Thorium Nova Blog
An Update on the Roadmap
The completion of Thorium Nova is in sight... if you have really good vision.
May 14, 2026
Training Mode
Training mode pushes the state of the art by using timelines to add interactivity and understanding checks to crew members learning their stations
December 19, 2025
Damage Reports
Damage Reports have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with Thorium Nova.
October 23, 2025
The Legacy of Thorium
Thorium Nova branched out of Thorium Classic to create a new, modern architecture for simulated flights. It's time for Classic and Nova to rejoin.
September 4, 2025
Opportunities to Contribute
August 7, 2025
Thorium Nova's North Star
When designing Thorium Nova, these are the ideals, the North Stars, that guide our decisions.
July 10, 2025
Fixin' to Fix
Repairing ship systems in Thorium Nova will give crews more agency, give Flight Directors more power, and make the whole process more fun.
July 3, 2025
Everything is a Timeline
June 5, 2025
Alpha 19 - How do you think repairing the ship should work?
Alpha 19 is out, and a request for how repairs and damage control should work.
May 30, 2025
Alpha 18 - What does a flight director even do?
Flight Directors play an important role, right? But what is that role? How can the controls enable Flight directors do their job well?
May 8, 2025
Alpha 17 - Spaceships are back on the menu!
After a short delay, Thorium Nova alpha 17 is ready for you to play!
March 27, 2025
Alpha 17 postponed - For good reason
I'm pausing releasing alphas, but hopefully for a good reason. I've improved the app bundling process so it will be much better in the long run.
February 7, 2025
Alpha 16 - The one with Phasers
Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station.
October 24, 2024
Alpha 14 - Torpedos
Thorium Nova Alpha 14 is ready to go, with torpedos and more goodies
July 25, 2024
Happy Birthday, Thorium
Thorium's celebrating its 8th birthday. Thanks for being part of the journey with us.
June 27, 2024
Torpedos Go Boom
Torpedos are the primary way to damage ships. They work great at long-range, but it's possible for them to miss their targets.
May 30, 2024
Roll Call! Who's still got their eyes on Thorium Nova?
May 15, 2024
Fabricator - Making New Inventory
Oops. I might be adding crafting to Thorium Nova
May 2, 2024
Quick Thorium Nova Update - 2D Universe
Thorium Nova will be switching from a fully 3D universe to a 2.5D universe like many of its fellow bridge sims.
March 6, 2024
How to Write a Story
Thorium Nova takes everything great about Timelines and expands the vision to make them fully automated. Here's how it does it.
October 5, 2023
Reinventing the Universe
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.
July 19, 2023
Thorium Nova Alpha 11
Thorium Nova Alpha 11 is now available, with the new power grid implemented
April 27, 2023
The Power Grid
The power grid takes a classic fixture of spaceship controls and expands it for more realism and exciting play styles.
March 23, 2023
Welcome New Subscribers + Tutorials Discussion
March 8, 2023
Thorium Nova Alpha 10
This even-numbered Alpha release contains mostly bug fixes and enhancements.
February 23, 2023
Thorium Nova Alpha 9
Thorium Nova Alpha 9 delivers the beginnings of power grid simulation for ships.
February 8, 2023
Thorium Nova Alpha 8 - Bug Fixes
This latest alpha of Thorium Nova focuses on improving and streamlining the existing experience.
January 19, 2023
Thorium Nova Demo this Thursday
December 12, 2022
Thorium Nova Alpha 7 - The Big One
The latest alpha of Thorium Nova is the culmination of 7 months of work, and includes over 30 features and bug fixes.
December 8, 2022
The Future of Thorium Nova
November 28, 2022
Thorium Development Streams
I'll be streaming my work on Thorium Nova starting September 14
September 8, 2022
Update 39 - Ship Map for Cargo
A Thorium Nova first - the ship map is now working with cargo container management.
August 18, 2022
Next Meeting
July 6, 2022
Reports of my departure are greatly exaggerated
June 15, 2022
An Update
June 1, 2022
Update 38 - Alpha 6
A new alpha means new goodies!
May 5, 2022
Update 37 - Alpha 5
Alpha 5 is ready for testing.
April 20, 2022
Update 36 - A Call for Artists
Updates on development progress, and a call for artists.
April 7, 2022
Update 35 - Ship Systems & Ship Map
We're making progress on defining ship systems and building out the deck map.
March 17, 2022
Update 34 - Development Meetings
Join us for our regular Thorium Nova development meetings
February 24, 2022
Next Thorium Nova Meeting
January 6, 2022
Happy New Year + Thorium Nova Developer Meeting
December 31, 2021
Update 33 - A Christmas Miracle
December 23, 2021
Update 32 - Easier Development
December 8, 2021
Update 31 - Station Layouts
Progress continues on building the station layouts.
December 2, 2021
Thorium Nova - Future Meetings
November 19, 2021
Update 30 - Flight Director Controls
Progress continues on discussions, including Flight Director controls and ship classifications. Also, there's a path to releasing the first alpha version.
November 4, 2021
Flight Director Controls
How can we give Flight Directors godlike powers while keeping their controls simple and approachable for beginners?
November 3, 2021
Thorium Nova - Flight Director Meeting
October 28, 2021
Thorium Nova - Weekly Update & Meeting Invitation
October 14, 2021
Update 29 - Preliminary Discussions
Not a lot of code is being written, but there are many important discussions happening behind the scenes.
October 14, 2021
Thorium Contributor Kickoff Report
With a successful kickoff, the Thorium Nova open source project is now fully operational.
October 7, 2021
Contributor Kickoff Reminder
October 4, 2021
Contributor Kickoff Meeting Link
October 1, 2021
Contributing to Thorium Nova
So, you want to contribute to Thorium Nova? Here's where to start.
September 30, 2021
Musical Themes
Music is such an important part of every bridge simulation experience. That's why Thorium Nova will make it easy to play the right song at the right time.
July 8, 2021
Distributing Power
Power distribution in Thorium Nova is going to look a lot different - and more like real-life power systems!
February 26, 2021
Update 28 - A Zap of Inspiration
Adding search to navigation made me realize I need to change my focus.
February 25, 2021
Update 27 - I would like to speak to your manager!
An update on the new issue tracker.
February 24, 2021
Update 26 - A Little Diversion
Progress on the controls has slowed, as the new ThoriumSim.com has taken my attention.
February 17, 2021
Autopilot
How will autopilot work in Thorium Nova?
February 11, 2021
Update 25 - We'll get there when we get there!
Transitioning between interstellar space and systems is now working.
February 10, 2021
Answers to Sundry Questions
Answers to several questions I've received over the past few weeks.
February 4, 2021
Update 24 - Which way do we go?
You can lock in a course, which means travel to solar systems is now possible.
February 3, 2021
Update 23 - We Go Fast now
We can now navigate to locations in interstellar space.
January 27, 2021
Update 22 - Navigation
The Navigation screen allows the crew to create waypoints which they can use to set course.
January 20, 2021
Stormfront - Part 2
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. How will the crew get out of this mess?
December 18, 2020
Update 21 - More Flight Control
The Flight Control station gets even more updates, with thruster and impulse engine control.
December 17, 2020
Stormfront - Part 1
The crew is assigned to provide security during diplomatic negotiations. What could possibly go wrong?
December 16, 2020
Update 20 - Flight Control
Progress begins on the flight control station, including a built-in sensor grid, a significant departure from Thorium Classic.
December 15, 2020
Stormfront - Briefing
We'll take a look at what makes a great mission briefing by exploring one of the missions Alex wrote.
December 9, 2020
Update 19 - Flights and Themes
Station complement generation, flight assignment, and theme creation
December 8, 2020
Update 18 - Quick Start Flights
Work on speedy flight creation
November 25, 2020
Mad Libs
Working on a seemingly simple feature has raised questions about what features are really necessary in Thorium Nova.
November 18, 2020
Update 17 - Spawning Ships
Spawning new ships from the Flight Director core.
November 17, 2020
The Flight Director Star Map
Flight Directors should have a seamless, intuitive experience as they orchestrate ship movements through their star map core.
November 11, 2020
Update 16 - Map Updates
Zoom and drag select added to the Flight Director map
November 10, 2020
The Emotional Investment Of Spaceship Simulations
There are many interactive experiences which might be enjoyable, but none match the immersion that comes from a fully invested crew in a spaceship bridge simulation.
November 4, 2020
Update 15 - The Flight Director Map
Work has begun on the overhead Flight Director map
November 3, 2020
Interview With A Flight Director - Natalie Anderson
This flight director has an appreciation
October 28, 2020
Update 14 - 3D Viewscreen and Auto-rotate
The 3D viewscreen is populated with planets and ships, and the ships can rotate to specific points in space.
October 27, 2020
The Roadmap
Thorium Nova is taking bridge simulation far beyond just flying through space.
October 21, 2020
Update 13 - New Flights and PID
Autopilot and starting a new flight.
October 20, 2020
How Do We Stop This Thing
It's one thing to make a ship go; it's an entirely different thing to slow it down.
October 14, 2020
Update 12 - Slowing Down the Ship
Slowing down and stopping.
October 13, 2020
What Happens Outside the Simulators
Making a good experience for crews and Flight Directors alike takes more than just fancy spaceship simulator controls.
October 7, 2020
Update 11 - Engines Simulations
More work on the underlying simulations
October 6, 2020
All About Networking
How do computers talk to each other in multiplayer video games? And how does it work over the internet?
September 30, 2020
Update 10 - Outfits Config
A quick look at the outfits config.
September 29, 2020
Distances, Engines, and Speeds
Distances and speeds worked in Thorium required making some nuanced decisions.
September 23, 2020
Update 9 - Starmap Systems
A short update, but work progresses.
September 22, 2020
Plugins - How to Configure Thorium Nova
If story is what makes Thorium Nova special, the background and setting have to be carefully considered.
September 16, 2020
Update 8 - Backend updates and More Stars
While I've been doing some work on the backend of Thorium Nova, I wanted to see what would happen if I added a bunch of stars.
September 15, 2020
Thorium Nova's Lore
If story is what makes Thorium Nova special, the background and setting have to be carefully considered.
September 9, 2020
Update 7 - Moons, Measurements, and Search
Finished up preliminary work on the starmap.
September 8, 2020
What's staying from Thorium Classic?
Thorium Classic has a lot to offer to the new ways Thorium Nova works.
September 2, 2020
Update 6 - Planets and Nebulas
Details on planets in the starmap and nebula backgrounds.
September 1, 2020
The Starmap
The starmap is the centerpiece of Thorium Nova and opens up infinite possibilities.
August 26, 2020
Update 5 - Stars and Planets
Details on planets in the starmap as well assorted answers.
August 25, 2020
Bridge Simulators and Education
Bridge simulators can play a unique role in teaching STEM principles to crews.
August 19, 2020
Update 4 - System Creation
How systems are created, along with a helper in case you get lost.
August 18, 2020
What is a Flight Director?
Storyteller, elite technician, DJ with a god complex - that's what makes a Flight Director
August 12, 2020
Update 3 - Starmap Foundation
This week saw the creation of some foundational aspects of the Starmap
August 11, 2020
What is a Bridge Simulator?
Bridge Simulators are dynamic group games where players take the roles of a starship bridge crew.
August 6, 2020
Update 2 - Foundational Aspects
This week was dedicated to foundational parts of Thorium, like internationalization and automated tests.
August 5, 2020
Update 1 - Concepts
New simulator controls with a new audience require a reimagining of some core concepts.
July 29, 2020
Announcing Thorium Nova
Thorium Nova is bridge simulator software reimagined, combining action and narrative for a truly exciting experience.
July 21, 2020