Analysis

Exploring Space through Creativity

The Kerbal Space Program game is a single player computer game that exposes its player to space travel.  It is an actual simulation from the building of the craft to flying it and landing on other planets.  Although it looks like a cartoon, it is far more and demands a great deal of skill from the person playing the game.  A participant needs to use his or her creativity to choose parts to build the rocket, makes decisions about flight paths, decides on speed of the craft, chooses the planet that the craft will land on and determines what exploration of that planet is necessary.   It is fun and challenging to construct the spaceship capable of travelling to another planet.  Many choices of engines, fuel tanks, command pods, and probes are available to the designer.    Space stations and satellites can also be constructed.  In addition, planes can be built that can be attached to the outside of the spacecraft.  These are often used to explore the planets once the craft has landed.  The possibilities are limitless for the player.  The environment of the game mandates a player to use his or her creativity to engage in an exciting competition that encourages precision and following directions and provides much enjoyment for its players.

Playing the game, Kerbal Space Program, is a lot of fun and requires that a person uses creativity.  This game necessitates that a player utilizes his or her imagination to produce a craft that will endure a lot of forces.  The location of this game is the planet Kerbin.  The Vehicle Assembly building is the first place a player goes in this game to find all the parts to manufacture the rocket.  This is where a person must use his or her engineering and artistry skills to not only build the ship but make sure it will launch and fly through space.    Rockets can be large or small, so it is the choice of the person constructing them to decide what shape is best.  To maintain the structural integrity of the ship so that it is not destroyed by the environment, the player must also make sure the rocket is not too heavy, so it will lift off the launch pad. The goal is that it can travel through space and reach a specific planet.   A player chooses a Command Pod and other major parts to build this craft that will be able to tolerate incredible speeds. “First part required in any vessel construction is construction is a command module. This part will either contain a plucky Kerbal crew or an automated pilot mechanism” (Ayarza).  Not only is creativity important, but precise decisions must be executed and directions followed.

Great precision must be used to make sure that everything comes together in just the right manner so that the spacecraft can be flown safely and manipulated through the forces of nature.  “Flying a spacecraft is all about being in control of a generally very chaotic situation” (Ayarza).  To do this, a player must follow all directions. “An important part of flying is knowing how your ship is oriented and where it is going” (Ayarza).  After the ship is completed, a player selects the launch button.  An orbit plan is determined and a planet selected.  Speed controls are navigated by the player to blast the rocket into space. Once a player’s rocket is in orbit, a flight plan is determined.  If this plan is not followed to exact specifications, the rocket will run out of fuel and float endlessly in space.  However, through careful navigation and precise timing, the ship can be guided to a planet.   Speed control is also essential during this period so as to land the ship on the surface; the player should also do everything possible by following directions to avoid landing in water and on the sides of mountains because these will always doom the spacecraft.  Avoiding the dark side of the planets is also essential.   Once a person has managed this task, he or she can emerge from the inside and explore the planet.  After the mission is complete, an attempt is made to return to the planet of origin.  A different flight plan is designed this time.  Launching procedures are utilized and speed controls are increased to the maximum to give full power for liftoff from the planet.  If all goes as planned and enough fuel is maintained, the ship should follow the flight path and enter the atmosphere.  The player must then activate the parachute at the precise time so that the spacecraft can safely return to Kerbin, the planet that the rocket was launched from originally.  The player can also build massive space stations according to directions by sending sections up one at time and then connecting those using docking ports.  In addition, one can also make it so that the space craft can refuel at space stations.  After a player is experienced enough, he or she will try to put a space plane on a rocket and attempt to land it on a different planet.  Many opportunities to use different pieces of equipment are available in this game.  A player can take his or her imagination to any heights.  There are no limits in this exciting game.

In addition to the enjoyment that a player has while building and navigating his spacecraft, there are many other benefits to the game. There are no constraints to one’s creativity. “Whether you want to put a satellite in orbit, fly a transcontinental flight or step onto the very surface of the mun you’re going to need to build yourself a ship”(Ayarza).  A rocket can be made to any specifications, any parts can be chosen, controls can be multi-functional and all this can be done at the player’s own pace.  One can spend two hours playing this game or many more.  This is at the discretion of the player.  Kerbal Space Program enlists a player’s thinking processes to determine how to make the spacecraft manageable and be able to stand up to forces of unbelievable magnitude.  Also, this game is a great stress reliever.  A person can shut out the real world and only focus on navigation through space.  One can get lost in his or her imagination on how to build a craft, how to navigate, what planets to visit, what to explore when landing on other planets and how to set flight plans to return safely to Kerbin. This is exciting to the player, fun to do and gives the player a feeling of accomplishment.  The player has been able to build a craft that will travel through space, determine a flight plan, land on other planets and then return to the original launching site.

Kerbal Space Program is a fascinating venture of engineering feats, pushing the player to use his or her imagination to design a spacecraft capable of traveling to another planet while encountering many obstacles.  This game develops creativity in the player through the infinite design possibilities that are available.  Also, the program demands precise timing and movement to ensure that the craft will complete its mission.  A player must be able to follow directions in the game and this will all culminate in an adventure that brings excitement to the participant.  Playing Kerbal Space Program provides so much enjoyment that a player will want to return many times to play this game. 

                                                                                                                                                Bearns  4

Works Cited

Ayarza, Ezequiel, et al. Kerbal Space Program, Squad, 2011. Digital File.