gaming Kerbal Space Program!

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Kerbal Space Program is a space simulation video game, currently in public Alpha, being made by the Mexican developer Squad. It's simple and incredibly fun, and so far in its development it's a sandbox game. When complete it will in-essence be like a NASA Tycoon sort of game, where you can do whatever you want with your own space program.

 

The most recent version at the time of making this thread (Version 0.21), which has all the features and capabilities of building your own rocket (or spaceplane) and flying it.

Building rockets is about as simple as Lego, give or take.

 

Learning the basics of Orbital Mechanics through trial and error is a bit more complicated, but far more rewarding. It's possible to navigate anywhere in space of the game's 'Kerbol' system, with a unique set of planets and moons, each unique but also representing our own worlds in the Solar system. Future updates promise to have even more planets, moons and asteroids to explore.

 

Every planet can be travelled to, and landed on, using whatever you want to construct. Rovers, Landers, space-stations, permanent bases, gliders, it's all possible with the accurate Newtonian and atmospheric physics given in the game's Unity engine. Of course the physics simulation is only accurate to the simplified level of detail, rather than fully accurate, to make things easier and more fun. But such simplifications can make things go from fun to wacky or just filled with explosions anyways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkJoB-WWCHE

 

The game also boasts a very robust modding community, providing all sorts of additional parts and exploration tools, like the MechJeb Autopilot system, or the ISA Mapsat Mod, which allows accurate height-mapping of planets, for better landing site planning.

 

The Demo of the game is free, but paying for a copy means you have a permanent copy of the game, which will continue to be updated until the game is declared complete to plan when it gets to Version 1.0. Kerbal Space Program is availible for Windows, Mac and Linux, and can be purchased on the Steam store as well.

 

And for those who are already initiated into what KSP is, I also hope this thread can be a gathering point of conversation for those whose interest in KSP and Ponies overlap, because of how the My Little Pony thread on Kerbal Space Program Forums was shut down. Howdy all, and welcome!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Blue

[Prince Midnight 817]

I just got the game 2 days ago and have been having fun all day, this morning i finally got my first sattelite into orbit around the mun named Midnight 2.

 

this is how my rocket naming goes:

 

The Luna series of light rockets are manned flights inside the munar system.

 

The Twilight series of light rockets are unmanned sattelite flights between the mun and kerbal

 

The Midnight series of medium rockets are unmanned to launch sattelites and probes from between minmus and possibley Eve.

 

i have a medium rocket class, ill probably call this the cadence series, much lighter than the celestia series and only made to launch one kerbel to the mun and possibly minmus.

 

i have no design yet for the heavy rockets used to get landers on the mun and beyond but they will be based on the midnight series, i will most likely call them the celestia series. (see what i did thar?)

 

and for past minmus manned flights, i have the name, but not the rocket, but its going to be called the Nightmare series.

 

the unmanned flights for past minmus will either be the Sombra series of rockets, or the rarity series.

Edited September 2, 2013 by Prince Midnight

[Blue Bolt 4]

I've seen Node play this and it looks really, really fun! I need to get a new computer to play most games though because I have a really old computer, lol. But by what it looks like, I would really enjoy this game and recommend it for anyone else who think they might like just creating ships and doing crazy stuff!

 

- Jason

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

Got the full version awhile ago, and man is it complex! I just recently managed to launch a space station into orbit (right now it only consists of a main core and a power plant), and I'm planning on building a moonbase. I usually use the MechJeb, but I'm still trying to get the hang of what everything does. Perhaps I should sit down and RTFM one day.

[Prince Midnight 817]

Got the full version awhile ago, and man is it complex! I just recently managed to launch a space station into orbit (right now it only consists of a main core and a power plant), and I'm planning on building a moonbase. I usually use the MechJeb, but I'm still trying to get the hang of what everything does. Perhaps I should sit down and RTFM one day.

watch the video tutorials from the youtube user Scott Manley, hes a rocket scientist and can teach you everything from basic rockets launch and retreival, to Mun landings and beyond.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

I seriously can't be the only one on here that play's Kerbal Space Program, right? 

 

 

So those of you who play it, talk about it here! What do you build and where do you fly?

[long gone 8,929]

Oh yes, I play KSP! Recently completed two missions to the Mün and Minmus, probably going to try branching out to Duna and beyond soon.

 

KSP is also really pretty when re-entering Kerbin during the night. Those are probably the best re-entries.

[Messershmitt 289]

I Did play it but because my Computer is old my Steam mucked up on me and now i can't play games.. but i did manage to get to the Mun and i did get to Duna once

[long gone 8,929]

I Did play it but because my Computer is old my Steam mucked up on me and now i can't play games.. but i did manage to get to the Mun and i did get to Duna once

I believe the Steam version is also DRM-free. Just copy and paste the game folder somewhere else in your drive and launch it from there.

[--Eve-- 351]

Yes, I play it... I want to learn to mod though, then I can make engines and command pods like the discovery from 2001

Edited October 18, 2014 by --Eve--

[A Blithering Div 247]

I play it. Its good and more updates will come soon I hope. Problem is I'm still kinda rubbish at it because I like to brute force my way to places. That tends to use a lot of fuel which I counter with more solid rocket boosters. I did make it to the Mun a few times when it was far easier to land on it. I also made it to Duna once but neglected the thin atmosphere so it was more of a suicide mission. So if you're aiming at Duna either put a crap ton of chutes on your pod or pack enough fuel for retro burn (or in my case, don't think the fuel left over is superfluous and jettison it). I also made it to Jool once trying to make it to Duna and found out you can't land on Jool and the game will freak the fuzz out if you try.

 

I now have the fusion engine mod and my life is much easier.

[Guest]

Kerbal Space program is the bomb.
I have played this game forever and created way too much stuff in it.
I have made another thread about this game. Posting here, so that the KSP threads are linked together somewhat.
http://mlpforums.com/topic/66946-ksp-creations/

[NocturnalRainbow 248]

I love Kerbal Space Program yet because I have no money I only have the demo which I STILL play constantly even with it's incredibly limited content. And all of my mun missions end in a spectacular explosion when my rocket slams into the mun. I've never quite figured that bit out yet ._.

[Guest]

 

 

I've never quite figured that bit out yet ._.

You can use rockets not only for going faster, but also for breaking.
For example before you slam into the surface of something.

[NocturnalRainbow 248]

You can use rockets not only for going faster, but also for breaking.

For example before you slam into the surface of something.

 

The problem I usually have very little to no fuel when I finally reach the mun. I just can't seem to make a rocket that can actually be light enough to make the mun trip but also have enough fuel. 

[Guest]

@@NocturnalRainbow,

Hm i usually have enough fuel left.
Alternatively could you refuel your launch vehicle on orbit around kerbin before going to the mun/minnmus.

[Ac3xAssasin 453]

I love Kerbal Space Program,  I've been with the KSP community for about a year and a half, and based on the growth I am excited to see were it goes.  As of now I've visited just about every planet and moon mostly with unmanned probes

[Cakebandit :3 1,064]

i just build the most insane looking ships and see how far out into space they get, In other words I have no real goals in that game XD

[Ac3xAssasin 453]

Since it is the beginning of November I have set the goal of landing a manned craft on every celestial body in the game before season 4.   

[N.W. 3,619]

**First post of merged thread**

 

 

I have yet to see any thread on Kerbal Space Program, I am somewhat surprised. There was but a single post mentioning it.

Anyways I find it to be a very fun game, different from a lot of other games, makes a good vent for when I get mad while playing other games.

These are just some screenshots from my career mode file.

 

 

Buran Soviet Shuttle from a Soviet Mod 

 

A successful rescue mission to save Jebediah Kerbal who was stranded after a crash landing

 

Insert Soviet Anthem Here

Minmus Rover and base

Part of my expanding Minmus base, eventually it will serve as a re-fueling station for space planes and other craft. The lake-bed is ideal for such a purpose 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2013 by armyassassin96

[Solace 407]

I have it, and it's an amazing game. though i have never been able to get the kerbals onto another planet, i just load up their ships with fuel, science equipment and kerbals (15-24 on the latest mission ) and send them into deep space, never to see kerbin again.

[N.W. 3,619]

I have it, and it's an amazing game. though i have never been able to get the kerbals onto another planet, i just load up their ships with fuel, science equipment and kerbals (15-24 on the latest mission ) and send them into deep space, never to see kerbin again.

I have yet to lose a Kerbal in Career mode, I never intentionally send Kerbals on suicide missions, if it ain't coming back I make it a probe.

[Solace 407]

I have yet to lose a Kerbal in Career mode, I never intentionally send Kerbals on suicide missions, if it ain't coming back I make it a probe.

i thought of sending a probe, but i have no care for their lives  ( i can just hire more )

Edited December 2, 2013 by Lightning Strike

[Koelath 445]

I've never had a successful launch...Though once I did have the ship go up only to turn 180 degrees and plummet straight back down.

[Littlepip357 17]

I do often play KSP. I can atleast launch a rocket into orbit and land on any moon of kerbin. Used to use the mod Mechjeb alot but quit using it because it felt abit cheaty. KSP does have a learning curve but once you know how to control your rocket and the steps to get onto orbit it becomes pretty easy. Doing stuff like docking still poses a challenge to me and doing interplanetary transfers I just can't seem to figure out.