Kerbal Space Program is now feature-complete and out of early access. The sandbox space agency sim by Squad now has and actual game to go with its physics playground and the developer feels confident that the game has reached a point worthy of being called a 1.0 release. In recent Reddit discussions with fans, Squad confirmed that they will continue updating the game for free for as long as they can, and that they would not sell DLC unless it was “something huge that adds a lot of gameplay” like a more traditional expansion. Among the features of the 1.0 launch are a female crewmember, an overhauled flight model, a new heat sim, fairings for rocket construction, and resource mining.
Kerbal Space Program 1.0 is what we envisioned when development of the game started four years ago: we set out to make a game in which the player is given ultimate control over the exploration of space: from designing their rockets to launching and flying them to their destinations, in a universe that was modeled to be as realistic as possible while remaining fun to play in.
Kerbal Space Program has been endorsed by NASA, Elon Musk of SpaceX, and the European Space Agency. The game is available on Steam, GOG, and the official KSP site.
Kerbal Space Program, the quirky but cunningly disarming rocketry sim, has gained a substantial upgrade to its career mode. The First Contract update adds consequences for failure besides spectacular high-altitude explosions. Players can take contracts from various in-game sources that will give them tasks like conducting tests of new technologies, rescuing stranded Kerbals, and getting to target locations via cobbled-together spacecraft. Success will net more funding, while failure can impact your reputation, making future contracts less lucrative. Squad’s Felipe Falanghe explained the progression.
“First Contract is a massive step forward for Career Mode. Finally, we’re starting to paint a clear picture of our original vision for the complete thing. Although there is still a lot to add on future updates, the new Career features should help new players pick up the game in a much more structured manner.”
Kerbal Space Program will be getting a special update that features an assignment that mimics a real-life NASA mission to explore asteroids in our solar system. The Asteroid Redirect Mission, created in partnership with NASA, is broken into three stages based on this real project that began in 2013. Players will need to identify asteroid candidates, build a suitable manned (or Kerbaled) spacecraft to intercept and redirect the asteroid, and send the crew out to conduct experiments on the surface of the asteroid. I’m sure that getting the crew back safely is probably another step they just neglected to mention. The update adds new parts to help players accomplish the mission including super-large fuel tanks and a robotic grappling device to latch onto asteroids or other objects. Bob Jacobs, deputy associate administrator for Communications at NASA, explained the partnership with the game’s developer Squad.
“The collaboration with Kerbal Space Program can help drive interest by future explorers in next-generation technology development and deep space exploration. Having an element of the experience based in the reality of NASA’s exploration initiatives empower players to manage their own space program while getting valuable insight into the reality of studying asteroids as a next step in getting to Mars.”
Squad has added a “career mode” to Kerbal Space Program. The 0.22 update features a Research & Development Facility that tasks players with research missions. Experiments can be conducted which unlocks more advanced spacecraft components on a tech tree. Build rockets, fling them into orbit, and make your little green guys gather data. For science! Your kerbonauts finally have a purpose when they land on the Mun. If you don’t care for the career restrictions, sandbox mode is still available from the start of the game.
Kerbal Space Program is $23.00 on Steam Early Access or direct from the developer’s website.
Indie games Take on Mars and Kerbal Space Program have exciting new updates that will allow gamers to blow virtual tax money into stardust. Bohemia Interactive released Update 2 for Take on Mars that adds Steam Workshop support so budding Mars rover engineers can share their user creations. The developer also announced that on October 3rd, the game will receive a “Deimos Update” that will add two new locations, a Zero-G Probe, and dynamically generated missions. Bohemia plans to also add martian weather so Mars explorers can lose expensive equipment in dust storms. Gamers on the fence should pick it up before the release date of the Deimos Update because the price will increase from $12.99 to $17.99.
Squad released a preview video for Kerbal Space Program to announce a substantial version 0.22 update that will add a R&D Center to the game. Research and design will feature a tech tree with spacecraft parts to blow up. Items will unlock by fulfilling scientific missions which will require successively more advanced parts to complete. Rocket designers should be glad to hear that they will also be able to save sections of created craft for future use in the forthcoming update.
Both spacecraft destruction simulators are available on Steam Early Access or on the developers’ websites.
