

And when it comes to creating a world, that can be all the difference between a setting that limps along and one that really runs.

No more is it an abstract idea, now it is a concept you can really feel. Well, open up the Universe Sandbox, start tossing moons around or change the orbit of Jupiter and you will soon see just how easy it is for one passing object to cause another to go careening out of a solar system. If you are like me, that kind of makes sense but in the end, it’s a little hard to wrap your head around it. For instance, several sceintific papers suggests it was likley one or more earth size planets were shot out of the infant solar system. In addition to the sheer pleasure of smashing planets, you get a great feel for the forces that shape our universe. You can have hours of fun just making your own simulations or playing with the ones that come with it. Selling for as little as $2.50 when Steam has it on sale, it could be the best game for less than the cost of a fast food meal you can buy. It’s a multi-body simulator that lets you play with solar systems and galaxies, shoot a black hole by Earth, explode Jupiter, and much more. Even if you don’t create worlds for fiction or game worlds, The Universe Sandbox is a complete blast but if you do it’s an indispensable tool.
