Universe Today
If, like me, you are a fan of first-person computer games and space exploration, you may be more than a little excited to hear about this news. A group of companies are currently working with NASA to create a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) based around the space agency's endeavours. They will use a game engine more familiar driving first-person shooters than online roleplay adventures; the tried and tested *Unreal Engine 3* technology.
The Internet has a growing number of vast space-based MMORPGs, but NASA is hoping to use one of the most advanced gaming engines to develop an engrossing first-person online adventure, where players can choose their own mission to explore space, interact with other players and build settlements on other worlds. All this will take place in a scientifically accurate vision of a near-future Universe in 2035...
"Players will pick a profession like a roboticist, space geologist, astrobiologist or mechanical engineer and work together as a team as they explore space and complete missions, establishing bases and outposts and traveling to the farthest reaches of the solar system*," explained Jerry Heneghan, founder and CEO of Virtual Heroes, one of the companies involved with developing the NASA MMORPG Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond*. "*The game will offer both individual challenges and team-based objectives to encourage players to use real-life applications of science, math and engineering to unlock new in-game vehicles, spacesuits, robotics and mining apparatus that will propel them further into space*."
MMORPGs are increasingly popular gaming platforms, where players can participate in seemingly boundless virtual universes. Popular examples of MMORPGs are World of Warcraft* (which dominates with a monthly subscriber base of 11.5 million people), Second Life*, EverQuest and space-based rollplayer games such as EVE Online* and Star Trek Online*.
Now NASA is hoping to create a very popular online gaming/educational experience that will not only entertain, but get young people interested in a career in science and engineering. What's more, it is hoped the game will incorporate the *Unreal Engine 3 Editor* so that players can design their own content, from spaceships and stations to mission profiles. The developers will also include scenarios, such as the threat of near-Earth asteroid impacts and other reality-based events as the online community develops. This will provide a problem-solving/adventure element, while keeping the science grounded in science fact.
See more screenshots from the game ยป
There are concerns that a NASA space reality* platform may not be very popular, as other in-space universes offer space fantasy*, with epic spaceship battles and alien encounters. Also, the technical detail in carrying out "mundane" astronaut tasks may be a turn-off; virtual universes depend on exploration rather than educational tasks. Hopefully NASA and MMORPG developers will strike a healthy balance between education and entertainment.
However, I'm very excited to see Astronaut appear online sometime next year.
Sources: Big Download, Softpedia
