Wireframe - #23 - 2019

wfmag.cc \ 65

ʾerbal ˆpace ˃rogram is still harder than actual space Ђight

ith the announcement of

a sequel coming our way,

the dried-out old husk of an

excitement gland actually

started to Tuiver a bit.

It’s happening, and it’s going to be great.

8nless it’s terrible, but I won’t accept that as a

possible outcome. Anyway, inevitably this leads

to the desire to go back to one of nature’s finest

ever games: Kerbal Space Program. And going

back to it leads to the discovery

that, while I had learned a

fair bit about the game in the

years following its 2015 (full)

release, I’ve since forgotten

it all. Kerbal might look cutesy,

but it is harsh.

Actually, considering the accurate simulation

of real-world (and out of this world) physics,

it’s a bit rich calling it harsh. ȆTrue’ would be a

better descriptor. 6ee, Kerbal has you building

up a space program – the clue is very much

in the name – and while you can go through a

campaign mode of sorts, managing money and

achieving goals of exploring your solar system,

what I wanted to go back to was the professional

mucking about bit the sandbox. This mode

removes the need for money and research,

instead Must letting you run free with all the off-

brand NA6A eTuipment you need.

6tep one build the rocket. I’m keen to get

back into Kerbal with something more on the

ambitious side of things – I’d been through the

baby steps of making tiny rockets, getting them

to the stratosphere, manoeuvring a bit, then

safely bringing my people back to the safety of

the ground. That’s boring. Alright, it’s not, it’s

absolutely brilliant. The point I’m making is that

I wanted to show off to myself and to you, dear

readers, that I’m able to remember how to do

things, and apply some general physics-based

knowledge to anything I might apply myself to.

Physics is straightforward, right?

The rocket was built, a series of large boosters

engaging in two stages to offer the most

propulsion possible from the

ground – exactly where it’s

needed the most. A third-

stage engine to give that final

push out of the atmosphere.

Trinkets and scientific

eTuipment, auto stabilisers, and

other such luxury compute-o-parts to make the

whole thing go without a hitch. It was a beaut.

Alright, it was really ugly, but the parts were

there, they would work, and they would throw

me back into Kerbal with a head start.

Naturally, I’d forgotten a crew module so had

no way of controlling the rocket, so it wouldn’t

take off. 2ne Tuick fix later and we’re there

at ground control, counting down the launch.

6tability support on, thrust at maximum, three,

two, oneȐ blast off... oh. The precariously

balanced fuel tanks atop the rocket’s side

boosters had bent inward on take-off, colliding

with the main body and exploding spectacularly.

The launch was an absolute, catastrophic failure

and would need some serious redesign to even

get off the ground to begin with. Kerbal Space

Program is an astoundingly good game.

W

“The launch

was an absolute,

catastrophic

failure”

To infinity...

and explode Universe Sandbox^2

PC

Education might be its

intention, but the universe

physics simulation

encountered here lets you

crash planets into each other.

So, really, that’s all you end

up doing.

Bridge Constructor

Portal

PC, PS4, XBO,

SWITCH, MULTI

Bridge Constructor might

have started out with serious

intentions, and its physics are

sound, but the Portal spin-off

really grasps what makes the

series fun. Failing, basically.

Euro Truck

Simulator 2

PC, MAC, LINUX

The one everyone always

wants to laugh at – until

they play it. Euro Truck

Simulator 2 is bewildering in

just how much it can take over

your free time, given half the

chance. Absolutely compulsive.

Wireframe

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