«Real Universe»
Russian game about space exploration
Genre: Role playing game (RPG) with strategy and simulator elements
The history of the space Agency “CROWN” from our days up to the XXIII century.
The game has two modes-strategic management and tactical missions.
Game features :
1. Peaceful space, cooperation and creativity.
2. Projects of national cosmonautics, participation of industry experts in the development.
3. Expansion of the project beyond borders of computer game.
4. Shaping of vision, career guidance.
5. The game as an educational tool, an analogue or addition to the school’s “Astronomy” course.
Currently, there is an ongoing process of development of the alpha version of the game, tis dedicated to the manned expedition to Mars.
The concept of RSC «Energia» 2006-2008, rethought and updated, is taken as a basis.
Now we are completing the first stage of development (WAIT FOR THE DATA REFRESH 15-20 JANUARY 2019).
(degree of readiness of the elements is indicated as a percentage)
Base location generator – 100%.
Main items of the environment (the landscape tiles, stones) – 100%.
Main items of the mission. Residential module (exterior, interior), return module (exterior), manned rover (exterior), charging station, solar panels, service robot – 100%.
Cosmonauts in spacesuits (main animations) – 75%.
Dialogue system – 100%.
MAS menu (movement, action, status) – basic functions – 100%.
Main game menu from drone’s perspective, group management, mini-map with object management functions – 100%.
Game Library – 100%.
Basic drone movement simulation, rovers movement simulation – 100%.
Phase game mode (1 sol includes 2 EVA phases), briefing area – 50%.
Basic mechanics of the two main quests of the mission – 60%.
What’s next?
Saves and loads
Expansion of the landscape generator (Inclusion of cliffs and new tiles)
Creation of distant locations
Rover’s interiors, management from cabin
Full implementation of the three main quests, including the quests in distant locations
Role-playing system – different path completion of quests and reactions to the” points of interest ” of cosmonauts of different professions
Advanced functionality of the interior, including characters role interaction
Minimum mission completion
Extension of the tileset for generator landscape
Set of additional, bonus and orbital quests
Emergency events, non-standard tasks
Damage and wear system
Repair mechanics in residential module
Dialog voiceover
Basic mini-games
Final selection of elements of landscape generator
Final completion of 3D models
Landing simulation of descend complex, interior of the return module
Optimization and alpha release
Simultaneously with the development of the computer game
we are launching a tabletop version.
It is possible to try yourself in a role
of head of a space program.
Current version name is “First starts”.
The game is orientated for 3-4 simultaneous participants, tis logically correlated with the first episode scenario of the computer version (Mars expedition – is the 4th episode).
It will be available as a reward for sponsors on the Boomstarter platform.
Two videos demonstrate fragments of story inserts, gameplay and simulation elements, functionality of the in-game library.
Other videos are available on the Studio channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZ5XGkXhCSAkPefotV7ueA
The idea of the project “Real Universe” appeared after the comprehension of the actual problems of our time:
1. Younger generations are passionate about games, for the most part, without any actual benefit for themselves.
2. In modern Russian society there is no image of a hero-the conqueror of the Universe.
3. “Astronomy” has been returned to school program, but the usual formats of studying do not work at all.
4. There is no stimulus to break away from computer games and learn something new about the real world.
THE PHENOMENON OF COMPUTER GAMES in one hand is encased as an instrument of literature displacement, cinema and TV, but on the other hand: they shape a worldview.
Many games about space – are about war, profit, tis a distorted, but an attractive world in which the motivation is a management of instincts.
There are games with the right content. But in them the player mainly learns about projects of NASA, ESA, and other projects
“Real Universe” – computer game with educational content and focus on domestic space projects, without military conflicts which can in order become a national system of new way of thinking and career guidance.
One step closer to the Beautiful Beyond.
Within the game you will find history of the “CROWN” space Agency from our days and on to the XXIII century.
The time interval of the stages is preliminary, but most likely it will remain the same.
In the alpha version, there will be 3 mandatory quests awaiting for players and more than a dozen of additional tasks. Completion of all quests will provide hero with detailed knowledge of planetary science of Mars. Tis obvious that before the hero had been send on an expedition, he already knew a lot.
But the circumstances of history dictate that tis necessary to verify all known facts about the fourth planet… To decide if a man must set his foot on surface of Mars… or should all responsibility be entrusted to machines.
In the development of educational content, we focus mainly on manual, published in Irkutsk by a team of specialists led by astronomer Sergei Yazev.
In the development of devices for missions (including descriptions of their technical parameters, we focus on modern data of Russian space developments). We come up with new technical solutions and implement them in game in collaboration with industry experts and project consultants.