July 6, 2010

Ann Marie Trotta/Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1601/4997 ann marie trotta@nasa gov, stephanie schierholz@nasa gov

Frank Blackwell/Lori Mezoff Army Game Studio, Redstone Arsenal, Ala 256-876-0463/301-879-9030 frank blackwell@us army mil, lorimezoff@yahoo com

Mitch Gross Virtual Heroes, Research Triangle Park, N C 347-688-9703 mgross@virtualheroes com RELEASE: 10-148

NASA TAKES GAMERS ON A LUNAR ADVENTURE WITH NEW ONLINE VIDEO GAME

WASHINGTON -- NASA has given gamers a taste of lunar adventure with release of Moonbase Alpha, an exciting new, free online video game

The game has single and multiplayer options that allow participants to step into the role of an exploration team member in a futuristic 3-D lunar settlement Players must work to restore critical systems and oxygen flow after a meteor strike cripples a solar array and life support equipment Available resources include an interactive command center, lunar rover, mobile robotic repair units and a fully-stocked equipment shed

The game is a proof of concept to show how NASA content can be combined with a cutting-edge game engine to inspire, engage and educate students about agency technologies, job opportunities and the future of space exploration Moonbase Alpha is rated "E" for everyone

It is the first game in NASA's Learning Technologies project The project supports the delivery of NASA content through interactive technologies such as virtual worlds, games and software applications to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education

Moonbase Alpha is a precursor to a planned NASA-based massively, multiplayer online game project The project is being designed to have content and missions that require players to gain and demonstrate STEM knowledge to succeed

NASA released the game on Valve's Steam network The agency will use the Steamworks suite of services for server browsing, leaderboards, statistics and more Steam has more than 25 million accounts and has released more than 1,100 games It was built on Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 The Army Game Studio developed the game with support from Virtual Heroes, a division of Applied Research Associates in Research Triangle Park, N C This collaboration between NASA and the Army's Aviation Missile Research Development and Engineering Center is an example of government agencies working together to improve education in the STEM fields

For more information about Moonbase Alpha, visit:

http://www nasa gov/moonbasealpha

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www nasa gov/education

For information about NASA and agency projects, visit:

http://www nasa gov

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