http://highfrontier.com/forum/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:25:50 +0000 MyBB http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=251 Sat, 22 Sep 2018 00:55:00 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=251 I am excited to find other people that are enthusiastic about building a simulation game that emphasizes:

• Space colonization in orbit using resources from asteroids rather than focusing on planets.
• An emphasis on realistic design (physics and engineering).
• Modelling economics (budget, trade) and population growth dynamics
• Educational uses that inspire a new generation of space engineers
• ways to experiment and see what works better
  

I have wanted to design a game like this for years but never had the time and resources to do so,
I hope that being part of this community may let me contribute to the development of some of these ideas.

There are several topics that I find particularly interesting and that I would like to try once I get to know the game better.

Orbital transfer station:
Active control of transfer stations orbits that are marginally stable (like Lagrange point orbits, Lunar parking orbits and Earth-Moon transfer orbits) can provide significant benefits to economy of the station, the travelers and cargo that pass through it and the trading and transportation network that can be built with several types of stations.  Some of these benefits are:

• Some energy and momentum can be harvested for "free" from the Moon or the Earth's orbit.
• "free" energy storage in the orbit can reduce the weight and cost of batteries and power sources.
• Energy and momentum can be accumulated slowly and released in a spurt by launching (or capturing) shuttles and cargo
• Large stations can provide significant Delta-V boosts to smaller shuttles and cargo (saving not only fuel but tank and engine costs as well).
• Stations that exchange energy and momentum with incoming and outgoing traffic can balance these over time creating an economic boost to the whole transportation network.
  

Large rotating stations that serve as "elevators":
Concepts like Rotovator and a Cislunar transportation system can provide cheap access between an Earth-Moon transfer orbit, the Lunar surface and interplanetary travel.  I would like to try a few simulations to see how hard it would be to create such a network and to fine tune the details for each of its components.

First Lego league (FLL)
I have been an FLL judge in tens of competitions for many years.  Every years I see dozens of groups of gifted kids (10 kids in each group) that spend many days and nights developing research projects for the competition.  The topic for the competition varies from year to year,  this year's FLL research topic is "Into Orbit". Kids that learn how to use games like Kerbal Space Program and High Frontier to develop and demonstrate their projects will have an edge in the competition so this is an excellent opportunity for this community to grow.]]> I am excited to find other people that are enthusiastic about building a simulation game that emphasizes:

• Space colonization in orbit using resources from asteroids rather than focusing on planets.
• An emphasis on realistic design (physics and engineering).
• Modelling economics (budget, trade) and population growth dynamics
• Educational uses that inspire a new generation of space engineers
• ways to experiment and see what works better
  

I have wanted to design a game like this for years but never had the time and resources to do so,
I hope that being part of this community may let me contribute to the development of some of these ideas.

There are several topics that I find particularly interesting and that I would like to try once I get to know the game better.

Orbital transfer station:
Active control of transfer stations orbits that are marginally stable (like Lagrange point orbits, Lunar parking orbits and Earth-Moon transfer orbits) can provide significant benefits to economy of the station, the travelers and cargo that pass through it and the trading and transportation network that can be built with several types of stations.  Some of these benefits are:

• Some energy and momentum can be harvested for "free" from the Moon or the Earth's orbit.
• "free" energy storage in the orbit can reduce the weight and cost of batteries and power sources.
• Energy and momentum can be accumulated slowly and released in a spurt by launching (or capturing) shuttles and cargo
• Large stations can provide significant Delta-V boosts to smaller shuttles and cargo (saving not only fuel but tank and engine costs as well).
• Stations that exchange energy and momentum with incoming and outgoing traffic can balance these over time creating an economic boost to the whole transportation network.
  

Large rotating stations that serve as "elevators":
Concepts like Rotovator and a Cislunar transportation system can provide cheap access between an Earth-Moon transfer orbit, the Lunar surface and interplanetary travel.  I would like to try a few simulations to see how hard it would be to create such a network and to fine tune the details for each of its components.

First Lego league (FLL)
I have been an FLL judge in tens of competitions for many years.  Every years I see dozens of groups of gifted kids (10 kids in each group) that spend many days and nights developing research projects for the competition.  The topic for the competition varies from year to year,  this year's FLL research topic is "Into Orbit". Kids that learn how to use games like Kerbal Space Program and High Frontier to develop and demonstrate their projects will have an edge in the competition so this is an excellent opportunity for this community to grow.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=247 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 12:20:41 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=247 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=225 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 15:09:28 -0800 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=225
I installed High Frontier on 13 Dec 2017 and bought the full version two days later. I've been playing it non-stop since then (90+ hours).  That is unusual for me because I'm not anything close to being a gamer.  I haven't seriously played a computer game since Doom! in the early 90's.  This game is something that excited me because i am pursuing a career in aerospace.  I want to help make colonizing space a reality.  Also, I've recently been shown the benefits of playing games.

Regards,
Athena Roberts
athenaroberts.pw]]>
I installed High Frontier on 13 Dec 2017 and bought the full version two days later. I've been playing it non-stop since then (90+ hours).  That is unusual for me because I'm not anything close to being a gamer.  I haven't seriously played a computer game since Doom! in the early 90's.  This game is something that excited me because i am pursuing a career in aerospace.  I want to help make colonizing space a reality.  Also, I've recently been shown the benefits of playing games.

Regards,
Athena Roberts
athenaroberts.pw]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=206 Wed, 05 Apr 2017 01:32:57 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=206
Yay, here I am, liked the demo, yaddayadda.

Registration issues:
Password requirements aren’t stated unless your password is outside requirements.
I managed to enter myself as the referrer. Which shouldn’t be possible, and didn’t allow me to continue registration process. Couldn’t unselect myself. Hence @JoeSprout is now my referrer, simply because I remembered him.
"Pocket" security question at one point didn’t have the correct display of quotation marks, instead displaying them in html markup.

Looking forward to playing and stuff.]]>
Yay, here I am, liked the demo, yaddayadda.

Registration issues:
Password requirements aren’t stated unless your password is outside requirements.
I managed to enter myself as the referrer. Which shouldn’t be possible, and didn’t allow me to continue registration process. Couldn’t unselect myself. Hence @JoeSprout is now my referrer, simply because I remembered him.
"Pocket" security question at one point didn’t have the correct display of quotation marks, instead displaying them in html markup.

Looking forward to playing and stuff.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=185 Sun, 06 Nov 2016 10:29:46 -0800 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=185
1. Would High Frontier be appropriate for my students to use?
2. Is the Forum kid friendly? (school appropriate)
3. If I have a group of four students do I need to buy a game for each student?
4. Can the students work collaboratively on a settlement?
5. What else do I need to know to get started

I'm personally not into games but I see this as an excellent way to teach students about living and working in Space. Please advise.

THANK YOU!]]>
1. Would High Frontier be appropriate for my students to use?
2. Is the Forum kid friendly? (school appropriate)
3. If I have a group of four students do I need to buy a game for each student?
4. Can the students work collaboratively on a settlement?
5. What else do I need to know to get started

I'm personally not into games but I see this as an excellent way to teach students about living and working in Space. Please advise.

THANK YOU!]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=182 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:58:07 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=182 These are the stories of the LEO colony Babylon 22. Its mission; To test and survive new and wild designs, to seek out the perfect O2 levels for free entertainment, to boldly spin at 10 Gs with humans in it.

I'm going to have some fun with this software.  
I found this place with the Next big future article.]]> These are the stories of the LEO colony Babylon 22. Its mission; To test and survive new and wild designs, to seek out the perfect O2 levels for free entertainment, to boldly spin at 10 Gs with humans in it.

I'm going to have some fun with this software.  
I found this place with the Next big future article.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=181 Thu, 03 Nov 2016 10:44:56 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=181 posted about us on the very popular Next Big Future news/opinion blog.  He quotes from the TEDx talk I gave last year, which is mostly about space settlement in general, but also talks about the High Frontier game.

Given the high quality and forward-thinking nature of Next Big Future's readers, I expect we'll be seeing some of them find there way here soon.  So, welcome!  Please make yourselves at home, and feel free to introduce yourself.  We're glad you're here.

Also, everyone be sure to check out the Space Studies Institute, an organization founded by Gerard O'Neill himself, and which has been advancing the idea of orbital settlements for 40 years!]]> posted about us on the very popular Next Big Future news/opinion blog.  He quotes from the TEDx talk I gave last year, which is mostly about space settlement in general, but also talks about the High Frontier game.

Given the high quality and forward-thinking nature of Next Big Future's readers, I expect we'll be seeing some of them find there way here soon.  So, welcome!  Please make yourselves at home, and feel free to introduce yourself.  We're glad you're here.

Also, everyone be sure to check out the Space Studies Institute, an organization founded by Gerard O'Neill himself, and which has been advancing the idea of orbital settlements for 40 years!]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=176 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 13:26:26 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=176 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=137 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 07:52:58 -0800 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=137
I've recently purchased the game and am enjoying getting to grips with designing new space habitats and learning more. It seems rather sophisticated and I'm looking forward to getting more into it.

I have a keen interest in space settlement and write a blog about it which can be found here: http://projection3.blogspot.co.uk/.

I'm also a member of the British Interplanetary Society and am part of their study project on reviewing the reports on space colonies by Dr Gerard O'Neill and his colleagues.

Cheers!
Adam Manning]]>
I've recently purchased the game and am enjoying getting to grips with designing new space habitats and learning more. It seems rather sophisticated and I'm looking forward to getting more into it.

I have a keen interest in space settlement and write a blog about it which can be found here: http://projection3.blogspot.co.uk/.

I'm also a member of the British Interplanetary Society and am part of their study project on reviewing the reports on space colonies by Dr Gerard O'Neill and his colleagues.

Cheers!
Adam Manning]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=98 Fri, 16 Oct 2015 06:24:56 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=98
My name is Esme. I can remember peering up at the stars and wondering what they were when I was about five - devouring every book on science in the library when I was given a library card at ten, and seeing Neil Armstrong step onto the moon when I was eleven. I really thought that by the time I was forty, I might well be knocking lumps off rocks on Mars if I studied and worked hard. Sadly, it wasn't to be, and I'm nearing 60 now. I remember reading Gerard O'Neils paperback on space colonies with excitement, and Bono's book advocating aerospike-engined SSTO's as a means to get us into space cheaply (I still have both books). I've kept an eye on the simulation genre of games, and started playing Kerbal Space Program around version 0.23 and stumbled across High Frontier as a result of a comment on the KSP forums yesterday. I'm looking forward to having some interesting chats on the practicalities of getting us Out There!.]]>
My name is Esme. I can remember peering up at the stars and wondering what they were when I was about five - devouring every book on science in the library when I was given a library card at ten, and seeing Neil Armstrong step onto the moon when I was eleven. I really thought that by the time I was forty, I might well be knocking lumps off rocks on Mars if I studied and worked hard. Sadly, it wasn't to be, and I'm nearing 60 now. I remember reading Gerard O'Neils paperback on space colonies with excitement, and Bono's book advocating aerospike-engined SSTO's as a means to get us into space cheaply (I still have both books). I've kept an eye on the simulation genre of games, and started playing Kerbal Space Program around version 0.23 and stumbled across High Frontier as a result of a comment on the KSP forums yesterday. I'm looking forward to having some interesting chats on the practicalities of getting us Out There!.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=83 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 09:48:54 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=83
In northern California. I've been interested in space exploration and space settlement, ever since I was a kid back in the 1970's. Nice to be here; both for said thing, and that the forum type provided here beats the heck out of that one. I'll be here mostly on the Real Space forum, discussing "real space" things.]]>
In northern California. I've been interested in space exploration and space settlement, ever since I was a kid back in the 1970's. Nice to be here; both for said thing, and that the forum type provided here beats the heck out of that one. I'll be here mostly on the Real Space forum, discussing "real space" things.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=80 Tue, 29 Sep 2015 12:48:30 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=80 Kerbal Space Program forums. I happened to see the thread the developer posted over on our forums by happenstance, and the concept so intrigued me that I bought the game rather quickly after playing around with the demo for a bit. (In fact, I'm still waiting for the transaction to process as we speak )

Anyway, I'm hoping that I'll have as many memorable hours designing and managing my own space station in High Frontier as I do designing and flying rockets in KSP. I've been rather fond of both space simulators and city management games in the past, and seeing something like this that combines the two (and, furthermore, that's based on real scientific principles that we could in theory apply starting tomorrow) naturally presses all the right buttons for me.]]> Kerbal Space Program forums. I happened to see the thread the developer posted over on our forums by happenstance, and the concept so intrigued me that I bought the game rather quickly after playing around with the demo for a bit. (In fact, I'm still waiting for the transaction to process as we speak )

Anyway, I'm hoping that I'll have as many memorable hours designing and managing my own space station in High Frontier as I do designing and flying rockets in KSP. I've been rather fond of both space simulators and city management games in the past, and seeing something like this that combines the two (and, furthermore, that's based on real scientific principles that we could in theory apply starting tomorrow) naturally presses all the right buttons for me.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=78 Sat, 26 Sep 2015 20:48:30 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=78
I learned about High Frontier via the Kerbal Space Program forum. This looks like a pretty excellent project, and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

Just one thing worries/bothers me..

You guys are aware that the name "High Frontier" is already owned by Phil Eklund/Sierra Madre Games, since 2010, aren't you? I'd hate to see you get tangled up in litigation, down the track..

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172737/high-frontier-3rd-edition
http://www.sierra-madre-games.eu/about_us_en.html]]>
I learned about High Frontier via the Kerbal Space Program forum. This looks like a pretty excellent project, and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

Just one thing worries/bothers me..

You guys are aware that the name "High Frontier" is already owned by Phil Eklund/Sierra Madre Games, since 2010, aren't you? I'd hate to see you get tangled up in litigation, down the track..

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172737/high-frontier-3rd-edition
http://www.sierra-madre-games.eu/about_us_en.html]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=70 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:24:54 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=70
I have an overall interest in general science and engineering topics; I work in software as well.
Hope to read and maybe post in some threads here.]]>
I have an overall interest in general science and engineering topics; I work in software as well.
Hope to read and maybe post in some threads here.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=69 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:50:34 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=69 Thanks!]]> Thanks!]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=68 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 19:03:58 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=68 I am a semi disabled sailor. Rough seas and arthleftus (left hip) don't mix. I am not a gamer, i am here looking for ideas on space colonization. My biggest complaint about many colony ideas I have read is too complicated and failure to take advantage of physics  to reduce the amount of machines needed.    Working on my second novel in a series.]]> I am a semi disabled sailor. Rough seas and arthleftus (left hip) don't mix. I am not a gamer, i am here looking for ideas on space colonization. My biggest complaint about many colony ideas I have read is too complicated and failure to take advantage of physics  to reduce the amount of machines needed.    Working on my second novel in a series.]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=55 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:42:28 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=55
I'm a sometimes space-simulation-software guy with a lot of interests. When I stumbled on the free space flight simulator Orbiter in 2005, I got so excited I wrote a tutorial book about it, Go Play In Space. I have other interests that are mostly inactive, like flying airplanes and doing regular outreach events as a JPL Solar System Ambassador. I still blog occasionally about space and other stuff. I also like to write and record songs. In real life, I'm an optical engineer working for a company that makes optical design software, among other kinds. These days I mostly work with our international distributors.

But enough about me! I'm really happy I stumbled on Joe's and his sons' cool project (I found it through a comment Joe left on a 2013 blog post about space settlements). I've been reading and thinking about space habitats since the seventies. Recently I read two books where space habitats are central, SevenEves by Neal Stephenson and Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Both great reads if you've got time because you're not developing a space habitat simulator.  

I'm not sure how much time I will have to play and test High Frontier, but I will do what I can and look forward to the many planned features. As an optics guy, I was pleased that windows and mirrors are coming soon. Thanks to Joe & Sons for doing this!

Cheers,
Bruce Irving]]>
I'm a sometimes space-simulation-software guy with a lot of interests. When I stumbled on the free space flight simulator Orbiter in 2005, I got so excited I wrote a tutorial book about it, Go Play In Space. I have other interests that are mostly inactive, like flying airplanes and doing regular outreach events as a JPL Solar System Ambassador. I still blog occasionally about space and other stuff. I also like to write and record songs. In real life, I'm an optical engineer working for a company that makes optical design software, among other kinds. These days I mostly work with our international distributors.

But enough about me! I'm really happy I stumbled on Joe's and his sons' cool project (I found it through a comment Joe left on a 2013 blog post about space settlements). I've been reading and thinking about space habitats since the seventies. Recently I read two books where space habitats are central, SevenEves by Neal Stephenson and Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Both great reads if you've got time because you're not developing a space habitat simulator.  

I'm not sure how much time I will have to play and test High Frontier, but I will do what I can and look forward to the many planned features. As an optics guy, I was pleased that windows and mirrors are coming soon. Thanks to Joe & Sons for doing this!

Cheers,
Bruce Irving]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=50 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 10:37:24 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=50 ]]> ]]> http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=27 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:20:25 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=27 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=26 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 10:15:51 -0700 http://highfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=26
The game is coming along nicely and love the occasional surprise email announcing the latest version. I'm slowly wrapping my head around what needs doing to get a station up and running. I don't have a ton of time for gaming but High Frontier is easy to get in and get out - or leave running for a few hours to see what happens.

Anyone else out there got a name? ?]]>
The game is coming along nicely and love the occasional surprise email announcing the latest version. I'm slowly wrapping my head around what needs doing to get a station up and running. I don't have a ton of time for gaming but High Frontier is easy to get in and get out - or leave running for a few hours to see what happens.

Anyone else out there got a name? ?]]>