Story Dev
Possible Missions
- Fix the ship - in order to return to earth - he/she discovers the deserted space station to scavenge for parts
- Communicate with NASA so that they know what happened
- Rescue the Crew - each could have some knowledge or skill set that would help our hero
- Build or fix up a heater - because it will be too cold at night to live
- Maintain and/or build food/water supply - because some was lost/damaged in the crash.
- Each task above could be a mission
- Once a mission is complete, you earn a badge for your spacesuit - or points - or food/water
- You have to use some science knowledge to complete the mission - use the "survival guide" pages to help you.
- Would be great if there were certain checkpoints that you accomplished so you didn't have to go back and start at the beginning every time.
Story Synopsis
An astronaut is selected by NASA to travel to Mars. He/She is traveling with several other crew members. As they are landing, they are hit by an asteroid/space debris and the ship crashes with all crew members, except our astronaut, being ejected from the ship.
Our astronaut is now all alone on the planet with a broken ship and no way to return to earth.
He discovers a makeshift, rundown space station on Mars leftover from previous visits by other crews and thinks it might be helpful in the reconstruction of the spaceship.
Full Story Script
1. Intro Scene
(Game play starts.)
Lays out story behind the mission to establish a permanent base near newly discovered source of water; the cut-scene joins the Astronauts in the spacecraft with them coming up on the Mars planet.
3. Cut Scene
Rough landing/crash creates a crack in their fuel tanks, fuel leaks out, establishing permanent base and planned return trip to Earth is in jeopardy.
4. Gameplay
Astronauts working with Control have to determine new source of fuel to make it back home and a way to 'fuel' the camp (water created by burning the hydrogen fuel on board). Both the Astronauts and Control have different information available to them to make the connection to finding possible water supply on Mars. (They explore the area. Look around. Find materials in the area. Collect them and present them) (There would be options for what they can make fuel out of. The control person has information on many different kinds of fuels, and together they determine which one is the best one to use. They then have to convince the crew
6. Gameplay
Find water source; expedition is formed and route is mapped from camp location to possible water source by using available Satellite imagery available through NASA and geographical formations to determine best possible spot. If one of the best locations is located from various locations then they successfully passed this level.
5. Cut Scene
Show animated sequence showing the science behind splitting water into Hydrogen and Oxygen (components to Fuel the ship's engines and camp generator) in addition, to creating water from burning Hydrogen. Show that its possible and what they would need to find on Mars to complete this mission: Water.
8. Gameplay
Astronauts with Control have to work together to piece together a system to split water into Hydrogen and Oxygen using available tools and items on hand. They might also have to determine water quality and know if it has radiation and possibly way to remove radiation (?).
9. Cut-Scene
Water is successfully split into it's chemical components.
10. Gameplay
Astronauts and Control have to find a way to repair cracked fuel tanks and fill tanks with Fuel.
11. Final Scene
Success! Permanent base is established with some of the crew staying behind at the basecamp and the others successfully launching from Mars and getting back to Earth successfully - with heroes' parade in New York City.
Note: additional science facts about Mars can be included in cut-scenes and on HUD of player's console in during Gameplay.
Developed Script for Prototyping
Written by KCAD student Brenda Snell, based on the Innocademy Story
(The doors to the room open, and all the kids, in groups of four, shuffle inside. They take their places on numbers on the floor, which are lit up from below, and are assigned their “jobs” for the mission. Geologist, Scientist, Engineer, and Meteorologist. The wall screen in front of them has an idle image on it of space. Once everyone is settled, the teacher presses the start button, and the scenario begins.
Intro Animation
The idle image of space fades, and a communications window appears, revealing a man in a high-ranking military uniform. This is the commander. The footage is breaking up; pixelating and distorting.)
Commander: Mars Team. Mars Team, can you hear me? We lost you for a moment. *static* We thought you might be *static*. But it looks like you’ve survived. What a relief.. *static* You were flying on an experimental spaceship to set up a permanent base near a newly discovered water source on Mars, but something went wrong. *static* It looks like the fuel tank is damaged, and you’re going to have to repair it as fast as possible if you want to survive. There are a bunch of talented individuals back here on earth that are going to be a lot of help, so listen to what they have to say. (the screen almost cuts out completely, but comes back).
You’re going to have to have all of your wits about you if you’re going to survive. You’re going to have to find a new fuel source, find some water, and repair the broken tank. There might be other obstacles, so stay on your toes. Good luck, astronauts.
(He salutes, and the screen goes blank).
Gameplay
Find water source; expedition is formed and route is mapped from camp location to possible water source by using available Satellite imagery available through NASA and geographical formations to determine best possible spot. If one of the best locations is located from various locations then they successfully passed this level.
(In Mission Control, the students have to discover the best way to find sources for water. Once they discover that looking at NASA maps is the best course of action, they send the maps to the students inside the simulation. Once they have that, the students need to look through the maps provided, and decide where they will best be able to find water.)
In front of the kid’s display, there will be pictures of the maps. They can swipe through them, as well as pinch in order to zoom, and tap on the image in order to find out information.
(When they work together to make a decision, a communication screen will come up on their displays, and the commander will let them know whether or not they chose the right source.)
Astronauts and Control have to find a way to repair cracked fuel tanks and fill tanks with Fuel.
(Once the st have the fuel, they put it into their inventory. They then have to put together materials in order to fix the crack in the tank. Mission Control gives them several options that they have to choose from. The options appear in their displays, and they can tap each one to read more about it. Once they have chosen the best one, the commander will come up on the display and tell them if they got it correct. They will have to pick up and carry the tank to the space ship, and put it inside. )
Final Scene
Success! Permanent base is established with some of the crew staying behind at the basecamp and the others successfully launching from Mars and getting back to Earth successfully - with heroes' parade in New York City.
(The ship’s engine roars to life, as it starts to function. The commander appears on the kid’s displays to congratulate them)
Commander: Good work, Team. You successfully repaired the tank, and now you can continue your mission. This is just the beginning. You’re going to discover so many new, and interesting things during your time on Mars. Keep researching!