Project L.I.F.E is a VR Supported Cross-platform Game which enables the user to experiment with planetary conditions with a goal to create sustainable life and learn information about the stars, planets and science with the help of NASA Open Data. Our long term objective is also to use and catalog every NASA data available that can be used in conjunction with our engine, to provide a visual library for all of NASA's achievements and data, in space from the past and continue on to the future. While also providing a data bank from the experiments of humanity for artificial intelligence and machine learning, in hopes of finding the most efficient ways of introducing life into newly discovered foreign environments.

For the visual aspect of our game's prototype, we used a mixture of 3D models that were both taken from NASA's official website and hand-crafted from scratch.

Gameplay:

The user will get the ability to change a planet's size and atmosphere, from temperature to density and observe the effects and changes to the planet, and experiment on introducing life to foreign planets. From solar system to interplanetary exploration. The user will be able to land on the planet created/modified and experiment on sustaining life. From experiencing the growth of life on the planet to modifying the planet itself.

Software Used:

• Steam VR for making this game high end VR enabled.
• Maya 2018 was used to create most of the assets used in the game.
• Substance Painter 2 was used to create the textures for the said models.
• Blender 2.8 was used to UV Unwrap all of the models in order to apply texture to them.
• Unity 2019.2 was used to render, assemble and program the whole game.
• Android Studio for making android version of this game.

Resources Used:

• The texture used for the Mars Terrain was pulled directly from NASA's official website. "https://solarsystem.nasa.gov › resources" to be exact.
• Block Island https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/block-island
• Curiosity (Dirty) https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/curiosity-dirty
• Deimoshttps://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/mar2kuu2
  
• Habitat Demonstration Unithttps://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/nmss-hdu
  
• Insight Cruise Stagehttps://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/insight
  
• Mars texture https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/mar0kuu2
  
• Mars Transit Habitat https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/mars_transit_habitat
• Phobos https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/mar1kuu2
• Space Exploration Vehicle https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/nmss-sev

The following 3D Models and textures were directly pulled from NASA's official website as well " https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/models "

• Curiosity (Dirty)
• Mark III Space Suit
• Space Exploration Vehicle
• Z2 Spacesuit

Other than those mentioned above, the remaining models were created manually from scratch using various concept art works. :

• The Space Station
• The Plant Habitat
• Control Panel
• Communication Tower
• Solar panels

Challenges faced during modeling phase:

• Some of the models taken from NASA's website has some issues with their material. So, we had to apply the appropriate materials to the respective components of the models before applying the textures.
• Since we tried to make the game in VR, some of the models were causing problems with the player's movement by obstructing their path. We had to solve this by completely re-designing the core base and optimizing the player's walk path.
• The texture of the Mars terrain itself had all of it's colors washed out, so we had to make certain adjustments in order to make it pop out and look more realistic.
• Lack of similar data of other planets, in presence of which, we can recreate other planters and their respective conditions as well.

Platforms we can support:

1. PC

2. Android minimum 4.4

3. High end VR device i.e. HTC Vive PRO, Oculus Rift PSV4

4. Console - PS4, X-Box One.

We want to give a gift from the 21st century to the future generations. Curious minds cannot help but wonder, what if there was no cost for our blunder.

GitHub Link: https://github.com/shadmanArko/NASAspaceAppChallen...

Best Regards,

Team Ducks In Disguise.