Soon players can control a virtual space program from the Cold War right to the Mars Landing.
Buzz Aldrin is one of those figures who will rarely need any introduction. Although well-versed in mechanical engineering and fighter jets, Aldrin is more widely recognized as an astronaut and the second man to set foot on the moon. Now Aldrin is trying his hand at videogame consultation of all things, bringing his name and expertise to Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager. Set to launch this summer, the game will simulate the inner-workings of an entire space agency, all of which which the player is responsible for developing.
Space Program Manager puts you in charge of a fledgling space agency seeking to start a manned exploration program. Starting from the 1950s onward, the player is responsible for developing the facilities, personnel, and research initiatives that will one day allow humanity to takes its place among the stars. Aldrin is consulting with developer Matrix Games to ensure the title's accuracy and authenticity, presumably from a historical and scientific perspective.
The Director's career isn't quite as glamorous as we may imagine an astronaut's to be, but its bureaucratic details are ones that NASA administrators address on a daily basis. Space Program Manager's sandbox mode will let you leisurely manage your agency and its finances, while the campaign mode introduces short-term political goals that must be met to keep your job. Both modes will also simulate historical NASA missions, including many that never launched or were halted during the planning stages. A total of three episodes are planned, starting with Road to the Moon this summer and culminating in a player-orchestrated mission to Mars.
The finished game runs the risk of being an overly technical space sim, but in terms of representing how agencies like NASA operate, Space Program Manager could be highly effective. Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager is set to launch on June 15, 2013 for PC, Mac, and iPad platforms.
interesting, if i hear good stuff, just might have to get it.
could easily see this becoming a requirement for space based classes to use as a tool (not astronomy, but any high level mechanical engineering or aeronautical type class perhaps.)
if you cant wait for it, you should probably support the game that this game is trying to copy:
Kerbal Space Program
Kerbal Space Program (commonly abbreviated as KSP) is a beta-stage sandbox-style space flight simulator game, currently in development for Windows and Mac OS X. Players assume the role of commanding many aspects of the Kerbal space agency including mission planning, rocket design, and space navigation and piloting. Kerbal Space Program supports game mods and currently has an active modding community.
ccording to the game's website, several features are planned for KSP in the future:[6] Space program economic management, with the 1993 space simulation game Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space as an acknowledged inspiration[citation needed] Weather systems Research and development Astronaut complex Interstellar travel Additional planets Discovery of other planets and solar systems Solar flares/radiation and other dangers Transferring game over to Unity 4 Engine The game is currently in the alpha stage of development, with the current software being only a very small approximation of the final product. The current game can be purchased through the developer's 'Kerbal Space Program Store' at a cost of US $23.00. Version 0.13 will remain free as a demo, and will never be updated.
MetalGenocide: If it's anything like this, then I'm aeiou.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Mars: Now with 100% more
Spoiler: Click to ViewPHA+PGltZyBzcmM9Imh0dHA6Ly9pMTIyMy5waG90b2J1Y2tldC5jb20vYWxidW1zL2RkNTA5L1F1aWNrREVNT0wxU0hFUi9Bc3Ryb25hdXRfb3Zlcl9FYXJ0aF9ieV9CdWJpTWFuZHJpbC5qcGciIGFsdD0iaW1hZ2UiLz48L3A+
RhombusHatesYou: There better be a minigame with Buzz Aldrin punching moon landing deniers
Agreed.
On topic, I'd buy something like this if they make it interesting and actually do a good job of weaving the history into the game. I've not played too many educational games that were very good, but the good ones I have played I really enjoyed.
Listen, I love KSP as much as the next guy, but by the sound of this, Space Manager will be more focused on the economic/political details, while KSP is more focused on the actual details of space flight.
I'm Ignacio, the Lead Developer behind Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager. It's good to see an overall positive reaction to this project. The game started as a solo project back in 2007 and I never imagined it would get this far, less alone that I would met Dr. Aldrin in person because of it! If you liked the original Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space, I'm sure you'll love Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager as well :)
THANK YOU! I Was coming here specifically to post that exact thing. I loved that game so much as a kid so It'll be oool to see it updated and expanded, which honestly is all it looks like and all I want!
BaronUberstein: I already have Kerbal Space Program. What makes this different or better?
To be honest, I haven't player Kerbal Space Program myself but, from what I could see on their webpage, it seems that the focus on KSP is on actually building and flying ships whereas on Space Program Manager the focus is on the management of the space agency itself (e.g., opening programs, recruiting and managing personnel, allocating R&D efforts, scheduling and launching missions, sticking to deadlines imposed by the nations that own the space agency, etc). We also try to be heavy on the educational aspect, so you'll get lots of historical facts that put the missions and programs featured in the game in a historical context (but without turning it into "edutainment").
All in all, if you played BARIS and would like to play an HD version of it featuring more breadth and depth of programs, then you'll definitely need to check out Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager when it gets released!
MrMan999: Lets hope they don't put multiplayer or text-to-speech in it. Lest we have another Moonbase Alpha.
Don't worry, we're not planning to include any of those features!
BaronUberstein: I already have Kerbal Space Program. What makes this different or better?
To be honest, I haven't player Kerbal Space Program myself but, from what I could see on their webpage, it seems that the focus on KSP is on actually building and flying ships whereas on Space Program Manager the focus is on the management of the space agency itself (e.g., opening programs, recruiting and managing personnel, allocating R&D efforts, scheduling and launching missions, sticking to deadlines imposed by the nations that own the space agency, etc). We also try to be heavy on the educational aspect, so you'll get lots of historical facts that put the missions and programs featured in the game in a historical context (but without turning it into "edutainment").
All in all, if you played BARIS and would like to play an HD version of it featuring more breadth and depth of programs, then you'll definitely need to check out Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager when it gets released!
MrMan999: Lets hope they don't put multiplayer or text-to-speech in it. Lest we have another Moonbase Alpha.
Don't worry, we're not planning to include any of those features!
Ah, okay. Well, glad it's differentiating itself, though I'll admit that a management simulator doesn't sound like my kind of game. <_<
EDIT: I realize my comment makes me sound like an arse!
To clarify, I hope this game does well, and anything that gets more people to support space travel is something I support. :D
Buzz Aldrin Approves a Space Agency Videogame
Soon players can control a virtual space program from the Cold War right to the Mars Landing.
Buzz Aldrin is one of those figures who will rarely need any introduction. Although well-versed in mechanical engineering and fighter jets, Aldrin is more widely recognized as an astronaut and the second man to set foot on the moon. Now Aldrin is trying his hand at videogame consultation of all things, bringing his name and expertise to Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager. Set to launch this summer, the game will simulate the inner-workings of an entire space agency, all of which which the player is responsible for developing.
Space Program Manager puts you in charge of a fledgling space agency seeking to start a manned exploration program. Starting from the 1950s onward, the player is responsible for developing the facilities, personnel, and research initiatives that will one day allow humanity to takes its place among the stars. Aldrin is consulting with developer Matrix Games to ensure the title's accuracy and authenticity, presumably from a historical and scientific perspective.
The Director's career isn't quite as glamorous as we may imagine an astronaut's to be, but its bureaucratic details are ones that NASA administrators address on a daily basis. Space Program Manager's sandbox mode will let you leisurely manage your agency and its finances, while the campaign mode introduces short-term political goals that must be met to keep your job. Both modes will also simulate historical NASA missions, including many that never launched or were halted during the planning stages. A total of three episodes are planned, starting with Road to the Moon this summer and culminating in a player-orchestrated mission to Mars.
The finished game runs the risk of being an overly technical space sim, but in terms of representing how agencies like NASA operate, Space Program Manager could be highly effective. Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager is set to launch on June 15, 2013 for PC, Mac, and iPad platforms.
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