If you want to develop an MMORPG, you need to have the necessary funding with which to support it. What would you do if someone suddenly cut your budget? That seems to be the case with NASA and the educational MMORPG that the organization was looking into. Does this mean the end of that MMORPG? Not necessarily. Turn to the full article after the jump to find out what we mean.
Granted, there are certain things out there that some people would be willing to do without expecting any financial reimbursement. Would developing an MMORPG be one of them? Perhaps, if someone were to respond to NASA Learning Technologies' request for proposals (RFP). This has something to do with the educational MMORPG that it was looking into.
NASA Learning Technologies has indicated that partner developers will not be paid for their development efforts - at least not in cash. The organization has mentioned that it is considering alternative forms of compensation, instead. As NASA has put it:
In exchange for a collaborator's investment to create and manage a NASA-based MMO game for fun and to enhance STEM, NASA will consider negotiating brand placement, limited exclusivity, and other opportunities.
Note that NASA originally budgeted US$ 1 million a year for the fiscal years 2007 to 2009, just for the MMORPG. The organization didn't specifically state the reason behind the move toward a "non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement."
Perhaps NASA has more urgent priorities to attend to, such as saving the planet.