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NASA Releases Unreal Engine MMO Preview Demo

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 51 comments
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After you finish this, try playing some Doom for space-marine training.

Last year we learned that NASA was working on an Unreal-engine powered MMO game called Astronaut: Mars, Moon, and Beyond. It's partly a recruitment tool to get the younger generation interested in space exploration and research, much like the aims are with America's Army.

The final version of the NASA MMO isn't out yet, but released this week is Moonbase Alpha as a free preview. You've got nothing to lose, so grab it on Steam if you've always wonder what it'd be like to be a space cadet.

NASA Moonbase Alpha

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.

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Top Comments
  • 16 Hide
    mattclary , July 8, 2010 12:14 PM
    So, we pretty much have no space program, yet we need to recruit astronauts?
  • 12 Hide
    blackened144 , July 8, 2010 2:33 PM
    ParrdaccMy father has been working for NASA the since the start of the Shuttle Program and what regulas said is in fact correct. The Obama administration does want NASA to reach out to Muslims and Muslims countries. However it is NOT the #1 priority but actually listed as the 4th or 5th priority for NASA. Their #1 priority is still listed as space exploration so I would not worry too much. That will take up so much they may not even get to the whole reach out to Muslim deal.

    The point of the matter is that none of NASA's priorities should have to do with reaching out to Muslims or Muslim nations.
  • 12 Hide
    danish_2828 , July 8, 2010 12:34 PM
    regulasNASA used to be the worlds leader in space exploration and now it is a joke. Their #1 priority under the Obama regime is not space but to reach out to Muslims. I have to ask a common sense question when I read about this, WTF does that have to do with space exploration but what do you expect from the worst president in US history.


    You need to quit watching Fox News it's warping your brain
Other Comments
    Display all 51 comments.
  • 10 Hide
    braneman , July 8, 2010 10:20 AM
    interesting... not enough people want to be astronauts these days.
  • 5 Hide
    Ciuy , July 8, 2010 10:27 AM
    Yeah, exactly what we need. Its time to take over the Galaxy !!!!!!
  • 0 Hide
    mlopinto2k1 , July 8, 2010 10:43 AM
    That completely freaked me out.
  • 10 Hide
    Fusion777 , July 8, 2010 11:00 AM
    Music is way too epic for what you know is gonna be a slow and steady MMO
  • 3 Hide
    babachoo , July 8, 2010 11:14 AM
    LOL this game looks like terribly programmed propaganda, just like America's Army.
  • 4 Hide
    marraco , July 8, 2010 11:34 AM
    Soil particles removed by wheels are wrongly rendered. They should move faster (no air resistence), and contrails should being wider, because of the lower gravity.
  • 4 Hide
    halls , July 8, 2010 11:38 AM
    Cool idea, I guess...but what's the point of this game? Looks like a very slow-paced Farmville on the moon. What are we trying to accomplish?
  • 1 Hide
    Zoonie , July 8, 2010 11:42 AM
    Will there be anomalies and bases on the dark side of the moon?
  • 12 Hide
    geossj5 , July 8, 2010 12:11 PM
    fusion777Music is way too epic for what you know is gonna be a slow and steady MMO


    lolll exactly what i was thinking
    but really its a game by NASA the quests will most likely revolve around collecting rock samples
  • 16 Hide
    mattclary , July 8, 2010 12:14 PM
    So, we pretty much have no space program, yet we need to recruit astronauts?
  • 12 Hide
    danish_2828 , July 8, 2010 12:34 PM
    regulasNASA used to be the worlds leader in space exploration and now it is a joke. Their #1 priority under the Obama regime is not space but to reach out to Muslims. I have to ask a common sense question when I read about this, WTF does that have to do with space exploration but what do you expect from the worst president in US history.


    You need to quit watching Fox News it's warping your brain
  • -9 Hide
    shaun_shaun , July 8, 2010 12:35 PM
    looks gay !!!
  • -5 Hide
    ajac09 , July 8, 2010 12:43 PM
    it sucks dont bother!
  • 4 Hide
    Agges , July 8, 2010 12:44 PM
    Looks interesting, content wise it could be a good distraction from the usual games..

    regulasNASA used to be the worlds leader in space exploration and now it is a joke. Their #1 priority under the Obama regime is not space but to reach out to Muslims. I have to ask a common sense question when I read about this, WTF does that have to do with space exploration but what do you expect from the worst president in US history.


    It can't be easy to clean up after Bush!
  • 1 Hide
    blasterth , July 8, 2010 1:31 PM
    They want a large numbers of person to apply to be astronauts so they can pick the 10 "perfect" candidates from a big pool and send the other 99.99% back home seeking for a new dream.
  • -6 Hide
    gzhang , July 8, 2010 2:00 PM
    It is really not government agency's role to advertise themselves with tax payer's money. NASA has became bloated and inefficient. They use out of date computer languages that have no chance of drawing young able software engineers.

    And to be fair to Obama, the 3 biggest one day deficit increases are under Bush, double the size of the education department and started 2 wars that are money drains. So sometimes an in-effect leader is better than a hyperactive leader. But it is just pains me to wait for the oil to fill the ocean.
  • 4 Hide
    warezme , July 8, 2010 2:00 PM
    That isn't moon base alpha, I didn't see any Eagle landers?
  • 8 Hide
    sirmorluk , July 8, 2010 2:02 PM
    danish_2828You need to quit watching Fox News it's warping your brain


    Actually it was on Al Jazeera with an interview with the director of NASA.
    But I guess if you want to believe it was on Fox news then more power to you.
  • 9 Hide
    Parrdacc , July 8, 2010 2:13 PM
    danish_2828You need to quit watching Fox News it's warping your brain


    My father has been working for NASA the since the start of the Shuttle Program and what regulas said is in fact correct. The Obama administration does want NASA to reach out to Muslims and Muslims countries. However it is NOT the #1 priority but actually listed as the 4th or 5th priority for NASA. Their #1 priority is still listed as space exploration so I would not worry too much. That will take up so much they may not even get to the whole reach out to Muslim deal.
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