Diciamolo subito: Universe Sandbox è tutto fuorché un videogioco, perlomeno nella classica accezione del termine.
Nonostante si presti all'interattività tipica del media, proponga soluzioni ludiche e porti nel titolo un appellativo che indica chiaramente un genere di videogame, l'opera di Dan Dixon è meglio definibile come una sorta di “simulatore di galassie”: un modello plasmabile a piacimento dal fruitore, che può intervenire sia su sistemi reali (nella Via Lattea ad esempio) sia generando universi di fantasia ma totalmente assoggettati alle reali leggi della fisica.
Cosa accadrebbe se modificassi la densità o la massa del Sole, della Terra, o di Giove? Che cosa accadrebbe se ponessi la stella supergigante rossa VY Canis Majoris ai margini del Sistema Solare? Come varierebbero le orbite, i piani di rotazione ed i ritmi ciclici di determinati pianeti ponendo altri corpi celesti nelle vicinanze?
Il modello matematico alla base di Universe Sandbox può dare una risposta visiva e scientificamente credibile a tutte queste domande; un vero e proprio gioiello per i fanatici di astronomia, che possono sperimentare tutto ciò che non avrebbero mai osato chiedere.

Memorabile un commento inserito nella Homepage del sito dal titolo Giant Army: “Newton avrebbe ucciso per questo”.

When I say that I'd reccomend this game it's only to a small niche of people. Because I happen to fall in the niche I rather liked Universe Sandbox, though I can see where many people woud not. Universe Sandbox is pretty self explanatory in the title, its a astrophysics sandbox in which you can create and destroy solar systems, galaxys, or even galaxy clusters (if your computer is beefy enough) Many stats and attributes are tracked as you simulate the astral dance of heavenly bodies.

Things like density, spin, velocity, mass, and heat are all tracked and simulated to give you the most realistic expierience possible. Unfortunately, it doesnt get very realistic. My biggest gripe I would suppose is the physics. The game uses Eular math, or if you have a processing power Runge Kata. But eventually stable orbits will do someting completely random, sending a few planets and stars on random vectors straight out if your little "pitri dish". This doesnt bother me too much because it mostly only happens when it comes to simulating galaxies. On the solar system level it does quite well and it has enough options to accomodate nearly any computer's processing power. That is, if you can navigate the menus.

Theres lots of options and statistics for every celestial body and you can edit every fascet. the problem is, this creates a very confusing series of menus, with confusing abbreviations and volcabulary if you're not already familiar with scientific notation and units of measurement. If the menus were a bit more friendly I think it would open up this game to alot more people. The actual simulation field can be a bother to wrangle too. I found it sometimes likes to snap focus to nearly every other celestial body but the one I want to focus on. The "searchbar" at the top ended up being my best friend.

If youre like me, and you can wrangle the menus and put up with the sometimes sketchy simulation, it truely is a universe at your fingertips. This simulator will only take you as far as your imagination (or processor) will take you. Binary systems, rings around Earth -- have you ever wondered what it would look like if the earth had a ring then the moon crashed through it? The possiblities are more or less limitless, given your computer can handle the math. If youre into astronomy, physics or just enjoy space to any degree, this game is worth checking out.

Without an actual objectives or things to accomplish, this game falls short of actually being a game. It would be better described as an app. This one probably isnt right for the masses, but just right for the armchair astronomer in me.

Bellissimo simulatore di universo,uno dei pochi simulatori che possono interagire in questo modo sull'universo!!!
E quest'anno uscirà anche la prossima versione UNIVERSE SANDBOX 3!Ancora più realistica!

Universe Sandbox is exactly what its name implies: a place for you to play around with astronomical bodies and see how changing various things will effect the macro-universe. I think it is one of the most unique and awesome titles on Steam. It is well put together, the physics in the game accurately demonstrate real-life laws, and the recent update that puts you directly into a tutorial the first time you start the game really helps you figure out the, at first intimidating amount of, options that you can play around with.

Whether for work, play, or educational purposes, Universe Sandbox is an excellent title that I don't think any Steam account should lack. If you have *any* interest, even a minute amount, in astronomy, physics, or even if you ever wondered what would happen to Saturn's rings if Neptune flew too close, you need to have this game. It's very relaxing to play with, and the the engine is extremely deep - allowing you to truly let your imagination run wild.

The GUI is clean and efficient, and the pre-built simulations and environments are extremely well put together and fun to play with. Some examples include:

*Environments:*
Our Solar System
Local Galaxies
Earth & Moon
Saturn & Moons

*Physics Playgrounds:*
Small Scale Gravity
Floating Moons
Galaxy Collision

Buy now, build your own galaxy or satellite system, and watch what happens as time passes and you introduce variables into the equation.

*Bonus:* You can smash an asteroid into Earth to see what would happen, awesome for those bad days at the office.

Diventa noioso dopo poche ore.

Because you've always wanted to shoot earth into the sun

What can I say?

1 hour of gameplay to explore the universe and get 12 of 16 achievements.
10000 hours to get the final 4 achievements AND become extremely good at doing nothing, seeing only the endless nothingness that exists in space, endeavouring to explore strange new worlds but seeing nothing, going where no man has gone before ..... wait .... that has already been done. There is nothing to see in our universe ...... NOTHING.

11/10. Would do another 10000 hours to finally see something.

Buon gioco,sopratutto per la simulazione della gravità ecc.. Molto versatile e ottimo per semplici simulazioni!

è troppo belllo

Questo gioco è una picocla perla, una simulazione dell'universo niente male, che permette di utilizzare scenari preimpostati (scontro tra galassie, sistema solare, sistema Terra-Luna, Saturno e i suoi anelli, etc) oppure di creare il proprio sistema stellare o addirittura gruppo di galassie.
Insomma, diversi oggetti celesti con cui "giocare", ma credo che necessita un minimo di passione per stronomia ed astrofisica per essere apprezzato.
In attesa del successore.