High-Level Project Summary
Our game focuses on a journey to Mars, and it reflects on the technological and psychological challenges that come with it. Just like a real spaceflight, the astronauts are dependent on themselves, their teammates, and their knowledge, so they can become the beginning of a new era. They continuously face new challenges, like arising technological difficulties, the constant change in parameters and the failure of systems. They must take care about their own body, and the integrity of their skeletal structure. The astronauts can study different aspects of astrophysics, and the challenges that come with them. They can do this by visiting the Daily Knowledge section of the commander module.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
Our game focuses on the challenges that come with the journey to Mars. This is done by partitioning the game to 5 modules, which represent the challenges that the astronauts have to face: Commander module, Medical module, Lab module, Technology module and Airlock module. The first and most important module is the commander module, which the astronauts have to check periodically to make sure every system is in good condition, and everything goes according to plan. These systems can malfunction over time and the smallest initial errors could topple over the precise harmony in the systems, which leads to an avalanche-like chain reaction. For example, if the water pressure decreases minimally, it does not mean that it is going to cause a big problem at first, but if it is not resolved in time, it may lead to the imbalance of the reactor’s temperature, it could reach a critical temperature and it may lead to an explosion, or over-voltage which can interfere with other systems operation.
All in addition to this, the medical module plays a crucial role in survival, because the astronauts can study the forces acting upon them, with microgravity and with radiation, thus increasing their chance of survival. Also, this is the module where they can heal themselves. Later, they can perform different kinds of experiments and they can get more educational content and information.
We hope that our game will gain attention, thus encouraging and inspiring young people to step on the road of research, science, and the exploration of other worlds.
For all this, we considered the possibility of today’s technologies, and we tried to make the most of it. The gameplay is taken care of by the Java code written in Android Studio. We have realised three layers: Service layer, Data layer and User interface layer. This is done to separate different aspects of the code, so this abstraction makes working on the software easier.
The 3D environment and appearance are taken care of by Blender animation and modelling software, in which the entire spaceship’s design was built.
Space Agency Data
In our project, we used data from multiple space agencies as game logic, design, or as an inspiration source. The game contains a panel named “Daily Knowledge” in the Commander Module, where there is data listed from space agencies like NASA, Roscosmos, CNSA and ESA. In the game’s logic, the remaining days, thrust, travelled distance and many other parameters are based on reality (or really close to it).
Furthermore, the above-mentioned Daly Knowledge panel focuses especially on education, entertainment, and dazzle. Here we get to know the Voyager 1 & 2 space probes, the first dog in space (Laika), ISS, Mir, Apollo program and SpaceX. In addition, we can learn about the dangers of space, the secret of stars and planets, physics, chemistry, and electronics.
We also drew significantly from the work of the space agencies in connection with the design of the game. We were inspired by the inner world of the International Space Station, or by the Tiangong space station, which’s first module is already placed in orbit around the Earth.
Hackathon Journey
This contest made us feel a lot of positive emotions. Both the theme itself and the attitudes of the organizers and mentors are captivating, overwhelming, and inspiring. We learned a myriad of new things during the competition. We learned a lot of new skills in Android development, and I revived my knowledge of 3D graphics software and successfully designed, redesigned, and expanded the five modules used in the game, which only due to time constraints, were not fully implemented in physical form.
We originally chose this category for several reasons. First, studying about Mars and outer space has occupied us for a long time, secondly, we also want to contribute to the creation of a new space era. We want to attract the attention of young people, to capture their imagination, so that they can take into their hands not only their own future, but also the future of humanity. It is possible that one of them will come out who will take the whole life of humanity to a new level, and this was also reflected in the attitude of our team throughout the project. Many times, we spent nights developing to eliminate an error or implement a particular function. We have tolerated these with courage, determination, and perseverance, and we hope that we can put something lasting on the table, and there will be young people we will set in motion on the bumpy road of space exploration.
That is why we would like to thank the organizers who made this amazing event possible, but also to each other for always carrying out what was full of our strength, supporting, helping, courageously and intolerantly, over time.
References
Reactor: https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/industrial/tool/generator-915634f1-1323-4e1e-a017-3aa4e288cb2b
Astronaut suit: https://www.3dart.it/astronaut-free-3d-model/
Flying bed: https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/industrial/tool/sci-fi-military-case
Ship inside: https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/space/spaceship/intrepid-spaceship
Rocket engine:https://www.pngkey.com/download/u2w7y3o0w7y3w7e6_all-about-the-rocket-engines-rocket-engine/
Oxigen cleaning system: https://imgbin.com/png/Fe9HEVt2/oxygen-concentrator-pressure-swing-adsorption-nitrogen-gas-generator-png
Power Point Theme: https://slidesgo.com/theme/video-game-pitch-deck#search-Futuristic&position-4&results-101
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.