The rest of the game doesn't stop. Drones,drills,plants, etc. etc. all continue on while you look at your items so air and food continue as usual as well.
If you need a break just hit the escape key and everything stops.

If I'm flying/falling and I open inventory, I freeze midair.

Perhaps I overgeneralized. If other stuff works, then it might be the issue of movement? Looks like it isn't supposed to stop if the rest of the game keeps going?

Well, if your'e flying or falling it's probably best if they freeze your character movement while your'e in your menus or you might be damaged while you have no control.
They do still show the health bars while you are in the menus to remind you that life goes on. :)

I disagree. The world (including me, my movement and my oxygen) either goes on when in inventory, or it stops. It's an inconsistent behavior.

Originally posted by My Little Omi:

I disagree. The world (including me, my movement and my oxygen) either goes on when in inventory, or it stops. It's an inconsistent behavior.

Well, whether you agree or not, that's just the way it is... and once you get to know the game, it is VERY consistent.

You have to stop flying to eat or drink, ditto checking your inventory, etc. Unless you are inside a habitat or your world has reached the 'breathable' stage, oxygen consumption goes on no matter what you are doing (or not doing).

Basically, you can only do one thing at a time - either you're checking your inventory, or you're eating or drinking or refilling your air. Can't do two things at the same time, it's one of those "that's just the way it is" things...

For all I know, it might be a unity thing... after all. computers don't multi-task any better than humans, they just do the linear stuff so fast it [looks[/i] like multi-tasking to us... even in games there's real-life constraints to deal with, after all! :-)

Originally posted by My Little Omi:

If I'm flying/falling and I open inventory, I freeze midair.

Perhaps I overgeneralized. If other stuff works, then it might be the issue of movement? Looks like it isn't supposed to stop if the rest of the game keeps going?

single player yes, you freeze. multiplayer you don't. not sure why it's different.

Originally posted by Meewec:

single player yes, you freeze. multiplayer you don't. not sure why it's different.

Seems like evidence it is intended ... it almost certainly took some effort to make it different.

Simplifies game play in single player while not making play stop for others in multiplayer. This seems like pretty good game design, even if it is "inconsistent" it gives what is probably the best play experience in each case.

Originally posted by Meewec:

single player yes, you freeze. multiplayer you don't. not sure why it's different.

I haven't played multiplayer yet but in single player, if I open my inventory while I'm flying, I drop to the ground - or into the water if I'm over water. Mind you, it used to be freeze, but that changed about a month or so ago, shortly after the moons update - for me, at least...

If I'm flying or hovering I just drop when I exit whatever menu.
Kinda gotten used to it and just double tap to keep right on going.
Happens mostly when I'm trying to get the right positions to build something.

Originally posted by prtmh:

Kinda gotten used to it and just double tap to keep right on going. (snip)

You, my friend, must be from the "just dill with it" generation. Have a pickle! (it's to celebrate, of course, eh? ;-D )

ESC will halt the game entirely.

If you're on a new planet or moon and you're having OXYGEN issues, just build the smallest building you can with a door and jump on. Create a series of these as you explore, and you'll never die of breathing. While you're moving around, make sure to grab enough ICE to create water. Most starting zones have tons of the material needed to create these basic buildings plus the unit that convert ICE to WATER.