Searched around and didn't find another thread about this, but I think TL would definitely enjoy it.
Kerbal Space Program, found at http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/ is currently an indie game in alpha development, in which you run a fictional space agency. You build, launch, and pilot your very own rockets. The game realistically models gravity, inertia, thrust, torque and air resistance (Though rockets re-entering the atmosphere don't burn up yet, its planned for later versions however) It's free to DL and play.
Here's a few videos to showcase some of the most fun moments:
A zany failure:
Another zany failure::
Here's a successful launch, with insertion into Kearth orbit, to show that the game isn't just Crashes: the Simulation:
I made a ship that did really well, but i couldnt get the damn radial coupling to seperate at the right time so didnt get high enough. Rest have been failures lol.
Getting into space is actually really easy ^^ Put a tri-splitter thing and stack 3 fuels tanks on each arm and then engines under those, attach a SAS module and just auto-cruise into outer space.
I made a ship that did really well, but i couldnt get the damn radial coupling to seperate at the right time so didnt get high enough. Rest have been failures lol.
Its not all that easy though, you need to be very VERY careful with your velocity once you're near your target altitude. Just 20m/s too slow, and you de-orbit, 20m/s too fast, and your orbit will become more and more elliptical, until you either clip the atmosphere and re-enter, or hit escape velocity, and drift in space forever.
https://gist.github.com/1075144 I didn't make this, but its a reference chart so you can know what speed you need to maintain your orbit. Also, the atmosphere ends abruptly at 34,500m, meaning only the orbits from 35k and up are viable.
On July 17 2011 21:37 Zilver wrote: Getting into space is actually really easy ^^ Put a tri-splitter thing and stack 3 fuels tanks on each arm and then engines under those, attach a SAS module and just auto-cruise into outer space.
While getting to space is easy, doing anything interesting while you're there is not. I'm currently trying to place a satellite into orbit, and leave it there, while bringing my Kerbals home.
On July 18 2011 10:56 Flingoko wrote: Found the game on TL this morning, only played it today.... SOOO nice got to 50 million meters altitude before i aborted mission o.0
Height is not a good way to measure how well your ship worked, since if you hit escape velocity, and wait long enough, any arbitrary height can be reached. A better measure is velocity, though that depends on piloting skills as well as on rocket design. Another measure of quality could be amount of mass a rocket can place into a circular orbit.
On July 18 2011 13:23 UniversalSnip wrote: one question before I decide whether to download this: can you crash your ship into the sun?
Not yet. Right now the sun is just an image in the skybox. An entire solar system, with moons, planets, and the sun, is planned however, and will likely be in an updated version in the near future.
The game is still plenty of fun without that, though.
I'm trying it out now. Definitely a fun game, and thank you OP, for making me occupy myself with this the rest of the day. Surprisingly, it's pretty demanding and shot up my temperatures quite high. To low graphics I go.
Game is all out awesome, you can find links to some additional parts on their site as well which are kinda sweet. Managed to stay in orbit for 30 mins this morning with my basic craft. My goal now is to reach EV with 2 stages and still have a stage + SRF boosters to make a return lol. Awesome game though!
EPT
got to 50 million meters altitude before i aborted mission o.0
Surprisingly, it's pretty demanding and shot up my temperatures quite high. To low graphics I go.
