Virtual online space colonies, bases, hotels etc.

[Sam Fraser]

Does anyone here have any experience with virtual worlds like Second Life? Would it be a good idea to start a virtual space of our own through one or more of these services based on a NEO colony like a hollowed-out asteroid or something? I'm thinking of how to reach the younger generation. (I never thought I'd say something like that. :eek: )

[RaresH]

That would be my idea. I guarantee you it would generate a lot of interest and not only with the young crowd. There is an entire generation of which I'm a part that grew up with video games since the launch of nintendo and other consol systems. There are some excellent next generation game engines that could be used to build these virtual worlds. I don't have experience with it but with time and effort can be learned and utilized. You would need a small team of volunteers to build anything good enough to generate the buzz. I have the means to generate the art to be used in the interactive presentation you suggest but I just don't have the time to take such a daunting task on my own.

another idea that could prove a lot less time consuming than creating a world from scratch is to build a mod and mission for an existing game already popular called Orbiter (http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/). The graphics are not next generation though so will leave out those that are not into flight simulators, i.e. most who don't have time or patience which is pretty much a majority of gamers out there.

[joertexas]

That would be my idea. I guarantee you it would generate a lot of interest and not only with the young crowd. There is an entire generation of which I'm a part that grew up with video games since the launch of nintendo and other consol systems. There are some excellent next generation game engines that could be used to build these virtual worlds. I don't have experience with it but with time and effort can be learned and utilized. You would need a small team of volunteers to build anything good enough to generate the buzz. I have the means to generate the art to be used in the interactive presentation you suggest but I just don't have the time to take such a daunting task on my own.

another idea that could prove a lot less time consuming than creating a world from scratch is to build a mod and mission for an existing game already popular called Orbiter (http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/). The graphics are not next generation though so will leave out those that are not into flight simulators, i.e. most who don't have time or patience which is pretty much a majority of gamers out there.

I was thinking that Orbiter may be useful for mission planning, but I haven't had much luck trying to program it, either.

JR

[moonus111]

I'm not a programmer, but I love the idea of a SecondLife location! I've thought about it but don't have the time to do it myself. I'll give any help I can if anyone wants to take lead on this.

[Ommas]

Virtual sim could not only increase awareness, but funding.
Call of duty took more than 1 billion in sales. The main feature being the ability to travel through time from ww2 with the first rockets. Create them. And launch them from a command and control view, and also a multi player view where players an take a seat in control rooms.

With enough players space races can be replayed, rovers can serve as edutainment, and forums could buzz with many opinions such as mine which are just for entertainment but trying to be a game based on facts rather than fiction. It may become as popular as star wars games, because it not based on fiction fantasy. It would gain a following in generational facets. The main feature being a way to for space race games to end and the chance for players to buy into a next round. Competitively priced at 99 cents , after the factually correct first phase is played out, alternate fictionalizing endings could keep players interested .

Golf is my example. It's gaming popularity Base is by those who actually play it in real life buy into the virtual reality concept as well. If the set up of the games results in virtual players getting prizes and trips into space . That they feel that they are contributing by participating in Buying the games that fund missions.


For instance: a mission that is Associated with a logo. Toys,merchandise, a virtual game that teaches the engineering of the mission. Over time funding won't have to come from only taxes. The nationality can be replaced by Internation online players interested in missions and colonization.

[Engineer817]

Well, reformed game addict is more like it. First off, yes, it will increase awareness more and defiantly, if presented in the right fashion and to the right people, would make funding all but assured. Now, I've played second life but quit after 2 minutes. the orbiter is more of a sim system. But I got the best of both worlds. one that has a fantastic modding community, and is probably the most versatile engine ever created. Fallout 3 was a game about after the bombs fell, lone wanderer, his dog, and all the guns you could shake a pointed stick at. Obviously, Bethesda designed it this way for 1 reason. so it could get modders hooked. I personally made a map though am to embarrassed to actually upload it. The game is easy to play, uses the Gamebryo engine. To mod, simply download the Geck. then upload and or extract the files of the models and characters into it. Now, that's just what the game has in it from the start. nice weapons, etc. not much use in a scientific community unless its the lab outfits or something. creating the models I've never done. However, others have. and lots of them. I think there's something resembling a space suit in the game as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYZpR51XgW0 Now, this is just a trailer. now, besides the TV trailer in the beginning of the clip, everything else, is inside the game. No extras, fakes, added animations, nothing. that's how it looks when you're killing a behemoth or decapitating a raider because you just don't like his hair cut. It was one hellava game, and not only that, supports a variety of platforms. not only that, take away the guns, take away all that and add a space base on the moon, with robotics on preprogrammed courses with animations the way it will look like on the moon. ***nothing*** says real more then this game. in the way of graphics any ways. You need the game of course, so unless you *borrow* it, you can buy the PC version just about anywhere. I got mine for 10 bucks off Ebay, so its not to bad. The models on fallout nexus are all free, but if you want a model, don't think just asking for it is going to do any good. its either there or you got to build it from scratch. luckily there's programs that allow you to do this and tutorials on YouTube to give step by step instructions. Its all there, and it will leave a look that's absolutely fantastic.
:cool:

[Ommas]

I wont be creating a game.
Building it from scratch. I was thinking it could be more like first round game. Where the shooter aspect would be come after a build phase,and meteors ,real meteors and other near earth objects that that utilize current technology to burst,or deflect , or simply track for level up. That teaches trajectory lessons. And resouce procurement.
I believe the real History effect flavor can be just as challenging as a blood lust game.

It's flavor is more build than shoot . Then in next rounds it could become less about design , funding and trial, and more about race. Some races could be no holds barred. Especially around jupiters moons. It may not be as interestingly as an all out interplanetary zombie shooter. In my opinion there will always be shooters. My point is there is only one rocket history thus far, And simulating the real timeline of moon and mars rovers is definately worth 1.99 usd times 10 million every six months. especially if it's geared for school kids in non violent edutainment. That's if there can be a new rover mission out there every six months.
I can very easily see creating funds, intrest in space colonization, and a volunteer workforce into the millions. I mean what's more sexy than allowing some players to actually qualify to control some live rovers. Thus creating forum and free tv advertising. What space program couldn't use a few extra million $ with each new rover or bot. This could be the seed money for the next designs .
In my opinion the more moon robots become human in form the more players will be interested. In this way a large player base could build things like walls and trenches. Thus immortalizing their names On moon and mars history.

That would get boring fast. But in my opinion it's a flavor. At 1.99 every six months within 20 years the player base may generate more funding for falcon heavys or key Politically unfunded equipment than can be approved by congress.
Something like this would work because the timeline will never fully unfold . Hmmm star wars became more popular over time ,because it's timeline broadened it's fan base. The characters were well known even when the prequels were made.
There can be fiction gaming on planetoids that are 20 to 30 years from colonization.

Side projects like moon vehicles without fossil fuels designs. 99 cents. Ametures can post their concepts.
I don't think it would work if it wasn't a real possibilty of invitation to current projects