NASA Wants MMO game

[Fatal291]

NASA doesn't just explore space, it also exploring video gaming! NASA is shifting though proposals from companies keen on creating a MMO that will let students create phony experiments and test out different NASA careers. Says NASA:


NASA is in a position to develop an online game that functions as a persistent, synthetic environment supporting education as a laboratory, a massive visualisation tool, and collaborative workspace while simultaneously drawing users into a challenging, gameplay experience.


Wow, NASA not only talks in the third person, but sounds really boring. This ploy seems like Space Camp for kids whose parents aren't willing to cough up the insane camp fees. Note about Space Camp: I attended as a child and wasn't "selected" as an astronaut. I was a Mission Control flunky instead. We had to read from a binder notebook and flip switches, just like that girl in the above picture. Trust me, she's thinking, "worst camp ever"! And yes, I'm still bitter.
Space MMO [Game Industry]

http://kotaku.com/346400/nasa-wants-mmo

[JennieM]

Note about Space Camp: I attended as a child and wasn't "selected" as an astronaut. I was a Mission Control flunky instead. We had to read from a binder notebook and flip switches, just like that girl in the above picture. Trust me, she's thinking, "worst camp ever"! And yes, I'm still bitter.

When did you go? When I was there, we always ran two missions in Level I and you were always an astronaut in one and MC on the other. That way, everyone had their chance to be an "astronaut."

[Fatal291]

me personally ive never gone, all of that was from the editor none of that was written by me.. it was an interesting article Space Camp + NASA i thought it would be interesting to post. I hope to go this year but it will be with the Adult program because im 19 now my bday is december i really wanted to go with the ASA I hope i still can if there is enough room the adult one might be boring

[pilotgirl21]

The adult camps are not boring! You can learn and comprehend more at the adult camps than if you went when you were younger.

I attended one of the weekend alumni camps last summer and only wish that I could afford to attend the week-long adult camp. The adult camps have more classroom, learning, and sim time than the younger camps, with less "rest" time. In the adult camps you get more freedom to choose if you want to attend certain lectures and classes and such...of course, it would be stupid to miss too much because you are paying money to go to camp. You get the freedom to leave the grounds and go to the store if you need to, or order some pizza, or go to bars (although I think you said you were only 19, so I guess the bars are out for you). There is great opportunity for team bonding as late into the night as you wish.

I personally liked the adult camp better than attending ASA when I was 16 and 17, even though I was only there for 4 days this time. Hopefully in the future I can attend the longer adult program.

[kidjim25]

Rest time? I don't remember us getting much rest time as teenagers Lisa. At least in my room we didnt. Usually bed time was around 11 but we didn't fall asleep till 1am or so. then it was up at 6.

Last year's alumni camp I felt we may have had more rest. Then again it could be because i was staying at the hotel and not in the hab. I'm with you though i wouldnt mind doing a week long camp again.

[pilotgirl21]

Rest time? I don't remember us getting much rest time as teenagers Lisa. At least in my room we didnt. Usually bed time was around 11 but we didn't fall asleep till 1am or so. then it was up at 6.

Last year's alumni camp I felt we may have had more rest. Then again it could be because i was staying at the hotel and not in the hab. I'm with you though i wouldnt mind doing a week long camp again.

When I went to camp in 97, I remember that during our down times we ran around wild, rode Space Shot about a hundred times, and did what we wanted. At night, since I was in the same room as most of my female teammates, we spent most of the night talking and eating.

During 98, the scheduled down time was spent in the Hab, supposedly resting. I usually sat downstairs with the counselors. That year I was in a room with none of my female teammates, so I spent hours after "bedtime" sitting downstairs talking with the counselors. I was one of the old ones in the group, on my way to college that fall, so I felt like I had more in common with the counselors anyways.