NASA to develop MMORPG on space exploration

If "Angry Birds" can make physics fun, can an upcoming massive multiplayer online role playing (MMORPG) game from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) do the same for astrophysics? NASA is now working on "Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond," a game set in 2035 with mankind setting off to settle across the Solar System. "Real science, technology, engineering, mathematics and physics content is infused throughout the AMMB universe. Astronauts may pick from several character classes, including several types of Engineer, Physicists, and Pilots," said a description of the game on its website. The game is being developed using the Unreal Engine 3 platform, even as a playable beta can be expected in December 2012. AMMB also promises "mission-based learning with players tackling problems that harsh space environments and complex technology can bring." Crowdsourced help Presently, funding for the game is being crowdsourced, with 597 backers pledging $32,057 - surpassing the $25,000 goal - as of Wednesday afternoon. Canadian game studio Project Whitecard is now working on the project, according to a separate article on tech site Mashable. The studio's CEO, Khaled Shariff, told Mashable NASA could have spent a million dollars to make a game, but it may not be something players want. “It’s an opportunity for us to experience the solar system [in a way] that, surprisingly, hasn’t been done up to this point. We want to present a realistic Mars for you to visit. What better way to do it than for NASA to make sure we’re getting it right?" he said. In the game, Shariff said one will need to qualify for gear, from space suits to space ships. “Who doesn’t want to drive six people around on Mars in a rover? Awesome! But in order to have that rover … you’ll have to know how the friction of the wheels interacts with the Martian surface," he said. NASA consultants Mashable said NASA consultants are on hand to keep the game "scientifically honest." “Wouldn’t it be great to play a game, and at the end of an hour and a half, you understand a little bit more about quantum mechanics or jet engines?" Shariff said. But Shariff also admitted there are constraints on how many players can be in one area at a time. "You can’t pile 200 people into the same room on the space station," he said. — TJD, GMA News