How Kerbal Space Program Came to Life Thanks to a Flash Game
Ever wondered what sparks the creativity behind some of your favorite games? Well, let’s take a trip down memory lane with Felipe Falanghe, the genius behind Kerbal Space Program (KSP). Interestingly, one of his biggest inspirations came from a humble Flash game tied to the Top Gear franchise!
Felipe kicked off his gaming journey with Flight Simulator 4 on his dad’s laptop. He recalls those early days with a hint of nostalgia, saying, “I had no clue what I was doing!” Along with his brother, he dabbled with controls and simply tried to get the plane off the ground. It was games like these, along with The Sims, that nudged him towards the world of modding, eventually leading him to become a game developer.
Fast forward to 2010, Felipe was stuck in a marketing job at Squad. During a particularly hectic period of projects, he was offered the chance to develop his own game. Skeptical yet intrigued, he thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?” And just like that, KSP was born – a rocket simulation game that would go on to steal the hearts of gamers everywhere!
Felipe humorously reflects on his initial pitch for KSP, stating that it was meant to be a simple Flash game at first. Back in those days, suggesting something like that didn’t seem too crazy. He even mentioned an old Top Gear Flash game that involved launching the famous Reliant Robin, which he pointed to as the closest thing to KSP he could find back then. Imagine how far that humble idea has come!
These days, Felipe runs his own studio, Floating Origin Interactive, but he still keeps up with gaming trends. Recently, he’s been revisiting the remastered version of Oblivion. “It’s been a blast!” he says. His nostalgia kicked in as he reminisced about his first run with the game, where he accidentally turned into a vampire after going on a stealing spree. Now, he’s enjoying the storyline much more, having experienced newer titles like Skyrim and Starfield.
When it comes to his gaming habits, Felipe enjoys mixing things up. He alternates between Oblivion and light-hearted shooters like BattleBit, where the quirky blocky graphics and satisfying sniper kills keep him hooked. He also dove back into Old School RuneScape, recalling how it was a significant part of his early gaming life.
Felipe is a fan of games that stick with him, and he refuses to uninstall classics like Fragile Allegiance and, of course, Flight Simulator. With a whopping 2,000 hours logged in the latest Flight Simulator titles, he cherishes the nostalgia and thrill of soaring back to his childhood home in Brazil, made even more special thanks to the game’s stunning satellite imagery.
So, there you have it! From a quirky Flash game to launching rockets in KSP, Felipe’s story is a testament to how our gaming experiences can shape our careers and passions. Who knows what other hidden gems are waiting to inspire the next big hit in the gaming world?