Incredible Kerbal Space Program Trailer

[mikeck]

Uhhh. No....what's exciting about looking at anomolies on my own planet? Oh we'll, or jotting a satellite is good practice for putting one on another planet

[sandman2575]

For folks playing this on Steam -- any issues with modding?  I know Steam auto-update + mods can sometimes = headaches.

Also -- just how steep a learning curve here?  I see that 'trial and error' is a large part of the allure -- but would you say this is an 'easy to get into, hard to master' game, or, 'hard to get into -- better do your homework first -- but worth the payoff once you figure it out' - ?

[mikeck]

 I'm using Nova Punch mod...no problems but haven't had an auto update. It should t be a problem as the mod doesn't replace files...it just adds them.

As for learning curve? Watch the tutorial for first orbit. The link is on an earlier page in this thread. Teaches you what you need. Basically, build your rocket (he shows u how). When u are at about 16,000 meters set your rocket to fly at 45 degrees. Keep going until your ball says you are in orbit (as opposed to surface). Cut throttel off completely and Go to the orbital map and "set maneuver" once you have the orbit you want, go back to your ship. Next to the ball you will see a "t-minus" and a burn time. Point your ship at the blue crosshairs and fire the engine when you are at "t-minus" time. Them fire thrusters for your burn time and your in orbit.

Now, none of this makes sense...but watch the video and it will.

I made a successful orbit after about 8 tries. Usually the problem is building a rocket with insufficient fuel left for orbital maneuvers. Remember to keep enough fuel to slow down to re-enter.

Basically, it's not hard to figure out how to work the mechanics of the game. It is hard to execute.
I was a doubter at first but am having a blast now. You get a real sense of accomplishment when you finally put a guy in orbit and bring him back home. Next for me is designing a satellite and placing it in orbit. Then it's a sat to orbit the mun, then a probe.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tgPr4q5tj-Q

Try this... This is the best one I found

[em2nought]

The one thing that still puzzles me about this game is the dev's design decision to build it around the cartoony / Pixar-y Kerbals, rather than just, I dunno, regular ol' humans? 

I just find it a little jarring, the disconnect between the 'seriousness' -- or realism, maybe -- of the subject matter -- build a successful space program -- and the cartoony Kerbals. 

Personally, I have more empathy for Kerbals than humans. lol 

[sandman2575]

Thanks for the link.  OK, watching that, I'm sold.  I literally laughed out loud when he was in orbit and switched to the first-person pilot's perspective to take a look out of the capsule window.  Just wasn't expecting that was a feature!  Made me think of Ed Harris as John Glenn in "The Right Stuff."  Pretty effin' brilliant.

...this game looks dangerously addictive...

[mikeck]

Ok, so I am launching a kerbal for a standard orbit mission in my Mercury mk2. I'm getting pretty good at these launches and my rocket is very stable...so, I get into a good orbit with lots of fuel left. So I say "screw it"...lets try an orbit around the Mun. So I click on a maneuver point and pull the orbit out until it goes out past the Mun and returns to Kerbin. "Great!" I say, "I've got tons of fuel and only need a 40 second burn to reach that orbit! We're going to the Mun! That wasn't so hard."

Problem: stupid Newton and his stupid ass physics. By the time I reached the point in my orbit where I was supposed to be swooping low over the lunar landscape...the Mun was gone. That's right....you guys might not know this but the Mun (moon) actually orbits too! Shocked? I was. So I ended up orbiting nothing as the moon had moved millions of miles by the time i got there.

Everyone made it home safe...if not embarrassed.

[Toonces]

LOL.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I learned about space and orbital mechanics when I started goofing of with Orbiter. 

What's funny is that I spent all this time learning about orbital mechanics to play a stupid game and now I'm taking some graduate courses in space systems for work and most of the orbital stuff is already in my head.  Who says games don't pay off?