Hello All,

I don't want to cause a scene here or anything, but I wanted to know if people on here would be receptive to making a full open source core game engine that mirrors KSP.

Firstly it makes sense as a precaution because of the 2K acquisition, but also because a second version system could start with all of the user-desired features in the beginning instead of adding them all later.

I actually tried myself in 2014 to make something Kerbal-esque in webGL, as open source software, but that ultimately didn't pan out financially. However, I have beta access to a "CryptoCurrency" type project that works like Trello but let's you put actual bounties on Cards, and pay developers from crowdfunding. So I think the enabling tech might be here to allow for open source gamedev that doesn't bankrupt the developer. I'll refrain from mentioning names though, this post isn't about promoting that platform.

Honestly, USI/MKS alone has enough content already to support an entirely new game. What would probably be needed first though is an asset compatible game engine that can render astrodynamics properly. So it probably would make sense to stick with Unity, because most mods are C#, even though Unreal is more open source and has arguably better dev support right now. Rolling your own engine is waaay too complicated, unless the SpaceEngine guy wants to open up.

Also, who knows what Valve is cooking up with the KSP devs. It's probably a spiritual successor game already. However, I think a high quality open source project that focuses on maximum modder support would probably be the greatest thing ever.

Plus deep down I want the engine to be expanded so that interstellar laser light-sails and magnetic ramscoops can be modelled into the mechanics of the game. And Multiplayer support from the start! (A lot of cryptocurrency networks actually have pub/sub and messaging protocols that could make MP networks nearly free to run.)

Hope this doesn't violate community rules, I just want think it's a good discussion to have about the future right now. What would you call it? Open Source Space Program? Kitty Space Program (cats instead of Kerbals?) Orion's Arm?

EDIT: I'm not alone with this thought. Check out /r/OpenSpaceProgram !

Cheers!