Matrix Games announced that its space exploration game, Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager (SPM), will be coming in June 2013 for the PC, Mac and iPad.
SPM is a space exploration game with strategic and simulation elements where your duty is to manage a space agency (Global Space Agency). You’ll be able to basically do what space agencies like NASA do, like recruit and manage personnel and astronauts, create space programs and launch space missions in what Matrix calls “a realistic turn-based strategy game”.
There’s a sandbox mode and a campaign mode. The campaign is about dealing with a space agency’s normal business, including research and new components development, while balancing your budget and at the same time deal with “politicians and their shot term goals”. In sandbox mode you can apparently do basically the same but without the scripting aspects, so, no politics and no goals.
The game features historic programs like launching the Sputnik satellite or the Gemini and Apollo missions, but also includes futuristic programs like a manned spacecraft to Mars.
One interesting aspect about this game is that the Slitherine Group (which includes Matrix Games) is developing SPM in partnership with Buzz Aldrin Enterprises and apparently in direct consultation with Buzz Aldrin himself, who is a former NASA astronaut and the second person to set foot on the moon. This should “ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the game” says Matrix Games.
For more information about Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program Manager head on to the official product page at Matrix Games. We’ll be watching SPM closely.
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Sounds really interesting and quite innovative. I wonder how deep and complex the strategic elements really are? Could be really good if its complex and challenging. I hope they don’t dumb it down as seems to be the current trend. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Thanks for the article Adam.
You’re welcome Mark. At the surface it sounds more like a simulator, so, I’m also wondering how deep strategically the game will be.
Interesting, yes, innovative, I don’t think so, the 4 screenshots I saw scream Race Into Space HD. That is, “Buzz Aldrin’s Race Into Space” HD. Btw, there’s a free remake for modern machines of that here http://peyre.x10.mx/BARIS/index.htm.
Well by innovative I meant in comparison to the 50 million or so identical first person shooters out there, not that it had never ever been done before. Thanks for the link, didn’t know about that one.
Good to see a remake of BARIS, it’s about time.
I wonder if it includes the ability to stage fake Moon landings…
You’re probably joking, but if you’re not, and if with fake moon landings, you mean like simulations? That I don’t know, but this passage hints to what may be alternative ways to land on the moon.
“instead of sending men to the Moon using the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) approach used by Project Apollo in the late 1960s and early 1970s, you will be able to rewrite history and use either the alternative Earth Orbit Rendezvous (EOR) or Direct Ascent schemes.” ~Matrix Games
Adam, thanks for your reply. Yes I was just stirring the conspiracy pot, nothing serious.
Yea, I suspected you were :)
And a Buzz Aldrin punch out mini game.
Looks like fun, please keep us up to date on news for this!
Yes, don’t worry, we’ll be following this one closely.
Do you think we should tell Buzz Aldrin about Kerbal Space Program ?
Kerbal Space Program meets Crusader Kings? :D
Matrix should’ve consulted Jebediah Kerman ;-)
I can’t wait. I always hated how BARIS ended after the moon landing. This will hopefully cure that problem I had with that.
This looks very interesting. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Yes, I’ve been watching this one at Slitherine with much interest. It should be great as long as it doesn’t fall into the Crusader Kings trap of not visualizing enough and leaving too much to text boxes, spread sheets, and the imagination.
I may feel kind of sad and wistful playing it though, as it would probably remind me how far NASA has fallen since those heady days of the 60’s/70’s. No bucks, no Buck Rogers I guess.
BTW, speaking of Buzz Aldrin, it can’t be overstated how irritated he was about not getting to be the first man to set foot on the moon. ;)
“Matrix should’ve consulted Jebediah Kerman ;-)”
Truer words have never been spoken.
Being the nerd I am, I will stick to building and flying rockets, having them fail in spectacular ways instead of managing them.
This is a definite buy for me. Judging Matrix’s quality in Panzer Corps and Battle Academy, I think they could make this good.