Moonbase Alpha (video game)
Encyclopedia
Moonbase Alpha is a video game that provides a realistic simulation of life on a natural satellite based on potential moon base programs. It was made by the Army Game Studio, developers of America's Army
, and Virtual Heroes, Inc.
in conjunction with NASA Learning Technologies. The game was released on July 6, 2010, as a free download on Steam. At the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference
in 2010, the games won the top honors in the government category of the Serious Game Showcase & Challenge.
, NASA's massively multiplayer online game. It was also designed to encourage an interest in space exploration in school children. Because the game is meant to be a collaborative effort, the repair mission can be conducted by six players with an additional six observers. An online leaderboard is included, encouraging players to use teamwork to help repair the station faster and earn a spot on the leaderboard.
Designed using the Unreal 3 Engine, Moonbase Alpha features solo or team play, VOIP chat, and an alternate voiceable chat engine.
America's Army
America's Army is a series of video games and other media developed by the United States Army and released as a global public relations initiative to help with recruitment. America's Army was conceived by Colonel Casey Wardynski and is managed by the U.S...
, and Virtual Heroes, Inc.
Virtual Heroes, Inc.
Virtual Heroes, Inc. is a serious game developer in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It was founded in 2004 by veteran developers with an average of about ten years in either the entertainment gaming or simulation & training industries.-Organization:...
in conjunction with NASA Learning Technologies. The game was released on July 6, 2010, as a free download on Steam. At the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference
The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference is an organization dedicated to the promotion of cooperation among the Armed Services, Industry, Academia and various Government agencies that are in pursuit of improved training and education programs, identification of...
in 2010, the games won the top honors in the government category of the Serious Game Showcase & Challenge.
Plot
Moonbase Alpha is set in the year 2032 and focuses on exploring the day in the life of a lunar-based astronaut. As a meteor strike damages an outpost near the moon's South Pole, the player must take control of a member of the outpost's research team and repair the outpost in order to save the 12 years of research accomplished there. These tasks will include repairing vital components of the life support system, solar array and oxygen units, and can be accomplished with a wide variety of tools ranging from robotic repair units to the lunar rover.Development
Moonbase Alpha was designed as a tech demo to test ideas to be used in Astronaut: Moon, Mars and BeyondAstronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond
Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond is the title of a massively multiplayer online game which , is being developed by NASA with Project Whitecard Inc., WisdomTools Enterprises and the Virtual Heroes division of Applied Research Associates, Inc...
, NASA's massively multiplayer online game. It was also designed to encourage an interest in space exploration in school children. Because the game is meant to be a collaborative effort, the repair mission can be conducted by six players with an additional six observers. An online leaderboard is included, encouraging players to use teamwork to help repair the station faster and earn a spot on the leaderboard.
Designed using the Unreal 3 Engine, Moonbase Alpha features solo or team play, VOIP chat, and an alternate voiceable chat engine.