The Moon Rock Duckets development blog. Follow each step of our multiplayer space game, from playable beta updates to experiments taking shape behind the scenes.
Loadouts, a held scoreboard and Aerie improvements
This space game update brings modular weapon models, a pre-deployment Loadout screen and session progression to the two beta worlds. Choose a starting weapon and compatible parts, then earn EXP toward components, skills and ducket capacitors. The 48 gameplay unlocks include 40 components, six skills and two capacitors; the component changes affect real handling and combat statistics.
First-person weapons sit farther from the camera. Vesper's shock wake no longer harms its shooter or allies.
Hold Tab for the scoreboard and release to close it. Hold N for the tactical map. C switches first- and third-person views; these keyboard controls can be rebound in Hotkeys.
Aerie's central island has one geodesic dome, more detailed grey-rock undersides and additional foliage alongside its original trees.
Progression is session-only. Permanent ranked servers and account EXP recovery are not available, and current matches cannot grant the permanent beta rank-completion badge or [BTsTr] tag. The separate activation-based Beta Tester record is unchanged. Component upgrades currently share their base visual models.
Aerie and Ring World only. Cinder and other Development worlds remain outside this beta. Update to the same compatible build as your friends for Online Quick Match. Aerie's visual polish continues; a clean second-computer install and multiplayer between independent internet connections remain unverified. See the current download, installation details and known limitations.
Our space game now has a Windows setup program. It installs Moon Rock Duckets Beta for your Windows account, adds a Start menu entry and offers a Desktop shortcut selected by default.
Setup and its uninstaller are digitally signed. You can remove the installed game through Windows Settings while keeping your saved settings and beta key. The portable ZIP remains available for players who prefer to extract the game themselves.
Setup revision 1 for beta 0.2.9.15. This updates installation only. Aerie, Ring World and Online Quick Match use the same game build, so existing beta players can still match with newly installed copies. Local installation, repair and uninstall checks do not replace testing on a clean second computer.
A floating island should leave a mark on the world beneath it. Cinder’s main island and thirty floating steps now have visible extraction holes, with rough walls and floors where the rock was torn away.
Beyond the arena, charcoal volcanic ground now stretches toward the horizon. As the rising lava overtops the distant ridges, that ground disappears beneath a continuous molten sea. The atmospheric haze has also been adjusted so it no longer hides the transition behind a pale band.
These changes help this space game’s volcanic battlefield feel connected from the ground beneath your feet to the far skyline. The distant landscape is scenery; it does not expand the playable area.
Not included in the public beta. Reviewed in local Development multiplayer checks and captured views. Independent-computer testing and full-match performance assessment remain ahead.
Cinder’s new cover rocks put a volcanic twist on Moon Rock Duckets: black stone cut through with glowing red seams. They give players something to shelter behind, but that protection does not last forever.
Weapon damage or rising lava can break the rocks.
Destroyed rocks release hot red duckets that cool to blue over about three seconds.
Rocks on dry floating decks rise with their platforms.
Local multiplayer checks covered rock destruction, the cooling transition, collecting the drops and what a joining observer sees. The ducket visuals still use simple glowing geometry.
Not included in the public beta. This is a Development-build iteration of Cinder, with further visual and performance work to come.
Cinder explores a different kind of space game arena: scorched ground, lava rivers and floating volcanic islands lifted as molten lava fills the lowlands.
The latest material work breaks up the obvious repeating lava pattern with fractured crust and molten channels. Thermal vision now highlights the lava rivers, falling flows and rising flood, making the heat visible through the thermal view as well as normal vision.
This is still a developing world. Some terrain retains its procedural shapes, and the full environment needs more performance and playtesting work.
Not included in the public beta. Aerie and Ring World remain the two public beta maps. Cinder has no announced public release date.
This iteration brings Online Quick Match to our multiplayer space game. Choose Aerie or Ring World and Deathmatch or Battle Royale; the game finds a compatible room or hosts one for other players to join. Players no longer need to exchange IP addresses or forward ports for this mode.
Rooms match players by world, mode and game build.
Normal matches wait for two loaded human players. Solo Practice remains available separately.
Held weapons now follow the character’s local gravity frame on Ring World, including carry and reload presentation.
The first player’s PC hosts the match, and the room ends if that host leaves. Rooms are configured for up to eight players. Radio is not available in relay matches yet.
Verified with two game processes on one computer through the public relay. Independent-computer/network tests and eight-player capacity testing remain pending. Get the current beta and read its known issues.
The Moon Rock Duckets website beta opened with Aerie and Ring World: floating-island battles and a landscape that curves around you. This space game release also corrected Rejoin Same Host so it remembers the server’s port, including when returning after the host changes worlds.
The website launch brought the Windows download, verified-email Beta Key claims and installation instructions together. Beta access lasts 30 days from first activation, and the game checks access online at launch.
The published archive was downloaded again for an integrity check, and both game executables had valid timestamped signatures. Local checks covered activation, saved player names, hosting, joining and rejoining.
This is a historical release entry. Online Quick Match arrived in 0.2.9.15. A clean second-computer installation was not verified for 0.2.9.14. Use the beta page for the current download.
Playing the beta? Use the in-game feedback form to tell us what worked, what broke and what you would like to see next. For support, email Support@MoonRockDuckets.com.
