Craptorio - a Factorio de-make for the TIC80 console (WIP)

[archaicvirus]

Hello fellow Factorio fans!

I am thrilled to announce a tribute project I've been laboring on for our beloved Factorio community: Craptorio. It's a unique de-make, crafted on the TIC80 fantasy console. Here's a twist: instead of a human engineer, you'll be stepping into the metal casing of a rogue logistics robot, affectionately known as F.A.R.T. - the Factory Autonomous Resource Transporter, cheekily dubbed F4RT-3R by factory engineers, due to intermittent sputtering from a damaged propulsion module.

The items in Craptorio are displayed as 'little chips' - 3x3-pixel sprites conveyed via everyone's favorite trasport-belt. There are also 8x8-pixel versions of items for display in inventory, crafting menu's, etc.

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Craptorio distills Factorio's intricate complexity into the TIC80's charming 8-bit environment, while preserving the core essence that we all love - the relentless pursuit of factory expansion. The project is a passion-driven work-in-progress and will be free-to-play, with the aim of adding another flavor to our shared appreciation of Factorio, and to attract more potential engineers to play the masterpiece Factorio! I can't wait to share more updates soon, but for now, remember, as always, The factory must grow!

https://github.com/archaicvirus/Craptorio - for weekly progress updates

Please feel free to give feedback, suggestions or questions!

You can also find me in the TIC80 discord, under the #wip-projects>Craptorio thread, where I post daily updates.

*This is not affiliated with Wube, just a personal hobby/passion project for funzies, from a big fan!

[Sanqui]

Ever since glex revealed to me he had a MSX microcomputer as a kid I've been ruminating about how a demake of Factorio for an 8-bit platform could look and work. While the TIC-80 is considerably more powerful (and practical), it's still very close to the kind of stuff I was imagining. Well done making everything fit, you're right that the transport belts are the most crucial, I honestly questioned if 8x8 belts can even work, but your solution is effective though it can probably get hard to tell what's on a belt (since you have a cursor, I wonder if a little pop-up on hover with the higher res icon would be a quick and easy solution for that). Eager to read about more updates!

[archaicvirus]

Thank you for your kind words! The belt-hover-widget is a great idea, I'll have to whip something up for that! Also, thank you for taking the time to read the info there! There's so much to talk about, all the optimization (and still to come) tricks and what have you, I will have to do a nice write up on the development process eventually. Although it is nowhere near as complex and awesome as Factorio, I learn a lot from paying close attention to FFF's and the generous details they share. I will be sure to update the thread at the next milestone! Thanks again

[Amarula]

This looks like it is going to be a lot of fun! Looking forward to seeing progress.

[archaicvirus]

CFF #1 - Craptorio Friday Facts

Hello Fellow Factorians!!!

Welcome to the first edition of Craptorio Friday Facts (CFF#1), where I share the latest updates and thought processes behind Craptorio's development. Let's dive into what's new in the world of our friendly robot F4RT-3R!

1. Updated UI
First on the list is the UI. Aiming for consistency and ease of use, the interface has been revamped. I wanted to make sure that players can navigate and interact seamlessly with the game, without breaking immersion. This update also lays the groundwork for future features, as well as unifies the look of the ui. (Still a wip)



2. Assembly Machine
The latest addition to the roster is the Assembly Machine. It's still being fine-tuned, but the mechanics are mostly complete. A few recipes have been implemented to test the functionality, however items are undergoing a major change.





3. Adjusted Color Palette
To enhance the 8-bit aesthetic and gameplay clarity, the color palette has been adjusted to a curated set of 16 colors. This not only helps Craptorio stand out on the TIC80 platform, but also maintains a visual coherence throughout the game. This will likely continue to be tuned over time.

4. Hover Widgets for Transport Belts
The hover widgets for transport belts are a work-in-progress. Once finished, they will provide useful information to help manage your transport belts more efficiently, and provide a larger view to better distinguish their conveyances. It's all about keeping the factory humming!



5. Incorporating Biology in the Next Update

I'm excited to propose an upcoming major change - the incorporation of biology into the gameplay. Instead of simply porting over standard Factorio items, research, and production methods, I've decided to chart a new path for Craptorio.

The goal is to give Craptorio its own identity while preserving the core elements that make Factorio so enjoyable. This means familiar factory building blocks like the inserter, assembly machine, transport belts, underground belts, and splitters will still be at the heart of gameplay.

However, I'm introducing a new set of items, recipes, ores, and production methods grounded in the theme of biology. A whole new path of research and tech will become available, allowing you to experiment with different strategies, add more diversity to your factories, and enjoy a fresh twist to the familiar mechanics.

This feature is not just about diversifying the game but also about adding depth, challenge, and a new layer of immersion. I can't wait to share more details in the upcoming weeks!

Your feedback, as always, is more than welcome. Stay tuned for more exciting news, and remember, the factory must grow!

~ArchaicVirus