Auroras

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZfiyuP4Hz7QC8Ir59qFlugtzknpy2-ZV/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109003768546457672568&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cG0CVUqfa2u3y81iAL3vL4iXi0osEKGu/view?usp=sharing

The game we designed is text-based. A text game or text-based game is an electronic game that uses a text-based user interface, that is, the user interface employs a set of encodable characters, such as ASCII, instead of bitmap or vector graphics. We used this way of game development, as it is relatively easy for amateurs in coding, like us, to implement the game in the near future, and because with a text-based game, the information is a bit clearer for the user to understand.

The story of the game

A Ph.D. astrophysics student meets the german professor Spectrum, with which he will study the behavior of solar flares with the help of the Parker Solar Probe mission, At some point, the two scientists find out an abnormality in their measurements, that is caused by a powerful solar wind case. After studying these measurements, they have to inform Earth about the consequences of this phenomenon for humans on Earth.

Game Mechanics

In the gameplay, the user has to make decisions about the outcome of the story, as the game aims to offer a non-linear experience to the user. Usually, after a message from the professor, the user has to choose between two arguments to answer. In some cases, the user should type a full answer to the professor's message.

Design of the game

The design of the game is simple and it is based on ASCII codes, to match the feel of the old text-based games and give the user a vintage experience. The background of the game is an artistic creation that aims to create a sci-fi vibe, to match the story's theme.

Benefits of our project

The game we develop provides information about the solar wind, solar flares, the missions that study the sun and the sun in general. This information is mixed with the story of the game, so the information more understandable for the players. In this way, the information that is transmitted with an interactive way is more digestive to the users than any other static way (for example a website).

Goals of the project

The main goal of the project is to improve public awareness and the understanding of the missions launched around the sun, and especially the Parker Solar Probe mission. Every human being should have at least a basic understanding of the characteristics of the sun and the solar flares and winds and the missions that study these phenomena, as the consequences of intense solar winds influence the whole mankind. So we hope our game we develop can help in this mission of spreading this important knowledge.

Tools used for the development of the game

For the development of the project, we used the following software:

• Twinery
• Photoshop
• Power Point
• a variety of online tools

We used NASA's data to inform the player/user of the game about the sun and its phenomena . First we borrow the Parker Solar Probe orbit number and after the information about the sun's structure. After that, we used info about sunspots,solar flares, solar wind, Dyson sphere and material that can give protection from radiation. You can see specificly the links about the information we used in the ''reference'' section.

You have little time and so many ideas but that's the fun part. We were called to decide and be engaged in a specific project. Those kind of projects test the connection and collaboration between team members , but also you challenge yourself on being a usefull and hardworking teamate. We learn a lot of stuff about our SUN and space missions dedicated to it. Sun is one of billions of stars in our universe but we often tend to forget that . We chose "unlocking the secrets of the sun" because we wanted to remind our fellow people the importance of having such a star in our solar system but also warn them about the dangers that exist. We approach this project by developing a text based app where the user begins a journey in an space aircraft with a scientist who is going to set him/her tasks that tests his/her knoweldge about sun and missions related to it but also is going to provide him/her with important facts about it. We are going to tell the story of a solar traveller but his choises are going to guide him/her. When there's so little time and so many ideas you have to be focused and specific and i think that's the one thing we struggled with but with a diagram and by setting to its teamate task we made it through. We would like to thank of course our mentors for their precious advices. This journey just have begun.

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-activity/en/

https://twinery.org/

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/iris/multimedia/layerzoo.html

http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/the-scientific-quest-to-explain-kepler-s-most-enigmatic-find

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/how-nasa-protects-astronauts-from-space-radiation-at-moon-mars-solar-cosmic-rays

εισαγωγη στη συγχρονη αστρονομια(introduction to modern astronomy), χαραλαμπος Βαρβουλης, Γιάννης Χ. Σειραδάκης, ISBN: 9789607013217

#gaming, #sun

This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.