Between my job and running StartedByAMouse.com, I find myself in front of a computer for a good part of each day. Every so often, I need to take a break from what I'm doing and have a little extra fun. I've turned to online activites such as crossword puzzles, discussion boards and games to pass the time. One of the games that I enjoy can be found at the Walt Disney World website - Mission: Space Race Online.

Part of the Mission:Space Race Online sign on page on the Disney.com website. Notice that I have the high score for the day.

Mission: Space Race begins on Mars and ends at a space station orbiting Earth. There are two teams, or fleets, competing to reach the space station first and the individual player who makes the most in-flight "fixes" is the top scorer and wins the race. Each fleet has four ships and each ship has four "commanders" who have to drop colored balls into their designated problem zone to fix the ship and enable a jump to hyperspace to propel their ship to the finish line. By completing all of your fixes, you are able to pick up and deliver other players' balls to help complete the stage and earn extra points.

The interesting part of the game is that when guests of Mission: Space at Epcot exit the attraction, they have the opportunity to participate in the game as well. In addition to playing alongside online gamers at on-site kiosks, some guests at "Mission Control" serve to deliver requests of colored balls so that players can complete their mission. It is an interesting feature that ensures that every game is a bit different and even the best players may not have the opportunity to win their race if they are unable to secure their requested ball replenishment.

There are two rounds of two-and-a-half minutes each. Completing each level increases the value of each fix. At the end of the game, individual, ship and fleet results are announced. The 100 top scores of the day are collected in the high scores section, as well as the all-time top 10.

The high scores for the day with me having the top four scores and five of the top 10. All it takes is faith and trust ...

What I like about Mission: Space Race Online is the unpredictability of the gameplay. Certainly, the more you play, the better you get, as the task of collecting colored balls and delivering them to their designated areas is a skill that can be mastered with practice. But in addition to your own ability, you are also helped or hurt by the three other teammates on your ship and those playing at Epcot. Have new people who don't know what they are doing? You can put in a lot of extra balls by covering for the newbie but you don't advance through the levels as quickly and don't get the multiple points of the advanced levels. Playing with another ringer? They could scoop you on any extra points and even on your own points if your color replenishment don't come as timely as theirs.

The idea of having people from around the world play a common game based on a theme park ride while attraction-goers can join in at the theme park is a fun and exciting one. It helps make sitting in front of my computer at work a little more enjoyable when I think that somebody who is enjoying the day at Epcot is on the other side of my computer screen. It is a concept that Disney is planning on continuing with the opening of Disneyland's Buzz Lightyear attraction. And when that game is online, I'm sure I'll take part in it too.

-Review by Matthew Walker; Graphics ©Disney

Posted August 20, 2004

E-mail Matt at matt@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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