What drew you to play No Man's Sky initially?

A very much random encounter on YouTube about an upcoming game with a vast galaxy to explore. To be sure - regardless of the launch, I was enthralled by the idea of warping to a system with procedural planets and landing on each of them. The initial idea was of an endless galaxy (256 in total as we later learned) to explore.

Now that you're an experienced NMS player, what do you think of the game?

NMS has divided opinion since its inception. As a day 1 player I was in awe of the 70s/80s style of art direction the game took. From the look of the planets, the radical colorations of the sky, to the procedural generation of in game assets - there was a lot for me to love. That being said - what NMS has grown into at this point is beyond what I could have ever imagined. Hello Games stuck through the initial launch and has delivered everything and more to build a wonderful sandbox community. The possibilities are only limited by the travelers imagination and it is so pleasing to see so many collectives/civilizations that have been created. The game as it stands now offers so much and I appreciate the ability to take things at a pace set by the player. Overall I will continue to play NMS exactly because of the in-game communities that players have built within the universe that Hello Games has created.

How did you become interested in base building?

With the inception of the Foundations update, however not truly started until later updates like NEXT.

What is it about building bases that you enjoy most?

The creativity aspect. Using a unique location to tell a story and being able to upload that to the wider community. It’s very peaceful and a form of art to be honest.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Realism - trying to make the build feel like a real in game destination with logical format.

Where do you find your design inspirations?

It’s mostly from the layout of my chosen location. Then it comes from my head. I rarely look at images online so my layout can sometimes veer off from what might be logical or realistic. I am starting to change this however to get builds more logical/realistic albeit within a sci-fi theme.

Do you usually have a clear picture of what you're going to build before you start?

Usually not. It really depends on the location and then I start - expanding where I see fit.

How do you choose locations for your builds?

Anything interesting - a cave with water for example. Interesting terrain generation. A location with an NPC base like a trading post. Color combinations also play a huge role.

Tell us a little about your thought process when you begin a build.

I always start with a general idea or layout. Then I pick a good point to begin and expand from there. It can take me months to finish a build project so I always go slow. When I build faster I start to get a bit sloppy and cut corners.

What techniques and tools do you use?

Standard snap points and glitch building. It can be overwhelming at first but there are many online guides to the techniques used to achieve what is not possible using the standard build mechanic. BeebleBum on YouTube has some fantastic build guides for learning glitch techniques.

How do these techniques and tools fit into your process?

I can’t build without glitching. It just opens so many more routes to facilitate your creativity.

What are the pros and cons you encounter by using these techniques and tools?

Time! It takes time - be patient - you will get the techniques down with practice.

What do you find most challenging about building in NMS?

Snapping pieces is a great way to encourage logical building. But sometimes this becomes a crutch that might actually stifle creativity locking you into a pre-formed “box”.

How do you deal with a design that just isn't working?

I’m not a technical builder - meaning I don’t find ways to logically snap pieces together that often. Instead - if I have a gap between a wall or floor for example - I find a way to free place another item to cover it. For me this achieves the desired aesthetic and feels more “free form”.

Has there been any specific design type or style you've not found a way to create?

It’s all a learning curve so I believe most styles could be replicated - it just depends on the time and technique involved in the process.

How would you recommend someone new to NMS begin learning to build?

Start slow - use items in logical positions. You can place many items on floors and walls to create a lovely aesthetic without glitch building. Once you are comfortable with the building system (and you will encounter frustrations) expand on the next build. Hello Games did a fantastic job in programming logical tools for building - so start with the in-game basics.

What additional advice would you give to new Builders?

Don’t be afraid to use the “free placement” function. It’s very easy to get stuck in the auto placement for things such as floors and walls. A whole new level of building will open up when you decide to freely place all sorts of items within a build. This includes using items in different rotations to produce a different effect.

Any closing thoughts?

2016 NMS was introduced to the world of gaming - 2024 and I’m still enjoying exploring/building across the NMS universe!