You have 25 minutes to save Moonbase Alpha
July 8, 2010 2:42 PM Subscribe
Year: 2025. Mission: Save Moonbase Alpha after critical systems were damaged by a meteor strike. A free Steam-powered 3D-immersive game from NASA. Windows only.
Save Moonbase Alpha after critical systems were damaged by a meteor strike.
Access what other humans you can beat in a fight. These are your allies and future food source. Gather than around you to attack the humans you can't beat, as these are your near term food source.
Remember to wash your hands.
posted by new brand day at 2:48 PM on July 8, 2010
Access what other humans you can beat in a fight. These are your allies and future food source. Gather than around you to attack the humans you can't beat, as these are your near term food source.
Remember to wash your hands.
posted by new brand day at 2:48 PM on July 8, 2010
Does anyone remember how in Knights of the Old Republic 2, they threw a fast-paced spacewalking section about five minutes into the game as an apology for the atrociously slow and tedious space/underwater sections in the first KoTOR?
All I'm sayin' is that spacewalking better not be simulated too accurately because unless you're personally on the damn moon, it is boring as shit.
posted by griphus at 2:48 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
All I'm sayin' is that spacewalking better not be simulated too accurately because unless you're personally on the damn moon, it is boring as shit.
posted by griphus at 2:48 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Costumes by Sylvia Anderson.
posted by Artw at 2:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [4 favorites]
This game is pretty neat, I like hopping around on the moon and fixing stuff.
I would love to play it with some MeFites, too-- I've played more than once where someone will join the game and just saunter around sabotaging everything by disconnecting all the power couplings :(
posted by Jinkeez at 2:52 PM on July 8, 2010
I would love to play it with some MeFites, too-- I've played more than once where someone will join the game and just saunter around sabotaging everything by disconnecting all the power couplings :(
posted by Jinkeez at 2:52 PM on July 8, 2010
I dunno, the video makes it look anything but boring.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:53 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:53 PM on July 8, 2010
I would love to play it with some MeFites, too-- I've played more than once where someone will join the game and just saunter around sabotaging everything by disconnecting all the power couplings :(
Well, only if there isn't a way of drawing a massive cock across the lunar surface.
posted by Artw at 2:55 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
Well, only if there isn't a way of drawing a massive cock across the lunar surface.
posted by Artw at 2:55 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've played more than once where someone will join the game and just saunter around sabotaging everything by disconnecting all the power couplings :(
In my defense, I'd had a rough day at work AND learned that there is no "good end" in Fallout 3.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:57 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
In my defense, I'd had a rough day at work AND learned that there is no "good end" in Fallout 3.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:57 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Well, only if there isn't a way of drawing a massive cock across the lunar surface.
CHA
posted by griphus at 2:58 PM on July 8, 2010 [17 favorites]
CHA
posted by griphus at 2:58 PM on July 8, 2010 [17 favorites]
It needs some Easter egg where you enter the personnel records and everyone looks like a depressed, disheveled Sam Rockwell.
posted by adipocere at 3:03 PM on July 8, 2010 [14 favorites]
posted by adipocere at 3:03 PM on July 8, 2010 [14 favorites]
Is this going to end like Ender's game?
posted by Solon and Thanks at 3:03 PM on July 8, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Solon and Thanks at 3:03 PM on July 8, 2010 [4 favorites]
I've played more than once where someone will join the game and just saunter around sabotaging everything by disconnecting all the power couplings
WE'RE CALLED GRIEFERS AND WE'RE THERE TO RUIN YOUR FUN
Seriously, though, I read about this earlier today and it sounds awesome. I think it might finally be time to install Steam.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:11 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
WE'RE CALLED GRIEFERS AND WE'RE THERE TO RUIN YOUR FUN
Seriously, though, I read about this earlier today and it sounds awesome. I think it might finally be time to install Steam.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:11 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
25 minutes to save Moonbase Alpha? They're 26 years too late.
posted by biffa at 3:24 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 3:24 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
To really be about Alpha, it needs a mode where if you don't disperse the nuclear waste dump fast enough, it explodes and throws the moon out of the solar system.
posted by Drastic at 3:26 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by Drastic at 3:26 PM on July 8, 2010
All right, snap poll: which theme song was better? theme 1 theme 2
posted by evilcolonel at 4:12 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by evilcolonel at 4:12 PM on July 8, 2010
1. People who prefer 2 are mouth-breathing Hitlers who put the toilet paper on underhand-style.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:31 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:31 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
(both pale 1980! before the 1980! majesty of the 1980! UFO theme)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:32 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:32 PM on July 8, 2010
Looks pretty cool. Still saving the HD space for the deep water oil spill sim BP is working on...still in pre-alpha I hear...
posted by samsara at 4:54 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by samsara at 4:54 PM on July 8, 2010
In the 1960s, NASA landed, you know, actual fucking spacecraft on the moon, and it motivated a generation of kids to become scientists and engineers (my father among them).
Somehow this doesn't quite measure up, and I can't see it motivating anybody to do anything aside from spending more hours inert in front of their goddamn computers.
posted by killdevil at 5:00 PM on July 8, 2010 [3 favorites]
Somehow this doesn't quite measure up, and I can't see it motivating anybody to do anything aside from spending more hours inert in front of their goddamn computers.
posted by killdevil at 5:00 PM on July 8, 2010 [3 favorites]
When does NASA reveal that is was all just raining to control ACTUAL robots on the moon and perform repairs and thanks to my high score I get to go work on the motherfucking MOON?
posted by The Whelk at 5:04 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 5:04 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
WTF happened to Steam? According to the updated interface none of my games are installed. But they are. Or something...
posted by Splunge at 5:05 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by Splunge at 5:05 PM on July 8, 2010
Looks pretty cool. Still saving the HD space for the deep water oil spill sim BP is working on...still in pre-alpha I hear...
> Drill relief well
You begin drilling a relief well. This could take some time.
> Wait
Time passes.
posted by Artw at 5:06 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
> Drill relief well
You begin drilling a relief well. This could take some time.
> Wait
Time passes.
posted by Artw at 5:06 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
@killdevil -- Please post a Metatalk thread when you get back from the moon. Or back from NASA training. Or getting back from leaving your goddamn computer, since I'm sure you're out there working on getting yourself to the Moon.
posted by GriffX at 5:33 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by GriffX at 5:33 PM on July 8, 2010
WTF happened to Steam?
ENGINEER FUCKING UPDATE HAPPENED. OMFG.
Wow, killdevil, must everything be as cool as the MOON LANDING? You must hate everything and lead a really miserable life.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 5:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
ENGINEER FUCKING UPDATE HAPPENED. OMFG.
Wow, killdevil, must everything be as cool as the MOON LANDING? You must hate everything and lead a really miserable life.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 5:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Why steam and no free download?
Pretty much my thoughts, because Steam hates Linux. Or Linux hates Steam. I ended up giving away the L4D2 DVD I bought because it kept requiring me to install this program that just wouldn't run on my system.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 6:05 PM on July 8, 2010
Pretty much my thoughts, because Steam hates Linux. Or Linux hates Steam. I ended up giving away the L4D2 DVD I bought because it kept requiring me to install this program that just wouldn't run on my system.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 6:05 PM on July 8, 2010
Why the hell is my tax dollars going to a platform specific game?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:19 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:19 PM on July 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
The Mini-FAQ is promising for the way the disclaimers are phrased. The bolding is mine:
Yes, I think of NASA working for me directly. Would that it were so.
posted by artlung at 6:39 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
- The game is currently only available on Steam.
- At the moment, the game is only for Windows.
- There is only the one mission right now.
- There are no modding tools currently.
- The game is proof of concept for the NASA MMO that is in development.
Yes, I think of NASA working for me directly. Would that it were so.
posted by artlung at 6:39 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Well, only if there isn't a way of drawing a massive cock across the lunar surface.
CHA <====3
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:22 PM on July 8, 2010
CHA <====3
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:22 PM on July 8, 2010
"Developed in partnership with America's Army"
No fucking thank you
posted by regicide is good for you at 8:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
No fucking thank you
posted by regicide is good for you at 8:52 PM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
[America's Army]
So... this is actually a way to recruit young Americans to go off and commit murder and possibly die in the process?!
Fuck, no. Disgusting. So so so sick of endless endless military advertising everywhere I look now.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:02 PM on July 8, 2010
So... this is actually a way to recruit young Americans to go off and commit murder and possibly die in the process?!
Fuck, no. Disgusting. So so so sick of endless endless military advertising everywhere I look now.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:02 PM on July 8, 2010
im installing it right now. ill send back if its worth it or not :D
posted by NotSoSiniSter at 9:16 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by NotSoSiniSter at 9:16 PM on July 8, 2010
So... this is actually a way to recruit young Americans to go off and commit murder and possibly die in the process?!
Uh, what? No. The plot of the game is
posted by artlung at 9:19 PM on July 8, 2010
Uh, what? No. The plot of the game is
NASA has once again landed on the lunar surface with the goal of colonization, research, and further exploration. Shortly after the return to the Moon, NASA has established a small outpost on the south pole of the moon called Moonbase Alpha. Utilizing solar energy and regolith processing, the moonbase has become self-sufficient and plans for further expansion are underway.I imagine the America's Army part of this was just in "how to get a game out the door." So few of our government agencies have game studios, after all.
In Moonbase Alpha, you assume the exciting role of an astronaut working to further human expansion and research. Returning from a research expedition, you witness a meteorite impact that cripples the life support capability of the settlement. With precious minutes ticking away, you and your team must repair and replace equipment in order to restore the oxygen production to the settlement.
Team coordination along with the proper use and allocation of your available resources (player controlled robots, rovers, repair tools, etc.) are key to your overall success. There are several ways in which you can successfully restore the life support system of the lunar base, but since you are scored on the time spent to complete the task, you have to work effectively as a team, learn from decisions made in previous gaming sessions, and make intelligence decisions in order to top the leaderboards.
posted by artlung at 9:19 PM on July 8, 2010
I imagine the America's Army part of this was just in "how to get a game out the door."
I read the plot of the game, but I want nothing to do with any of this. America's Army is one of the most despicable things going - they're sucking kids into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with video games. I'd rather play a game written by Stormfront, which, while desperately offensive, has the saving grace of being completely ineffective.
Sorry, my text makes it look as though I was implying this game was a recruiting thing directly. I was spluttering.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:30 PM on July 8, 2010
I read the plot of the game, but I want nothing to do with any of this. America's Army is one of the most despicable things going - they're sucking kids into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with video games. I'd rather play a game written by Stormfront, which, while desperately offensive, has the saving grace of being completely ineffective.
Sorry, my text makes it look as though I was implying this game was a recruiting thing directly. I was spluttering.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:30 PM on July 8, 2010
Those wacky white supremacist neo-nazis on Stormfront have thought about a pro-white videogame!
Me, I'm holding out for the Mac version of this NASA video game.
posted by artlung at 9:39 PM on July 8, 2010
Me, I'm holding out for the Mac version of this NASA video game.
posted by artlung at 9:39 PM on July 8, 2010
Well, only if there isn't a way of drawing a massive cock across the lunar surface.
ASTRO CHICKEN!
25 minutes to save Moonbase Alpha? They're 26 years too late
Surely they're only 11 years too late? Or did I miss Space 1985?
posted by Sparx at 10:36 PM on July 8, 2010
ASTRO CHICKEN!
25 minutes to save Moonbase Alpha? They're 26 years too late
Surely they're only 11 years too late? Or did I miss Space 1985?
posted by Sparx at 10:36 PM on July 8, 2010
Snap. Realised that as soon as I hit Post. I'll just stand over here in this corner, contemplating whether or not the moon was ejected in order to escape mullets and skinny leather ties.
posted by Sparx at 10:48 PM on July 8, 2010
posted by Sparx at 10:48 PM on July 8, 2010
The guys over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun have written a bit about it here and also have a short interview with Daniel Laughlin (Ph.D) of NASA Learning Technologies.
And finally, that MMO thing they're working on has some webspace here.
posted by bjrn at 1:37 AM on July 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
And finally, that MMO thing they're working on has some webspace here.
posted by bjrn at 1:37 AM on July 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Steam? No Linux version?
Steam is supposed to be coming to linux Real Soon™. This is expected to precipitate the year of linux on the desktop causing mass hysteria, cats and dogs living together etc.
posted by Dr Dracator at 5:38 AM on July 9, 2010
Steam is supposed to be coming to linux Real Soon™. This is expected to precipitate the year of linux on the desktop causing mass hysteria, cats and dogs living together etc.
posted by Dr Dracator at 5:38 AM on July 9, 2010
Steam is basically a content delivery system, and doesn't do you much good unless it's got content that will run on your platform. Source is Valve's multiplatform game engine.
posted by Artw at 6:03 AM on July 9, 2010
posted by Artw at 6:03 AM on July 9, 2010
No Linux version?
1. Assign a picture of the moon as your desktop background
2. Go into the package manager and install and delete random programs, with your eyes closed.
3. Set your computer to reboot in 25 minutes.
Are you a bad enough dude to save Moonbase %yourcomputer?
GOOD LUCK!
posted by fuq at 6:19 AM on July 9, 2010 [6 favorites]
1. Assign a picture of the moon as your desktop background
2. Go into the package manager and install and delete random programs, with your eyes closed.
3. Set your computer to reboot in 25 minutes.
Are you a bad enough dude to save Moonbase %yourcomputer?
GOOD LUCK!
posted by fuq at 6:19 AM on July 9, 2010 [6 favorites]
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YAY!
Windows only.
Aww... : (
posted by mazola at 2:45 PM on July 8, 2010 [7 favorites]