Wizard101 reveals the truth behind the green blob in space

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play, Humor, Kids, Wizard101

If you follow astronomy or just like stories about big green things, you probably were aware of last week's photo from the Hubble telescope showcasing an enormous green blob. It's a known spot in space, an enormous region in which new stars are being formed -- although why stars would be forming out in the middle of nowhere has researchers baffled. But researchers from Wizard101 have helpfully taken the opportunity to dispel the mystery, making it clear exactly what the region of space actually is.

Does it look sort of like a giant green frog? Well, that's exactly right.

The discovery was made possible by use of facilities in the ancient undersea world of Celestia, but it still raises a number of new questions. Some of the wizard researchers speculate that the enormous frog might be a powerful minion of Morganthe, while others are certain the frog's appearance is simply a prank by a wizard with more time than common sense. Whatever the case, Wizard101 has helped provide us with the answer to a great scientific mystery, and for that we can all rest a little easier.

Wizard101 reveals the truth behind the green blob in space originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take part in space exploration with NASA's coming MMO

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, New titles, Previews, Academic, Education, Virtual worlds

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.)

Take 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.

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