[NASA MMO] the space sans pewpew

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

The sun will be littered with corpses.

[redjunkopera]

On a serious note I wish they would come up with a realistic sandbox type near-space colonization MMO.

Make the celestial bodies have approximately the correct compositions and conditions.

Make it so people can create things out of the materials at hand to handle food production, radiation shielding, water recycling, etc. Throw out random catastrophy scenarios so people can adjust their strategies to account for them. Sort of like sim-space colonization where the players get to make the game up as they go.

You'd have to have some knowledge about engineering to play, or they'd have to have like a staff of engineers approve realistic designs for things. I'd definitely play too much.

[Zodiac]

Originally Posted by Cybsled

NASA MMO Patch Notes 1.00213

Awesome.

[Agraza]

Somehow I missed this. Well I just read about it on Penny Arcade.

Originally Posted by Tycho

You might have heard that NASA was trying to gin up an MMO. We just received a mail from a human being involved in the project, someone who wants to make sure they collect the best ideas from the best people. Naturally, she thought of the readership here. Her mail follows:

Oh, but darling: you had us at immersive synthetic environments.

(CW)TB

[xmod2]

Originally Posted by Istros

Nasa already has a presence in the 3D virtual universe. The agency owns an island in Second Life where individuals and groups with an interest in the space programme can meet, share ideas and conduct experiments.

Just what we need. Furries in space.

[dak]

How would higher standards for Math and Science make kids any more interested in it?

Because having a working knowledge in math/science is where humanity derives its power and is as close as we can get to "magic". If we taught our kids right they would realize this and go nuts over it.

Kids go crazy over video games, card games, toys and sports because it gives them the illusion of control over their domain. Teach them some applicable science/math and they will realize perusing it further will give them REAL control over their domain.

[Ardbeg of AB]

General chat: "Looking for a min lvl 50 crane arm operator for daily shuttle mission"


I bet there is alot of space geeks out there that would be interested in this if it was free. Hell I even saw a segment on TV about aviation nerds that did real time simulated cross atlantic flights, where some where pilots and others aviation controllers.

[Ukerric]

Originally Posted by Ardbeg of AB

I bet there is alot of space geeks out there that would be interested in this if it was free. Hell I even saw a segment on TV about aviation nerds that did real time simulated cross atlantic flights, where some where pilots and others aviation controllers.

Some flightsim "cockpits" approach the level of complexity of the real thing. All you need is the will to sacrifice part of a room - because it's not going to be used for anything else. Ever.

But yes. If you want a MMO (not a MMORPG, notice) to push general awareness of NASA, the way to go is to make it a browser-based game.

[Ukerric]

Originally Posted by Usha Starchild

I've talked about education in gaming before and I still believe it could work. I don't think this would be marketed as a game, probbaly more along the lines of a MMO application. It would be government funded and probably not be looking to make a profit.

Thread necoromancy!

The newest RFP (Request for proposal) for the game is up at http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/MMO/MMO_RFP.pdf and it clarifies a bit things:

1) Nobody is going to fund your game (see point 8 in the document). Say goodbye, Usha

2) In exchange for absolute overseeing power, we guarantee you... access to our in-house experts and "maybe" some product placement (your logo appearing once a year on the nasa web site to celebrate the Nth anniversary of the program, maybe?)

3) Not only are you going to fund it on your own, and find something to pay, but your MMO must be used by educators and the like as a school tool - along with a form of scoring... ahem, "measuring the learning" of children (not included in the RFP are bits where the NASA will make you in touch with some educational organisation, who, presumably, is going to be your primary client to push this to unsuspecting children).


Overall, NASA doesn't want the next generation realistic EvE Online. NASA wants the successor to those morning schoolroom educational tapes - but with Web 2.0 to promote inter-class emulation. Or something.

[Gecko]

Since I'm bored and need to quit discussing AOC, an NASA MMO is easy.

Your player characters all start out like this:




Make this guy the first boss