Dakota47
Member
That's really good news.
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Kerbal Space Program : like model rocket building but better and [no longer] free
- Thread starter FlyinJ
- Start date
That's really good news.
Why in gods name is the performance of the game so damn bad? I have made a really really large space ship with 36 rockets and as soon as it blasts of the game goes down to what seems to be 20fps or worse. Going with as few parts as possible the performance is top notch even with my beefy PC 
Also is there a way to get my really really large space ship out of orbit? I have managed to send 1 satellite into orbit and one space ship. Quite a feat for me
Also is there a way to get my really really large space ship out of orbit? I have managed to send 1 satellite into orbit and one space ship. Quite a feat for me
exmachina64
Banned
Why in gods name is the performance of the game so damn bad? I have made a really really large space ship with 36 rockets and as soon as it blasts of the game goes down to what seems to be 20fps or worse. Going with as few parts as possible the performance is top notch even with my beefy PC
Poor optimization?
I guess so, no fun when you build a monstrosity and the frame rate turns to crap while (trying) launching it to orbit
Not Spaceghost
Spaceghost
Okay I'm new at this, but this was my 6th attempt at space flight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APVjF-MxJcQ&feature=youtu.be
I think I'm getting better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APVjF-MxJcQ&feature=youtu.be
I think I'm getting better.
Dakota47
Member
That actually made me laugh out loud.
A while back I built a Laythe boat, but it didn't really like working over 2 m/s. To fix the problem, I decided to skip the whole "water" thing altogether. The result:
Laythe airship truck, using a modified base craft I found here. It was a lot of fun putting this together, and surprisingly easy to take it up from Kerbin. Without using any parachutes, the balloon manages to stop the craft within ~20m of splashing into the ocean, rising to a max altitude of ~900m. Had to really balance the fuel to make it work with only 1 balloon, so I can only carry 120 units of fuel, for about 71km of use with the propellers. Wanted to use electric ones, but there aren't any side-mounted choices and I couldn't balance the big rotors. I'd like to visit the poles, so I need to get a solution that'll float me all the way there, autonomously from sea level. Really fun moon to visit, I hope they expand on it someday.
Put a little rover up top which is still at the beach, while the docking port would act to refuel the engines, provided I could ever land something up there >_>.
Been trying to take this idea further with an entire "floating lab" but the game's having issues connecting all of the plates to girders.
Just can't get it to sit right. It eventually stops letting me connect anything together, anywhere.
Laythe airship truck, using a modified base craft I found here. It was a lot of fun putting this together, and surprisingly easy to take it up from Kerbin. Without using any parachutes, the balloon manages to stop the craft within ~20m of splashing into the ocean, rising to a max altitude of ~900m. Had to really balance the fuel to make it work with only 1 balloon, so I can only carry 120 units of fuel, for about 71km of use with the propellers. Wanted to use electric ones, but there aren't any side-mounted choices and I couldn't balance the big rotors. I'd like to visit the poles, so I need to get a solution that'll float me all the way there, autonomously from sea level. Really fun moon to visit, I hope they expand on it someday.
Put a little rover up top which is still at the beach, while the docking port would act to refuel the engines, provided I could ever land something up there >_>.
Been trying to take this idea further with an entire "floating lab" but the game's having issues connecting all of the plates to girders.
Just can't get it to sit right. It eventually stops letting me connect anything together, anywhere.
Finally picked this game up and played all weekend. This game creates more of a sense of accomplishment when you achieve something than any game I've played in a long time. I've learned how to reliably get into orbit around Kerbos. I'm watching videos to learn some of the more difficult concepts, but I'm not watching too many because I'm enjoying learning how things work through trial and error. My kids and I must have destroyed 100 rockets over the last couple days.
SJRB
Gold Member
As we all know this game is now 13 bucks on Steam.
I've been really intruiged by this game for a long time, but I was wondering how complex it is. I'm watching a livestream right now, and the guy is doing all kinds of calculations.
So yeah, how accessible is it? Does it have a good tutorial?
I've been really intruiged by this game for a long time, but I was wondering how complex it is. I'm watching a livestream right now, and the guy is doing all kinds of calculations.
So yeah, how accessible is it? Does it have a good tutorial?
The in-game tutorials are pretty bad but you'll find great stuff on Youtube.
I'd recommend it. KSP may be a little clunky but there really isn't another game like it.
Capt.Haddock
Member
Can you guys suggest some good mods?.I got mechjeb and it is wonderful!.I dont you worry about roll and shit now ><
Felix Lighter
Member
I just bought this. After 5 hours of messing around, I finally got a Kerbal into a proper orbit around the planet. I sent a few Kerbals hurtling deep into space before I realized you could control the your craft from the orbit view. Those poor bastards are orbiting the sun now in the name of science.
I struggle a bit keeping control with keyboard and mouse. Maybe I can get an Xbox 360 controller working more intuitively.
I struggle a bit keeping control with keyboard and mouse. Maybe I can get an Xbox 360 controller working more intuitively.
I haven't noticed it being buggy but that's not to say that it isn't bug free.
There has been no features added since I got it as they haven't updated it since then.
It is a fun game, quiet frustrating at times especially the tutorial or lack of, but worth playing especially when it's complete
YouEnjoyMySelf
Banned
We'll never get back to Ghost Planet at this rate.
I've been interested in this ever since Giant Bomb did a few videos of it way back when, but for some reason I've never picked it up.
It was hard to tell from the videos, but is there any real goals or objectives in this game, or is it just a sandbox? As it stood on the GB videos, it looked more like a toy than a game.
It was hard to tell from the videos, but is there any real goals or objectives in this game, or is it just a sandbox? As it stood on the GB videos, it looked more like a toy than a game.
pheonix991
Neo Member
So far, I've lost a week to this game. It's the only thing I want to do when I get home from work.
Its a sandbox. Doesn't mean there isn't goals, its just that you are the one setting them. You decide if the rocket you are building is aiming for the Moon, or just gonna settle for Earth's orbit. Stuff like that.
Its really challenging in the short amount of time I have played. But man, its rewarding as hell. I was happy when I got my rocket into space. Just space. Nothing else.
Dunder over at the buy/sell thread is selling it for $9 if it helps you make up your mind.
Just wait until you discover the weekly challenges on reddit (which are in limbo prior to 0.21 being released)
There is a group button on the top right where you are building ships. Don't know what it was called but there. You can use a hotkey to release all clamps at the same time.
Anyone else starting to have problems with the game hard locking when trying to reset?
I've sunk so much time in to this game, setting my own goals along the way. First goal was to get in orbit reliably. Then was to launch a satellite into orbit. Then was to get to the Mun. I ended up missing the Mun and landing on Minmus. Now I'm working on my first in-orbit rendezvous. I can't wait to work on it again tomorrow.
Spaaaaaaaaace
Member
Will my guy die if I leave him orbiting space forever?
Nappuccino
Member
What's the learning curve for this game? Will I have to do a bunch of reading on the side or is it easy enough (i.e. common sense enough) that a little trial and error should get me into the skys in an hour or so?
I like building things and space is neat, but I don't really find myself drawn to games where I need to read a manual before starting anymore.
I like building things and space is neat, but I don't really find myself drawn to games where I need to read a manual before starting anymore.
Great that the game is getting more attention. Summer Sale seems to be helping alot.
It's such a simple game at it's core but very challenging and rewarding...
First time landing on the mun was great. Same for Duna.
My biggest personal achievement was a succesful rescue mission for a rescue mission on duna. Having a ship, being able to haul 9 Kerbals from Duna back to Kerbin was awesome!
A lot of it can be achieved by trial and error and a bit of thinking. Having a basic grasp of newtonian physics helps a lot.
It's such a simple game at it's core but very challenging and rewarding...
First time landing on the mun was great. Same for Duna.
My biggest personal achievement was a succesful rescue mission for a rescue mission on duna. Having a ship, being able to haul 9 Kerbals from Duna back to Kerbin was awesome!
A lot of it can be achieved by trial and error and a bit of thinking. Having a basic grasp of newtonian physics helps a lot.
Currently no, I believe he will live forever. Sounds like your next mission should be a rescue operation.
It's mildly steep. Keep in mind that this is a pre-release game, so not everything is streamlined yet. Going through the tutorials (limited as they are) is enough to get you into orbit at least. For much beyond that you'll either need to watch a few youtube videos or go through a whole lot of trial and error.
Drag them all into the same staging group, then they'll all release when you hit the spacebar for that stage.
SJRB
Gold Member
This game is pretty amazing. Walked through the training missions up until reaching orbit of the Mun. Unfortunately even though I passed the training, the next one [landing on the Mun] didn't unlock for some reason.
Reaching orbit seems easier than building a freaking spaceship. I wish there were a couple of default good ships available that I can shoot into space.
Also - the music when in space is lovely. I hope this game will eventually receive a texture overhaul, the Mun looks pretty rough up close. As does Earth and the universe.
btw - where the hell are the parachutes for the command pods?
I don't believe the Moon Landing 2 tutorial is in the game yet. Remember this is basically an alpha that we're playing.
Speaking of building ships - you have two options. You can go for trial and error, which will result in dozens of humorous failures. Or you can watch vids on youtube and figure out what to do. Honestly, I know that I'd never figure out advanced techniques like asparagus staging on my own, so after enjoying some trial and error, I started watching some vids for help.
And I believe the textures will get at least a little better in the next update, which should drop any day now.
There are a few default ships don't know if u have seen them when you start the game click on the launch pad and they have them in that
pheonix991
Neo Member
Assembly is under way on my space station. I don't even want to begin said challenges.
Felix Lighter
Member
I finally watched a tutorial on how to get a rocket into orbit and man I cannot believe I got one into orbit yesterday just randomly trying to fly it manually. Now that I know about SAS and adding maneuvers I finally have a grasp on what I'm supposed to do, though flinging Kerbals randomly into space was pretty fun too.
Be aware that once .21 is released you'll have to start over, and it's coming very soon apparently.
This game is amazing. I didn't want to put more than 5€ on any single game, but by playing the demo and seeing some amazing stuff on youtube, I HAD to buy it. There's nothing else like it.
So far I've put too satellites in orbit around kerbal and the moon. I found catching the moon quite a hard challenge. I have big troubles having a clean orbit around Kerbal, I used a whole stage rocket only to get a decent one. There's a trick to launch in the right direction isn't there?
Edit: nevermind, it gets much better when you know how to read the navball.
So far I've put too satellites in orbit around kerbal and the moon. I found catching the moon quite a hard challenge. I have big troubles having a clean orbit around Kerbal, I used a whole stage rocket only to get a decent one. There's a trick to launch in the right direction isn't there?
Edit: nevermind, it gets much better when you know how to read the navball.
SJRB
Gold Member
Thanks guys.
Tried to build my own spaceship once again after reading through the KSP wiki at work. I figured out how staging works, so instead of burning everything from the start like I did yesterday I could reach orbit height fairly easily now. However, now my vehicle somehow starts spinning, something is off balance but I can't really figure out why. But yeah, learn something new every day.
The trial and error is pretty cool stuff, albeit extremely time consuming. Since I only have about an hour a day to play some games, it's super frustrating to sit at the office all day thinking of possible configurations haha.
That being said, I'm super glad that I picked this one up. Very fun and VERY challenging. Not to mention I feel like a freaking NASA rocket scientist.
You gotta bit the bullet and do multistage rockets.
If they are asparagus staged much better, but I think a simple three stages rocket should take you to the mun and back.
If you are spinning add an advanced SAS module to the rocket; if you are still spinning, add directional jets and RCS fuel and start the RCS on you navball at the same time as your SAS, so the SAS can take advantage of them (you have limited RCS fuel so use sparingly).
If things are still bad you can always cheat and press + to increase the time rate and then - to immediately make it back to normal, cause time warp stops your rocket from moving over itself.
I've put about 8 hours into the game now. I've successfully made a Mun landing and return to Kerbal. I still have two Kerbals trapped in Mun orbit from an earlier attempt. I also have a ship and one spacesuit Kerbal trapped in an orbit around the Sun roughly opposite Eve... I failed my attempt to go there using Mun techniques (not quite sure what the better way is).
I'm trying to figure out what to do next... help me pick from my ideas:
+ rescue Kerbals from the Mun
+ continue trying to get to another planet
+ learn to dock in Kerbin orbit
+ build satellite/space station
+ build moon base
If I build a refueling station in orbit of Kerbin, will I constantly have to shuttle fuel up manually, or can I cheat in some way and have it always be full?
Is there any advantage to having a base on the Mun or some other planet?
I'm trying to figure out what to do next... help me pick from my ideas:
+ rescue Kerbals from the Mun
+ continue trying to get to another planet
+ learn to dock in Kerbin orbit
+ build satellite/space station
+ build moon base
If I build a refueling station in orbit of Kerbin, will I constantly have to shuttle fuel up manually, or can I cheat in some way and have it always be full?
Is there any advantage to having a base on the Mun or some other planet?
It's a neat thing to do! However, there's no real advantage, especially as a stop-off point in going to other places. This is a common misconception about building a Moon base in our universe. All you're doing is wasting fuel by making that stop-off.
Unless you stock up on fuel at the moon base and refuel your ship when you stop there.
That's still a waste for a variety of reasons. You'd have to slow down to stop at the moon base, which costs you fuel. It costs fuel to send that fuel to the moon, so why not just launch it all together? At the worst, you can do some rendezvous in orbit to collect the fuel from separate launches and go.
The only way it makes sense is if there's a lot of fuel at the moon which you can extract from the moon itself.
SJRB
Gold Member
This is good advice, thanks!