Dear game makers: please tell me in a clear and easy to find way on your landing page what platforms you support. I shouldn't have to drill down into a FAQ to find this. Microsoft and Apple even provide handy icons to help.
Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
51–60 of 61 posts
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#52Can anyone explain as to what this game provides over the well-developed Orbiter ( http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ ) aside from the build-your-own-space-launch-system angle?
It’s actually fun? It’s actually a game?
Orbiter is not really a game. Its UI is terrible, it’s full of complexity, all that. Now, that’s all fine for a simulator, but not for a game.
If you want a game that gives you better feedback and a much better UI and much more laser-focused prioritization of what’s actually important and essential to putting space travel in a game, then you want KSP.
Orbiter to KSP is like Garry’s Mod (only less accessible and even less of a game) to Minecraft.
Comparing the two doesn’t even make that much sense. You get vastly different things out of them.
(Also, it’s arguably more beautiful to look at.)
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#53Ok so one of the coolest things in this game is that you can have multiple flights occurring at once. Has anyone been able to intercept another flight they have put into space? What other crazy feats would be interesting to accomplish? From what I can tell you can only attempt things based on this solar system. This game is so enthralling for an engineer. It plagues me every moment since I got the game I love this sa…
> Are any of you sharing designs on the wiki yet? That's what the Spaceport is for (and it will soon be incorporated in the game).
Also check out /r/kerbalspaceprogram - it's a very friendly community with lots of advice.
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#54I've had a lot of fun with this game. It's entertaining and educational. Designing and flying different rocket designs is really interesting, and there's a lot of depth to it. Highly recommended.
I think it's could be a lot of fun but none of my computer are equipped to run this game. So, it's a bit of a drag.
Have you checked out the demo? They recently switched to Unity 4 which has increased performance a fair bit.
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#55I'm very familiar with this game, but I've never played it! I randomly found a channel on TwitchTV where someone was playing it and had a really active commenting community. I watched him a few times in the background while I was doing something else, and even commented a little. This was months ago. Perhaps he was playing a beta or something. It baffles me slightly that now this is on the front page of HN but I love that there's that join-up with a coincidental channel I watched. What a funny age we live in :)
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
KSP uses the Unity engine for rendering. They've recently switched to version 4 I believe. There are options in the game to hold back on the graphics rendering and get some CPU back. I love this game as well, there's a tongue-in-cheek approach to some stuff that keeps it from getting too serious about itself.
Definitely -- if I pull back on the settings, will it be less "realtime"? Pardon my lack of understanding! I don't know much about graphics, how closely tied is the graphics engine to whatever Kerbal uses for physics? I love the names and faces of the astronauts and pilots.
I don't believe the physics will be held back, the Unity engine will just spend less time drawing the graphics. As far as I can tell things look almost the same.
And yes, Jebediah is the man. Um, I mean, Kerbin.
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#57Can anyone explain as to what this game provides over the well-developed Orbiter ( http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ ) aside from the build-your-own-space-launch-system angle?
It’s actually fun? It’s actually a game? Orbiter is not really a game. Its UI is terrible, it’s full of complexity, all that. Now, that’s all fine for a simulator, but not for a game. If you want a game that gives you better feedback and a much better UI and much more laser-focused prioritization of what’s actually important and essential to putting space travel in a game, then you want KSP. Orbiter to KSP is like Ga…
Thanks!
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#58Can anyone explain as to what this game provides over the well-developed Orbiter ( http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ ) aside from the build-your-own-space-launch-system angle?
Linux- and Mac-native ports, a forthcoming gamey 'career mode', and the ability to send up multiple spacecraft to dock with each other and do all sorts of concurrent space-stuff (Orbiter might have this by now, it's while since I looked at it).
The chance to build, launch, and crash your very own space jalopy ought to be worth the price of admission on it's own, though!
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#59I don't see it mentioned in the comments but those interested in realistic space flight simulation should check Orbiter [1]. Orbiter tries to be as physically accurate as possible by using accurate drag models, elliptical gravity (no circular orbits) and many other interesting features. It has a large community behind it and is scriptable with Lua. I have only played with it for a couple of days and I am impressed by…
Can you explain what "elliptical gravity" is in this context, and why it means no circular orbits?
Re: Kerbal Space Program - space flight simulator game
#60I don't see it mentioned in the comments but those interested in realistic space flight simulation should check Orbiter [1]. Orbiter tries to be as physically accurate as possible by using accurate drag models, elliptical gravity (no circular orbits) and many other interesting features. It has a large community behind it and is scriptable with Lua. I have only played with it for a couple of days and I am impressed by…
Can you explain what "elliptical gravity" is in this context, and why it means no circular orbits?
I am by no means an expert, but can try to explain it. Circular orbits are a simplification used when there is no need for high accuracy, the math is much more simpler. The problem is that celestial bodies in the real world do not follow circular orbits, they move in orbits with an elliptical shape (not always!), following Kepler's Laws. If you want to predict the position of a planet into the future, this is the model you have to use. You should check the following links, if you are interested in the topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keplers_laws_of_planetary_motio...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtons_law_of_universal_gravit...