NASA's educational MMORPG, called Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond, managed to raise over $45,000 in kickstarter funds. Staff Writer Paul "LockeColeMA" Cleveland sat down with the team to find out more.

Marrying education with gaming is always a difficult concept to comprehend, but it's something that NASA has been aiming to do for quite some time. After their incredibly successful kickstarter drive, which managed to raise over $45,000 in starter funds, this team is ready to get cracking on their educational MMORPG, called "Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond." Shortened to simply AMMB, ZAM sat down with the people behind AMMB to hear more about what this space exploration game has to offer.

So if being an astronaut was always in your hopes and dreams, you should look forward to Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond as your gateway game to space! Read on for the interview!

ZAM: What started this entire venture? Can you tell us about the entry process behind NASA's contest?

AMMB: In June, 2008, NASA Learning Technologies issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) to Partner with NASA on the development of a Massive Multiplayer Online Game to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Learning.

The Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond (AMMB) Team of Project Whitecard, Virtual Heroes and WisdomTools were one group out of approximately 170 parties expressing an interest in the RFP.

Proposals submitted to fulfill NASA's MMO vision were vetted through three rounds of review by a panel of nine experts from NASA, the gaming industry, and academia. "'Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond' was selected because the three companies involved had a really ideal combination of qualities we were looking for," said Daniel Laughlin of NASA's Learning Technologies Project Office (LPTO), which is administering the initiative. "They have the right experience, they demonstrated their ability to engage middle school through higher education curricula and they have extraordinary enthusiasm about working with NASA to make a fun game. If there's one thing we've learned from more than 800 pages of public input, it's that this game must be fun if it's going to be of any use for education."

ZAM: The KickStarter project has been very successful. Did you expect this sort of reaction? How does it feel to receive such a massive amount of support?

AMMB: We are extremely pleased with the interest and support shown by the KickStarter community.  The response to this project has always been extremely positive.  It feels great every day to be a part of this project.

ZAM: The KickStarter page mentions you have 20 developers. What brought this team together?

AMMB: Our goal was to build the strongest team we could, with best-in-class expertise in the creative, technical and pedagogical disciplines.

ZAM: Does the team have any personnel that have worked with or for NASA previously? 

AMMB: Many of the team have worked with NASA.

ZAM: As Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond is set in 2035, do you see it using more "science fiction" technology or using similar equipment that NASA has today? Will the physics in-game work similar to real life?

AMMB: Playing as an aspiring astronaut, set in the year 2035, you will embark on an adventure into space, Mars, the asteroid belt, and the outer planets. You will uncover secrets about a threat to civilization as we know it, and build you and your team a high-tech inventory of space gear including a home base, somewhere out there.

Working with full access to the rich history of NASA, the game developers are designing the game to be realistic and fun, but all the while pushing the envelope about where we might be headed and what dangers we might face. We are pushing the fun factor, but we also want the learning to be authentic.

ZAM: Not only are you creating an MMO, but you're also working on an Astronaut Academy game and a handbook. Can you give us an overview of your goal for each title?

AMMB: Astronaut Academy will be the first chapter of the AMMB series.  Players will be able to access the 'Astropedia', or Astronaut Academy Handbook, which is unique science resource used in gameplay, but also available to the player outside of the game.

ZAM: Players will be whisked away to the Arthur C. Clarke Astronaut Academy Station, which you've called "a sort of Hogwarts in space." What types of activities can players expect to do there? 

AMMB: Players will operate space vehicles, such as the 'Orbital Bee', blast debris and meteoroids with lasers, build bases, struggle to survive life-threatening missions and be awarded status and gear as they progress through the game.

ZAM: Space is a BIG place (and quite empty, from what I've heard). Do you have any plans yet on how players will navigate? Will only certain sections of the moon and other planets be available to explore?

AMMB: The solar system is a very rich and varied environment, providing tremendous opportunity for navigation, exploration and development.  A goldmine of NASA MMO content will be employed, permitting authentic solar system exploration, and delivering engaging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concepts.

ZAM: Who will the target audience be, and how are you planning to advertise your game?

AMMB: The game is being designed for youth and adults who are interested in space, exploration, astronautics, the future and fun video game-play.

ZAM: The MMO will feature Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concepts. Do you foresee the title being played in schools as an educational tool? 

AMMB: The game will be designed for play at home, and also in structured learning environments.  

ZAM: Do you know what goals or hopes NASA has for the game?

AMMB: Daniel Laughlin of NASA Learning Technologies states "The game will influence younger students just getting introduced to STEM subjects, all the way through graduate students preparing to launch a career. "It will expose a lot of young people to the potential career opportunities in science and engineering and open up their minds to career paths that they might not otherwise consider. And it will do it through a medium they are very comfortable with - the Internet and online gaming."

ZAM: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

AMMB: Arthur C. Clarke Astronaut Academy™ - Dedication:

Like Arthur, this Academy is 
hereby forever dedicated to you the young at heart 
who think beyond the gossamer confines of 
Earth, in moral and dedicated study. 

To you with open mind, as you set aloft 
on great adventures for the betterment of 
your fellow man and the joy of exploration, 
may you long continue to visit the 
wondrous realms of your imagination.'

Paul "LockeColeMA" Cleveland, Staff Writer.