View source for Software:Universe Sandbox

{{italic title}}
{{short description|2008 video game}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Universe Sandbox Legacy
| logo = 
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| author = Dan Dixon
| developer = {{ubl|Dan Dixon|Giant Army}}
| released = {{start date and age|2008|5}}
| latest release version = 2.2
| latest release date = October 1, 2012
| operating system = [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]
| genre = [[Software:Educational software|Educational software]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[Commercial software|commercial software]]
| website = {{URL|https://universesandbox.com/about/}}
}}

'''''Universe Sandbox''''' is a series of [[Engineering:Space simulator|interactive space]] sandbox gravity simulator [[Software:Educational software|educational software]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]]s. Using ''Universe Sandbox'', users can see the [[Physics:Introduction to general relativity|effects of gravity]] on [[Astronomy:Astronomical object|objects in the universe]] and run scale [[Simulation|simulation]]s of the [[Astronomy:Solar System|Solar System]], various galaxies or other simulations, while at the same time interacting and maintaining control over [[Physics:Gravity|gravity]], time, and other objects in the universe, such as [[Astronomy:Natural satellite|moon]]s, [[Astronomy:Planet|planet]]s, [[Astronomy:Asteroid|asteroid]]s, [[Astronomy:Comet|comet]]s, and [[Astronomy:Black hole|black hole]]s. The original ''Universe Sandbox'' was only available for [[Software:Windows|Windows]]-based PCs, but an updated version was released for Windows, [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], and [[Software:Linux|Linux]] in 2015.

''Universe Sandbox'' was designed by Dan Dixon, who released the first version in May 2008. Dixon worked full-time on the project since 2010, founding the company Giant Army the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://giantarmy.com/|title=Giant Army {{!}} We create Universe Sandbox|website=giantarmy.com|access-date=2019-09-24}}</ref> Since then, he has hired eight additional designers for the company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universesandbox.com/|title=Universe Sandbox | website=universesandbox.com |access-date=2019-09-24}}</ref> Work on a new version of the game, originally called '''''Universe Sandbox²''''', began in 2014. In November 2018, the original ''Universe Sandbox'' was renamed to '''''Universe Sandbox Legacy''''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Universe Sandbox Legacy |url=https://steamdb.info/app/72200/history/?changeid=U:9304987 |website=SteamDB |access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> and the new version was then renamed to ''Universe Sandbox'' in December.

==Simulations==
Both realistic and fictional simulations appear in ''Universe Sandbox'', with each area of outer space being placed by default or according to the player's preference.<ref>{{cite web |author=Alex Cox |date=2008-10-05 |title=How one man created his own universe - How Dan Dixon fashioned a whole universe out of mere bytes |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/computing/how-one-man-created-his-own-universe-470870?artc_pg=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314071706/https://www.techradar.com/news/computing/how-one-man-created-his-own-universe-470870?artc_pg=1 |archive-date=2012-03-14 |access-date=2010-01-10 |website=[[TechRadar]] |publisher=PC Plus, Issue 274 and techradar.com - computing news}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Universe Sandbox|url=https://universesandbox.com/|website=Universe Sandbox|publisher=Giant Army|access-date=25 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="video.unity3d">{{cite web |title=Creating the Universe with Unity |url=https://unity3d.com/learn/resources/talks/creating-universe-unity |url-status=dead |access-date=February 27, 2021 |website=Unity3D.com |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624212504/https://unity3d.com/learn/resources/talks/creating-universe-unity }}</ref> Real simulations include the Solar System, which includes the eight planets, five minor planets, 160+ moons, and hundreds of asteroids; and predictions of future events such as the [[Astronomy:Andromeda Galaxy|Andromeda]] and [[Astronomy:Milky Way|Milky Way]] [[Astronomy:Andromeda–Milky Way collision|galaxy collision]] which will occur in 3.8 to 4.5 billion years. During gameplay, the player may be introduced to the regions that include the 100 largest bodies in the Solar System, the nearest 1000 stars to the Sun or the nearest 70 galaxies to the Milky Way. A visual size comparison of the largest known stars and planets can be explored, and real time animations of events like the Apophis asteroid passing near Earth in the year 2029 can be watched. Comets can be observed colliding into planets, such as the Shoemaker Levy 9's collision with Jupiter. The trans-Neptunian object 2008 KV42 with a retrograde motion [[Physics:Orbit|orbit]] can be seen in a simulation. Moons are able to be converged into planets, and may be able to affect the planet's atmosphere or minerals. Players are able to view the [[Astronomy:55 Cancri|Rho Cancri (55 Cancri)]] star in the [[Astronomy:Constellation|constellation]] of [[Astronomy:Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]]; they can see the five known planets in the system. The [[Astronomy:Pioneer program|Pioneer]] and [[Astronomy:Voyager program|Voyager]] spacecraft can be seen in its encounters with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Visual Lagrange points of the Earth and Moon can be seen, along with the [[Astronomy:Galaxy|galaxy]] and [[Astronomy:Star system|star system]]. The [[Astronomy:Gamma-ray burst|gamma-ray burst]] locations, found in distant galaxies, can be found. [[Astronomy:Supernova|Supernova]]s are shown in real time.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 83/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/universe-sandbox/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Universe Sandbox for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=2020-03-11}}</ref>
| PCGUK = 84/100<ref name="PCGUK">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/universe-sandbox-review/|title=Universe Sandbox review|work=PC Gamer|last=Geere|first=Duncan|date=November 20, 2011}}</ref>
}}

Duncan Geere of ''PC Gamer UK'' gave it an 84/100 and spoke positively of the game, "Universe Sandbox is not going to change your life. It is not going to make you cry, and it won't sit in the top of your most-played list in Steam for weeks. But if you like the idea of an interactive orrery that you can rip apart and put back together in whatever way you like, and you're happy to feed it with a bit of imagination, it's hard to find a better way to spend £6."<ref name="PCGUK"/> Jules of ''Wired'' said in their review, "I've seen some pretty wonderful interactive programs that allow you and your family to explore the vast regions of the universe, but nothing nearly as enthralling as Universe Sandbox. [...] Unlike most astronomy software that just shows you what the sky looks like or where the planets are, Universe Sandbox is a powerful gravity simulator."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jules |date=August 4, 2011 |title=The Universe Is Your Sandbox With Universe Sandbox |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/08/the-universe-is-your-sandbox-with-universe-sandbox/ |magazine=Wired}}</ref>

==Rewrite==
{{Infobox software
| name = Universe Sandbox
| logo =
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| developer = {{Collapsible list
| titlestyle = font-weight:normal; text-align:left; background-color:transparent
| title = Giant Army
| {{ubl|Dan Dixon|Christian Herold|Georg Steinröhder|Thomas Grønneløv|Jenn Seiler|Jonathan Hoy|Dave Nelson|David Rappo|Mat Solomon|Jacob Williams|Erika Nesvold|Jared Meier|Eric Hilton|Naomi Goldenson|Chad Jenkins}}
}}
| released = {{start date and age|2014|1|24}} (early access)
| latest release version = 33<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universesandbox.com/blog/2023/08/gravity-simulation-upgrade-update-33/|title=Gravity Simulation Upgrade {{!}} Update 33|date=August 16, 2022|access-date=2023-08-17|website=Universe Sandbox {{!}} blog}}</ref>
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2023|08|16}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| engine = [[Software:Unity (game engine)|Unity]]
| operating system = [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]]
| genre = [[Software:Educational software|Educational software]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[Commercial software|commercial software]]
| website = {{URL|https://universesandbox.com/}}
}}

The team began working on a complete rewrite of ''Universe Sandbox'', originally titled ''Universe Sandbox²'', in 2014. Some of the new features include atmospheres being shown on planets, dynamic and procedurally generated textures on stars and gas giants, a more realistic and graphic collision system, 3D charts in chart mode, simulation of [[Astronomy:Stellar evolution|stellar evolution]], procedural detail in rings/particles, visualization of black holes, simulation of fluid-like objects (such as gas clouds, nebulae and [[Astronomy:Protoplanetary disk|protoplanetary disk]]s, and planetary collisions) and much more.<ref name="video.unity3d" /> The team demonstrated many of these features at the Unite 2012 conference.<ref name="video.unity3d" /> On November 15, 2018, the feature to share simulations through Steam Workshop was added.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universesandbox.com/blog/2018/11/update-22/|title=The Universe Just Got Bigger - Update 22|date=November 15, 2018|website=Universe Sandbox {{!}} blog}}</ref> Such simulations like [[Unsolved:Nibiru cataclysm|Planet X]] crashing into Earth, Venus and Mars as the planets were billions of years ago are possible. In December 2018, the game was renamed from ''Universe Sandbox²'' to ''Universe Sandbox''.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Look, Same Great Sandbox |url=https://universesandbox.com/blog/2019/05/new-look-same-great-sandbox/ |website=universesandbox.com |access-date=December 26, 2020 |date=December 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Software:Space flight simulation game}}
** {{annotated link|Software:List of space flight simulation games}}
* {{annotated link|Software:Planetarium software}}
* {{annotated link|Software:List of observatory software}}
* [[Software:Gravity|Gravity]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==


[[Category:Astronomy software]]
[[Category:Educational software for Linux]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Universe Sandbox}}