Game modes, playing style, mods and the definition of fun

[r4pt0r]

I think the devs should do some sort of press release to address misconceptions about fun, because this thread is making it perfectly clear that far too many players are having fun the wrong way, and are in reality cheating instead of having fun.

[Aloriel]

I prefer a heavily modded game. Many of these are because I like to have data at my fingertips (MechJeb's various data displays, for example). Others are because I like to have lots of options and possible approaches to solutions.

In addition to these, I have a handful of pseudo realism mods. I use MSI-LS, so that my Kerbals must keep supplied, but not TAC-LS because I don't want them to die just because I forgot a piece, or because MechJeb botched a maneuver. I have RemoteTech because I like having to have my satellites be connected, but I disable the time delay because I am not capable of mathematically calculating the exact time a maneuver is needed, especially in atmosphere. Further, RemoteTech gives you so many reasons to have satellites, especially when combined with SCANSat. I like having satellites with purpose.

So, effectively, I like some aspects of realism and data, but I don't want it so realistic that I have to perform calculations (many of which I do not even know), or my kerbals die. Dying is prohibited by law.

Another aspect in my "options" interest is that I also like to have diversity. Therefore, I use MSI's MKS/OKS system plus Extraplanetary Launchpads where you can create material chains that allow production of rockets in space. I place harvesters on the ground and launch the materials to space, then use the materials to produce craft that are purely space born, and capable of traveling quite far. This culminates in KSP Interstellar Extended, which eventually allows for warp travel as a final goal.

And one other thing that lures me to mods... if they engage in real world scientific endeavors. Tarsier Space Technology and SCANSat both provide real world scientific pursuits of exploration through photography and radar cartography. These two mods are on the MUST HAVE list, and I specifically wait to upgrade KSP until those two are updated. For me, they provide a level of serious fun that I simply will not play without.

[Curveball Anders]

On 2015-12-06 10:18:14, r4pt0r said:

I think the devs should do some sort of press release to address misconceptions about fun, because this thread is making it perfectly clear that far too many players are having fun the wrong way, and are in reality cheating instead of having fun.

Or we think that cheating is fun

 

[Pronoes]

On 03/12/2015, 22:22:24, Domfluff said:

 recently dropped non-essential supplies to a Mun base with airbags, just to see if that was a good idea, and how best to do that. They bounced for several kilometres, and ended up rolling around the rim of a crater, so a couple of Kerbals left the base in a Karibou rover to drive over and load them up. That whole expedition, including the problem of navigating across the surface, and driving into and out of steep crater walls, was entirely caused by my choices, actions and design - that's not something the game had set up for me in some kind of scripted sequence, and it was genuinely difficult and dramatic, in and of itself.

This is the kind of thing that KSP excels in, even if it is non-aware of it's own emergent game play. Makes me happy inside

[Valerian]

25 minutes ago, Pronoes said:

This is the kind of thing that KSP excels in, even if it is non-aware of it's own emergent game play. Makes me happy inside

I should really try a career without reverts and quicksaves

[worir4]

I play it for the booms! Seeing massive spacestations and rockets blow up and fragment into tiny parts is just so satisfying for me.

Also I like space.

On 12/4/2015, 4:01:46, r4pt0r said:

I second that. I greatly enjoy the base game as squad designed it

You like 99% of it any ways