Idea: Orbiter for Xbox 360

[thumper235]

Hello everyone,

I figured I would share my Idea and see if it is even worth pursuing. How would you all feel about having an orbiter program developed and posted on xbox 360's indie section?

I have given it some thought for some time now. Well as luck would have it, I recently had a discussion with some friends over dinner and I blurted the idea out to them. All three of my friends are programmers holding degrees in the field. They seemed very excited and pledged their support. I am more of a self taught programmer, but none the less it would be a massive team effort.

Now, nothing is written in stone on any which way to go with this potential project. But, I think it would be great to sit and relax on the couch and get my space flight on. I understand the limitations given to dev's in regards to xbox 360's (MS) indie program. I still think something cool could be parlayed out of this for the enjoyment of many.

I have not contacted the creator of orbiter yet, but I would like to in the very least keep it with the same flavor of orbiter, and if possible, have it setup for free use by all. I am not in this to make money, I am in it for the love of space.

Discuss.

 

[mc_]

Xbox (or PS3, etc) games are about "fun".
PC game is a "challenge". (in our days PC means PC-only)

 

[Izack]

Definitely not worth the effort. Why spend a large amount of time redoing Orbiter with an inadequate, limited interface for a console few Orbinauts even own, when there's almost never even complaints about the lack of Mac/Linux port? Almost all of us would be more than exstatic if it were updated to a more modern graphic interface on Windows PCs.

 

[jedidia]

Seeing that it is not possible to port Orbiter to Linux (which would certainly be higher priority than XBox) without some serious rewriting, I don't think XBox ever entered Martin's mind...

 

[SiberianTiger]

I think Kerbal Space Program would benefit greatly from such transition.

 

[Cras]

Orbiter does not belong on XBox.

 

[Spacethingy]

I think Kerbal Space Program would benefit greatly from such transition.

A very good point. You would effectively have to turn Orbiter into KSP to make it playable - how would you work MFDs, autopilots etc. without a mouse and keyboard?

Nice idea, just perhaps slightly the wrong program!

Oh, and by the way,

 

[Pinguinboy]

Simulators don't belong on a console.

 

[n122vu]

A very good point. You would effectively have to turn Orbiter into KSP to make it playable - how would you work MFDs, autopilots etc. without a mouse and keyboard?

Nice idea, just perhaps slightly the wrong program!

Oh, and by the way,

PS3 supports both mouse and keyboard via USB, I believe X360 does as well, so there would be no loss in physical interface. Rewriting code for PS3 compatibility? Not sure that's worth the time.

 

[Jarvitä]

when there's almost never even complaints about the lack of Mac/Linux port?

Not for lack of interest. It just seems pointless to pester Martin when he made his future plans for that direction pretty clear.

I agree a console port would pretty much serve no purpose though.

 

[Ghostrider]

However, with Kinect for PC coming about in February, some UMMU magic could be doable...

 

[thumper235]

Well, and idea is an idea. Yes, Kerbal would be fun on 360 seeing how its extremely simplistic and simple to achieve a basic orbit, and even get to the moon. Dont get me wrong, I frickin LOVE kerbal. I love the mindless humor of it and I have logged MANY hours "playing" it.

You are right, playing something and simulating something are different realms that would never mesh. Thanks for the input! :thumbup:

On a side note, does anyone know if an updated version of orbiter is in the works? The reason I say this is because I just checked out a semi related sim of sorts called spaceEngine. Wow is all I can say about the graphics from a very smart Russian!

Regardless of anything, I have used this sim for a good number of years and it has really started bugging me that I need to give back from what I have taken and enjoyed for so long.