GalaxyHack allows you to design a fleet of spaceships which can then be tested in AI script based battles against fleets designed by other players. Though battles take place in real time, the strategy comes before hand, both in writing short AI scripts in a simple scripting language, and also in the set up and selection of your fleet. You don't actually have any control over your units at all mid-battle, but rather use the time to see where the set up of your fleets is working, where your fleets' weaknesses lie and changes are needed, and perhaps also to learn from the strategy of your opponent.
The game revolves around very large capital ships, from which smaller ships are launched. To win a battle you must destroy of all of your opponent's capital ships before they destroy yours.
There can be hundreds of units in any one battle, but there is no harvesting, resource management or base building.
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There are three basic unit types: capital ships, frigates and small ships. All three are customisable with a small range of different weapons and technologies. Fleet selection and unit customisation are done using a windows-and-menus based editor. Each fleet has a points value, which is increased by adding or upgrading units.
You are able to save a fleet, along with a corresponding set of AI script selections.
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A "group" of units - consisting of up to three actual units - has an AI script attached to it. Scripts are written using a simple proprietary language. There are two generic types of weapons in the game: "small" and "big". "small" weapons are always fired automatically when there is an enemy within range, whilst "big" weapons are fired on the basis of AI script commands. The game translates the AI commands for a group into commands for each individual unit within that group.
AI scripts are written externally to the game using any program capable of editing text files.
The chief principle of GalaxyHack AI scripts is "If this then that else the other". For a more concrete example, here are two lines of code from an AI file:
if aenemy type == smallship health < 100
move nenemy type == smallship health < 100
Scripts also support:
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The game engine is a 2D affair, with ships and what have you shuffling about. It is fairly easy to create your own custom art for your units, should you so wish.
There are various basic graphical effects for firing weapons of various sorts, units being destroyed, etc.
The game features some music, but it does not have any sound effects.