Comments on: Nuclear power plant simulator game http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 03:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: timwestover http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059596 timwestover Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059596 This was always my favorite nuclear power plant simulator game: <a href="http://www.virtualapple.org/threemileislanddisk.html">Three Mile Island for the Apple IIe</a>. I think all of my games ended with a meltdown and bankruptcy, but in my defense, I was only five years old. This was always my favorite nuclear power plant simulator game: Three Mile Island for the Apple IIe. I think all of my games ended with a meltdown and bankruptcy, but in my defense, I was only five years old.

]]> By: Charles H. http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059600 Charles H. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059600 Can't help you on the earthquake part. Back in the '80s there was a Commodore game based on Chernobyl. It was pretty much exactly what you might expect: you ran the power plant and tried to keep doing so for as long as possible. It was not well-received, from what I recall; the reviews I remember mention how boring it was, with at least one commenting that it eventually made you want to have the plant meltdown just so that there was something happening. Can’t help you on the earthquake part.

Back in the ’80s there was a Commodore game based on Chernobyl. It was pretty much exactly what you might expect: you ran the power plant and tried to keep doing so for as long as possible. It was not well-received, from what I recall; the reviews I remember mention how boring it was, with at least one commenting that it eventually made you want to have the plant meltdown just so that there was something happening.

]]> By: kmoser http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059604 kmoser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059604 Video of a Commodore 64 demo showing how a nuclear power plant works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMkt8z6scE Video of a Commodore 64 demo showing how a nuclear power plant works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMkt8z6scE

]]> By: ColHapablap http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059607 ColHapablap Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059607 Turns out, when presented with questions, you can actually just type "y" instead of "y-e-s", thus tripling your productivity. Turns out, when presented with questions, you can actually just type “y” instead of “y-e-s”, thus tripling your productivity.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060636 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060636 played that a lot as well, and somewhat ironic now that ol' daffy is having troubles in Libya. played that a lot as well, and somewhat ironic now that ol’ daffy is having troubles in Libya.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059624 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059624 SimCity had earthquakes ! SimCity had earthquakes !

]]> By: coneslayer http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059625 coneslayer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059625 Yes, in fact I blogged about it recently. <a href="http://scotchtape.ductwhisky.com/2011/03/scram.html">SCRAM for the Atari 8-bit computers</a>. I got it up and running again in the Atari800Win PLus emulator. Yes, in fact I blogged about it recently. SCRAM for the Atari 8-bit computers. I got it up and running again in the Atari800Win PLus emulator.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059626 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059626 <a href="http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-scram_4543.html">here</a> ... with loads of earthquake goodness(?) you're welcome. memories of a misspent youth... here … with loads of earthquake goodness(?)

you’re welcome. memories of a misspent youth…

]]> By: daen http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059628 daen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059628 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scram_(video_game)"><i>Scram</i></a> for the Atari had precisely that feature. Scram for the Atari had precisely that feature.

]]> By: daen http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059630 daen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059630 @coneslayer: *snaps fingers* You beat me to it :-)! @coneslayer: *snaps fingers* You beat me to it :-)!

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059634 Deidzoeb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059634 A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess? A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

]]> By: bdanser http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060669 bdanser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060669 Acme Nuclear has a simulator than will simulate a loss-of-coolant scenario. Pretty good tutorial on how a BWR works too! http://www.acme-nuclear.com/Eval%20Download.htm Acme Nuclear has a simulator than will simulate a loss-of-coolant scenario. Pretty good tutorial on how a BWR works too!

http://www.acme-nuclear.com/Eval%20Download.htm

]]> By: Jeff Vader http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060160 Jeff Vader Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060160 cant resist - I played this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xu_Ldvn1GA OnTopic: Avoided meltdown on 2nd try with a measely 1080 average. hmpf! cant resist – I played this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xu_Ldvn1GA

OnTopic: Avoided meltdown on 2nd try with a measely 1080 average. hmpf!

]]> By: Neuron http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060162 Neuron Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060162 Venting prevents explos-ion. Venting prevents explos-ion.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059908 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059908 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdm1Kd4RMjw i recall playing this as a teen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdm1Kd4RMjw

i recall playing this as a teen.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060420 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060420 The game Mark linked is actully based on a Basic game I used to play on my C64. Damned if I remember what it was called, though. / M.C The game Mark linked is actully based on a Basic game I used to play on my C64. Damned if I remember what it was called, though.

/ M.C

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059664 bcsizemo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059664 It really wasn't hard to win. It'd be better if it automatically moved along as a certain pace, day by day. That way you can see how each thing affects the output/heat more directly. I ended up at 141 days and 1755kw average output, with very light damage. It really wasn’t hard to win. It’d be better if it automatically moved along as a certain pace, day by day. That way you can see how each thing affects the output/heat more directly.

I ended up at 141 days and 1755kw average output, with very light damage.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060176 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060176 http://www.ida.liu.se/~her/npp/demo.html Hmm. It features different scenarios where you must prevent meltdowns, but none of them involve earthquakes. http://www.ida.liu.se/~her/npp/demo.html

Hmm. It features different scenarios where you must prevent meltdowns, but none of them involve earthquakes.

]]> By: MrScience http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059668 MrScience Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059668 After a few tries I got an average power output of 1500 KW, "Power costs in your area will drop." I might have gotten more, but I didn't want to risk damaging anything and taking the hit of bringing the plant down for maintenence. After a few tries I got an average power output of 1500 KW, “Power costs in your area will drop.”

I might have gotten more, but I didn’t want to risk damaging anything and taking the hit of bringing the plant down for maintenence.

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1060443 royaltrux Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060443 Author's site, slightly newer version with better instructions: http://ae4rv.com/games/nuke.htm Author’s site, slightly newer version with better instructions:

http://ae4rv.com/games/nuke.htm

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059676 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059676 I remember a DOS game that put the player at the helm of a nuclear power station. It was all text, similar to a BIOS settings layout page for a mother board, and just about anything I did resulted in meltdown. What a fun idea for a game, right up there with a doing your taxes game. I remember a DOS game that put the player at the helm of a nuclear power station. It was all text, similar to a BIOS settings layout page for a mother board, and just about anything I did resulted in meltdown. What a fun idea for a game, right up there with a doing your taxes game.

]]> By: Gordon JC Pearce http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059695 Gordon JC Pearce Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059695 There probably *is* an "Earthquake" feature, but just as with the real-life reactors it doesn't affect them in any way. You'd probably not exactly struggle to implement a "Tsunami" feature, but again, that wouldn't hurt the reactors. The "Tsunami" button might wipe out your badly-placed standby generators... There probably *is* an “Earthquake” feature, but just as with the real-life reactors it doesn’t affect them in any way. You’d probably not exactly struggle to implement a “Tsunami” feature, but again, that wouldn’t hurt the reactors.

The “Tsunami” button might wipe out your badly-placed standby generators…

]]> By: orangettecoleman http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059712 orangettecoleman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059712 "Where's the 'ANY' key???" “Where’s the ‘ANY’ key???”

]]> By: bitman362 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059971 bitman362 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059971 I wrote one that randomly generated earthquakes ... back in 1981 on my TRS-80 Model 1. It was graphical. Not sure I still have the code though. I wrote one that randomly generated earthquakes … back in 1981 on my TRS-80 Model 1. It was graphical. Not sure I still have the code though.

]]> By: MadRat http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1061530 MadRat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1061530 I played Chernobyl on my Commodore 64 for hours at a time. I loved the fact that the simulator made it sound like the rumble of being in a nuclear power plant. While I couldn't find a webpage describing the game I did find a link to a Java emulator and a pirated version of the game. It's probably not legal and there's a lot to read (this is a simulator) but if you really want to try it... http://www.vizzed.com/vizzedboard/retro/game.php?id=22545 I played Chernobyl on my Commodore 64 for hours at a time. I loved the fact that the simulator made it sound like the rumble of being in a nuclear power plant. While I couldn’t find a webpage describing the game I did find a link to a Java emulator and a pirated version of the game. It’s probably not legal and there’s a lot to read (this is a simulator) but if you really want to try it… http://www.vizzed.com/vizzedboard/retro/game.php?id=22545

]]> By: Tavie http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059766 Tavie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059766 DAMMIT, YOU BEAT ME TO IT! DAMMIT, YOU BEAT ME TO IT!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1082316 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1082316 FYI: Instead of a simulator, I can offer an insider's take on what a real accident would be like: The novel “Rad Decision” culminates in an event very similar to the Japanese tragedy. (Same reactor type, same initial problem – a station blackout with scram.) The author has worked in the US nuclear industry for 25 years. The book is an excellent source of perspective for the lay person — as I’ve been hearing from readers. The novel is free online at the moment at http://RadDecision.blogspot.com . (No adverts, nobody makes money off this site.) Reader reviews are in the homepage comments - there have been a lot, and they've been uniformly positive. One of the interesting things about modern nuclear power in the US is that few really understand how it works day to day -- including most scientists and journalists who are commenting to the media on the topic. Unfortunately, Rad Decision's media presence consists of this little-known website. FYI: Instead of a simulator, I can offer an insider’s take on what a real accident would be like:

The novel “Rad Decision” culminates in an event very similar to the Japanese tragedy. (Same reactor type, same initial problem – a station blackout with scram.) The author has worked in the US nuclear industry for 25 years. The book is an excellent source of perspective for the lay person — as I’ve been hearing from readers. The novel is free online at the moment at http://RadDecision.blogspot.com . (No adverts, nobody makes money off this site.) Reader reviews are in the homepage comments – there have been a lot, and they’ve been uniformly positive.

One of the interesting things about modern nuclear power in the US is that few really understand how it works day to day — including most scientists and journalists who are commenting to the media on the topic. Unfortunately, Rad Decision’s media presence consists of this little-known website.

]]> By: hellatall http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059790 hellatall Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059790 I loved this game as a kid! You don't understand (well, the collected "you" probably does, but the general public "you" does not) how many blank stares I've gotten from friends as I've tried to explain how much fun we had playing this game at camp growing up. I loved this game as a kid! You don’t understand (well, the collected “you” probably does, but the general public “you” does not) how many blank stares I’ve gotten from friends as I’ve tried to explain how much fun we had playing this game at camp growing up.

]]> By: Hophead http://boingboing.net/2011/03/18/nuclear-power-plant.html#comment-1059804 Hophead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059804 1850 kW or go home! Crank the rods up to 100% for the first round, 40% for the second, then adjust down to about 14%. Start the secondary coolant around 50% and adjust upwards to 100% over 3 or 4 rounds to avoid overspin of the turbine. 1881 kW was my best with this method. It took just two meltdowns to figure this out. I wonder if there's a lesson there... 1850 kW or go home!

Crank the rods up to 100% for the first round, 40% for the second, then adjust down to about 14%. Start the secondary coolant around 50% and adjust upwards to 100% over 3 or 4 rounds to avoid overspin of the turbine. 1881 kW was my best with this method.

It took just two meltdowns to figure this out. I wonder if there’s a lesson there…

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