Ideas for a Mars colonization game based on Civ.

[Odin]

It is the year 2040; after 20 years of exploration, Earth governments and private groups have started colonizing the Red Planet and prepare to terraform the planet. Minning companies want to start minning the Iron-rich rocks that give the planet it's name. Can you lead a group of colonists to build a Martian civilization that can stand the test of time?

I'm thinking of a game that would be similar to SMAC, but have many more features such as terraforming Mars to be earthlike, exporting raw materials, producing food for minning colonies on asteroids, etc. Technologies could include new building materials, (early domes could be made with Kevlar, for example) Agriculture methods, Robotics, Minning, Terraforming, etc. Resorces could include Iron, Deuterium ("Heavy Hydrogen" from water since Mars has 6 times as much Deuterium then Earth does and Rare metals .(Gold, platinum, cerium, europium, uranium, samarium, tungsten, etc.)

Colonizers:

NASA
ESA
China
Japan
Private Companies






Any more ideas???

[Sandman]

It's a fair concept for a game. But I doubt that Mars will be colonised for economic reasons. There's nothing that's rare enough to warrant the trip.

Terraforming also has to be done on a large, unified scale, i.e the whole planet involved. Not much chance of competition there.

[MrBaggins]

well... we'll simply run out of room on Earth... even if we do colonize the oceans...

[Trifna]

Maybe these companies and so on have subvention from civilizations... So they wouldn't export these minerals and so on but really build an autarcic economy between Mars' colonizers. But personnally, I believe this would be kind of following to SMAC/X, not another new TBS since there are already many I guess. But the idea of many resources with their respective importance, each one beeing tradable and so on, is a nice idea. Could even be nicer to see Earth sending some stuff basing on your popularity on Earth, from some factions (China, companies... depending whee you come from): technologies, scientists, material and so on. THEN it would be innovative. You have subventions like this depending on your moves/success. Private interest wont be interested in same than NASA that sent you for exemple. A Mars colonization simulation game...

[Mark_Everson]

Re: Ideas for a Mars colonization game based on Civ.

Originally posted by Odin
I'm thinking of a game that would be similar to SMAC, but have many more features such as terraforming Mars to be earthlike, exporting raw materials, producing food for minning colonies on asteroids, etc.

Any more ideas???

Hi Odin:

Sounds like an interesting concept, although having Earth as "the 800-lb gorilla next door" could make the game very frustrating for the player unless handled carefully.

There is a project called Stella Polaris that has a forum in the Alt Civs area. Last I knew, their ideas weren't as near-furture as yours, but mostly went further out. However, you might try checking them out, and then if it seems appropriate, pitching them your idea.

I'm more of a history junkie, so the SMAC-type game hasn't appealed to me as civ-type, so I won't comment too much on your idea per se.

Cya,

Mark

[Urban Ranger]

Mark,

Stella Polaris is supposedly an OpenSource effort for a SMAC clone.

I think.