Test Your Intuition of Physical Principles with OutPost Game

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a game designed to test players' understanding of physical principles such as momentum, acceleration, and force. Participants share their experiences, scores, and challenges faced while playing the game, which involves landing on various outposts in a simulated environment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration with the game's difficulty, particularly in landing at outposts and navigating tunnels.
  • Several players report varying scores and question the scoring system, noting inconsistencies in how scores are recorded and displayed.
  • Some suggest modifications to the game, such as adjusting thruster power, widening tunnels, or changing control schemes to improve playability.
  • A few participants discuss strategies for landing, including the importance of controlling rotational motion and velocity during descent.
  • There are mentions of bugs in the game, particularly related to the high score table and collision detection.
  • Some players share tips on navigating the game, including how to approach outposts and manage fuel effectively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the game is challenging and has technical issues, but there is no consensus on how to improve it or what specific changes would make it easier. Multiple competing views on gameplay strategies and control preferences are present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unclear scoring mechanics, potential bugs affecting gameplay, and unresolved issues regarding control responsiveness and collision detection.

Who May Find This Useful

Players interested in physics-based games, game developers seeking feedback on game mechanics, and those looking for strategies to improve their performance in similar simulation games.

  • #31
Jack Martinelli said:
Have you been able to make it from outpost 1 to outpost 11? If you can make it I'll leave the gas tank the same size.

Yes I have done it several times. Both by turning directly after the start, and by first landing at outpost 1 (both ways are about as difficult). But you need to be very careful with the fuel, and let the wings of the ship sometimes pass through the tunnel walls to minimize the trip length.
However I think it is impossible to climb the tunnel upwards...
 
Last edited:
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  • #32
How did you make that game? :bugeye:
 
  • #33
olson said:
How did you make that game? :bugeye:

Looks like flash to me. I just want to know the formulas for rotational force etc because I haven't learned them yet.
 
  • #34
olson said:
How did you make that game? :bugeye:

I wrote it in Flash MX. If you're interested in more flash goodies take a look at http://www.flahoo.com

OK! I've fixed the high scores -- I think. The new game is at:

http://www.martinelli.org/games/outpost/OutPost.html

Check your "new" high score against the old one to make sure I copied them correctly.

I'm going to update the old links to point to the new game in a couple of days.

Have fun!

Now I've got to beat EL!
 
  • #35
What's up with outpost 14?
 
  • #36
EL said:
What's up with outpost 14?

uh oh. There was a bug with outpost 14. Its Y-coordinate was out of Flash's reach, so I moved it up. I guess you're still going to the version with that bug in it?
 
  • #37
Jack Martinelli said:
uh oh. There was a bug with outpost 14. Its Y-coordinate was out of Flash's reach, so I moved it up. I guess you're still going to the version with that bug in it?

ah ok...I just couldn't get away from it...=)
 
  • #38
ouch, I'm not at the top anymore...have to do something about it...=)
 
  • #39
WTF!?

I'm going as slow as humanly possible. With VERY little vertical motion and NO horizontal motion and I can't LAND!

I tried a few dozen times!

Yes, it is flat too!
 
  • #40
JasonRox said:
WTF!?

I'm going as slow as humanly possible. With VERY little vertical motion and NO horizontal motion and I can't LAND!

I tried a few dozen times!

Yes, it is flat too!

Where are you trying to land?
 
  • #41
I landed now, finally. After 1902 hours of trying.
 
  • #42
JasonRox said:
I landed now, finally. After 1902 hours of trying.

Now that's determination! Good job!

BTW, the links to the old Lunar Outpost all point to the newest version.

BTWW... Does anyone have any ideas for some "nutty gizmos" that I could add to the ship that are physical in nature but fun to play around with?
 
  • #43
Jack Martinelli said:
Now that's determination! Good job!

BTW, the links to the old Lunar Outpost all point to the newest version.

BTWW... Does anyone have any ideas for some "nutty gizmos" that I could add to the ship that are physical in nature but fun to play around with?

Make the up button fire a main thruster (center of ship)
Make the down button place the side thrusters further/closer from the center.
 
  • #44
Show us the physics involved!
 

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