Freeware App Pick: Universe Sandbox (Dan Dixon)
Universe Sandbox is a physics and particle simulator that simulates applied gravity to planetary bodies. This educational toy for Windows based computers can run scale simulations of our solar system while giving you the power to control gravity, time and everything in it.
Press the left alternate and enter key to switch between full screen and windowed mode. Universe Sandbox requires .NET 2.0 and the latest version of Direct X installed to work properly. (SA thread)
Name: Universe Sandbox
Developer: Dan Dixon
Category: Application
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB
Direct download link: Click here
Comments
Ignore my mean comments in the SA thread (chinook). The author has released a downloadable version instead of a .NET installer thingy, so I'm pleased. The game is entirely terrific.
Give plenty of feedback now while he's still in the mood to change things. This is an astronomy lover's dream, honestly. Check it out!
Posted by: Mark | July 7, 2008 2:22 AM
Now that's going to fit nicely with Stellarium and Celestia...
Posted by: Gr.Viper | July 7, 2008 3:48 AM
Wow... this looks amazing. I can't try it out till I get to my good computer, but it just looks amazing. I'm also glad that he allows the user to determine the price, I just LOVE that idea.
Good job Dan.
Posted by: Coded One | July 7, 2008 4:42 AM
This is nice and , I guess, scientific, but there is no fun application in it. There is nothing to do in it except set up celestial bodies and watch them move or destroy them.
Posted by: Yuriy | July 7, 2008 9:06 AM
smashing planets?
suns???
galaxies???!!
what else does a small boy need?
Posted by: finefin | July 7, 2008 10:08 AM
@Yuriy
Watching celestial bodies move and smash eachother in cataclismical explosions doesn't sound fun to you? It's the same as saying that java-based sand physics toy isn't fun, and trust me that I've wasted a good deal of time just fooling around with that thing. Because sometimes you don't need complex gameplay to have fun.
Posted by: Melly | July 7, 2008 3:39 PM
I agree with Yuriy. Well made but it's just not fun for me.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 7, 2008 4:38 PM
1. Load scenario with all the planets, moons and larger asteroids of the Solar system
2. Make trajectory trails longer
3. Turn the Sun into a black hole - increase mass 500 times or so.
4 Watch it launch all the solar system into the vast depths of space.
Posted by: Gr.Viper | July 7, 2008 5:00 PM
Well, I just tried it out, it's not as fun as it looks, you can only do so much. Also, the interface is a bit hectic and cluttered. But the real kicker, is that you can only create galaxies by editing the .XML files. That's a real bummer.
...I'm gonna go play it again...
Posted by: Coded One | July 7, 2008 6:28 PM
Meanwhile this app is no freeware anymore --- upgrade it and you have a 60-minutes demo...
Posted by: finefin | July 11, 2008 4:27 PM