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KSP allows support for extensive modding, allowing anything from craft parts to whole autopilot systems to be created. All mods can be hosted on the game's official mod site, Kerbal SpacePort, which can be accessed via a link in the main menu.
KSP allows support for extensive modding, allowing anything from craft parts to whole autopilot systems to be created. All mods can be hosted on the game's official mod site, Kerbal SpacePort, which can be accessed via a link in the main menu.


There are a wide variety of available mods; autopilot tools, geodetic mapping systems, resource scanning and harvesting, various methods of life support for crew members, data graphing systems, communications network systems, and extensive collections of new parts. Many mods have attempted to cover aspects of the game that have not yet been developed by Squad, and some modders have even been hired by Squad in order to do in-house work due to their comparatively high quality.
There are a wide variety of available mods; autopilot tools, geodetic mapping systems, resource scanning and harvesting, various methods of life support for crew members, data graphing systems, communications network systems, and extensive collections of new parts (including recreations of real and historic spacecraft, including [[Apollo program|Apollo]] and the [[Space Shuttle]]). Many mods have attempted to cover aspects of the game that have not yet been developed by Squad, and some modders have even been hired by Squad in order to do in-house work due to their comparatively high quality.


==Reception==
==Reception==

Revision as of 20:50, 16 October 2013

Kerbal Space Program
Developer(s)Squad
Publisher(s)Squad
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
ReleaseJune 24, 2011 (alpha 0.7.3)[1] October 16, 2013 (latest, alpha 0.22.0)[1]
Genre(s)Space Flight Simulator
Mode(s)Single-player Sandbox

Kerbal Space Program (commonly abbreviated to KSP) is a sandbox-style space flight simulator with gameplay elements currently in development for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The first public alpha was released on June 24, 2011 and updates have been continually released since. KSP has support for mods, all of which are hosted on an official modding website. It is currently sold on the official KSP Store or, since March 20, 2013, through Steam.

Gameplay

A rocket sitting on the launchpad with the Vehicle Assembly Building and one of the planet Kerbin's moons in the background.

The game places the player in control of a nascent space program operated by Kerbals, a race of small green humanoids, who have constructed a fully furnished and functional spaceport (Kerbal Space Center, or KSC) on their homeworld Kerbin. What they lack in engineering expertise and common sense they more than make up for in enthusiasm and willingness to furnish any materials needed to become a spacefaring civilization, up to and including a seemingly endless stream of volunteers for manned space missions.

Gameplay consists of constructing rockets and spaceplanes out of a provided set of components and launching them from the in-game space center's launchpad or runway respectively. Many intricate designs can be constructed out of a wide selection of different engines, fuel tanks, wings, and so on. Vehicles can also be equipped with solar panels, RCS thrusters, wheels, or other components. Possible designs range from massive multi-stage rockets to aerodynamic SSTO craft. Once launched, spacecraft can be docked in orbit, or navigated to other celestial bodies and landed for surface operations.

Players can also construct Kerbal versions of their favorite aircraft, such as the V-22 Osprey, Blackhawk, and Concorde, or construct fanciful aircraft that have no real-world equivalent. The use of physics makes designing a regular jet aircraft just as difficult as designing a space plane. Because the physics of water are also implemented (complete with splashes and the capsule sinking a bit), building ships is also possible to an extent.

Players can also manage the spaceport's roster of astronauts, choosing personnel to assign to seats and having them exit the vehicle post-launch for extra-vehicular activity. These astronauts are ranked (as of version .21.1) by 2 factors: bravery and stupidity.

The game does not have any specific goals as only its sandbox mode is implemented; a more directed and limited career mode will be added in the future. For now, players are free to attempt any mission they can construct a vehicle capable of performing. Typical self-assigned tasks include landing robotic vehicles on other planets in the system, or sending a Kerbal to the closest natural satellite and then returning him safely to his homeworld. Another popular activity is constructing large permanent space stations out of individually launched components. Historical spacecraft can be recreated and their accomplishments mimicked, such as the Apollo program, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, or the International Space Station. Players may also install mods which implement destinations and goals for the game, such as mining for resources or incrementally deploying an interplanetary communication network.

Development of the game remains ongoing and the studio, Squad, have promised that in the future new features will be added, such as the aforementioned career mode, damage from atmospheric friction, and a system for creating reusable spacecraft, but they have ruled out any plans to include multiplayer.

File:KSP Mainmenu 0.21.1.png
The Kerbal Space Program main menu

Physics

The game has been praised for its realistic representation of orbital mechanics. Every object in the game except the celestial bodies themselves are under the control of a Newtonian dynamics simulation. Rocket thrust and aerodynamic forces are applied accurately to a vehicle's frame based on the positions in which the force-generating elements are mounted. The strength of the joints connecting parts together is finite and vehicles can be torn apart by excessive or inappropriately directed thrust. Planets in the system have atmospheres of varying heights and densities, affecting the efficiency of wings and parachutes and causing drag during flight. The simulations are accurate enough that real-world techniques such as Hohmann transfers and aerobraking are viable methods of navigating the solar system. As of the current version (0.21.1), the game simulates trajectories and orbits using patched conic approximation instead of a full n-body simulation, and thus does not support Lagrange points and halo orbits.

Development

The game is currently in the alpha stage of development and is considered by the developers to be only a small approximation of the final product.[2] New features are added regularly in updates to the game. No dates or requirements for a transition into beta or a final release have been announced. KSP is written in C# and uses the Unity engine.

Alpha 0.7.3 was released on June 24, 2011 – this was the game's first public release. The game has been moddable from the very early versions[1] and has steadily become more robust.[3] Versions 0.13.3 (March 3, 2012) and 0.18.3 (February 12, 2013) are available, in limited form, as demos; they are available at no cost but have limited content and can not receive updates. The latest version of the game, 0.22.0, was released on October 16, 2013.[1]

Mods

KSP allows support for extensive modding, allowing anything from craft parts to whole autopilot systems to be created. All mods can be hosted on the game's official mod site, Kerbal SpacePort, which can be accessed via a link in the main menu.

There are a wide variety of available mods; autopilot tools, geodetic mapping systems, resource scanning and harvesting, various methods of life support for crew members, data graphing systems, communications network systems, and extensive collections of new parts (including recreations of real and historic spacecraft, including Apollo and the Space Shuttle). Many mods have attempted to cover aspects of the game that have not yet been developed by Squad, and some modders have even been hired by Squad in order to do in-house work due to their comparatively high quality.

Reception

Commercial

The game is considered a success, having over 74,000 members registered on their forums with over 5,000 active users.[4] In the hours after its Steam release on March 20, 2013 it reached the top 5 of best sold games,[5] as well as the best seller on Steam for Linux.[6]

Press

The game has received an overall positive critical reception. IGN mentioned the game in the article "Five Ridiculous Upcoming Games".[7] PC Gamer has given the game extensive coverage.[8] Other publications have referred fondly to Kerbal Space Program, including Gamespy,[9] The Torch,[10] and Rock, Paper, Shotgun.[11]

The initial public release was received well, with sites such as Kotaku[12] and Rock, Paper, Shotgun[13] praising the game's replayability and creative aspects. It has also received a substantial following on Reddit with over 50,000 subscribers.[14]

Scientific community

The game has notably crossed over into the scientific community with scientists and members of the space industry having an interest in the game – including NASA[15] and Copenhagen Suborbitals.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Version History – KSP wiki". Kerbal Space Program Wiki. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "About". Kerbal Space Program. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "Plugins - Kerbal Space Program Wiki". Wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com. February 22, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  4. ^ "Kerbal Space Program Forum". Squad. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. ^ Relaxnews (June 17, 2013). "PC Download Charts". xin.msn. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  6. ^ Silviu Stahie (April 1, 2013). "Kerbal Space Program Is the Best-Selling Game on Steam for Linux". softpedia. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  7. ^ Anthony Gallegos (April 21, 2012). "Five Ridiculous Upcoming Games". IGN. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  8. ^ "Kerbal Space Program". PCGamer. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  9. ^ Mike Nelson (March 29, 2012). "Become a Terribly Awesome Rocket Scientist With Kerbal Space Program". GameSpy. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  10. ^ Atomp (January 31, 2013). "Kerbal Space Program (Beta) , SQUAD (P)review". The Torch. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  11. ^ Craig Pearson (May 24, 2013). "(Not) Rocket Science In Kerbal Space Program". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  12. ^ Luke Plunkett (July 18, 2011). "Will You Help These Stupid Aliens Into Space?". Kotaku.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  13. ^ "Trans-Lunar: Kerbal Space Program". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "/r/KerbalSpaceProgram statistics". stattit.com. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  15. ^ Andrew Groen (June 18, 2013). "NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab is obsessed with a certain game, and I bet you can guess what it is". The PA Report. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  16. ^ "Copenhagen Suborbitals joins KSP Forums". KSP Forums. May 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
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