Description:
To the Moon and Beyond is a card game that puts the player in charge of their own space program. Their goal is to create all of the technology needed to return to the Moon, build a base on the Moon, and return their astronauts safely to Earth. To add to the challenge, players only have 4 years to do it, the same amount of time NASA has been given to send the next astronauts to the moon by 2024. Players achieve this by funding research and projects. The game is split into four rounds (years). Each round, players are given 30 coins + the payouts from the previous round’s projects. The round ends when the player depletes their budget for that round. At the end of each round, the player uses the points earned that round to add parts onto their lunar technology. At the end of the game the player can place their custom built lunar technology on the Moon and take a screenshot to share their creations with their peers.
In Store Description:
“The International Space Station is a state-of-the-art microgravity laboratory that is unlocking discoveries not possible on Earth, and is helping us push farther into deep space. Our research is contributing to medical and social benefits on our home planet, as well as stimulating a growing space economy. We’re inspiring future generations from a platform that is one of the largest international collaborations of our time.
This is your space program. You determine what research to fund on the space station and what projects you want to fund back on Earth. Conducting research on the orbital laboratory can reduce the cost of some projects or give you the ability to do others. Results from the projects you fund determine you budget for the next year. Everything you do affects the outcome of your eight part program. But beware, events can happen that can influence that outcome. Will you be able to complete all of your eight mission objectives in four short years?”
My Role:
I saw this project through from initial brainstorming to its release. I played a part in brainstorming the initial concept of the project. I was then tasked with creating a virtual porotype. After that I became the lead for the development of the game. I handled most of the programming myself and helped direct the creation and integration of the code I did not make. I also worked with the artists to create all of the UI for the game. The artists came up with the designs for the UI that we then refined as a team. The artists then gave me the art and then I brought their designs to life in Unity using Unity’s UI system.
Being the lead on the project, I was responsible for giving progress updates and demoing the project to management and the customers. I also assisted management on the creation of the store listings and testing of the software.
Just before the mobile release of the game, I was tasked with creating an Xbox One port of the game. The port is still in development, but is coming along nicely. We are a Managed Microsoft Partner, so I am working with the XDK to create the port. I have been given the responsibility of creating the store listings, setting up game testing, and communicating with our Xbox representative.
Project Links:
Apple App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/to-the-moon-and-beyond/id1514784612#?platform=iphone
Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.NASA.ToTheMoonandBeyond&hl=en_US