Hackaday's article on "Converting KSP into a Proper Space Sim"

[PDCWolf]

Not really much to see on the article by itself. It covers vladoportos' progress building a custom controller and one of those reddit guys progress on getting data out of the game to individual custom screens, as in something like telemachus but into real-life screens.

Here's the link:

http://hackaday.com/2013/07/28/turning-kerbal-space-program-into-a-proper-space-simulator/

Personally, while being an immersion lover, I think KSP is still missing loads of stuff on the physics department to become something close to a "Space Sim", note I'm leaving the scope of the game outside this, as I've seen no clue that realistic physics were to be included in the full game.

About the controllers themselves, I must admit vladoportos' one looks pretty cool.

What do you guys think about this?

[HeadHunter67]

I don't want it to be a hardcore space sim - it's my understanding that Orbiter fits that bill much better, and because of that, I never chose to play it.

I play games for fun. While I'm impressed by the lengths to which some people will go in the name of immersion and authenticity, I'm not about to don a space suit before playing.

[Trux]

I enjoy the tone of KSP where it is right now, why make it into something it isn't meant to or designed to be?

[Tw1]

I don't find using a keyboard breaks immersion. No reason why you couldn't control a spacecraft that way.*

*There may be reasons why you wouldn't.

[PDCWolf]

I play games for fun.

Yeah, sure, I do that too, but not everyone's definition of fun is the same. I like challenging things because they are more rewarding.

[Decoherent]

Realism is nice, right up to the point where it stops being "fun", and this point varies by the player. Personally, stock+FAR+Deadly Reentry is a good "sim balance" for me, and kethane et al. gives me something interesting to do. Custom controls are pretty cool, though.

[blacksheep1775]

While that custom controller would be pretty cool, I would argue that it doesn't convert the game into... anything. It's just a different input. Cool article though!

[Flixxbeatz]

If he wants KSP to be a proper space sim, then he must agree in any way to remove timewarp in-game since there's no such thing in real life.

[skyace65]

Yeah, sure, I do that too, but not everyone's definition of fun is the same. I like challenging things because they are more rewarding.

and the game in it's current state is already challenging enough, and we haven't even hit resources, aerodynamics or interstellar travel yet. the physics are fine as is.

[jaredkzr]

If you want a proper space sim then play Orbiter. Just don't expect to get anywhere for the first few weeks unless you've had previous experience. I was never able to get out of LEO because the learning curve was to high for me. That was a few years ago so I bet I could get to the moon now if I wanted to. KSP is the perfect balance of fun and sim. It taught me a lot about orbital mechanics while still keeping me entertained with the game.

Like others have said, I also play games for fun. Any learning from a game just happens and usually isn't intentional unless I have a specific goal in mind.

[Benie]

I prefer for KSP to pretty much stay as it is. It's realistic enough to me. And it will take time to retrain my brain to learn how to use reaction wheels instead of "ASAS hold heading NOW PLOX!!"

[deadshot462]

I would like the ground tracking map to be a plugin for KSP.

[Ian Morrolan]

I wouldn't mind seeing joystick compatibility -- of course, I grew up with an Atari 2800 and have limited hand/eye coordination to make keyboard or gamepad flying work real well.

[Levelord]

Yeah, sure, I do that too, but not everyone's definition of fun is the same. I like challenging things because they are more rewarding.

KSP strikes a great balance in it's relative realism so that it allows people to be introduced into the world of basic physics. Pure simulations that would probably fit you better, would be Orbiter.

Or..... If you want to put that much effort into making the game into an ultra-real-life simulation of space, then you might as well sign up to NASA and join their space program where you can take REAL challenges, make a REAL difference and reap REAL rewards.

[Naten]

I don't find using a keyboard breaks immersion.

True. Gemini astronauts were given keyboards to control their spacecraft, but they chose a joystick. Still, NASA agrees with you.

[patrickcanttype]

I wouldn't mind seeing joystick compatibility --

But... there is joystick compatibility.

[Superluminaut]

I find realism to be less immersive.

Fantasy grabs my attention.

Realism is 90% tedious.

This is why I love KSP, and only played Orbiter 2 or 3 times.

[rex22mm]

As much as I tried to learn how to play orbiter, I failed.

But if orbiter had ship-building mechanics, more accessible controls, map view, maneuver nodes, persistence, and planets with an actual surface I would totally drop KSP and go play orbiter instead :/

[Patmantrick]

The controller is definitely a very neat contraption.

It would be nice if KSP did get realistic physics, or at least some more realism. At this point it's just too easy to really enjoy as a challenge. The only reason I can really choose KSP over orbiter is the fact that KSP has the lego-snap-together rockets that aren't in Orbiter, sadly.

[Ian Morrolan]

But... there is joystick compatibility.

:facepalm:

Thanks, I had no idea. I guess I'll be exploring joystick mapping this evening....

[NeoMorph]

You might ask "Why do flight sim fans take Microsoft Flight Simulator and turn it into this?"

It's because they love the immersion factor and want to make it even better.

The problem I find with KSP is that I love the information that I get out of Mechjeb but when you open up the data windows it covers up too much of the screen.

Orbiter sucks because the space shuttle is meant for earth orbit at most and the Apollo mod of it works great but is limited to the moon.

KSP on the other hand is pretty open ended. I've built flight sims in the past and find as much fun building the sims as actually flying them. Doing the research is fun too and the minute you hit the "EUREKA!" wall (minus running down the road in my birthday suit) makes it really rewarding.

So my fun is learning how to do things in KSP and understanding WHY we do things. Building the instruments so that I can fly Jeb to the moon without looking outside is my phase one mission. I've even got some 60's era switches heh.

Do you know my setup started because I wanted a radar altimeter because some some IVA cockpits didn't have one?