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Moonbase Alpha - A Series of Tubes

DietarySupplementDietarySupplement Still not approved by the FDADublin, OHRegistered User regular
edited July 2010 in Games and Technology
NASA's MOONBASE: ALPHA

Join our steam group: MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF WANGS

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/ltp/games/moonbasealpha/index.html

Moonbase Alpha is a game that is supposed to launch on July 6th over Steam. It's being developed by the same people that brought us America's Army, and is being funded by NASA.

Here's a trailer, showing some flex hoses, what I assume is a space porta-potty, and... all kinds of things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI8_9eN-2Uo

Details:
Just in case standing around on the lunar surface taking spectrograph readings doesn't float your gaming boat, Nasa and developer Virtual Heroes have chucked in a bit of 'Houston, we have a problem'-style incentive: players must restore critical systems and oxygen flow after a nearby meteor strike cripples a solar array and life support equipment.

You can play on your own, or play cooperatively with others. Time-wasters and space-alien hunters need not apply.

Nasa says the game is a "proof of concept to show how Nasa content could be combined with a cutting-edge game engine to produce an experience that inspires interest in science, technology, engineering and maths - skills critical to achieving NASA's exploration goals".
mba_2.png

At a best case, it's a new space station 13 type simulation where teams can either work together (or against each other) to maintain an extraterrestrial station. "Worst" case it's a nice time waster. Either way I am in.

I will update this OP as details become available. If anyone shows interest, we can get a Steam group going.

SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!

DietarySupplement on
«13

Posts

  • CantidoCantido Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Pod 6 is jerks.

    Cantido on
    3DS Friendcode 5413-1311-3767
  • psycojesterpsycojester Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    If you can't club people to death with a toolbox N.A.S.A has missed a core component of serious space simulators.

    psycojester on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • FunkyWaltDoggFunkyWaltDogg Columbia, SCRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Looks cool, but the facial expressions need some work.

    FunkyWaltDogg on
  • TheKoolEagleTheKoolEagle Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    If you can't club people to death with a toolbox N.A.S.A has missed a core component of serious space simulators.

    i better be able to tunnel inbetween walls and have security drop everything they were doing to try to arrest/beat me

    TheKoolEagle on
    uNMAGLm.png Mon-Fri 8:30 PM CST - 11:30 PM CST
  • DrakeDrake Edgelord Trash Below the ecliptic plane.Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    We will be able to simulate horrible circumstances? We will be able to experience the terrifying consequences of our actions?

    "Haha, silly me... I forgot to move the decimal point."
    *explosive decompression*

    Will this be free like America's Army?

    Drake on
  • DietarySupplementDietarySupplement Still not approved by the FDA Dublin, OHRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Drake wrote: »
    We will be able to simulate horrible circumstances? We will be able to experience the terrifying consequences of our actions?

    "Haha, silly me... I forgot to move the decimal point."
    *explosive decompression*

    Will this be free like America's Army?

    I'm restricted by my work firewall, but I can't find any kind of price point; I can assume that if it's a gub'ment funded project, that it would be... a la American's Army.

    DietarySupplement on
  • Shorn Scrotum ManShorn Scrotum Man Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I will definitely be checking this out. Sounds like it could be amusing.

    Shorn Scrotum Man on
    steam_sig.png
  • cwapfobrainscwapfobrains Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I will totally waste at least an hour just jumping around the moon.

    cwapfobrains on
    camo_sig.png
    LoL Summoner: infobrains | XBL: cwap4brains | PSN: infobrains
  • XtarathXtarath Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So this is out now.

    Xtarath on
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I'd be careful before diving right in. Because as we all know,
    n1830.jpg

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Does anyone want a free copy? I'm willing to buy this game for anyone who wants a free copy.

    Drez on
    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • kdrudykdrudy Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    It is up on Steam and does indeed appear to be free

    kdrudy on
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  • Lord YodLord Yod Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Downloading this now.

    Lord Yod on
    steam_sig.png
  • BlueDestinyBlueDestiny Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Definitely gonna check this out. At least to see if our taxpayer dollars were well spent on vidjagaems.

    BlueDestiny on
  • BloodySlothBloodySloth Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    downloading the fuck out of this

    BloodySloth on
  • Lord YodLord Yod Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    ok this is pretty weird

    can't seem to invert my mouse either and it's driving me batty

    edit: there is a text-to-speech setting for the chatbox. they can't have thought that would be a good idea.

    Lord Yod on
    steam_sig.png
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    does anyone have a server

    I want to play with some teams.

    mad robot welder deathmatches

    Buttcleft on
  • RenzoRenzo Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Can't invert?

    Uh...well it's free. I guess I can't complain too much.

    Still, if I was 6 years old I'd be super-pumped for this game.

    As it is I'm just normal pumped.

    Renzo on
  • Ninja Snarl PNinja Snarl P My helmet is my burden. Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    If this allows for a 3D recreation of Space Station 13, they can charge whatever they want. Every month. I will pay it.

    Ninja Snarl P on
  • Lord YodLord Yod Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    if someone wants to host a server i'll join in

    my router doesn't like hosting things

    Lord Yod on
    steam_sig.png
  • RedlanceRedlance Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Lord Yod wrote: »
    ok this is pretty weird

    can't seem to invert my mouse either and it's driving me batty

    edit: there is a text-to-speech setting for the chatbox. they can't have thought that would be a good idea.
    You can't swear, it just goes "asterisk" with asterisks. Just did a one player offline to see how it is. Pretty simple game and time goes by a lot faster than you realize. I did enjoy it though, especially the nice ambient music they have going on. The whole game boils down to what you should repair next to what you should replace. both take time but a object in the red will take longer to repair than one in the yellow, however carrying equipment slows you down. So it's all about finding the fastest way to get the job done.

    Redlance on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • FireWeaselFireWeasel Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Pod 6 is jerks.

    Also this could be...interesting?

    FireWeasel on
    AC:CL Wii -- 3824-2125-9336 City: Felinito Me: Nick
  • kdrudykdrudy Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Been trying single player competitive mode, it gets kind of intense when you are low on time and just need to make a few more repairs to finish out. I'd definitely be up for some multi in this later.

    kdrudy on
    tvsfrank.jpg
  • BloodySlothBloodySloth Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I guess I was kind of hoping for something a bit more freeform and more SS13/SF like in the "bad stuff happening randomly" category. Still, a pretty neat (and free) game.

    BloodySloth on
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I like it so far.

    Where exactly do I go to control robots?

    Drez on
    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • corky842corky842 Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Drez wrote: »
    I like it so far.

    Where exactly do I go to control robots?

    Go to the equipment shed and get a robot like you would with any other tool. Choose an arm or welder robot, then choose speed or battery life. Then you get a briefcase with a robot attached. Pick a place fairly close to where you'll use the robot (it has a limited range). You can move the control unit closer if needed.

    corky842 on
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    corky842 wrote: »
    Drez wrote: »
    I like it so far.

    Where exactly do I go to control robots?

    Go to the equipment shed and get a robot. Then you get a briefcase with a robot attached. Pick a place fairly close to where you'll use the robot (it has a limited range). You can move the control unit closer if needed.

    Doh I didn't see it in the equipment shed menu but I wasn't paying too much attention. Thanks. :)

    Drez on
    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • SoaLSoaL fantastic Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    yLvJm.jpg
    Never gets old, huh?
    Nope!


    UTFWo.jpg
    It kind of makes you wanna-



    aP7y6.jpg
    Break into song?



    SQ2k1.png
    Yep.



    SJ7W4.jpg
    tube penis

    SoaL on
    DKFA7.gif
  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So I finished single player 1-2 in 20:15. Any idea why it said I couldn't upload my score to Steam?

    Drez on
    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • BlueDestinyBlueDestiny Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    If you can run TF2 you can run this. At least that's my experience on an aging midlevel rig.

    BlueDestiny on
  • skitchskitch Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Lord Yod wrote: »
    ok this is pretty weird

    can't seem to invert my mouse either and it's driving me batty

    edit: there is a text-to-speech setting for the chatbox. they can't have thought that would be a good idea.

    yeah the lack of mouse invert is killing me too. i've looked around the .ini files, without much luck, but i havn't given up hope. if i find anything, i'll let ya know.

    skitch on
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So I looked on the Steam site and it says this is free. Is that a mistake on the site?

    -Loki- on
  • spiderj24spiderj24 Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    -Loki- wrote: »
    So I looked on the Steam site and it says this is free. Is that a mistake on the site?

    Nope. It's free!

    spiderj24 on
  • AmpixAmpix Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I played it with a whole bunch of friends today, it really was a lot of fun. We failed miserably the first time, sucked the second time but somehow made it? And got a pretty good time the last time. Teamwork is fun!


    Also, driving around the buggy thing :D

    Ampix on
    steam_sig.png
  • Ninja Snarl PNinja Snarl P My helmet is my burden. Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So. Toolboxes are already in the game. Moonbase and toolboxes, we're already halfway there.

    If this is built using Unreal, it shouldn't be that hard to mod, right?

    Ninja Snarl P on
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Soooooo...who wants to base some moons?

    Edit: If you do, jump in to vent.

    jonxp on
    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
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  • LookFreeGrenadeLookFreeGrenade Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    so uh who wants to play on the moon

    LookFreeGrenade on
    ormskm.jpg20i89qa.jpg73f2j6.jpg
  • MegaMekMegaMek Girls like girls. Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Does this game get any harder? A friend and I completed our first mission with only a few seconds to spare, but our next mission was completed with almost 15 minutes left because we knew almost exactly what to do (it seems to be a bit random, but not enough).

    MegaMek on
    Is time a gift or punishment?
  • RemingtonRemington Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I made a video of this game.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiBdBXky2UM

    Remington on
  • Raiden333Raiden333 Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Remington wrote: »
    I made a video of this game.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiBdBXky2UM

    Our tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen.

    Raiden333 on
    There was a steam sig here. It's gone now.
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