Let the Mars Mania begin!
PICTURE: PRACE MARS MANIA
A game development collaboration project with members of Kajak Games have produced and launched a science related mobile game called Mars Mania for the PRACE (Partnership for Advanced computing in Europe). The game will be used in public events and science fairs around Europe to explain the power of supercomputers to younger audiences.
The space weather simulation model and code, Vlasiator, developed by Helsinki University and professor Minna Palmroth´s research group have worked as an inspiration for the game. The project was supported by Palmroth´s research group from Helsinki University, CSC – IT Center for Science and the EU-funded PRACE-5IP project.
– The mobile game is a great opportunity to describe the space environment to a larger public, says professor Palmroth.
Professor Palmroth will present her work at the PRACE Scientific and Industrial Conference 2017 – PRACEdays17 – held in Barcelona from 16 to 18 May 2017. The game will be launched internationally in the event.
Guiding the probe to Mars and outer space
The game was created around the popular idea of sending and guiding a probe to Mars and avoiding obstacles and unpredictable space weather conditions. The game also highlights a breakthrough in science, the world´s most accurate space weather simulation model, Vlasiator.
The game developer group consisted of six students of Kajaani University of Applied Sciences: Jyri Honkakoski, Veikka Huttunen, Salla Isola, Mikko Juutinen, Juuso Pönkänen, with Juho Salminen as team leader. Their work started in February 2017 and the final product was handed over to PRACE on the 25 April. The game is launched in May 2017.
The developers of Mars Mania have had science support from Palmroth´s research group.
– The game project has been a great collaboration effort. It has advanced smoothly to the goal within a very short production time. This has been possible with the help of talented students working for a multinational project with enthusiasm, energy and willingness to have an intensive and regular customer dialogue, which is always a key to success, says Antti Tiiro, CEO of Kajak Games.
CSC – IT Center for Science has provided the Kajak games group with game testing equipment. The multicultural PRACE project group has also provided regular customer feedback during game development.
The PRACE Mars Mania game is available now for download at Google Play and App Store.
For more information:
Antti Tiiro
CEO, Kajak Games
info(at)kajakgames.fi
p. +358 409 632 712
Tiina Leiponen
Game task leader for PRACE-5IP project
and CSC – IT Center for Science
tiina.leiponen(at)csc.fi
p. +358 50 3819 050
Marjolein Oorsprong
Communications Officer, PRACE Aisbl
communication(at)prace-ri.eu
p. +32 2 613 09 27
CSC – IT Center for Science is a Finnish center of expertise in ICT that provides high-quality expert services for research, education, culture, public administration and enterprises, to help them thrive and benefit society at large. www.csc.fi
Kajak Games, a cooperative game publishing company was founded in 2010 to help the game development students in Kajaani University of Applied Sciences to publish and promote their games, and offer a great chance for the students to get experienced in running a business. www.kajakgames.com
The Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) is an international non-profit association with its seat in Brussels. The PRACE Research Infrastructure provides a persistent world-class high-performance computing service for scientists and researchers from academia and industry in Europe. www.prace-ri.eu