NASA developing educational MMO

NASA is developing a massively multiplayer online game to act as a tool for education and training.

The US space agency is currently seeking proposal from partners to create a gaming environment in which students can simulate experiments and experience different career opportunities in NASA's space exploration program.

"The power of games as educational tools is rapidly gaining recognition," said NASA.

"NASA is in a position to develop an online game that functions as a persistent, synthetic environment supporting education as a laboratory, a massive visualisation tool, and collaborative workspace while simultaneously drawing users into a challenging, gameplay experience."

The agency believes MMO players develop valuable skills associated with a career in science and technology, and that combining challenging puzzles and gameplay will help foster career opportunities at a fraction of the cost and time of a normal internship program.

"Virtual worlds with scientifically accurate simulations could permit learners to tinker with chemical reactions in living cells, practice operating and repairing expensive equipment, and experience microgravity — making it easier to grasp complex concepts and quickly transfer this understanding to practical problems," said the agency in a request for proposal.

"MMOs help players develop and exercise a skill set closely matching the thinking, planning, learning, and technical skills increasingly in demand by employers today.

"These skills include strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, team-building and collaboration, and adaptation to rapid change."