NASA Wants its MMO Created for Free

fyc writes "It seems that the educational MMORPG NASA's proposing will no longer have a budget of $3 million. Instead, any prospective development partner is being asked to create and maintain the MMORPG for free under a 'non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement'. It won't be a one-sided agreement, though. From NASA's RFP: 'In exchange for a collaborator's investment to create and manage a NASA-based MMO game for fun and to enhance STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], NASA will consider negotiating brand placement, limited exclusivity and other opportunities.'"

Comments

Preview of the Game

[eldavojohn]

I happen to have very rare output from the upcoming game that I've personally been working on for Nasa. Let's just say we found a way to keep this MMORPG low budget and, in fact, make money off of it without costing NASA or you, the consumer, anything!

Multi-User Dungeon - MUD1 Version 1E

* NASA's Super Happy MUD *
* It's Edutainment! *

Origin of version: Sat Sep 15 10:00:50 2007

Welcome! By what name shall I call you?

>> Buzz

Hello, Buzz!

Cape Canaveral Launch Pad.
You stand in your Converse (tm) Brand space suit on the Launch Pad, before you is a towering shuttle with the huge Coca-Cola (tm) logo on the side of it. A crowd watches in anticipation and enjoys the T-Mobile (tm) cameras broadcasting the cabin and crew live to their cell phones.
[Exits: shuttle, bathroom]

>> bathroom

Bathroom Adjacent to Launch Pad.
You rush into the bathroom and rip off your helmet to deposit your stomach contents in the toilet. Luckily you have Rolaids (tm) antacid in your Converse (tm) Brand space suit. You pop a few pills into your mouth ... ahh much better, Rolaids spells relief.
[Exits: door]

>> door

Cape Canaveral Launch Pad.
You stumble out of the restroom and back on to the launch pad. Oh no, a congressman spots you! "Hey, why if it isn't Buzz!" he says as he moves in for a photo op!
[A Congressman] is at [quite a few]
Your pierce *** MASSACRES *** A Congressman!
A Congressman's pound scratches you.
Your pierce *** MASSACRES *** A Congressman!
Your pierce DISEMBOWELS A Congressman!
[A Congressman] is at [big nasty]
You stop using A diamond-tipped dagger.
You wield a legendary greatsword.
A Congressman sees your attempt to trip him in time to avoid your foot.
[A Congressman] is at [big nasty]

Your fiery slash *** DEMOLISHES *** A Congressman!
[A Congressman] is at [pretty hurt]
A Congressman sees your attempt to trip him in time to avoid your foot.
Your flaming slash *** DEVASTATES *** A Congressman!
[A Congressman] is at [pretty hurt]
Your burning slash *** OBLITERATES *** A Congressman!
You trip A Congressman, sending him sprawling to the ground!

Your flaming slash *** OBLITERATES *** A Congressman!
A Congressman is mortally wounded, and will die soon if not aided.
[A Congressman] is at [dying]

You trip A Congressman, knocking him unconscious. A Congressman is mortally wounded, and will die soon if not aided.
[A Congressman] is at [dying]

You trip A Congressman, knocking him unconscious.
A Comgressman is mortally wounded, and will die soon if not aided.
Your burning slash *** DEMOLISHES *** A Congressman!
The Congressman's body becomes limp and the politician drops to the ground DEAD!!

You receive 212000 experience out of 280012 total. [neutral]
[Exits: shuttle, bathroom]

>> shuttle

You stagger into the elevator paid for by Playboy Magazine and begin your assent to the cabin. The slow motion walking thingy starts to happen as you cross the bridge ... Before you enter the cabin, you hug the Doritos (tm) "Who Wants to Meet an Astronaut" Sweepstakes winner and step inside. You turn on your Sony Brand headset that sounds like a dream and prepare for blastoff ...

That's all we have so far. I think you can see just how exciting this game is goi

Re:Preview of the Game

[Midnight Thunder]

You have forgotten a very important outcome:

> Go north
You have been eaten by a grue.

Re:Preview of the Game

[stefanlasiewski]

Other fun possibilities:

> Go north

This is space you idiot. There is no 'north'. What, next you want to go 'up'?

> Go east

This is space you idiot. There is no 'north'. What, next you want to go 'up'?

> Go up

Ok, fine. You go up. And up. And up. And up... forever. This is space, remember? No gravity, no friction, floating forever. Next time, bring a rope.

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

You are in a maze of twisty little nothing, all alike.

So are they offering naming rights?

[deadtree9]

Maybe we can expect a "Lucas Arts International Space Station" (commonly refered to as the Death Star)?

But they could do that on their own.

[khasim]

To really lure them in, you have to CONSIDER allowing them that.

From TFRFP:

NASA will consider negotiating brand placement, limited exclusivity and other opportunities.

Emphasis added.

my terms

[ILuvRamen]

If I write a game for them, I wanna go to the moon dammit!

When next we tune in to an episode of...

[Anonymous Coward]

....Orcs in Spaaaaaace....

Attention Ladies:

[JoshOOOWAH]

I'm now offering the opportunity to fulfill my every sexual desire. This is a non-paying position with no benefits, but I'm willing to negotiate on allowing you to take charity from friends and/or family of mine who feel bad for you.

Re:So, adds in space. The game?

[mapsjanhere]

"Mr. President, Mr. President, the Russians painted the moon red"
"Where's the problem, just write Coca Cola on it"

If it's anything like working with real NASA...

[MoxFulder]

... it should be a super-awesome game!!!

You'll start off with exciting missions like applying for visitor badges and credentials, and escorting your foreign colleagues to the bathroom every time.

If completed successfully, you'll gain entry to exciting office buildings and drab, windowless conference rooms where you can see powerpoint presentations and plot secret strategies to gain research funding and evade red tape.

Woohoo! I can't wait to play this one!