TCIS's Absolute Beginners Guide To KSP, Part 1

[Chel]

This one has been a long time in the making. It covers all the basics of Kerbal Space Program, for the absolute, complete beginner. In this guide, you will learn how to:

• Install the game
• Know what the various modes are
• Not screw things up

Ready? Then let's get started!
 

Part 1: Installing the game (non Steam edition)

To install KSP, you will need an internet connection, decent computer, and roughly $50. On top of that, if your computer has an administration password, you will need to know it.

First, open your preferred internet browser (e.g. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer), and either just search for 'Kerbal Space Program', or go to www.kerbalspaceprogram.com. Once there, you will go to the KSP store, or just click on one of the many 'buy KSP' tabs scattered around the page. Then, as with all internet purchases, you will be advised to type in your credit card number, and everything else needed (e.g. email address). Then, just click 'buy'. Kerbal Space Program is a digital game, meaning that you won't receive a hard-copy (an actual physical version). Your browser should start downloading the installer setup and some other files. Once they have been downloaded, pick an 'installation location' for them (where you want the main KSP folder to be). You will be directed by a 'installer/setup wizard' for the game. Simply follow along with the instructions, and the game will install. Then, once it's finished, just click on KSP.exe, and let your journey begin.

Part 2: Loading, Creating Your First Game

When the game loads for the first time, or quite frankly, every time, you will see the 'SQUAD' monkey logo, and then a picture. Down below, will be a black and yellow bar. This shows the game files loading. For example, you would see 'gamedata/squad/parts/mk2/mk2pod' or something. This is a particular part that is loading. If you aren't interested in looking at all of that, look at the humorous yellow text above the loading bar. It's very entertaining! After the loading bar has loaded (duh!) , the screen will go black, with a 'loading' icon (planets going around a sun). Then, the main menu will appear, along with the glorious Kerbal Space Program theme. 

 https://goo.gl/photos/LQZYtdodqZkEqkJz6 (this is a different loading screen, but you even get a sandcastle every 40th time!)

After clicking 'Start Game', you will have some options. 'Resume Game' gives you a list of your games (saves) already in progress, 'New Game' gives you the option to create a new game, and 'Go Back' is pretty self explanatory, delivering you to the previous menu. But we want 'New Game'. Click on it, and you will be met with the options to rename it from 'default', pick the mode, pick the flag (the emblem that you will use), and to press 'Start'. You can rename your game to anything you want, and choose a different flag, but you may be wondering about the different modes. 'Career' is where you start as a small space program, and use funds to build things. Complete 'Contracts' to earn 'Reputaton', which gives you better contracts, and more funds. It's a fun mode, but if you fail, then you lose funds and reputation. 'Science' is where you don't worry about 'Reputaton' and 'Funds' but only about 'Science'. Use 'Science' collected on missions in the RnD (Research and Development) lab to purchase new things from the 'tech tree' (the thing that allows progression to new things to unlock). It's not as challenging as Career, but is still a bit difficult some times. And then, there's 'Sandbox'.

'Sandbox' is where everything's unlocked from the start, you have unlimited funds, and can do basically anything you want (even more, with mods). I'm going to use that mode as my example. After clicking on a mode, and adjusting the settings (e.g. difficulty, re-entry temperature, reverting flights, respawning crews), click 'Start', and your off.

After the game loads from there, you will be met with a big open green space, with a large area of buildings in the middle. This is the Kerbal Space Center, or 'KSC' for short.

All the buildings serve different purposes, listed below:

The big, tall building in the middle, is the VAB, or Vehicle Assembly Building. This is where you build rockets, and launch from the Launchpad.

The building next to the runway is the SPH, or SpacePlane Hangar. This is where you build planes, and take off/land at the runway.

The sprawling complex at the bottom-right is Research and Development, or RnD, and is where you will use Science to get new parts in the 'Career' and 'Science' game modes.

The big rotating communication dishes are the Tracking Facility, which shows all craft currently active, all debris (discarded rocket stages, bits that broke off, etc), and unknown objects (marked with a '?', and are asteroids of varying sizes).

The area with the fountain and flag pole, with the crescent-shaped building is the Astronaut Complex, where you can hire new applicants to become astronauts.

Beside that is the Administration Building, where, in 'Career', you can select new 'strategies' (for example, earning more Science in exchange for less funds from missions), to help your space agency grow.

There is a small building at the left side of the VAB, which is Mission Control. Mission Control is where you can accept different contracts in the 'Career' game mode.

These are some photos of the KSC, taken while I was flying around.

https://goo.gl/photos/wcpJxGFZNfbSCL7c9 - A plane comes in to land at the Runway

https://goo.gl/photos/C2rSHgCyZ4d5oUGW9 - A failed attempt at a VTOL landing on the roof of the SPH results in the craft getting stuck

https://goo.gl/photos/gFTZEoTxAYkYJgVh8 - A commercial airliner, full of tourists, landing at the Runway. In front of it sits the VAB, SPH, RnD, and all the other buildings of the complex.

https://goo.gl/photos/N9g5z9ZC2UF892tf6 - Gliding dangerously close to the RnD labs after a fuel shortage

 

Now that you've installed the game, and gotten familiar with the basics, you're off to a good start.

Part 2 will cover: Building your first rocket/spaceplane, the basic controls, and exploring. All for just $19.99! (Not really, it's FREE!!!)

 

 

Edited August 10, 2017 by The_Cat_In_Space