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  • 2007 Serious Games Summit GDC: Jane McGonigal On ilovebees, ARGs This latest Serious Games Source feature covers a keynote by alternate reality game creator Jane McGonigal presented during the recent 2007 Serious Games Summit, during which she stated “I design games from the future,” and offered insight into the creation of Halo 2 ARG ilovebees.
  • Serious Game Engine Shootout In the march up to the Serious Games Shootout panel to take place in March during the Serious Games Summit in San Francisco, writer Richard Carey presents a comparative analysis of several prominent engines currently used for developing serious games, as well as quotes from the companies behind the technologies.
  • Playing with Fire: Enemy Dolls In this latest Playing with Fire feature, Powerful Robot Games' Gonzalo Frasca offers his unique insight into the perception of conflict in games, as well as in other media, and notes how looking at events through the eyes of the opposition could lead to better understanding.
NASA Taps Serious Game Devs for Space-Themed MMO[02.25.09]

Yahoo Games reports that NASA has contacted serious game developers Information in Place, Virtual Heroes, and Project Whitecard to develop a newly announced massively multiplayer online video game. Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond is a subscription-based MMO title that charges players with exploring space and completing missions within a realistic virtual world.

The game is being developed with guidance from NASA astronauts, scientists, and engineers to ensure realism and authenticity. Choosing from simulated professions in fields such as robotics, space geology, astrobiology, and mechanical engineering, players will complete individual and team-based challenges using realistic NASA vehicles and equipment.

"We want to create a fun, compelling gaming experience that will give players the chance to learn about science and engineering careers while they play the game," said Daniel Laughlin, project manager at NASA Learning Technologies. "NASA is committed to attracting more students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields of study and careers. We hope this game will inspire players to consider those careers."

Prior to working on Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, serious games developer Virtual Heroes created the America's Army series of recruitment titles for the U.S. Department of Defense. Project Whitecard is currently developing the space simulation Project Moonwalk in partnership with the Virtual Reality Centre of Canada. Information in Place's current projects include Hazmat Responder, Virtual Astronaut, and Virtual Congress, along with a number of other educational, safety, and training titles.

Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond will be released next year. A playable demo version will be available by the end of 2009.

By Danny Cowan
February 25, 2009 11:06:00 AM PT