Starlite: Astronaut Academy (formerly Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond) is an abandoned multiplayer online game developed by Project Whitecard Studios, Virtual Heroes, and WisdomTools Enterprises. The game was first announced in 2011 with backing from NASA, described as a "3D avatar community around a fictional depiction of the year 2035," where players would learn about real-life NASA missions and play through single-player and multi-player missions.[1]
Sections of Starlite were eventually released as spin-offs, all receiving poor reviews from players.[2][3] Virtual Heroes went on to develop and release Moonbase Alpha, a simulation game set on the Moon that received favorable reviews. Project Whitecard later published Star Rangers, a space exploration and construction game in Early Access on Steam, which is also abandoned.[4]
Development
WisdomTools Enterprises (then known as Information in Place), Virtual Heroes, and Project Whitecard were selected by NASA in 2009 to create an educational multiplayer online game centered around space exploration. The game was set to include single-player and team-based missions, using NASA assets such as 3D renders of Mars rovers and telescope images. NASA agreed to provide mission information and expertise, but development costs were set to be paid for by "private investments and corporate sponsorships."[5]
Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond launched as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project on August 12, 2011, exceeding its goal of $25,000 by raising $46,719 from 962 backers. The game was in development for "iPhone, PC and select consoles," with an estimated release date of 2012.[1]
By November 2012, Project Whitecard and Wisdom Tools had received $750,000 in funding from the Canada Media Fund.[6] In March 2014, the game's title was changed to Starlite: Astronaut Academy. Project Whitecard intended to release sections of the game as spin-off "modules," with the full game set for release in 2015.
Starlite: Astronaut Rescue was the first spin-off game to be released, in January 2014. It was described as a "single-player 20 minute mini-adventure" set on Mars, and players who purchased the game would be "guaranteed a spot in the Starlite: Astronaut Academy beta test." The game received poor reviews from players, and currently has a rating of "Mostly Negative" on Steam.[2] Another spin-off, G-Ball, was released on Steam in July 2014 to poor reviews.[3]
The final Kickstarter project update for Starlite: Astronaut Academy was published in December 2015, which only mentioned Star Rangers HQ, another space game developed by Project Whitecard.[4]
References
^ ab"Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, The NASA MMO Online Game". BackerTracker. August 12, 2011. Retrieved 2021-07-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ab"Starlite: Astronaut Rescue - Developed in Collaboration with NASA on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
^ ab"G-Ball on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
^ ab"Star Rangers™ XE on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
^"NASA To Sign Agreement With Three Companies to Participate in a Massively Multiplayer Gaming Initiative". www.spaceref.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
^(PDF). Canada Media Fund. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
External links
Starlite game website
February 05, 2023
starlite, video, game, starlite, astronaut, academy, formerly, astronaut, moon, mars, beyond, abandoned, multiplayer, online, game, developed, project, whitecard, studios, virtual, heroes, wisdomtools, enterprises, game, first, announced, 2011, with, backing, . Starlite Astronaut Academy formerly Astronaut Moon Mars and Beyond is an abandoned multiplayer online game developed by Project Whitecard Studios Virtual Heroes and WisdomTools Enterprises The game was first announced in 2011 with backing from NASA described as a 3D avatar community around a fictional depiction of the year 2035 where players would learn about real life NASA missions and play through single player and multi player missions 1 StarliteDeveloper s NASAProject Whitecard Enterprises Inc WisdomTools EnterprisesVirtual HeroesPublisher s Project Whitecard Enterprises Inc Platform s Microsoft WindowsiPadGenre s MMOMode s MultiplayerSections of Starlite were eventually released as spin offs all receiving poor reviews from players 2 3 Virtual Heroes went on to develop and release Moonbase Alpha a simulation game set on the Moon that received favorable reviews Project Whitecard later published Star Rangers a space exploration and construction game in Early Access on Steam which is also abandoned 4 Development EditWisdomTools Enterprises then known as Information in Place Virtual Heroes and Project Whitecard were selected by NASA in 2009 to create an educational multiplayer online game centered around space exploration The game was set to include single player and team based missions using NASA assets such as 3D renders of Mars rovers and telescope images NASA agreed to provide mission information and expertise but development costs were set to be paid for by private investments and corporate sponsorships 5 Astronaut Moon Mars amp Beyond launched as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project on August 12 2011 exceeding its goal of 25 000 by raising 46 719 from 962 backers The game was in development for iPhone PC and select consoles with an estimated release date of 2012 1 By November 2012 Project Whitecard and Wisdom Tools had received 750 000 in funding from the Canada Media Fund 6 In March 2014 the game s title was changed to Starlite Astronaut Academy Project Whitecard intended to release sections of the game as spin off modules with the full game set for release in 2015 Starlite Astronaut Rescue was the first spin off game to be released in January 2014 It was described as a single player 20 minute mini adventure set on Mars and players who purchased the game would be guaranteed a spot in the Starlite Astronaut Academy beta test The game received poor reviews from players and currently has a rating of Mostly Negative on Steam 2 Another spin off G Ball was released on Steam in July 2014 to poor reviews 3 The final Kickstarter project update for Starlite Astronaut Academy was published in December 2015 which only mentioned Star Rangers HQ another space game developed by Project Whitecard 4 References Edit a b Astronaut Moon Mars amp Beyond The NASA MMO Online Game BackerTracker August 12 2011 Retrieved 2021 07 12 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Starlite Astronaut Rescue Developed in Collaboration with NASA on Steam store steampowered com Retrieved 2021 07 12 a b G Ball on Steam store steampowered com Retrieved 2021 07 12 a b Star Rangers XE on Steam store steampowered com Retrieved 2021 07 12 NASA To Sign Agreement With Three Companies to Participate in a Massively Multiplayer Gaming Initiative www spaceref com Retrieved 2021 07 12 EXPERIMENTAL STREAM PRODUCTION 2012 2013 SECOND ROUND DECISIONS PDF Canada Media Fund November 26 2012 Archived from the original PDF on February 24 2013 Retrieved July 12 2021 External links EditStarlite game website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Starlite video game amp oldid 1033188217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
