)
Gameplay Implications:
- Standard terrain type
- Subsurface resource discovery
- Base building locations
Related: