8. A Virtual Mars

This is a first-person account of the invention and development of a new virtual world called Blue Mars. Although not based on any existing science fiction work or futurist scenario, Blue Mars imagines a technically plausible future in which the planet Mars has been transformed to make it habitable. Employing the high-resolution CryEngine 2 graphics system, Virtual Space Entertainment has developed an early version of Blue Mars in partnership with several educational organizations. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History inspired building a virtual version of its upcoming Hall of Human Origins, and the National Geographic Society suggested a virtual exhibit to coincide with their Terra Cotta Warrior Exhibition. Among the difficult challenges faced by the Blue Mars team was the tragic death of one of its key innovators, and the need for repeated redesign to take advantage of the most advanced available technology. Looking at our world through the eyes of Martian colonists in the year 2150 will open new vistas for education, communication, and a broader understanding of the Earth.