"Realistic" Space Game

[Elephant]

I'm looking for a "realistic" space game/simulation for my son. Something that models the current Solar System, with current and near-future technologies and vehicles, no aliens/WarpDrive/WormHoles, along the lines of Colonization - building space stations at L5 and the Moon, developing a base on Mars, asteroids, etc. Should have some simulation of orbital mechanics issues. Any suggestions?

[Urban Ranger]

I think more people here would know about these things

[Buck Birdseed]

Try this one; it's free. http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~martins/orbit/orbit.html

[Zero]

sounds mor elike an educational program than agmae to me

[:) Smiley]

It's a straight flight sim.

[Buck Birdseed]

But it's free!

[Elephant]

Interesting, but that looks like just Space Shuttle and ISS. Any suggestions for Solar System level sims, with predefined scenarios and build/make/explore capabilities?

[General Ludd]

Not likely. I've never heard of such a game, anyways.

[child of Thor]

'Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space' ,by Interplay 1992.

I'm not sure if it covered colonisation of mars, but it deals with the moon race etc - its quite a fun game, but can be counted as a true simulator of the space race. Depending on how old your son is it might be a bit too technical?(It covers project budgets etc and other more complicated things).

[:) Smiley]

It deals mostly with the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. You get to play as either USA or USSR (though there aren't too many differences besides cosmetic ones) and the goal is to get to the Moon first.

[General Ludd]

I was going to suggest that too, but I don't think it's really what he's looking for. It's pretty limited.

[J Bytheway]

The only game vaguely along those lines I can think of is Frontier (Elite II) - that did have a relatively realistic model of the solar system, and decent physics (except for the warp drive thing, which was specifically banned...) and of course the solar system is only one, fairly insignificant place in a big galaxy...

[Bkeela]

I would love a game where you could colonise the moon and mars in a sim/civ style game.

Maxis was working on Sim Mars for awhile, and even got in touch with NASA for accuracy, but the game was dropped. Probably in favour for the pathetic Sims add on packs.

[Skanky Burns]

You make that sound like a bad thing.

[:) Smiley]

How about making a forum game?