When I logged on to Steam the other day, I came across an interesting little program called Universe Sandbox. After a bit of hemming and hawing, I decided to give in to my curiosity and purchase it.
I hesitate to call it a ‘game’ since it’s more of a simulation than anything else. Basically, the whole point of Universe Sandbox is to have fun mucking about on a cosmic scale. See what happens to our solar system if you make the sun 200 times larger! Bombard the Earth with asteroids and giant teapots! Tinker with the planets’ orbits and watch the hilarity that ensues! The whole thing is entirely open-ended, though you can try to win various achievements through Steam.
If you grow tired of molesting our own solar system, you can make your own from scratch. Many of my attempts ended in carnage since my planets have a nasty habit of getting sucked into the stars that are supposed to anchor them (then again, maybe I shouldn’t be using Mu Cephei as the focal point of my solar system!). Eventually, after a lot of trial and error, I managed to figure out the sweet spot that ensures a stable orbit.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Universe Sandbox is that it’s a scientifically accurate toy, so your inner nerd will have a field day with it. If you’re not careful, you might actually find yourself learning something. It’s also a bargain at $9.99 if you get it through Steam.
Codex Lochianus 