“Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin is helping astrophysicist (and “Cosmos” helmer) Neil deGrasse Tyson make a video game. “Space Odyssey,” Tyson’s proposed space exploration video game, is currently just under its Kickstarter goal with only a couple days left.
Look close, that hologram is Neil deGrasse Tyson / via Kickstarter
The game will allow players to build their own planets, explore other players’ planets, and complete galactic challenges. What makes this space exploration game different is that it is based on actual physics. With Tyson at the helm, the focus on real science is not unexpected.
via Kickstarter
On a recent Skype call, Tyson spoke about why Martin is a good person to bring on the team:
For me, Game of Thrones is not so much why everyone else likes it, but I like that they’re creating a world that needs to be self-consistent. Winter is coming, so what does that mean? I’m thinking about it as an astrophysicist: What kind of planet would that be? What kind of orbit would it have? What kind of star is it? It’s clearly not Earth, although they’re all humans—well, except for the dragons!
If this video game becomes a reality, then Martin will be joining an all star team Tyson’s assembled. Artists and creators behind comics like “Wolverine,” and video games like “God of War” and “Final Fantasy” are on the “Space Odyssey” team. Martin could be working with fellow fantasy legend Neil Gaiman as well.
Meet the “Space Odyssey” team / via Radio Times
The deadline for “Space Odyssey” to meet its Kickstarter goal is this Saturday, July 29. If creating new worlds based on actual science (and, hopefully, picking up some physics knowledge along the way) sounds like it’s up your alley, you might want to donate! In television terms, can the minds behind “Game of Thrones,” “American Gods,” and “Cosmos” really do wrong?
Actual gameplay footage / via GIPHY
Featured images courtesy of Wired and WAMC