Kerbal Space Program

Jon here,

So, I thought I would start my first post as a highlight on an indie game, and this being one of my favourite.

Kerbal Space Program is everything as space simulator should be, you design, (basic) program, and explore Moons, and Planets, simple concept but so well done. The game is available on Steam for $22.30 at it's 0.20 alpha version which was release a few weeks ago, price will go up as more content is released. Demo of the game can be downloaded for all OS right *here*. This game is difficult using realistic physics so let me give you a quick run through.

You start with building your space craft  with the basics, pilot, fuel, engine. and you can use a library of 300+ parts with the full version. Use decouplers in the structure* tab and you can organize you staging on the right side icon column. Add an advanced SAS (activates in flight pressing T) will keep your rocket straight. Use rocket proportion to the mass of the stage, and keep air fins behind the centre of mass (only works where air is).  Press M to see your orbit path. Your stage should be organized relative to this:

1. Increases speed
2. Carries to higher atmosphere and sets orbit.
3. Increases Orbit speed until a full orbit is achieved and for larger orbital manoeuvres 
4. Final stage for your travel to the Moon

RCS thrusters will allow you to make adjustments in space, awsd turns your ship, jikl translates, and hn shifts your thrust up and down, make sure you have an RCS fuel stack or attachable tank. Landing gear is in the utility tab (activates with G) along with parachutes. Press M to bring your map and click on a line to place a manoeuvre node.  After getting into a capture path slow the ship down to and orbit. Then decrease your arc so it's closest to the moon without crashing. All you need to do now is stop your horizontal speed and hover down.

The full game is filled with planets and moons to explore and the completed version is planned for deep space travel. Visuals for this game are empty but once you get into space you really feel the vastness of space, especially the true size of the moon as you approach it. Personally I can be tried for the death of 78 kerbals and 23 that have gone MIA loss in the "testing" phase. Being a Sandbox game the inventions you can create are amazing. Mass drivers (aka scrap cannon), Space station, Nuclear space drives, Battleships, and Fuel stations.