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Rendezvous
The view on the screen has a view of the earth at the center of the screen
and a satellite orbiting slowly around the earth. The orbit would have the
satellite in a different orbit size and eccentricity for each game start.
OBJECT: The object of the game is to guide the rocket to match the exact
orbit and phase essentially rendezvousing with the satellite. Gamestart:
Touching a launch key will have a small rocket launch into a small circular
orbit well inside the satellite. Hitting the earth will cause a crash and
hitting the satellite with too much an approach speed will cause a crash.
Being within, say 6 pixels of the satellite for more than 2 seconds will
register a successful rendezvous. Steering would be done by only a main
thruster and retrorockets to steer. A tap of specified keys will cause the
firing of these two engines. With each tap of the key you see the flame
and hear a beep or tone for a second or fraction thereof. Details on steering:
You first start the rocket rotating, (remember the rocket is floating in
orbit while you are rotating it) then stop the rotation when the rocket
is pointed to the direction you want to fire the main rocket. You then fire
a specified amount of main rocket depending on which of 2 or 3 keys you
touch. The 3 keys would provide varying amounts of thrust. One choice of
thrust would work and make it easier to understand, but in the long run
would cause the need for many rapid firings if the amount is tiny enough
to provide fine tuning of the orbit of the rocket. Scoring: Scoring could
be either time to rendezvous, amount of fuel used or a combination. I recommend
that if thoughtful planning of the orbit is the intended challenge, the
score should be on how much fuel is used. In other words, fuel left at rendezvous
is the score. As far as time, I recommend to give an oxygen supply of 3
minutes where the player has only 3 minutes to get a rendezvous. Set up
the strength of gravity where an average medium sized orbit takes about
20 seconds, making it slow enough to be really precise on firing of the
rocket, yet also allow for about 10 orbits in the 3 minutes to achieve rendezvous.
To assist in the mental planning of the orbits, the track of both the satellite
AND the rocket should have a cookie trail outlining where each has been
essentially showing their orbits. This should be a great way to learn (teach)
how orbits work through visualization with no need for mathematics knowledge.
Science teachers, space camp?
Space Rocket Game
Name
Rob Mckenzie
If just I all learing could be made this funny
and clever. Games with more than just shot'em up action, but with a strong
sense of learing, is something we need more of. Should we contact Nasa?
Idea Reviewer:
-Anders Skrede-
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