High-Level Project Summary
We have created an elegant game which tries to recreate a simplified version of the situations that astronauts face while in space. Since the problem statement is targeted at school students, the simplicity of the game while also not losing out on the information at the same time directly contributes towards solving the problem. Interesting mini games based on the same theme adds to the engagement of the user. The objective of the task focuses on various diverse factors like mental and physical health of the people and also introduces diverse roles and their responsibilities to the students. The students learn to balance many factors and optimise multiple variables simultaneously
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
Overview
The project is a simplified space simulation game developed using the Godot game engine. It has been designed keeping in mind the target audience of school students belonging to 10-14 years of age. The objective of the game is to help a team of astronauts survive the journey from Earth to Mars on the Spaceship.
You begin with 5 Crew Members - a doctor, a scientist, a botanist, an engineer, a technician. Each of the crew members has certain specific strengths which you must identify and use accordingly. The resources that you possess are limited and hence every decision you make, right from which place every member is deployed to how much exertion he should be performing has an impact on your gameplay and is crucial.
During the entire journey, you need to maintain your resources, attend to events and emergencies which come in the form of mini games.
Benefits
The game is easy to understand and also acts as a simplified simulation of the situation that an astronaut has to deal with. It has been created keeping in mind the target audience and aims at providing maximum information and learning while keeping things fun and interesting. The game does not focus on just the factual information but also helps develop critical thinking and decision taking abilities of the players. It makes use of multiple factors like resources,possible casualties and information about various professions. These factors have been chosen after studying and understanding their importance from multiple credible sources.
Aim of the project
Through this project we aim to create awareness among our target audience regarding the various difficulties that arise through the course of a space journey while also helping them enhance and exercise various skills. We hope that the students would learn to balance many factors and optimise multiple variables simultaneously. The expected teachings include resource management, crisis handling and critical decision taking. We aim to do all this while keeping the experience extremely interesting and engaging for all the players.
Tools used
We used the godot game engine in order to build the entire game.
Gameplay details
The following are the resources:
1. FOOD - This is consumed by each of the members. The consumption rate depends on their rate of exercise. Lack of food can have severe impacts on the mental and physical health of the crew.
2. FUEL - This is consumed at each timestep throughout the entire journey. If there is lack of fuel, you may not reach your destination.
3. SPARE PARTS - This is required to fix damage to the spaceship. If there are no spare parts when a damage is incurred, you will not be able to reach your destination.
4. AIR QUALITY - This is the quality of the living condition on the space ship. Poor air quality will affect the physical health of the crew.
Each of the crew members have the following resources/properties:
1. PHYSICAL HEALTH - This influences the efficiency of the crew member. Exercising leads to improving the physical health.
2. MENTAL HEALTH - This influences the efficiency of the crew member. If the member is working alone (in isolation), his mental health degrades due to loneliness. Working with another individual improves health.
3. PROFESSION - This is the profession of the crew member. Each profession provides different perks so it is crucial to keep everyone alive.
There are the following tasks that the crew members can attend to:
1. CULTIVATE - Produce food for the crew.
2. CLEAN AIR - Improves the air quality of the ship, prevents micro-organism on the ship.
3. ALIGN PANELS - This is to produce extra fuel for the spaceship through Solar Power.
4. COMMS - Communication with the Earth base. Performing this task improves the mental health of the crew member.
5. WORKSHOP - This is to produce the spare parts.
Each of the members have different perks:
1. BOTANIST produces more food than others.
2. SCIENTIST is able to perform CLEAN AIR more efficienty. Reduces the risk of contamination of the air ducts.
3. ENGINEER is able to perform ALIGN PANELS more efficienty. Reduces time in SOLAR FLARE event.
4. TECHNICIAN is able to generate more spare parts. Reduecs SPARE PART required in SPARE PARTS event.
5. DOCTOR is special in the sense that he/she improves the mental health of the fellow member faster.
Throughout the entire journey, you will face various casualties and emergencies
Events:
1. SPARE PARTS - This event will require you to fix the spaceship.
2. CREW SICK - A crew can get sick through the journey. Will affect the mental and physical health of the crew.
3. SOLAR FLARE - A solar flare can cause damage to the spaceship. Will delay the movement for a few days.
4. AIR QUALITY - The air ducts can get contaminated by microorganisms which will reduce the air quality.
5. DEATH - A crew member may unfortunately pass away due to mishaps
Emergencies (Mini Game):
1. Debris - The spaceship is amidst space debris. Control the spaceship to win the minigame.
2. Repair - A part of the spaceship is broken. Can you reach it and fix the spaceship
Space Agency Data
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlHD5HfFJlE&list=PL37Yhb2zout05pUjr7OoRFpTNroq_wd9f&index=2
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-32/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-270/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-326/
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/hazards
we used the provided data to learn about the hazards, both external and internal, of travelling in space, its various mental and physical effects.
Hackathon Journey
The experience was really helpful and informational. Helped us learn a lot in a short period of time both technically and factually.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlHD5HfFJlE&list=PL37Yhb2zout05pUjr7OoRFpTNroq_wd9f&index=2
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-32/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-270/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-326/
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/hazards
https://godotforums.org
Tags
#godot, #gamedev, #spaceapps
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.