Satellite

A space-physics sandbox game built with LÖVE2D using the Lovemachine ECS framework.

Satellite is an experimental project focused on:

• Physics-driven movement\
• Orbital mechanics\
• Modular ECS-based architecture\
• Weapon systems and AI behaviors

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Tech Stack

• Lua
• LÖVE2D
• Lovemachine (ECS framework)

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Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone git@github.com:nclarke-development-studio/Satellite.git
cd Satellite

With lovemachine submodule:

git clone --recurse-submodules -j8 git@github.com:nclarke-development-studio/Satellite.git
cd Satellite

2a. Link Lovemachine (Development Setup, no submodule)

Satellite expects the Lovemachine repository to be available inside:

Satellite/includes/lovemachine

During development, create a symbolic link to your Lovemachine repo.

Windows (Command Prompt, Admin)

mklink /d "<absolute path>\Satellite\includes\lovemachine" "<absolute path>\lovemachine"

Example:

mklink /d "C:\dev\Satellite\includes\lovemachine" "C:\dev\lovemachine"

macOS / Linux

ln -s /absolute/path/to/lovemachine Satellite/includes/lovemachine

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Running

Make sure LÖVE2D is installed, then:

love .

Or drag the project folder onto the LÖVE executable.

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Roadmap

Gameplay

• Camera parallax (integrated with current camera system)
• Path System
  • PathComponent + Body/Rigidbody\
  • Time-based trajectory functions\
• Predictive trajectory rendering
  • Fixed-size point queue\
  • Time-step sampling\
• Lock-on & Tracking Missiles
  • Spatial query volume\
  • Rotational force guidance system\
• Planetary slingshot mechanics\
• Dynamic camera zoom\
• World bounds / wrapping logic

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Systems & Engine Features

• Controller input + WASD configuration
  (Evaluate TLbind: https://love2d.org/wiki/TLbind)
• Shader-based visual style\
• ASCII map creator
  • Configurable scale + wrapping\
  • Optional minimap rendering\
• UI layer\
• Local network multiplayer
  (Investigate lua-enet / how2love networking section)

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Audio

• Ambient / ethereal background music\
• Expanded SFX system

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Future Ideas

Example Map Layout

[bbbbbbbbb]
[b  o   xb]
[b *     b]
[b   x O b]
[bx      b]
[bbbbbbbbb]

• Buffered world edges\
• Invisible bounds vs camera lock\
• Screen wrapping experimentation