Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond handing out trips to the (virtual) moon!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-handing-out-trips-to-the-virtu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-handing-out-trips-to-the-virtu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-handing-out-trips-to-the-virtu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Astronaut
As Project Whitecard wraps up its Kickstarter fundraiser to raise funds for Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond, it wants to give a little extra incentive for any would-be donors. Anyone -- past, present and future -- who gives to the NASA project will be entered into a drawing for one of 50 free copies of Project Moonwalk.

Project Moonwalk is a video game simulation of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, designed to be not only fun but also educational. The game hits the high points of space race history, from Sputnik's launch to the lunar landing and subsequent return to Earth. Made with the Unreal Engine, Project Moonwalk will be released this fall.

Currently, Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond has raised over $41,000 through Kickstarter, well exceeding its $25,000 goal. If you're interested in helping in the second great space race, then you have six days to get your pledge in to the cause before the fundraiser ends!

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond handing out trips to the (virtual) moon! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyonddonorsfreefundraiserfundraisinggiveawaykickstarternasaproject-moonwalkproject-whitecardpromotionspace-racesputnikTue, 04 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond prepares to plumb the depths of space for adventure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond
While NASA's shuttle mission may be over and the International Space Station's future in doubt, there is one place that space exploration is moving forward: online. Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond is looking more promising by the day, especially now that the team has secured almost $40,000 via Kickstarter to help fund the project.

So why did NASA agree to an MMO of all things? Daniel Laughlin, project manager of NASA's Learning Technologies, sees the two as having a lot in common. Talking with Universe Today, Laughlin said, "Based on the existing literature as well as my own experiences gaming, an MMO was the logical choice for a game project for NASA."

While NASA is partnered with the development team, the space agency is not funding the game -- hence the use of Kickstarter to raise money for Astronaut. It takes place in 2035 as mankind is just starting to colonize the solar system, and it promises to use real physics and technology to simulate these efforts.

Khal Shariff says that players should expect a lot of crafting, use of proper gear, and missions that flow together for a bigger storyline. Interestingly enough, it seems that even NASA has room for a few new heroes. "We have protagonists in the game, and I won't say much about them, because I don't want to spoil the opening scene of Chapter One," Shariff said. He hopes that players will enjoy the melding of science fiction with science fact: "We want you to sit down and curl up with one session and have a feeling like you had when you read the best short science fiction stories, especially like those of Clarke. There is plenty of adventure to plumb."

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond prepares to plumb the depths of space for adventure originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arthur-c-clarkeastronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondcolonizationdaniel-laughlininternational-space-stationkhal-shariffkickstarterlearning-technologiesnasasci-fiscience-factscience-fictionscifisolar-systemuniverse-todayMon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond developer talks educational mission]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-developer-talks-educational-mi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-developer-talks-educational-mi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-developer-talks-educational-mi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond - ISS
Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond has been in the news a lot lately, but just who are the folks behind the educational MMO from NASA and Project Whitecard? A new piece at Gamasutra sheds a bit of light on that as well as a few more details about the project as a whole.

"I'm originally a developer," says Project Whitecard CEO Khal Shariff. "I thought, 'oh, I could be a developer for the rest of my life, or I could start my own company.'" That company has some pretty lofty goals for its first MMO, including reaching out to millions of kids worldwide and getting them interested in STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

"We are dedicated to using game technology to do things that, when somebody interacts with the game, it maybe leaves the world better or leaves somebody smarter," Shariff says.

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond developer talks educational mission originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondeducationeducationalengineeringfamilyinterviewskhal-shariffkidsmathematicsmmo-industrynasaproject-whitecardreal-worldsciencespace-mmostemtechnologyThu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Astronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/astronaut-mmo-may-finally-launch-pun-intended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/astronaut-mmo-may-finally-launch-pun-intended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/astronaut-mmo-may-finally-launch-pun-intended/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Just when Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond was about to be written off as vaporware, NASA has popped back on the scene to announce some commercial backing for the project from developers Project Whitecard, Wisdom Tools, and Virtual Heroes.

According to the first announcement over two years ago, the MMO aims for a demographic of players age 5 to 24, setting them up as astronauts who are training to explore deep into Earth's star system in the year 2035. Imagine Space Camp... but actually in space.

To assist in funding the project, the developers of the upcoming MMO have created a Kickstarter page that includes a four-minute video explaining what the game is about. CEO for Wisdom Tools Dr. Sonny Kirkley explains in the video that the game is meant to be fun, but at the same time the designers "want the learning to be authentic." To that end, NASA has granted the developers full access to the rich history of the space program so that a true sense of realism can be achieved.

The game has been developed with the Unreal Engine 3 to work on PC, iPad, and some yet-to-be-announced consoles. Look for the beta testing to start in December of 2012, and watch the full Kickstarter video after the break.

Continue reading Astronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended)

MassivelyAstronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondfailure-to-launchiPadipad-mmokickstarterNASANational-Aeronautics-and-Space-Administrationproject-whitecardsonny-kirkleyUnreal-3unreal-engine-3virtual-heroesWisdom-ToolsTue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Garriott: game developer, private astronaut, beard aficionado -- and now keynote speaker.

The former developer of the Ultima series, Ultima Online, and Tabula Rasa will provide the main speech at the 2011 LOGIN Conference. Garriott will be talking about the Third Grand Era of Games that he sees us moving into, following the single-player titles of the '80s and '90s and the MMORPGs of the 2000s. It's his belief that the market for online gaming is poised to expand tenfold with the rise of casual-led, virally spread, free-to-play titles.

Garriott gave a teaser for his upcoming message: "The gaming industry is dawning on - at long last - a truly global audience of both genders and all ages. What lessons of history are useful? What truly new challenges await us? What will casual online games look like in five years?"

The LOGIN Conference is a convention of game and software developers who discuss advances in technology, business, design and community. It will take place from May 16-18th in Bellevue, Washington, and Garriott will deliver his keynote speech on the 17th.

MassivelyRichard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011-login-conferenceastronautbeards-rulegeneral-britishlogin-conferencelogin-conference-2011lord-britishprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termrichard-garriotttabula-rasathird-grand-era-of-gamingultimaultima-onlineuoTue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take part in space exploration with NASA's coming MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How would you like to take a trip into space? No, not the stylized science fiction that Star Trek Online promises, or the fantasy-with-spaceships of Star Wars: the Old Republic. We've heard the announcement about NASA's coming space MMO, Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond, but the game hasn't been making the rounds in the usual gaming circuit. An in-depth article about the game's development and planned release is interesting for any fans of the rigors and challenges of spaceflight, not mention a look at a game that's moving far outside the usual realm of our genre.

Much like America's Army, the goal of the game is to try and give players a taste of what it's like to actually work in the field being simulated. While the game is focusing on creating enjoyable gameplay first, players can expect to see landscapes and tasks grounded in solid scientific principles and based upon actual astronaut missions, complete with the real and tangible challenges of exploring inhospitable worlds. The article also discusses the MoonBase module, which is set to be launched as a free standalone component on Steam in January to serve as both a preview and a testbed for the game. Take a look at the full article for a closer examination of what the game could mean, and what it might be like to play a space game where you were less concerned about arming weapons and more concerned with understanding the world around you.

(Or, if you have to, start imagining an expansion set in the 1980s adding the Soviet space program as a new faction. Which is only slightly less realistic.)

MassivelyTake part in space exploration with NASA's coming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicamericas-armyammbastronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondeducationsnasanational-aeronautics-and-space-administrationnew-titlesreal-lifespacespace-explorationsteamvirtual-worldsSun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Realms announces free virtual items and Station Cash for all players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/free-realms-announces-free-virtual-items-and-station-cash-for-al/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/free-realms-announces-free-virtual-items-and-station-cash-for-al/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/free-realms-announces-free-virtual-items-and-station-cash-for-al/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"Well that didn't take long" was the gist of what the Massively team had to say about today's Free Realms announcement of over one million players signed up in the first eighteen days. Are these players all shelling out for Station Cash? Doubtful. And it's way too soon to judge how many of those players will stick with the game, but it's still a pretty big deal.

Sony Online Entertainment seems to think so as well, and have announced they'll be giving out virtual gifts to all one million Free Realms players. 999,999 players will receive an in-game T-shirt with a matching shirt for their pet, in addition to 200 Station Cash. The one-millionth player will get a sweeter deal -- a lifetime membership to Free Realms, an astronaut suit (the only one in the game), and 10,000 Station Cash.
Want to know more about Free Realms? SOE's new whimsical free-to-play MMO is already being called a refreshing change of pace for kids and adults alike, and we have just the coverage you need!

MassivelyFree Realms announces free virtual items and Station Cash for all players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautcasualfree-realmsfree-to-playkidslifetime-membershipsoesony-online-entertainmentstation-cashFri, 15 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA MMOG Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/nasa-mmog-astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/nasa-mmog-astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/nasa-mmog-astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Talk of NASA's upcoming MMOG has been circulating since last year, but it wasn't until March 20 that the agency formally announced its plans for Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond. They're going to partner with developers Information Place, Virtual Heroes and Project Whitecard to create the virtual world, which NASA hopes will build interest in space exploration among students.

Financially, the game won't demand much taxpayer dollars; most money is coming from individual investors and sponsors, although NASA will be lending its experts to the game's development.

Virtual Worlds News has dissected the announcement further. No word from beloved space explorer Buzz Lightyear just yet, but we'll keep an eye out.

MassivelyNASA MMOG Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond announced originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondinformation-placenasaproject-whitecardvirtual-heroesFri, 20 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Haroun Falls, or a lot of Tang]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/one-shots-haroun-falls-or-a-lot-of-tang/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/one-shots-haroun-falls-or-a-lot-of-tang/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/one-shots-haroun-falls-or-a-lot-of-tang/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Today we have a beautifully vibrant picture sent in to us by Mark 'Jukovic' Benson of Shadow Wind clan in Tabula Rasa. While this picture was titled Haroun Falls, we've no idea what else it involves. It does appear to involve either a great deal of lava, glowy alien water, or perhaps Mark's stumbled on the reason the Bane had to come to Earth anyway -- they coveted the Tang we've been sending up with astronauts. If you have some ideas about where this area is, feel free to leave a comment about it! But we're sticking with the Tang hypothesis as a nod to Richard Garriott's own planned space travel.

Do you have a screenshot that you'd like to show off of lovely, glowy scenery? If so, grab that screen, stuff it into an email, and send it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com! We're always on the lookout for more screenshots.

Gallery: One Shots


MassivelyOne Shots: Haroun Falls, or a lot of Tang originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronautfort-harounharoun-fallsjukovicmark-bensontabula-rasatangtrWed, 16 Apr 2008 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA to launch MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/nasa-to-launch-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/nasa-to-launch-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/nasa-to-launch-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With six (that I can think of off the top of my head) MMOs releasing this year (and probably twice that number in development), why not another? MMORPG.com is reporting on a press release from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that the space agency is investigating the idea of creating their own heavenly MMO.

The Learning Technologies (LT) arm of NASA was created to support education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (something they call "STEM") through innovative technologies. MMOs definitely fall into that "innovative technologies" category, and NASA know it. Not wanting to get left behind, LT is looking at developing an educational MMO that lets players accurately simulate science experiments, practice repairing high-end NASA equipment, experience microgravity... basically live the life of an astronaut. Most kids list "astronaut" as one of the things they want to be when they grow up, so being able to virtually live out that dream is nothing short of amazing.

While this may not appeal to every gamer, some of the comments made in the press release regarding MMOs might, primarily: "The power of games as educational tools is rapidly gaining recognition." About time someone recognizes that! What's more, they go on to say that MMOs (or "synthetic environments" as NASA calls them) are the perfect "hands-on" tools to teach complex subjects, and help develop strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, team-building and cooperation, and adaptation to rapid change. In short, they can edumacate people.

Perhaps the understanding that NASA (a federally funded entity mind you) has about MMOs will help change how the rest of our government views gaming. And maybe the space explorers will finally take us where no gamer has gone before... true legitimacy.

MassivelyNASA to launch MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronauteducationLearning-TechnologiesMMORPG.comNASANational-Aeronautics-and-Space-Administrationspacespace-travelsynthetic-environmentsteachingThu, 17 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST