Kerbal like Minecraft?

[Tux]

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/22/kerbal-space-program-why-nasa-minecraft

WTF?

I think the only thing similar between Kerbal and Minecraft is Space Engineers

[tater]

It has a similar appeal, I think.

[Sirrobert]

Same idea of being able to do whatever you can think of

[montyben101]

Well it's very different really. It's actually more like Lego

[Epthelyn]

For some reason people have developed an annoying habit of using the title "Minecraft in <thing>" ever since Minecraft became popular, even for games which were released long before it (not the case here, but worth mentioning).

However, in that article it would seem that the comparison is being made because of the relatively quick growth of the community and the success of the game. That's fair enough.

Basically the title is misleading

[Methusalem]

Well it's very different really. It's actually more like Lego

Which one, Minecraft or KSP? Or both?

[dryer_lint]

Don't complain! Now we'll be able to draw in all of Minecraft's community. All of Minecraft's five year old community...

OH GOD NOOOO

[Tux]

Well it's very different really. It's actually more like Lego

disagree.

Anyway, to me Kerbal is more about exploring and getting stuff someplace. Travel...etc.

Legos is more about building something, like make your own astroid like object like in space engineers

[tater]

I play a little minecraft (my kids love it). It's not challenging at all (danger wise), but the thing I actually like is expiring around. It's fun to see cool, randomly generated landscapes and walk around in them. Not unlike landing on another world in KSP.

Edited October 13, 2014 by tater

[montyben101]

Well apart from the ship building part it's really quite different. Minecraft is blocky and ksp is definitely not.

Also this:

Don't complain! Now we'll be able to draw in all of Minecraft's community. All of Minecraft's five year old community...

OH GOD NOOOO

[Alshain]

It has similar appeal, but "like" Minecraft, no. Just because both games are sandbox doesn't make them the same play style. KSP requires more... well brains. You have to learn what you don't know. Minecraft has very little of that, with only the redstone system being an exception (it's a programming language in a game, for those who haven't played it). Beyond that there is only a basic set of skills you need to play

There is one called StarMade though...

Edited October 13, 2014 by Alshain

[Javster]

KSP is not like Minecraft except in the minds of people who do not know KSP. (adapted from a quote about history repeating itself)

[Kerbart]

 

• Minecraft = building stuff. KSP = building stuff. When writing for a general public you want something people can relate to. People can relate to Minecraft. “Orbiter but with little green men” and no one reads the article as they have no clue what “Orbiter” is.
• It is safe to assume that journalists are clueless about what they are writing (sorry to any journalists on this forum). In their defense, they have to write about a lot of things, and in many cases they don't have the option to say “I'm not going to write about that.”
• Even if the journalist is a subject matter expert in a certain subject, he has to assume his or her public is not. Knowledge is sometimes more a hindrance than a benefit, as it leads to the use of jargon and incomprehensible abbreviations
• This is positive exposure. Enjoy it. On photography forums I encounter countless smart asses who take offense to a remark like “those are great pictures, you must have a nice camera” and then find it prudent to teach the person who gave them a compliment a lesson by saying things like “your husband writes great stories, he must have a nice typewriter,” totally missing the point that someone was impressed by their pictures. So what if the writer got some of the details wrong. The bottom line of the article is that KSP gets a glowing review. Yay!

 

Edited December 9, 2015 by Kerbart
Cleaned up unicode ickies that are probably a result from the forum migration.

[Pecan]

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/22/kerbal-space-program-why-nasa-minecraft

WTF?

As commented at the time that piece is an example of bad, lazy journalism, sadly typical of the Grauniad (sic).

[tater]

I think a minecraft comparison is not only "ok," but could not possibly be better press for Squad. Had they been more picky about a comparison, no one would know the game they were talking about, and they get not hits. This might get a few people to see what it's all about. <br><br>Regarding the press, there is an apochryphal story attributed to Murray Gell-Mann. Supposedly interviewed by an excellent paper about his work, the story got the gist of his physics 180 degrees from reality. He then describes reading the other news Nd believing it... The reality being that it's all just as wrong to anyone in the know. Sums up journalism pretty well.

[Richy teh space man]

Well, I think it's reported better by the Guardian than a lot of other British papers..

[cantab]

The similarities are fairly loose and general, but they're there. Both leave the player largely to determine their own direction as opposed to leading the player along a determined storyline, both have construction and exploration as important game elements, both are "indie" titles where gameplay takes precedence over ultra-detailed graphics, both are bolstered by an extensive range of mods.

[Tripzter]

Both are sand box but that doesnt make them similar. If you want to compare, compare space engineers to minecraft as both are building games using materials. If you want to compare games just for the sake of comparing, space engineers vs KSP is better but even that is completely different even though both games are space games. The main difference is that in minecraft and space engineers you are mining materials to build stuff using a character FOR the character. It's all about the character while on ksp you it's about the vehicle and the kerbals basically come along with money being the only resource. Using that theory KSP is to minecraft as Need for speed is to space engineers.

Perhaps eventually they will make it where you can use a kerbal to build stuff in space and on land but as it stands stock its a completely different game.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Tripzter

[Axelord FTW]

For some reason people have developed an annoying habit of using the title "Minecraft in <thing>" ever since Minecraft became popular, even for games which were released long before it (not the case here, but worth mentioning).

For a little while, Dark Soul was also the basis of very stretched comparisons too. The Dark Souls of RTS, the Dark Souls of flight sims, the Dark Souls of Action RPGs (I swear on me mum).

The article itself isn't bad. The title is just clickbait like you mentioned.

[Crown]

I agree with some people that the title is just attention seeking.

Who knows Minecraft will very soon see that it's nothing like that, except "build stuff".

It's a very nicely written article and might drag more players to KSP. Sam White sees it more from the educational point than the "build stuff" point, and his article is written around it.

But ... how do I craft a pickaxe? Do I do that in the VAB or the SPH?

[Axelord FTW]

Who knows Minecraft will very soon see that it's nothing like that, except "build stuff".

A lot of people have this figured out already.

Minecraft is not exactly Flavor of the Month outright but it is (and will stay) pretty barebone.

In fact, the thing I'd say Minecraft and KSP have the most in common is engine optimization and groundwork optimization.

P.S. Nice pickaxe.

[nine_iron]

KSP has way more in common with Garry's Mod compared to Minecraft.

They are all sandbox games, the majority of the population do not understand "Sandbox" games so they all get lumped with "like Minecraft".

Its a common practice when a niche interest is exposed to the majority populous, it helps communicate a point. In doing so it frequently irritates the minority however.

[WWEdeadman]

Well, people who don't know what they're talking about are quick to put anything that works as a "sandbox" style game in the "Like Minecraft" drawer. It's in the same genre, very generally speaking. But generally speaking, also other games, that play completely differently, are in the same genre. Still wouldn't call it "like" something else, if it's a completely different play style.

(Generally the main difference between Minecraft and KSP for me is: I'd have to mod Minecraft to hell and back to not be bored 10 minutes into it, while I can play KSP in stock or with mods wihtout getting bored ever.)

[bsalis]

KSP has quite a few similarities to Minecraft. So much so, in the early days here on the forum, comparison threads were frowned upon. Sure, you build things lego-like, but theres more similarities...

* Open sandbox world

* Sold while still in development (Minecraft was Beta, KSP an Alpha, but neither development phase labels are accurate)

* Indie game

* Community oriented, with developer engagement

* and um, you build things... both games tend to tug at your creative spirit

[fairytalefox]

They are all sandbox games, the majority of the population do not understand "Sandbox" games so they all get lumped with "like Minecraft".

Steam claims Skyrim and FarCry 4 to be sandbox games.