Ad Lunam

A simulation and management game set against the backdrop of the Cold War and the space race. The player takes on the role of the manager of the United States or Soviet Union space programme, starting in the spring of 1956. The main goal is to send a crew to the Moon and ensure their safe return to Earth within twenty years. Each year, the player receives a certain amount of funds that can be invested in research, equipment, and training. The game requires strategic planning to balance spending with the need to increase prestige, which is necessary to secure additional funding. Prestige can be increased through successful missions and advances in technological research, while failures can lead to a decline in prestige. The game offers different difficulty levels that affect initial resources and penalties for failing to achieve mission milestones. The player chooses between managing the American or Soviet space programme, each of which has different characteristics in terms of cost, reliability, and the power of spacecraft and rockets. The game provides a detailed simulation, and gameplay is divided into turns lasting three months. The player can manage various aspects of the space programme through the main menu, including research, pilot training, and mission planning. Successful missions increase equipment efficiency and player prestige, while failures can result in complications, including potential injury or death of crew members.