There is no in game tutorial or set of instructions! Help! How do I play?

Click and hold down the RMB (right mouse button) to look around. Use ASDW Lft-ctrl and spacebar for classic flying around game movement. Hover over buttons in the interface (click the expander arrows for more) for tool tips.

Mobe can be disorienting at first, especially if you start in the empty void of space. Treat it like a blank page and create some motes, or use the dashboard menu (pink three dash button upper right of screen) "Notable Activity" tab to find top motes in the galaxy and teleport to them. Within that tab, during early access, look for some large motes we have created that discuss the game. In that region of space we will create more motes that tell you how to play, and you can create motes of your own to ask as questions and provide feedback. We will find them, and respond.

We will have more in game help and tutorials after Early Access. In the meantime, please see the video on the Epic Store page, and other videos posted on our X page (also linked from the store and our website).

You may start in the empty void of space, or only near a few motes to begin, until more players come online. This can be disorienting. Try creating a level 1 mote immediately to help you orient.

Wait, is it a game or an app?

We suspect gamers may view it as an app, and social media users will insist it is a game. It is the exploration and exchange of knowledge, ideas, and conversation, in space.

However, there is much more to it. Energy is a key element. It helps you level up. It helps you gain some new abilities. Mote destructibility is a key idea that social media does not have: groups of players (it MUST be several different in-game characters owned by different players) can trigger a "mote destruction" under certain challenging conditions.

This will evolve as well into what we call "editability". When discussing great ideas, consensus does not rule, but it can have influence, within certain sectors, under certain rules, especially during "arena style" debate.

In short, all gameplay elements and mechanics are designed around the concept of a great, ongoing, unfolding human conversation in the limitless realm of 3d space.

Unlike many games, your character cannot be destroyed or "die." Unless you achieve max level and enter a specific arena in which you and all other players have chosen character destructibility.

If you set your own mote to be non-destructible (and later on non-editable), then nobody can harm it or alter it, not even a large group. However, if a mote or a beam does not receive "new" energy over time, it will eventually lose all of its existing energy. Energy drain exists, and soon it will be changeable, per sector. Highly advanced players with a great deal of energy may wish to engage in advanced debate scenarios where victory can double their energy, and defeat can leave them limping out of the high-drain region.

We believe Mobe might be a third thing that is both game and app, and neither. But it certainly has 3d space flight and many game mechanics. This is one reason we emphasize that nobody will be able to buy energy. The only differentiation between subscription tiers once they go live will be decisions based on our own expense, time, and effort. Things like personal save journals of all motes, as well as the ability to make motes from note apps, or personal space sectors where you set all of your own rules and can cultivate all of your own idea starmaps, will be on paid subscription tiers. But no player will gain an unfair energy or other gameplay advantage over other players by spending money.

What is included in Early Access?

Complete, free access to all current game features, for a limited period of time (at least 7 days, probably more like a month or two). Users can create unlimited motes and beams in game unless they run out of energy. We never charge for energy. Players receive 2000 units of Be (Base Energy) to start and 2000 units per day thereafter. Level 1 motes and beams cost 5 units to create/cast. (hard to run out of energy) **NOTE, after you complete initial sign-up/sign-in you will immediately receive an email letting you know your 7-day free trial has commenced ... you can ignore the 7-day window during this Early Access phase. You will not be billed, nagged, or spammed with any further emails. That is just a standard confirmation email and test of our sign up system.

What is the current state of the product?

Ready for public testing and "pre-launch" release. Much art is not final, but Mobe is designed for constantly improving art through the foreseeable future. All core functionality is in but being refined. Several features are either coming during this early access stage or shortly after launch (e.g. advanced mote group editing, advanced mote destructibility, mote local saves, map sector saves). Destructibility and group editing are only on if the player character casting the mote sets it to be so.

Will I have access to the product during the entire Early Access phase?

Yes. The Early Access phase may last a week or two or a month or two, depending upon the stresses put on game servers and the costs we incur in handling constant uptime. Our best guess is that early access will last six weeks to two months with unlimited free play and all live features (no subscription tier separation of features). When we do go live, all determinations about separation of subscription tiers will be based on how much it costs us to provide. But no player will be at an "energy disadvantage" whether they play for free, or on a subscription plan after early access. Meaning energy is not purchasable, and there are no in-game purchases. Subscription tiers only, after early access.

How long will the product be in Early Access?

Our best guess is 6 to 8 weeks. Possibly significantly longer depending upon unanticipated bugs or performance upgrades to be ready for full live global launch. However, if costs spike during early access, we may be forced to limit the time we maintain full, free service for early access users. Meaning, we may either end Early Access sooner than anticipated or require users to pick a subscription tier. There are circumstances under which we will be able to create a permanent free tier, which we are working to achieve, but do not know yet if we can.

How often will you update the product?

Constantly. Not only will mote destructibility and editability lead to more subtle and advanced gameplay features that can only be fully created based upon a large number of players interacting, but certain features also have, effectively, unlimited possibilities. For example, physics based spatial relationships between motes determined by energy types. In other words, "negative" and "positive" reactions, and their broad categories of "emotion" and "logic", as well as "general" and "specific", have an effect on the way motes, beams, and even characters appear in game, and have an effect on the objects around them. Unreal Engine Niagara Systems mean a level of fine-tuning visual cues for these properties that can advance and evolve on all existing hardware platforms and improve through time as platform performance improves. Mobe was designed specifically to never stop improving.

Is my progress saved between updates?

Yes. Mobe has persistent qualities and what we call a "quasi MMO" environment that will be advancing toward a more full fledged MMO solar system. For example, within the first year of launch, premium tier subscribers will have their own sector of space, where they can set rules, build solo mote and beam "starmaps of ideas", or host public arena-style debates over great ideas (or not-so-great ones).

So, "progress", is measured in current energy and lifetime energy. Energy is distributed by beams. When players cast beams among motes and other beams. the players who created a mote or cast a beam received a portion of that new energy. Every mote, beam, and character track lifetime energy received across all categories. This is saved persistently in our servers upon every single energy event in the game. Player characters level up based on energy received, and their ship's visual appearance shows cues of types of energy present. Players can create or delete multiple characters.

Will the price change when it leaves Early Access?

Almost certainly. While we hope to offer a permanent free tier, we may have to go with solely a regular and premium monthly or annual subscription. In fact, anyone who wishes to support Mobe and increase our ability to offer a free tier will be able to sign up for a subscription right now. However, during Early Access, no subscription will be required.

No matter what tier a player is on, no player will receive any "Energy Bonus". Features differentiating tiers will be based on the time, effort, and expense involved in providing them. All players receive the same exact amount of energy to start, and every day thereafter, on the same schedule.

Why did I receive an email that said my free trial was expiring in 7 days?

As mentioned in a previous answer, during this early access period you can disregard that message. It may change, especially if we are able to offer a free tier, but for now it is our test email for new sign-ups only. Don't worry, we won't send out nags or spam you, at all, and the 7 day deadline does not exist at least until after this Early Access period is ended.

Can I provide feedback and bug reports?

Yes, and they are most welcome. In fact, during Early Access, any and every player who participates significantly, including through providing feedback and bug reports, will receive a free lifetime subscription to Mobe.

*Note: this is not included within this early access offer. Our team will determine which players during this pre-launch phase have participated and provided feedback to warrant a free lifetime subscription in their sole discretion.

The best way to provide feedback is in-game using motes. We will of course pay particular attention to motes that receive a lot of beams from different players.

We also respond to our email ([email protected]) or our X page, linked within our store pages and on our website. Please follow us on X and "at" us with feedback, questions, or game specific discussion. DMs from verified users will be welcome as well.