An Early Look at the NASA MMO

Big Download is running an article with details and screenshots from the MMO under development by NASA. The game makes use of Unreal Engine 3, and it's titled Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond. A demo is planned for later this year, and in 2010 they expect "the first episodic installment of the game" to come out. Jerry Heneghan, founder and CEO of Virtual Heroes, described it thus: "This game is going to be a fresh look at the future circa about 2035. ... The core of the gameplay is going to be people building up their characters and as you move forward, you will have more options unlock with new places to go, new equipment to use and new things to do. We are not so much focused on interstellar flight and all that entails... the gameplay is actually about being in a habitat on a planetary surface and doing things like mining Helium-3 for fuel, operating a hydroponics facility to grow plants and create oxygen and operating robots and vehicles."

And when I think of NASA...

[AliasMarlowe]

I think of zero-g frolics, optionally involving aliens. If they make their MMO right, we can look forward to some interesting add-in modules...

Re:2035?

[GrpA]

2035, US budget cutbacks, shuttle still in use...

Sounds like they've brought in experts to make their new game seem plausible :)

GrpA

Re:A game?

[Yvanhoe]

Mars Rovers were in fact a secret plane to create a massive FPS arena. The next batch will be able to fire rockets. The 40 mins lag is a bitch however.
Seriously, the rovers did no serious science (yes I saw the article about drops, they see a drop they are unsure of what it is. Genius) and were just PR toys. All real science was made from orbit where satellites did stuff like map the entire planet for underground stocks of water (and found plenty)

Re:Final Oblivion Mooncraft Fantasy!

[cyp43r]

"Houston - we have a problem." "Aight, I put on my robe and wizard hat."

Grinding

[A. B3ttik]

The first portion of the game will have you fighting Level 1 Obsolete Satellites, and it'll take about 70 of them to level the first few levels. You'll have missions to destroy tiny asteroids, maybe fix some GPS Satellites, or possibly collect a dozen 'Unique Space Debris' and bring them back to the Hubble Telescope.

But by the end of the game, there will be large 40-man Raids scouring the Martian valleys, fighting Dust Golems and Communist Colonists, the final boss of which will be the long-missing rogue Mutated Mars Rover.

WHat? No PVP?

[aapold]

How else are we supposed to keep the moon clear of moondust farmers?

Helium-3 for $$$

[bluphysted]

It won't take long for the Chinese Helium-3 farmers to ruin the economy.

Re:A game?

[Anonymous Coward]

Just got your first telescope? If you want to give NASA lessons how to study Mars they might need you.

Re:A game?

[that this is not und]

In the Government version of SimFarm, you don't even get out of the chair at your PC. The whole Sim involves filing for subsidies, and email exchanges with USDA clerks. There is a section with a simulation of a tractor, but you just go out there once in a spell and blow the dust off it before returning to your desktop to answer another query from the subsidy payout clerk at USDA.

Re:A game?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but some of us have been waiting for another SimFarm. If I have to use your tax dollars to get it, I'm willing to let you make that sacrifice for me.

Re:A game?

[M1rth]

Except neil armstrong would not step onto the moon and then start spamming the chat channels with "HOW I MINE FOR FISH? HOW I MINE FOR FISH?"

Re:A game?

[Felix Da Rat]

Shhhhhhh!!!

I was planing on pitching 'Kingdom of the Colonel: Quest for the 11 Herbs and Spices' to KFC.

Re:A game?

[oldspewey]

It's pitch black. You are likely to be seasoned by a Grue ...

Re:A game?

[gad_zuki!]

"Tesla" MMOs in the future?

You are a long-haired early 1990s rocker standing in studio. What do you want to do?

> sing signs

You are now singing a protest song about trespassing and signage. Stupid people think its "deep."