Moonbase Alpha Update Released!
Moonbase Alpha Updated with New Level, Features and Fixes
August 6, 2012 — Virtual Heroes has released an update to Moonbase Alpha which features a new level “Moonbase Madness” with a brand new competitive mode. The level has two separate moonbases and two teams of three astronauts each are competing to repair their bases. Additional features and fixes are also included in the update.
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.
New Features
- “Moonbase Madness” level (including new competitive mode)
- Open gameplay level (aka “sandbox” level)
Fixes
- Intermittent hose crash fixed
- Text-to-speech crash fixed
- Settlements now report the correct Oxygen percentage when hovering over them
- Cheaters get a HUD message saying cheats have been used
- Lobby UI color selection cosmetic improvements
- Easter egg is easier to access in the command center
- Fixed bug where host cannot kick 6th player in game
- Beacons no longer disappear when deactivated
Download Moonbase Alpha for Windows free at
http://store.steampowered.com/app/39000/
Updated Dedicated Server Guide is now available!
http://goo.gl/Q5T6e
Moonbase Alpha Online
- http://twitter.com/virtualheroes
- http://facebook.com/virtualheroes
- http://youtube.com/virtualheroes
- http://virtualheroes.com/products/nasa-moonbase-alpha
About the Developer
The Virtual Heroes Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. creates collaborative interactive learning solutions for healthcare, federal systems, and corporate training markets. Advanced Learning Technologies (ALT) leverage simulation learning and digital games-based training paradigms to accelerate learning, increase user proficiency, and reduce training costs. Virtual Heroes is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and in Orlando, Florida in the Central Florida Research Park.
Press Contact
Mitch Gross
PR & Community Manager
mgross@virtualheroes.com
Comet Quest: A Rosetta Adventure
Comet Quest is a game about an actual mission to a comet headed towards the sun. It is available for free download on the iPhone and iPad and playable on the Web.
Rosetta is a mission of the European Space Agency, with contributions from NASA. A Robotic spacecraft, Rosetta, was launched in 2004 and will reach comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. The mission is going to drop a lander on the nucleus of the comet and observe certain phenomena. For more information on comets and the Rosetta mission, tap “learn more” on the main screen.
Complete the training before playing the game. At the start of the game, Rosetta is orbiting the comet. Control the speed of the orbiter by swiping left or right. To increase the speed of the orbit, swipe right, and to decrease the speed swipe left.
The first thing to do is to deploy the lander by tapping on the screen. The aim is to drop the lander on the yellow or green areas and avoid the red areas of the comet. This determines the multiplier to increase the score, seen in the top left corner of the screen.
Next, Rosetta must record the scientific events occurring as the comet boils away on its way towards the sun. Examples of these events are jets of gas, cracks in the surface, chunks of flying ice, or a brighter dust tail. When an event happens, it is highlighted by white or red which disappears after the event is recorded. Tap inside the box to record the discoveries and earn 10 points times the multiplier for each Event of Interest recorded.
Now comes the tricky part. Some events, like chunks of ice can hurt the orbiter. These events are highlighted in red. To avoid hitting these hazards, adjust the speed of Rosetta, or lose points and reduce the multiplier.
Rosetta needs to transmit data back to earth. A green transmission cone is released from the comet. This represents the area in which Rosetta can clearly transmit back to earth. When inside this area, swipe up or down to send discoveries back to earth. Three successful transmissions back to earth increases the multiplier by one.
Rosetta also needs to retrieve data from the lander. The lander releases a purple echo representing the area that Rosetta can receive data from the lander. Again, swipe up or down to communicate with the lander. Each time data are received from the lander, the multiplier is increased by one.
At the end of the game, there is a quiz to earn additional points. The game is challenging, but not impossible. It can be played offline. It is a fun way to learn about the scientific research that is currently taking place in space.
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/comet-quest/id504786625?mt=8
Web: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comet-quest/#/review/comet-quest/CometQuest.swf
Coming Tonight: Astronaut Spacewalk!
Astronaut Spacewalk for iOS will be available tonight (already out in some regions) and looks fantastic!
Source: http://toucharcade.com/2012/06/27/check-it-out-astronaut-spacewalk/
This Ain’t Rocket Science… Oh, Wait.
Virtual Web NEWS brings news of NASA’s Rocket Science 101, a new game that lets you “build and launch your own virtual rocket” on the web or iPad!
NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP), based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, provides access to space for the studies of Earth and exploration of our solar system and the universe. Now, LSP is turning over the virtual selection, construction and launch of a mission to players who will decide the best rocket to assemble to launch a spacecraft. Rocket scientists in LSP do the same thing for real rockets and missions every day.
Check out the article for more information or use the links below to access the game itself!
Source: Virtual Web NEWS
Web: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/RocketScience101/RocketScience101.html
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rocket-science-101/id536290350?mt=8
Moonbase Alpha Update!
Virtual Heroes is readying an update to Moonbase Alpha which will feature a new level “Moonbase Madness” with a brand new competitive mode. The level has two separate moonbases and two teams of three astronauts each are competing to repair their bases. Watch for more details soon!
We are planning to release the following updates in August 2012!
New Features:
- Moonbase Madness level (including new competitive mode)
- Something else to be announced…
Fixes:
- Intermittent hose crash fixed
- Text-to-speech crash fixed (would crash all text-to-speech connected players if you typed “[:dial]”)
- Settlements now report the correct Oxygen percentage when hovering over them
- Cheaters get a HUD message saying cheats have been used
- Lobby UI color selection cosmetic improvements
- Easter egg is easier to access in the command center
- Fixed bug where host cannot kick 6th player in game
- Beacons no longer disappear when deactivated
A Bit “Off-Colour” But…
… if I hadn’t watched this video review of Angry Birds Space I wouldn’t know that they put in a little NASA-branded satellite and if you click it, it asks if you want to learn more about space and NASA (at 1:49 into the video).
Very cool!
Working For A Living…
Been real busy with my “day job” (well day JOBS really) and of course the past holiday weekend/family invasion but should get caught up soon and also getting some responses for volunteers so stay tuned…
