NASA Releases Kinect Game Based on Mars “Curiosity” Mission

Avoiding puns about NASA "launching" a new game, the space agency has just released a free, downloadable Kinect mini-game called the Mars Rover Landing. 

The game, which simulates exactly what the title promises, was created by the mad geniuses behind the "Curiosity" mission in collaboration with Smoking Gun Interactive. The next best thing, one imagines, to actually exploring Mars, the simulation allows the player to wiggle his or her body so as to help land a virtual rover on a virtual Red Planet. The challenge lies in breaking through Mars's atmosphere, drop heat shields, deploy a supersonic parachute and not spoil it all by crashing.

The game, considered part of the Microsoft Fun Labs series, is available now for download in the Xbox Marketplace and grants 50 gamerscore. 

If Kinect isn't your cup of tea, NASA has also launched (pun not intended) a Curiosity-based interactive experience which allows users view an in-browser recreation of the landing using Unity graphics. Users will be able to take control of the rover in-browser and explore the virtual environment. 

Via: Eurogamer