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Released: June 24, 2011
Publisher: Squad
Developer: Squad
Developer: Squad
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Type: Space Flight Simulator
Graphics: Narly
Game Play: Narly
Originality: Narly
How many hours I’ve wasted: Narly
Kerbal Space Program is an exciting and relatively new game I've been introduced to*. While it's not on my list of all time favourite games yet, it may very well soon be as I'm currently devoting most of my waking hours to it. On that basis, it has been added to my girlfriends list of least favourite games of all time.
Kerbal Space Program is a sandbox type game, which means there are no predefined goals and you can build and do pretty much whatever you want within the parameters of the game (Minecraft being another example of this). I enjoy these games because of the creativity they allow... it's like Lego, but for adults with a lot more flexibility and you don't have to worry about running out of pieces (or running out of cash buying pieces).
Gameplay
As the name suggests, the player takes controls of the Kerbal Space Program (Kerbals are a race of rather stupid, but very courageous little green dudes) who are just desperate to get to space. At the Kerbal Space Centre (KSC - nice touch**) you assemble rockets to blast our little green kerbalnauts (or unmanned probes) into space where you struggle (initially) to build systems that actually make it into orbit, rather than smearing our little friends all over the launch pad.
Later, as you refine your rocket building technique, you can land and explore the Mun (the planet Kerbin's primary moon) and various other planets and moons throughout the solar system as well as construct bases and space stations.
You can also build spaceplanes and track your ongoing missions from the control centre.
Of course, much of the fun is launching our kerbalnauts on horribly unstable rockets and watching them scream in terror as your rocket pinwheels into the ground.
Graphics and Physics
As you can see from the screenshots, the graphics for this game are fairly impressive. The creators have implement fairly accurate real world physics... so what goes up and falls to pieces, invariably comes crashing down. A stable space launch system is imperative for launching successful missions along with a basic grasp of orbital mechanics.
My Progress
After a long week of killing Kerbals, I decided to start working on launching space probes instead. I don't want my space program to get a bad reputation after all.
I've since managed to perfect my space launch system and now, launches, low orbit, munar insertion and orbit are all becoming fairly routine. Surprisingly, I even successfully landed a probe on the munar surface on my first attempt.
I've been a space enthusiast for as long as I can remember, and Kerbal Space Program satisfies my long awaited desire to play a game that emulates the capabilities and enthusiasm of NASA... without having to worry about Congress or the Senate cutting my budget of course!
Kerbal Space Program is still only in its Alpha development stage, meaning that the game is still under development with many exciting features yet to come. Mods are also freely available if you want to build your own Saturn V/Apollo or Soyuz system.
For those of you with an interest in space, it's well worth at least trying out the demo. You can purchase the game from Steam or directly from the KSP website.
*Special thanks to Des.
**On Earth, the KSC is the Kennedy Space Center.
Kerbal Space Program is an exciting and relatively new game I've been introduced to*. While it's not on my list of all time favourite games yet, it may very well soon be as I'm currently devoting most of my waking hours to it. On that basis, it has been added to my girlfriends list of least favourite games of all time.
Kerbal Space Program is a sandbox type game, which means there are no predefined goals and you can build and do pretty much whatever you want within the parameters of the game (Minecraft being another example of this). I enjoy these games because of the creativity they allow... it's like Lego, but for adults with a lot more flexibility and you don't have to worry about running out of pieces (or running out of cash buying pieces).
Gameplay
 |
| Titan rocket with lander at the Vehicle Assembly Buidling |
 |
| Preparing for a munar insertion burn |
You can also build spaceplanes and track your ongoing missions from the control centre.
Of course, much of the fun is launching our kerbalnauts on horribly unstable rockets and watching them scream in terror as your rocket pinwheels into the ground.
Graphics and Physics
 |
| An ungainly looking probe on the Mun's surface |
My Progress
After a long week of killing Kerbals, I decided to start working on launching space probes instead. I don't want my space program to get a bad reputation after all.
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| Aw crap, not again! |
I've been a space enthusiast for as long as I can remember, and Kerbal Space Program satisfies my long awaited desire to play a game that emulates the capabilities and enthusiasm of NASA... without having to worry about Congress or the Senate cutting my budget of course!
Kerbal Space Program is still only in its Alpha development stage, meaning that the game is still under development with many exciting features yet to come. Mods are also freely available if you want to build your own Saturn V/Apollo or Soyuz system.
For those of you with an interest in space, it's well worth at least trying out the demo. You can purchase the game from Steam or directly from the KSP website.
*Special thanks to Des.
**On Earth, the KSC is the Kennedy Space Center.
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