How would a real time space simulator sound?

[InsertUsername]

I know that sounds a little wacky, but I'm planning to start developing an app for smartphones and I've been thinking about creating a game similar to KSP, except everything happens in real time and there is no way to revert your missions. I'd appreciate some feedback on the idea.

Now that may sound boring, but; the way I picture it is that it would be similar to something like Farmville, except instead of waiting for your crops to grow; you're waiting for your spacecraft to arrive at it's location.

Unlike with KSP, this game would focus a lot on what happens prior to the mission beyond just designing the rocket. What I'm thinking is designing missions, playing with simulators of space missions (with time accelerations) and training astronauts to fill in the gaps between your flights. (Note; the game would probably include futuristic yet realistic rocketry in order to shorten the gaps between flights to planets to months instead of years, although the technology would start as simple chemical rockets.)

Does the idea sound okay? Feel free to give constructive criticism.

[Tex]

The only part that worries me is the real-time part. Even if you did manage to shorten the trips from years to months.... It's still going to be real-time? I think that you would indeed be better off to make it a FV-type game where missions could perhaps take at most a couple of days. Anything beyond 2 days is likely going to throw a huge audience off of a pretty slim audience anyway.

The rest of your ideas sound really good, though! Me gusta! I'd download it

[Thomas988]

The game sounds great, but even getting to a moon could take days (even longer if it's in a real-life sized universe). Otherwise, I'm on board!

[daniel l.]

It would consist of small pistons that elevate themselves to emulate a terrain, Then VR Goggles would paste a texture over it to make it look like a real enviroment

[Dispatcher]

In space, no one can hear you simulate.

[Whirligig Girl]

Make it a 1/100 earth scale and then the wait won't be intolerable, but still it would be a lot.

[InsertUsername]

I understand the issues related to the long periods it would take for missions, however, the way the game would be played differs from KSP in the respect that in KSP a few missions take place over a single play session, while on this game, single missions would take place over multiple play sessions.

Another thing to note would be that this game will be more fixed around the home planet and it's moon rather than the other planets. The planets would be visit-able, however, these planets would be the goals for the experienced players. I expect that most players of the game would go no further than the planets orbits and most of their goals would be to go to the moon.

Unlike with KSP, there would be more of an insensitive to send up satellites and space stations rather than to explore the other planets because science on this game would actually be useful to the player beyond giving them science points; for example telescopes could be erected in space to spot asteroids.

Thanks for the feedback though; I think that I'm comfortable with most missions lasting a few days, but I don't like the idea of missions lasting longer than a month.

[megatiger78]

maybe a star trek game with orbital mechanics... or star wars... or IXS simulator 2015

[Tex]

I understand the issues related to the long periods it would take for missions, however, the way the game would be played differs from KSP in the respect that in KSP a few missions take place over a single play session, while on this game, single missions would take place over multiple play sessions.

Ouch ouch ouch. I'm sorry, but I honestly believe that will hurt the game way more than it will make it interesting. Having one mission be the entire focus, especially on a mobile game, will not go well. I mean, please keep in mind that this is all opinion, but I believe the best way to do it would be to have a roster of multiple missions that could all happen simultaneously, allowing the player to get more done. This still allows players to gain expertise simply from trying to balance all the missions efficiently.

And it's good that you're comfy with the days-long missions, but if doing such a mission takes away the ability to do anything else in the meantime, then people will become disinterested fast!

And thanks for hearing our suggestions

[Norpo]

Sounds interesting, as long as it's (as said above), multiple missions, and not just the one.

A space program in your pocket, I like the idea.

[quasarrgames]

I like it! I hope you end up making it, it sounds very fun!

I understand that it's going to be a more "serious" game, but it should still keep some of the bootstrap-ness and blowy-uppy-ness of KSP. Also, maybe a revert button for easy-mode players wouldn't be too bad Just my two cents.

Also, please don't add some kind of system where you pay real money to time warp!