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Kerbal Space Program version 0.2 introduces flags and better rovers

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While it’s touched down in alpha form, you can read our Kerbal Space Program review to see if it’s worth your buck.

Kerbal Space Program continues to be my favourite thing ever, a build-your-own-rocket physics sandbox paired with a space exploration engine that leaves you with a genuine sense of wonder and awe at the universe through which we are forever glacially tumbling. It’s nice, is what it is. Developer Squad have just released a milestone version of the game, version 0.2, which is available on Steam as well as their own site. It addresses a clutch of bugs and adds some new ship and rover parts, but perhaps most notably it introduces flags. You can now claim the heavens under your own custom-made banners.

Here are the patch notes for Kerbal Space Program version 0.2 in full.

  • 7 new Parts and 2 IVA Spaces
  • Cupola with IVA
  • Small Lander with IVA
  • 2 new Probe cores
  • New large docking clamp
  • New Medium wheel
  • Attachable command seats for kerbals

Customizable Flags for your space program

  • Kerbals on Eva can plant flags with editable plaques
  • 23 Stock flags to choose from.
  • Flags are Moddable, Make your own flag!

Editor Improvements

  • Added Flag interface to editor
  • The Editor no longer requires you to start with a command pod when building a ship.
  • The Editor now allows deleting or replacing the first part of your ship.

Optimizations and New Features

  • Vessel Filtering for the tracking station
  • Added Kerbal Knowledge base for vessel and planetary information
  • Upgraded scene loader and refresh logic
  • Added Game Database and repogrammed part loaders.
  • Mods and stock parts can now have their own folders for organization
  • New Loading Screens
  • Optimization of Memory Usage (Approximately 30% average reduction in usage)
  • Upgraded debug menu allows parts and cfg files to be reloaded while the game
  • Bug Fixes!

Squad have also put together a short teaser video, showing off their new rover designs in their own Pixarish cutesy style.

I’ve been playing around with the new version, to which the Steam version has already been automatically updated. The ability to add external seats for your kerbonauts not only allows for some radical new manned rover designs, but also the ability to recreate the adventures of the first man in space, 16th century Chinese madman Wan Hu.