KSP 1.0 Reviewed by Rock, Paper, Shotgun

[Apollo13]

I can't post to the Daily Kerbal Forum, where other reviews are posted.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun Review

[regex]

I like how pretty much all the pictures are splattered with MechJeb. And then there's this quote:

MechJeb is a complicated mess of windows and words that will frighten and startle you. But after learning my way around a handful of its functions, I can vouch for its absolute necessity.

Emphasis mine. Thanks for starving us of information, Squad.

[amorymeltzer]

One thing that's been really heartening to see in all the major reviews is how pretty much everyone latched onto the idea of the Kerbals themselves being integral to the success of the game. I don't think it's too far to say that those little green idiots are responsible for a lot of the culture behind KSP. Squad really hit it out the part with them.

[Bill Phil]

I like how pretty much all the pictures are splattered with MechJeb. And then there's this quote:

Emphasis mine. Thanks for starving us of information, Squad.

There are some people who aren't amazing at the game without it. Others that are, and a whole plethora of other types of people. While I would like to have more info relating to my rocket, it's not essential for me. But that's me. I'm the type of person that does well without it. But even if the game is impossible for someone to play without it, it doesn't make them less good of a player.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Bill Phil
Auto correct is evil

[Renegrade]

There are some people who aren't amazing at the game without it. Others that are, and a whole plethora of other types of people. While I would like to have more info relating to my rocket, it's not essential for me. But that's me. I'm the type of person that does well without it. But even if the game is impossible for someone to play without it, it doesn't make them less good of a player.

Uhh...wat?

[Hcube]

Uhh...wat?

He's probably talking about the delta-V and TWR info (and much more) that MechJeb offers

EDIT : Started reading the review...

The sun has orbited the earth roughly four times since some version of KSP was available....

Urgh... someone didnt't get it. Unless this is a (weird) joke, the irony is strong on this one. The one reviewer of KSP gets sun-earth rotation wrong. (he probably was distracted, but even then..)

made me feel like the King of Physics.

Not yet, actually ><

Edited May 13, 2015 by Hcube

[sal_vager]

Hmm, even Pewdiepie managed okay without MechJeb....

[Hcube]

Pewdiepie managed okay

Err... did he ? I don't think so, unless crashing random tanks into the launchpad repetitively is "managing okay"

Pewdiepie sucked in his ksp video

[Superfluous J]

I like how pretty much all the pictures are splattered with MechJeb. And then there's this quote:

MechJeb is a complicated mess of windows and words that will frighten and startle you. But after learning my way around a handful of its functions, I can vouch for its absolute necessity.

Emphasis mine. Thanks for starving us of information, Squad.

Actually based on the rest of what he said, I'm pretty sure he meant it was essential that he could use the autopilot to do everything for him. Which is something I'll be happy if Squad starves us of forever.

[sal_vager]

Err... did he ? I don't think so, unless crashing random tanks into the launchpad repetitively is "managing okay"

Pewdiepie sucked in his ksp video

Lol I thought that too, then I watched it to the end, he was really getting into it

[Hcube]

Lol I thought that too, then I watched it to the end, he was really getting into it

Oh well that might be it : I couldn't stand watching past half the video

My bad

</off-topic>

[basic.syntax]

I've been gradually leaning toward regex views, on the question: I think extended numbers information could be hidden behind various "advanced" buttons, (and in career mode: Tracking and R&D upgrades) so that it doesn't bury noobs under a "complicated mess of windows and words that will frighten and startle." I think that quote excerpt is what worries Squad. Adding the option into stock, to display extended info, would definitely appeal to more experienced players.

The early resistance on this question is eroding. dV info was delayed, not canceled outright. In my view, the culture of continuous updates Squad is entering makes it nearly inevitable that more UI work will be done, and more info provided in stock.

[Alshain]

"The sun has orbited the earth roughly four times since some version of KSP was available"

You review KSP and you can't even get the basics right. Part of me wants to believe that was an accident, but there is this doubt in the back of my mind...

Sorry to sound condecending, but I put 0 stock in any review that says MechJeb is a necessity.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Alshain

[Tourist]

I don't necessarily agree that Mechjeb is "essential". I've reached all the major KSP milestones without it, and I'm no Scott Manley, Mun landing, Duna, Tylo, an working SSTO etc.... have I reached them all efficiently and elegantly?... certainly not.... good grief some of those successes were ugly.. very ugly.

On the other hand, the docking alignment widget.... I believe that is essential, and should be stock in some form. (Admittedly, this is a common refrain in the community. Ie "Squad why are you not making (enter commenters favourite mod here) stock." It could be implemented so easily too, you don't even need an addition UI component, just an marking on the NavBall to indicate alignment vis-a-vis the docking port. Trying to eyeball docking can just be a pain sometimes. Ok, maybe not essential either but, jeez... it would be so, so nice.

[basic.syntax]

"The sun has orbited the earth roughly four times since some version of KSP was available"

You review KSP and you can't even get the basics right. Part of me wants to believe that was an accident, but there is this doubt in the back of my mind...

Sorry to sound condecending, but I put 0 stock in any review that says MechJeb is a necessity.

One of the comments below the review brought up the sun orbit statement. Not the best review I have read. I think a review should focus on what is included in the box, with maybe a few lines mentioning that good and interesting mods are available, but not go into so much detail about how they work. I think something as feature-packed as mechjeb, deserves its own article

[r_rolo1]

Yeah, I also think this is probably the weakest review of KSP 1.0 I've read so far ... mainly because the author is NOT reviewing KSP in itself , but a somewhat modded version of it. For better or worse, a review of any game has to be on the merits of the game as it comes out of the box, otherwise you're reviewing the mods you chose and not ( only ) the game.

Also , the author seems somewhat clueless at points , but then again, expecting that reviewers of a game can actually play it is something that I left behind a decade or two ago

[regex]

I've been gradually leaning toward regex views, on the question: I think extended numbers information could be hidden behind various "advanced" buttons, (and in career mode: Tracking and R&D upgrades) so that it doesn't bury noobs under a "complicated mess of windows and words that will frighten and startle." I think that quote excerpt is what worries Squad. Adding the option into stock, to display extended info, would definitely appeal to more experienced players.

Generally when I'm talking about having more information, I'm talking about something like the following:

• Apoapsis
  
• Time to Apoapsis
  
• Periapsis
  
• Time to Periapsis
  
• Inclination

I use these mainly during launch because I don't coast if I can help it, otherwise the map screen is fine because you're generally setting up a rendezvous or transfer, or figuring out where to land.

• Radar Altimeter
  
• Current TWR
  
• Total Delta-V

These are pretty crucial to have on the main flight screen, TWR especially during launch.

That is what I consider the bare minimum of information needed to get around in KSP or RSS purely from the flight screen. I could do without the vertical and horizontal velocities, the biome, and the stage delta-V breakdown, those are gravy from Engineer. The eight items listed above, though ... it's criminal to hide those behind another screen or omit them. When I'm launching I want watch the launch or the navball, not page back and forth to the map screen trying to line something up.

Actually, relative inclination is also pretty useful during launch.

[CalculusWarrior]

"The sun has orbited the earth roughly four times since some version of KSP was available" You review KSP and you can't even get the basics right.

No, he's right. If you say otherwise, I'll sic the Pope on you!

[pincushionman]

I'm pretty sure the "sun has orbited the Earth four times" comment was probably the reviewer trying to be clever more than anything else; the sun going around the earth every day is the stardard geocentric view, while doing it annually isn't a part of any serious worldview.

…that, or he wanted to say something about orbits (the game is all about them, after all), and accidentally switched the words. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I agree, either way it was a little awkward.

[Mister Spock]

Nice review. I mostly agree with it. I don't agree that MechJeb is an "absolute necessity," though. I've never used it, and watching videos of others using it has persuaded me it's not for me. I don't criticize others for using it; it's just not my cup of tea. I do usually use Kerbal Engineer, as I agree it's important to know TWR and delta-V. But I've also played purely stock without Kerbal Engineer and just done the TWR and delta-V math myself. TWR isn't that tough; delta-V is admittedly a pain. Isn't that why Squad keeps delaying its promised display of delta-V?

[basic.syntax]

TWR isn't that tough; delta-V is admittedly a pain. Isn't that why Squad keeps delaying its promised display of delta-V?

dV info display postponed out of 1.0 (expected v1.1) - work was in progress, but not ready for 1.0. Reddit source

[Eric S]

Sorry to sound condecending, but I put 0 stock in any review that says MechJeb is a necessity.

We've seen a review that considers sandbox the meat of the game, a review that considers career the meat of the game, reviews that ignore mods, and a review that considers MechJeb essential. I'd say we're seeing that reviewer opinions differ as much as that of the players, which makes sense. I'll agree that this review wasn't particularly impressive though.

As for the delta-v readout, it got delayed because it's part of a bigger thing that wasn't ready in time for 1.0.

[KAP1985]

One thing that's been really heartening to see in all the major reviews is how pretty much everyone latched onto the idea of the Kerbals themselves being integral to the success of the game. I don't think it's too far to say that those little green idiots are responsible for a lot of the culture behind KSP. Squad really hit it out the part with them.

eh, I love the kerbals, but what makes ksp for me is the rocket building. I went online looking for a rocket building game, and boy did I find one

[Robotengineer]

"The sun has orbited the earth roughly four times since some version of KSP was available"

You review KSP and you can't even get the basics right. Part of me wants to believe that was an accident, but there is this doubt in the back of my mind...

Sorry to sound condecending, but I put 0 stock in any review that says MechJeb is a necessity.

We all know that the idea that the home planet orbits the home star is such a Kerbal idea ... Nothing like that IRL at all.

Its kind of funny that the first review I've seen that mentions mods, the mod mentioned is MechJeb. Squad, see this as a sign that people would rather watch a program play KSP for them instead of play it themselves. And the answer isn't simplicity, it's giving players the tools needed to play the game.

[Wallygator]

It was interesting to see that they panned over full career mode and pointed to science mode as "the Goldilocks zone". Squad needs to take that on board and rethink a bit.

Oh yea and the MOAR INFO thing... Yes please.