Sponsored Feature: The making of Galaxy on Fire 2: Valkyrie HD on iOS and Android

The success of its intergalactic iOS and Android action-adventure Galaxy on Fire 2 encouraged German developer Fishlabs to design the hefty Valkyrie expansion pack for the game and to release a high-definition version of Galaxy on Fire 2 optimised for iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

There's no sign of Fishlabs slowing down on the Galaxy on Fire 2 upgrades front, though, as the team feverishly applies the finishing touches to Galaxy on Fire 2: Valkyrie HD.

In anticipation of this high-def version of the Valkyrie expansion, we've been rifling through the developer's diaries and rummaging through its notes to reveal the efforts that's gone into sprucing up Valkyrie.

The decision to re-engineer Galaxy on Fire 2's add-on in HD was taken as a result of positive feedback to the Galaxy on Fire 2 HD re-issue, which took advantage of the dual-core A5 chip found in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

Not content with simply sprucing up its existing Valkyrie assets, Fishlabs set about rebuilding every single one of the game's 3D models and textures from the ground up.

Take the S'Kanarr battleship, for example.

It took Fishlabs's art designers almost an entire week to build a new S'Knarr wireframe in 3DS Max 2012 and to add all-new ship design textures.

(Left: HD version, Right: SD version)

The images show a spaceship with four times the polygon and texture resolutions of the standard model.

Its weaponry looks more threatening, and its glowing green light extends to the ship's underside.

Hanging around

Another great example of Fishlabs's attention to detail can be found inside the hangar of the Deep Science Station.

Let's take a look.

These hangars were also redesigned from scratch, and the images speak for themselves.

The newest version of the hanger boasts more colour, improved lighting effects, and small details, all of which serve to make it a more convincing element in Valkyrie's vast universe.

Yet another exciting addition to the Valkyrie HD upgrade will be obvious every time you hit the 'Fire' button in battle.

Fishlabs's art department has added special effects and unique animations to the game's 50+ primary and secondary weapons: each one sports four times the polygon count and 32 times the texture resolution of the original Valkyrie expansion pack.

Furthermore, you won't fail to notice the difference between blasting an enemy craft with a Disruptor laser (or rattling holes into it using a Berger Flack 9-9 scattergun) in the re-engineered version of Valkyrie and performing the same action in the 'SD' edition.

However, what proved most challenging for Fishlabs's team of designers and programmers was the creation of the OpenGL shaders used to create the energy shields and cloaking devices that protect and disguise your vessel, as seen below.

Valkyrie HD's energy shield in action

Can you spot the ship?

As we've gone to great lengths to explain, Galaxy on Fire 2: Valkyrie HD is no quickie spit-and-polish job.

It's a restoration that's clearly a labour of love, and Fishlabs is eager to squeeze every ounce of power from Apple's dual-core A5 processor.

The result is a world that's more inviting; fleets of ships that are more detailed than before; and battles that are more exhilarating.

Galaxy on Fire 2: Valkyrie HD will be available on March 8th.