User:Kirihari

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Contents 1 Space flight simulators 1.1 History and evolution 2 See also 3 External links 4 Space combat simulators 5 Examples 6 Free form space trading and combat simulators 7 Overview 8 Gameplay 9 Control systems 9.1 Keyboard and mouse 9.2 Joysticks 10 Notable games

[edit] Space flight simulators

A space simulator ia a device that enables the operator to reproduce or represent under test conditions phenomena likely to occur in actual^[1] outer space. There are many different types of space simulators. These simulators range in purpose from scientific to entertainment, from astronomical software^[2], astronaut training programs to video games.

Within each category holds many genres however most flight simulators can fit within these three schools of thought. The different uses of space simulators range from the entertainment based Video games up to full-sized cockpit replicas mounted on hydraulic rams, to the more advanced weightless simulation^[3]. A scientific space flight simulator is used almost solely by the aerospace industry and the military for astronaut training, disaster simulation and spacecraft development. The video game simulator is something that at one time has been reffered to as a dead genre^[4].

[edit] History and evolution

Space flight simulators at home

Because of their complication and appeal that is limited to arguably narrower group of space enthusiasts, space flight simulators have been less prevalent than the flight simulators and have had only limited presence in the home user market. Nevertheless, over the last 20 years or so there have been a number of products (both commercial and freeware) that have been met with varying degree of interest in the gaming community.

There is a considerable interdependence between space flight and flight simulators kinds of simulators, as some flight simulators feature spacecraft as an extension (e.g. X-Plane) and on the other hand some space flight simulators may feature a pretty realistic flight simulation engine (e.g. Orbiter). Moreover flight simulation repositoriess and flight simulation fora (e.g. Avsim) serve usually both flight and space flight simulators' enthusiasts.

Three major kinds of space simulators can be identified:

• Extensions to general-purpose flight simulators - that attempt to accommodate spacecraft physics using the same (or slightly modified) physics engine that is used for general flight simulation. Those extensions are usually limited to sub-orbital or LEO missions.

Examples:

• Spacecraft add-ons for X-Plane (including Space Shuttle, Ares and Saturn V).

• Specialized simulators - that feature a specialized engine for a limited simulation of particular operations of the spacecraft or particular phases of the space mission. Specialized simulators excel at realism (complexity and operations of spacecraft systems, visual effects and general handling of the simulation) but are usually limited to specific spacecraft or particular bounds of simulation (i.e. you cannot fly the Space Shuttle to the moon, even if you have enough fuel).

Examples:

• Shuttle: the Space Flight Simulator (Virgin game)
• Eagle Lander 3D
• Space Shuttle Simulator

• General-purpose space flight simulators - that feature a general-purpose physics engine that may be used for a wide range of spacecraft and missions. Those are usually the most comprehensive and complex but may lack in details and some advanced visual effects.

Examples:

• Microsoft Space Simulator
• Orbiter

[edit] See also

• Orbiter - a freeware space flight simulator by Martin Schweiger
• Space Combat - a freeware space flight simulator by Austin Meyer
• Microsoft Space Simulator
• Flight simulator
• X-Plane
• Noctis - A space exploration simulator.

[edit] External links

• A-OK! The Wings of Mercury - Mercury spacecraft simulation
• Space Shuttle Simulator's Site
• Eagle Lander 3D Site
• Lunar Lander Simulator for Palm/Treo mobile devices
• Space Combat by Austin Meyer (author of X-Plane)
• Jumpgate
• The Void - Large Freelancer Multi Player Community and Fansite
• museum quality space flight simulations
• Next generation flight simulators
• Exoflight - Open Source Spaceflight Simulator

[edit] Space combat simulators

Usually linear story based games starting at mission one and ending at the final battle^[5]. This steriotype does however have many exceptions^[6].

Space combat simulator^{[7][8][9][10][11]}, or space combat games^{[12][13][14][15][16]}, are a genre of space simulators which feature spaceship combat. They often feature an arcade-like simulation of space flight, as opposed to the realistic simulation of space flight in space flight simulators.

Space combat simulators which feature trading in addition to combat, such as Elite or Freelancer, are called space trading and combat simulators^{[17][18][19][20]}. A list of space simulation games can be found on wikipedia detailing most of the space simulation games that have been created over the years.

[edit] Examples

• Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War
• Star Wars: X-Wing - Space Combat Simulator
• Independence War
• Wing Commander series
• Allegiance (computer game)
• X (computer game series)
• Starlancer
• Space Force: Rogue Universe
• Tarr Chronicles: Sign of Ghosts
• Space Interceptor

[edit] Free form space trading and combat simulators

Usually everything but linear story based games^[21], and sometimes not even having an ending^[22]. These games incorporate trade^[23].

This article is about the video game genre.

Space trading and combat simulators^{[17][19][20][24][25][26][27]}, also known as space trading and combat games^[28][18][29] or space trading simulators^[30][11] (sometimes with the term "exploration" thrown in between^{[31][32][33][34][35]}), are a genre of video games which is characterized by trading, combat and exploration while piloting a spaceship in a simulated space environment.

The modern space trading and combat simulation genre emerged at the point when home computers became sufficiently powerful to draw basic wireframe graphics in real-time. The game Elite is widely considered to be the breakthrough game of the genre, although it did have some precursors.

Popular examples of the genre include Elite, Wing Commander: Privateer, Freelancer and X³: Reunion.

Some board games, such as Traveller or Merchant of Venus, also feature themes of space combat and trade. Traveller was an influence on the development of Elite.^[36] TradeWars 2002 was an early BBS door game that featured trading and combat set in outer space. A list of space simulation games can be found on wikipedia detailing most of the space simulation games that have been created over the years.

[edit] Overview

The space trading and combat simulation genre is a sub-genre of space simulation. The general formula of the genre, which has changed little since the genesis of the genre, is for the player to begin in a small, outdated ship with little money or status and for the player to work his way up, gaining in status and power through trading, exploration, combat or a mix of different methods. Plot tends to play only a limited role and only a loose narrative framework tends to be provided.

[edit] Gameplay

All space trading and combat games feature the core gameplay elements of directly controlling the flight of some sort of space vessel, generally armed, and of navigating from one area to another for a variety of reasons. As technology has improved it has been possible to implement a number of extensions to gameplay, such as dynamic economies or Newtonian physics, but the core gameplay has changed little over the years. One innovative feature in some games is massively multiplayer online play.

[edit] Control systems

[edit] Keyboard and mouse

Most modern space trading and combat games on the PC allow a player to utilise a combination of the WASD keys of the keyboard and mouse as a means of controlling the game (commonly referred to as "WASD/Mouse"). Games such as Microsoft's Freelancer use this as their only control system.

[edit] Joysticks

By far the most popular control system for space trading and combat games is the joystick, and most users prefer to use this input method whenever possible, although expense and practicality mean that many are forced to use the keyboard and mouse combination.

[edit] Notable games

• Battlecruiser series (1996-2003)
• DarkStar One (2006)
• Elite series (1984-1995)
• Escape Velocity series (1996-2002)
• Evochron series (2005-2007)
• Flatspace series (2003-2006)
• Freelancer (2003)
• Infinity: The Quest for Earth (in development)
• Space Force: Rogue Universe (2007)
• Space Rangers series (2002-2004)
• SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984)
• Tachyon: The Fringe (2000)
• TradeWars Series (1984-present)
• Wing Commander: Privateer (1993)
• X series (1999-2007)

References