Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play Video Games in Space?

March 24, 2009

Video games came up when President Obama made a long-distance phone call to the International Space Station this morning.

As reported by ABC News, Obama, some members of Congress and a group of Washington, D.C. school kids spent 28 minutes videoconferencing with the crew of the shuttle Discovery.

The Prez was friendly and conversational with the astronauts. When it came time for some questions from the students, the first one was, "Can you play video games in space?"

Obama dutifully relayed the question to the crew. Perhaps surprisingly, the answer that came back was yes, you can play video games in space.

In fact, one of the astronauts (we're not clear as to which one) replied:

We can, in fact. And in fact a few years ago when I was up here for six months I had a video game that I used to play in my spare time. Unfortunately, we don't have much spare time.

 

So we can, we have a lot of laptop computers. But for the most part we stay real busy doing real work.

Comments

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 06:52.

I bet they play Backyardigans: Mission to Mars.  That game is set aboard the Space Shuttle, and it's just about the difficulty level that folks at NASA would be able to handle.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by TBoneTony on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 00:53.

I can imagine when Astronaughts are not working, they are playing on their nintendo DS and they lose their stylus pen because they forgot to put it in the DS back of it. 

Then the pen would just float away.

 

TBoneTony

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by MartyB on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 20:19.

 LOL, I just noticed that in the picture, it looks like Obama is looking at the sky while he's talking to them.  or more like looking up out the window.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by A-wel Cruiz on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 19:50.

Think they ever played this in space?

http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/space-shuttle-a-journey-into-space

If so, seems kinda redundant.

*Jack Thompson loves it when people argue with him. He whacks off to it! DON'T FEED THE TROLL!*

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 20:03.

Nah, more likely this one:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/shuttle

That one was more of a challenge.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Father Time on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 20:07.

If I were in space I'd try playing a star wars game myself.

----------------------------------------------------

Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Galthromir on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:57.

Its clear that they play DDR in space

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 18:24.

I woulda pissed my pants if they came back with "Yeah, we play a GTA with a mod that lets us shoot space cops". 

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by bracomadar on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:55.

Would the PS3 six axis, or the Wiimote work in zero G though? Seriously though; if I could get to fly the space shuttle around in space, why would I need a video game

PSN: bracomadar

PSN: bracomadar

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll20/longtrang83/b-1.jpg

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by mdo7 on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:10.

 

Yeah I would like to do this experiment.  I'm a bit of a scientist myself also.  I like to do this experiment.

Can somebody write up a experiment and come up with a hypothesis for it??


Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by lordlundar on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:05.

You actually make a good point about the six axis and Wiimote. Can the motion sensors work without gravity?

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:29.

Let's hope nobody brought a gun with them.  Lord knows what might happen if they play GTA IV too long.

"HEY! LISTEN!"

"HEY! LISTEN!"

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Paulrus on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:23.

How's the ping up there?

I'm an attention whore. So visit my DevaintArt and feed my ego. Feed the whore. http://keaton2008.deviantart.com/

I'm an attention whore. So visit my DevaintArt and feed my ego. Feed the whore. http://keaton2008.deviantart.com/

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:05.

Let me guess: Dead Space?

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by gamadaya on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:10.

lol, that was a good one. Yeah, playing dead space and watching Alien and Event Horizon.

--------------------------------------------------------

Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! -Glenn Beck

-------------------------------------------------------- Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! GET OFF MY PHONE! -Glenn Beck

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 00:43.

Those are excellent ways never to sleep again.

Saying that Jack Thompson is impotent is an insult to impotent men everywhere. They've got a whole assortment of drugs that can cure their condition; Jack, however...

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Cerabret100 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:19.

That's like the time i was walking home alone at night with Silent Hill Homecoming...just flat out asking for some smack-down from the gods of irony and coincidence.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Austin_Lewis on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 00:45.

I'm actually making another trip to Centralia, Pennsylvania, the place the movie is based off of.  I went once alone, and it creeped the hell out of me, but walking was unsafe if I went too far so I decided not to explore the whole place.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by gamadaya on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:57.

lol, of course they can play videogames in space. Stuff doesn't just stop working when you get up there. But I imagine that when you get into space, playing videogames suddenly doesn't seem as interesting anymore.

--------------------------------------------------------

Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! -Glenn Beck

-------------------------------------------------------- Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! GET OFF MY PHONE! -Glenn Beck

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by SimonBob on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:55.

Wasn't this news in the 1980s when the Russian cosmonauts took Game Boys with them so they could play Tetris?

---
The Mammon Industry

---
Fangamer

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Elegant on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:49.

Well, the Gameboy was released in Japan in mid-1989, so I doubt you're thinking of that particular handheld. Perhaps it was Nintendo's Game & Watch system (which was bundled with Tetris) or the Russian G&W knock-off Elektronika (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektronika#Electronic_toys). 

Only reason I'm digging this much into this was my own first thought to your post, which was "huh, I thought Game Boy came out in the early 90's."

The more you know!

--- XboxLive Tag: JuiceLayerJihad

--- XboxLive Tag: JuiceLayerJihad

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 00:41.

And knowing is half the battle.

Saying that Jack Thompson is impotent is an insult to impotent men everywhere. They've got a whole assortment of drugs that can cure their condition; Jack, however...

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by Harry Miste on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 05:18.

G.I. JOEEEEEE

| XBOX LIVE GamerTag: Harry Miste | Steam ID: Harry Miste | PSN ID: HarryMiste |

| XBOX LIVE GamerTag: Harry Miste | Steam ID: Harry Miste | PSN ID: HarryMiste |

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You Play

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:37.

Can't help but laugh.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by MartyB on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:37.

 I just can't help but picture the russian dude from "armageddon" playing WoW.

 

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Chuma on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 18:58.

THIS! is how you kill Onyxia!  Now we can go home!

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by MartyB on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:52.

 http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1977/campers.png

 

(not sure how to post a pic, but this will do)

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Father Time on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 20:05.

Post a smiley, right click it and go to image properties, change the Url and hit OK.

----------------------------------------------------

Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by chadachada321 on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 03:50.

Also, if you open the url in another window and have that window over this window (so that you can see both this comment field and the image), you can simply drag the picture into the comment field and it will work just the same. Just drag and drop, but make sure that you can see the image and comment area at the same time, no scrolling.

=)

-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-

-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:38.

I can only imagine the lag.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by PHX Corp on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:19.

-16 ton weight drops on head- well that was a dumb question

Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights

America has just became its own version of the Jerry Springer Show after a bizarre moment in Florida involving a carnival worker.

Re: Obama & Kids Call Astronauts, Want to Know: Can You ...

Submitted by Elegant on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:37.

They are, as it says in the article, kids.  They are curious and ask whatever pops into their heads.  Give'm a break, man. I'm sure you weren't Sir Isaac Newton at the age of 13, either.

--- XboxLive Tag: JuiceLayerJihad

--- XboxLive Tag: JuiceLayerJihad
 
Forgot your password?
Username :
Password :

Poll

Will there be any female presenters at the unveiling of Microsoft’s new console?:

Shout box

You're not permitted to post shouts.
PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am
E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am
E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am
MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am
E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am
MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am
E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm
E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm
Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am
E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am
MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am
E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am
Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am
Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm
Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm
Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm
E. Zachary Knight: quiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm
quiknkold: REBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm
IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm
BearDogg-X: http://www.politickernj.com/65515/lesniak-ruiz-bill-limit-children-s-exposure-media-violence-clears-senate - Bill requiring schools to publish pamphlets with anti-fake media "violence" propaganda clears NJ Senate05/15/2013 - 2:03pm
All shouts
 

Be Heard - Contact Your Politician