Studios using apps to market their movie is now standard these days. The question isn't how well an app sells a movie. I don't know how much of a film's profits are derived from creating an infinite runner loosely based on a movie's plot. The question to ask is, "Is the app fun?" An Interstellar app is being released today in-browser and as a free app in the Google Play store, and it comes as a free app to iOS next week. The game uses bits of the film's science to handle space travel, but a large part of the app seems to be about creating your own solar system, planets, stars, and asteroids, and sharing it with friends. The primary goal is to see how far the player can explore before running out of fuel. The press release also details some of the other features, and it sounds like this game could be addictive.
Hit the jump to check out image from the Interstellar app. Christopher Nolan's new film opens in 2D and IMAX on November 7th.
Here's the press release:
The app takes players on a journey through solar systems designed by players, featuring realistic physics conceptualized by Kip Thorne, the film’s scientific advisor and noted theoretical physicist. Players create their own unique solar system with planets, moons, asteroids and more, and travel through other player-created systems in the Endurance, the ship from the film. See how far you can pilot the Endurance without running out of fuel or losing time relative to Earth. Sling-shot through solar systems using real-world physics and gravitational forces. Use wormholes to jump to new systems and survive the ultimate challenge of traveling past a black hole.
The Interstellar App involves two real-world factors of space travel:
- Gravity: The player can use gravity to slingshot around a solar system's sun and planets to reduce the amount of fuel needed to travel through the system.
- Fuel: The player's primary goal is to see how far they can explore before running out of fuel. When the player restarts after a crash or running out of fuel, their distance counter and fuel level are reset.
The app will be available to play in-browser, and to download as a free app in the Google Play store. We will be coming to iOS next week as well (also as a free app).
App Features
• Create your own solar system and share it with friends
• Customize planets, stars and asteroids
• Pilot the Endurance through friend’s and other fan’s solar systems
• Upgrade your ship to increase durability and range
• Earn mission patches for completing objectives
• Based on newtonian physics with simulated gravitational fields endorsed by the movie’s science advisor Kip Thorne
• Slingshot between planets and return research data to Earth
• Navigate past massive black holes
Interstellar App Images
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