Why is NASA interested in launching a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMO)?

Persistent immersive synthetic environments in the form of massive multiplayer online gaming and social virtual world, initially popularized as gaming and social settings, are now finding growing interest as education and training venues. There is increasing recognition that these synthetic environments can serve as powerful "hands‾on" tools for teaching a range of complex subjects. Virtual worlds with scientifically accurate simulations could permit learners to tinker with chemical reactions in living cells, practice operating and repairing expensive equipment, and experience microgravity – making it easier to grasp complex concepts and transfer this understanding quickly to practical problems. MMOs help players develop and exercise a skill set closely matching the thinking, planning, learning, and technical skills increasingly in demand by employers. These skills include strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, team‾building and collaboration, and adaptation to rapid change.

Can I submit my RFI via email?

Your submission may be submitted in doc or pdf format via email if you are not using the MMO submission system

What are NASA's expectations for developing of a NASA MMO?

NASA expects that a NASA‾based MMO will enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education efforts and, through virtual career exploration in game play, help empower students to make educational choices that will take them into STEM fields of study and eventually the STEM careers needed to support NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. NASA understands the significant investment involved and expertise required to develop a high quality MMO and anticipates selecting partners to collaboratively develop the NASA MMO Game.

What age group is the MMO game targeted?

The targeted audience for the MMO is students in their teens in both high school and college. Research indicate that many middle school students show a preference for games targeted at this age level and NASA expects that an MMO developed at the high school/college level with find significant adoption at the middle school level.

What are the requirements for the MMO?

Detailed requirements will be provided at a later date. Please visit MMO Home for periodic updates.

What are the guidelines for the RFI submissions?

● Visit ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/MMO, then click on Submissions
● Submit by February 15, 2008 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
● Five (5) page limit, 12‾point font size, 1 inch margins
● A standard document will be provided for ALL submissions.

Who is eligible to respond to the RFI?

This RFI is open to all interested respondents until the published deadline.

What is the current schedule for the RFI review and approval process?

● RFI released on January 16, 2008
● RFI responses deadline February 15, 2008

Whom should I contact for more information?

NASA Learning Technologies Project Office at MMO

Are NASA and other federal agencies allowed to respond to the RFI?

This RFI is open to all interested respondents until the published deadline.

Can you provide us any details about a beta release date for NASA's MMO?

The RFI has a response deadline of February 15, 2008. Solicitation and all associated release dates are subject to change pending the responses we receive from the Request for Information (RFI). 

Does NASA have experience or a preference for a particular MMO engine or related platform?

No. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit information from organizations with proven immersive synthetic environments expertise who are interested in potentially forming a MMO platform development partnership with NASA. 

What demographic is NASA targeting?

NASA Learning Technologies expects that an MMO developed to be challenging and engaging at the high school level would also have appeal for middle school and college students as well as a significant portion of the general public.

My company would like to work on the NASA MMO. How do we get engaged with NASA on this project?

The RFI is intended as an information gathering instrument. A later solicitation for proposals to collaborate on development of an NASA MMO is anticipated to be released after the RFI responses have been reviewed and evaluated.

Are you looking for information on how to include educational and research institutions in the NASA‾based STEM learning MMO?

We are requesting information on how to balance education, content and game play as part of the RFI.  There is an expectation that we will be seeking educational and academic research partners in the development process.  NASA Learning Technologies will encourage the study of the NASA MMO project and its impact.

Does NASA plan to license the MMO to schools or players? Will the partnering entity be allowed to commercialize the application?

The final business model will be based on the responses to the RFI, but our thinking going into the RFI is that NASA and the partner would each fund their own participation in the development of the MMO, and that the partner would commercialize the end product. However, we are open to comments to the contrary from RFI respondents, and certainly will give them consideration before issuing the RFP