http://www.livescience.com/space/090219-nasa-mmo.html
NASA Creating Online Multiplayer Video Game
By Jeremy Hsu, Staff Writer
posted: 19 February 2009 02:36 pm ET
Space explorers, ready your virtual engines — three game developers have signed on to create NASA's massively multiplayer online video game (MMO), called "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond."
NASA plans to let Virtual Heroes, Project Whitecard and Information in Place take the lead in creating a game that emphasizes fun first and foremost. The game community sent in 800 pages worth of responses to NASA's initial outreach on developing an MMO.
"The single biggest point that was pushed forward by the game community was that you have to let game design lead the development," said Daniel Laughlin, project manager for NASA Learning Technologies at the agency's Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center in Maryland. "It's easy to build a game that's no fun. It's hard to build a game that's successful and fun."
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Check out the many comments on the link above. -- LRK -
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http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/mmo/
After extensive review by internal and external experts, Learning Technologies and the Innovative Partnership Program Office have selected Project Whitecard, Information in Place and Virtual Heroes to move forward with the NASA MMO effort. We are currently in negotiations and will update the MMO site as we move forward. Also, we would like to thank everyone who participated and responded to this initiative.
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Virtual Heroes:
http://www.virtualheroes.com/
Project Whitecard:
http://www.projectwhitecard.com/
Information in Place:
http://www.informationinplace.com/
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http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/02/19/feature-first-look-at-nasas-unreal-engine-3-based-mmo/
By John Gaudiosi
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina – Epic Games has seen an influx recently in the number of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games in development that utilize its Unreal Engine 3 technology – an engine that was not originally designed for MMO games.
The latest entry in this Unreal MMO games category is the new subscription-based NASA MMO game, "Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond." This game, which will ship next year, joins other Unreal Engine 3-driven MMO games like RealTime Worlds APB, NHN USA's Huxley, Acony Games' Parabellum and Sony Online Entertainment's The Agency and DC Universe Online.
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The Unreal Engine isn't free to the developer and then there are royalties due on those subscription services.
I wonder where NASA fits in on all of this fun. - LRK -
http://www.unrealtechnology.com/technology.php'
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http://www.unrealtechnology.com/licensing.php?ref=terms
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Unreal Engine 2 Licensing Terms
Representing years of development and powering numerous best-selling titles on multiple platforms, the Unreal Engine 2 technology is available for license on a per-platform basis. Three platforms are available: PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2.
A PC platform license is only required if you intend to ship a retail PC game. If you are developing a console-only title, you may freely use the PC code for development, testing and for its back-end game-server components (for multiplayer games). Note that a PC license includes the right to ship your game on all personal computer operating systems, including Windows and Linux, as well as MacOS X; by paying once for the PC platform license you may ship on any or all of these operating systems at no additional cost.
Royalty-Bearing License - For retail console & PC products
A non-refundable, non-recoupable license fee is due on execution of the agreement. The cost is US $350,000 for one of the available Unreal Engine 2 platforms, plus US $50,000 for each additional platform. A royalty of 3% is due on all revenue from the game, calculated on the wholesale price of the product minus (for console SKUs) console manufacturer fees. In the case of massive-multiplayer online games, the royalty is also due on the additional forms of revenue including subscriptions and advertisements.
Custom License Terms - For non-traditional products
The Unreal Engine has been used in the development of many non-traditional products, ranging from mass-market educational games to custom training applications and the non-retail America's Army game developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. For custom applications that only require script access (rather than full C++ source), and only require redistribution to a small set of clients, the Runtime Edition is available and may be more suitable than a full Unreal Engine license. Where either full source code and support, or widespread redistribution is required, please contact licensing@epicgames.com to discuss custom license terms.
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Well I guess I can quit working on Lunar Base Deployment game since the big guys are already working on it.
I don't have deep pockets anyway so will just go back to reading about it.
- LRK -
Hmmm, I wonder what kind of base will be constructed?
Will it use robotics?
Will there be any politics or ego involved?
TANSTAAFL ("There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch")
http://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-425-03436-4.html
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
In any case -
Thanks for looking up with me.
Larry Kellogg
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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http://www.space.com/entertainment/090219-nasa-mmo.html
NASA Creating Online Multiplayer Video Game
By Jeremy Hsu
Staff Writer
posted: 19 February 2009
02:36 pm ET
Space explorers, ready your virtual engines — three game developers have signed on to create NASA's massively multiplayer online video game (MMO), called "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond."
NASA plans to let Virtual Heroes, Project Whitecard and Information in Place take the lead in creating a game that emphasizes fun first and foremost. The game community sent in 800 pages worth of responses to NASA's initial outreach on developing an MMO.
"The single biggest point that was pushed forward by the game community was that you have to let game design lead the development," said Daniel Laughlin, project manager for NASA Learning Technologies at the agency's Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center in Maryland. "It's easy to build a game that's no fun. It's hard to build a game that's successful and fun."
A playable demo of the game is slated for release before the end of the year, based on a tech demo that uses Epic's Unreal Engine 3. Players will get to roam around in a multiplayer experience focused on moon base operations, although real astronauts on the International Space Station may have to hold off until they return to Earth.
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Each game developer has already amassed considerable experience working with one another on space-related games. Virtual Heroes and Project Whitecard are finishing up a different project for the Canadian Space Agency, while Virtual Heroes is also working with Information in Place on a "Virtual Astronaut" project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
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http://games.on.net/article/5048/Astronaut_Moon_Mars__Beyond_-a_MMO_from_NASA/
Astronaut: Moon Mars & Beyond - a MMO from NASA?!
By Steven Perdikis - Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:22am
NASA has announced that they have established partnerships with a number of game development to studios, who will be working on Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, in which students and gamers alike will be able to take part in a "massively multiplayer online educational game", to be powered by the Unreal 3 Engine.
In the game, the player will be tasked with a number of scientific, mathematical and economic tasks, in a bid to create a "fun, compelling gaming experience" that focuses on aeronautics and teamwork.
The game will be developed in close collaboration with NASA, who will ensure that the game accurately represents the technology available to them. Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond will be developed by the same folk who worked on America's Army, with the gameplay of the space-themed MMO explained by Jerry Heneghan, founder and CEO of Virtual Heroes:
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http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/02/20/nasa-astronaut-mmo-to-blast-into-virtual-space/
NASA Astronaut MMO to blast into virtual space
February 20, 2009, 2:00 pm by Simon Munk
NASA is aiming to launch its own subscription-based massively multi-player online (MMO) game by 2010. Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond is aimed to be a learning tool for students, as well as a chance for thousands of geeks to tinker with rockets virtually.
“We want to create a fun, compelling gaming experience that will give players the chance to learn about science and engineering careers while they play the game,” Daniel Laughlin, project manager, NASA Learning Technologies, told Yahoo! Games. “NASA is committed to attracting more students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields of study and careers. We hope this game will inspire players.”
NASA’s MMO project has been rumbling (like its 360-spinning car
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http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/nasa-unveils-new-online-game/1289633
NASA Unveils New Online Game
Agency aims to reinvigorate youth interest in space exploration.
By John Gaudiosi
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina – For most Americans, getting excited about NASA space exploration is a thing of the past. When an aging space shuttle takes off on a mission to the International Space Station, there seems to be little interest even by the mainstream media.
NASA hopes to change that with a new subscription-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) videogame, "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond". NASA Learning Technologies and the Innovative Partnership Program Office have selected game developers Virtual Heroes, Project Whitecard and Information in Place to create a realistic virtual world that will allow gamers to explore the next 30 years of manned space exploration from the comfort of the couch.
"We want to create a fun, compelling gaming experience that will give players the chance to learn about science and engineering careers while they play the game," said Daniel Laughlin, Ph.D., project manager, NASA Learning Technologies and research scientist with the Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center at the University of Maryland. "NASA is committed to attracting more students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields of study and careers. We hope this game will inspire players to consider those careers."
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http://www.curse.com/articles/other-en-news/406121.aspx
NASA To Create MMO: "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond."
Posted Feb 20, 2009 by DoranM
Nasa has recently announced they have partnered with three game developers to develop their new MMO "Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond". A playable demo of the game is due for release before the end of the year, based on a tech demo that uses Epic's Unreal Engine 3. Eventually players may get the chance to provide their own user-created content, ranging from scouting out new paths for space exploration to creating and flying their own ships. But unlike other space-themed MMOs such as EVE Online or Star Trek Online, such ships probably won't be toting laser weaponry.
Checkout the original post on Space.com:
http://www.space.com/entertainment/090219-nasa-mmo.html
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
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