What drew you to play No Man's Sky initially?
When I first got my Xbox in the Autumn of 2020 I searched through Game Pass to see what might interest me. I hadn’t played video games often in a very long time. NMS stood out to me like a glowing beacon of gorgeous sci fi goodness!
Now that you're an experienced NMS player, what do you think of the game?
I love NMS even more than I first thought I would! Once I got on my feet survival-wise and ventured out to planets that weren’t immediately trying to kill me, the beauty and variety - and humor! - in NMS began to really impress me. Aside from Fortnite, NMS was the first video game I’d played in over a decade and one of the very first I played on console, so I had a good-sized learning curve with the controller, etc.
How did you become interested in base building?
My first planet was a toxic survival challenge. One time a storm caught me with no cave nearby, so I dove into building out of necessity! That first hurriedly slapped together shack in time led to homes, then coffee shops, then cities and mega structures and collab builds.
What is it about building bases that you enjoy most?
What I love most about base building is that it energizes my creative side and requires skill and ingenuity and imagination. Building my vision from scratch and figuring out ways to accomplish what I want and get past obstacles every step of the way is very satisfying! It’s also a very inexpensive hobby that does not create real world clutter.
How would you describe your design aesthetic?
I usually go for a happy marriage of beauty and function with a heavy dollop of whimsy.
Where do you find your design inspirations?
I find inspiration in dreams, in sci fi and real world art I see on Pinterest, and sometimes I just start with a concept (what happens if I flip this floor piece vertical and start snapping from there?) and see where it leads me.
Do you usually have a clear picture of what you're going to build before you start?
Most of the time yes. At least a vision, but it probably doesn’t yet have all the details worked out.
How do you choose locations for your builds?
Very carefully! Sometimes it’s a location that inspires me to build in the first place. Other times I search for a spot that “feels right” and matches the vibe of what I want to build. These days I also stand back and consider how pictures will look with my build embedded in the surroundings.
Tell us a little about your thought process when you begin a build.
Most of the time I begin with a vision and have found a perfect spot to try to bring it to life. I usually map out basic dimensions and structure and then start building from the ground up or center out.
What techniques and tools do you use?
I play on Xbox and primarily use standard snapping. I don’t like to have to use 8 steps to get one piece into position, but I do resort to various types of glitching when required to manifest what I see in my mind.
How do these techniques and tools fit into your process?
I like to figure out ways to use the ease and speed of standard snapping to my advantage. But I also won’t hesitate to glitch candelabra blooms to the ceiling (etc)!
What are the pros and cons you encounter by using these techniques and tools?
I love using the NMS build tools and cam as they are. Knowing while you’re building a floor that the roof will snap seamlessly is wonderful. But I also like to play around with glitching to incorporate rarely seen shapes.Sometimes this requires extra ingenuity to round out and complete an object/place.
What do you find most challenging about building in NMS?
Overcoming obstacles I hit mid-build! Sometimes I hit a wall with an unexpected problem or setback and have to sleep on it before I find a good solution.
How do you deal with a design that just isn't working?
I have abandoned/deleted 2 builds because I ended up feeling like they just weren’t possible with the tools at my disposal. But most of the time I will persevere until I find a way. I have some incredibly talented builder friends now, too, and they are always ready to help with ideas.
Has there been any specific design type or style you've not found a way to create?
I did try a super curvy sci fi building once but scrapped it because it just wasn’t going to look right and I felt the contortions required to produce it just weren’t worth the possible result. But I do love to try different styles and find ways to make them work - from picturesque cities to huge mechanical spiders and steampunk vehicles!
How would you recommend someone new to NMS begin learning to build?
Try building a nice home for yourself in a non-threatening environment. Get used to the build cam and acquaint yourself with all the available build pieces - how they like to snap, how they don’t. What materials they require. Once you’re proficient with this you may find yourself hungering to learn more and spice things up!
What additional advice would you give to new Builders?
Cultivate patience and the ability to stick to it despite obstacles and to see things through to completion. The creative process almost always involves an “uh oh - I hate it” feeling before things finally resolve and you love it again.
Any closing thoughts?
I cohost VR Spaceman’s weekly NMS Wonders show on YouTube where we talk with guests and explore their builds in VR.
