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NASA Launches Moonbase Alpha

Posted by Soulskill on from the to-boldly-grind dept.

Several readers have sent word that today NASA launched Moonbase Alpha, an online game with single- and multi-player capability that "allows participants to step into the role of an exploration team member in a futuristic 3-D lunar settlement." The game is available now through Steam for free. Moonbase Alpha was built as a precursor to an upcoming NASA MMO called Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, and they hope it will be "a proof of concept to show how NASA content can be combined with a cutting-edge game engine to inspire, engage and educate students about agency technologies, job opportunities and the future of space exploration."

7 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Please... by rshol · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is this how screwed up NASA is, reduced to releasing video games as opposed to sending people into space?

    1. Re:Please... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On the other hand, the Military gets tons of Cash and they have NEVER released a video game.

    2. Re:Please... by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, they've got a lot of experience producing computer animation of craft they never actually build and missions which they never actually launch. So this is just a natural extension.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    3. Re:Please... by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      NASA: Treading Water for 40 Years and Counting!

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    4. Re:Please... by amiga3D · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think this is as close to doing any space work as NASA will come in the future. No one wants to spend money on Space Exploration. Both parties talk about it but wont fund it. We're through in space, the private companies will do earth orbit and maybe Japan or China will go to Mars. The US will make video games.

  2. Steam by Toonol · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Can you get it from NASA directly? I don't allow steam on any of my machines.

    1. Re:Steam by Toze · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As far as sexual assault goes, groping is the least evil.

      --
      No OS on the planet can protect itself from a user with the admin password. - Yvan256