Info about Kerbal Space Program: Breaking Ground Expansion:

Official game description:
Kerbal Space Program: Breaking Ground Expansion is the second expansion for the PC version of the critically acclaimed space flight simulator, Kerbal Space Program. This feature-rich expansion is focused on increasing the objective possibilities once celestial bodies have been reached by adding more interesting scientific endeavors and expanding the toolset.  
After landing on a celestial body, a variety of data collecting equipment can now be deployed to conduct scientific experiments. While gathering that data, newly added surface features have been scattered across the solar system, which players will need to go out in search of to either scan or bring back to Kerbin for further examination.  
Additionally, robotic parts are being added! A hinge, piston, rotor, and rotational servo in various sizes will be accessible to massively alter the possibilities of players’ crafts. These all operate under realistic physics with real forces and torque, electricity consumption, and even motor mass.  
*   Deployed Science: Scientific experiments have always gone hand-in-hand with space exploration and are now becoming an even greater focus in KSP. Players will be able to utilize a storage container in their craft that can hold various pieces of science equipment. Upon reaching their destination, players will need to deploy the equipment, which includes a central station, booster antenna, solar panel, weather station, active seismometer, RTG, goo observation, and ion detector. These pieces of equipment must be left out for a period of time to fully collect all of the scientific data and relay it back to Kerbin. The active seismometer in particular asks players to deliberately crash things into a celestial body to gather seismic data!  
*   Surface Features: A major addition with Breaking Ground is found on the celestial bodies scattered throughout the solar system. Meteors, craters, rock outcroppings, cryovolcanoes and more now populate the landscape. While smaller surface features can be transported back to KSC by Kerbals themselves, larger ones provide a greater challenge and will require Kerbals to venture out in rovers or send unmanned rovers. By attaching the new robotic rover arm to their rovers, players can scan the larger surface features to collect important scientific data.  
*   Robotic Parts: Long-requested robotics parts will now be available for use in KSP! A hinge, piston, rotor, and rotational servo in various sizes will allow players to tackle new challenge as well as enhance the creativity of their crafts. To coincide with these new parts, the addition of a robotics controller system will let players coordinate the behavior of all the different parts on their craft.  
*   A New Suit: Of course, the ever-important Kerbal fashion can never be forgotten. With Breaking Ground players will receive a new suit that is futuristic in aesthetic and tied to the science-focus of this expansion.
Take on new challenges with a breadth of added tools and parts in KSP’s second expansion, Breaking Ground. Weather stations, solar panels, and more allow players to collect science over time, while they venture out to research mysterious surface features such as cryovolcanoes with new robotic parts.

Release date: May 30, 2019

Categories: Physics Simulation, Exploration, Vehicle Customization, Sandbox Creation, Research and Discovery, Space Flight Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 5; verdict: Fair – Traditional DLC Only; summary: The user feedback for Kerbal Space Program's DLC (Breaking Ground) focuses entirely on traditional DLC pricing and the practice of converting a popular mod into paid content. There is no evidence of microtransactions, pay-to-win mechanics, loot boxes, or any form of predatory monetization. The complaints are about value for money, which falls under base-price dissatisfaction and does not indicate a greedy or casino-like system. The monetization model is entirely based on one-time DLC purchases with no in-game shops or currencies.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: Community feedback indicates that the base game's current price of $30 is considered poor value. The recommendation to purchase at a discount for 'a few quid' suggests a fair price well below $30. Given the comparison with two DLCs totaling $26, a fair base-game price range is estimated between $10 and $20, reflecting the community's preference for a lower price point.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: All playtime claims in the reviews refer to the base game 'Kerbal Space Program' (e.g., 500 hours, 3000 hours) or are vague future extrapolations ('hundreds of hours to come'). No review provides specific, measured playtime for completing the DLC's content, the story (which is absent as the campaign is contract-based), typical session lengths, or endgame activities for the 'Breaking Ground Expansion' itself. The anecdotal 'half an hour to draw a track' is an isolated occurrence and not representative of a general session length. Therefore, no reliable metric can be extracted for any of the four categories.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report a steep learning curve, slow science progression, and tedious interface actions, with early enjoyable features being fleeting or locked behind DLC, leading to a recommendation against the game for progression seekers.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Long learning curve requiring external tutorials; Slow and boring deployed science activities; Tedious interface for deleting messages; Early promising feature ends too quickly; Progression modes unrewarding for time invested
  - Unlock drivers: Patience to endure long learning curve; External tutorial videos (lack of adequate in-game tutorials in some languages); Use of specific DLC parts (e.g., Juno-engine VTOL)
  - Conditions: Playing on high difficulty settings with no mods; Enjoying DIY experimentation and crash physics (seismic sensor); Having access to relevant DLC content; Player mindset focused on optimization and looping challenges
- Player Archetypes:
  - Build-Crafter Engineer (sale)
    - Motivation: Creative challenge and solving engineering puzzles
    - Playstyle: Builds complex craft with robotics, iterates designs to overcome physics quirks, and seeks new construction methods.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: KSP veteran; builder; engineering enthusiast
    - Reference games: Besiege; SimplePlanes; Robocraft
  - Science Collector Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Science progression and exploration completion
    - Playstyle: Methodically collects science from all available biomes using new experiments, treats science points as progression currency.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: science enthusiast; space explorer; completionist
    - Reference games: No Man's Sky; Elite Dangerous
  - Critical Quality Seeker (no buy)
    - Motivation: Value for money and polished gameplay experience
    - Playstyle: Cautious, avoids buggy parts, compares DLC content to mods, and withholds recommendation until technical issues are resolved.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: KSP veteran; mod user; quality conscious
    - Reference games: Kerbal Space Program: Making History; KSP Mods


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Expands vehicle engineering possibilities (weight 0.54): Players can now build complex vehicles with moving parts like folding solar panels, walking rovers, swing wings, internal weapons bays, and even a giant robotic octopus. This greatly enhances the sandbox element.
- Deployable science and surface features (weight 0.53): The new deployable science experiments and ground surface features (craters, cryovolcanoes, geysers) give players more reasons to explore planets, build rovers, and set up bases. Players find these features fun, polished, and they make the game world feel more alive.
- DLC adds immense value (weight 0.5): Many players consider the DLC essential and a fantastic expansion that adds hundreds of hours of gameplay. It revitalizes the game, especially for veteran players, and is often compared favorably to the Making History DLC.
- Enables propeller aircraft and helicopters (weight 0.39): Players appreciate the ability to create functioning propeller aircraft, helicopters, and drones using the new motors and blades. These builds are described as rewarding and fun, opening up new aviation possibilities.
- New science instruments are useful and fun (weight 0.38): The new science equipment, like the robotic analysis arm, soil experiments, seismic sensors, and weather stations, adds more depth to scientific missions. EVA deployable science is noted as both useful and entertaining.
- Great for career and sandbox (weight 0.36): The DLC adds significant content to both career mode and sandbox, including new science equipment, parts, and missions. It expands the possibilities for research outposts and gives more activities on planets.
- New spacesuits are visually appealing (weight 0.35): The addition of new spacesuits, especially the glowing suit for Jeb, is well-received. Players comment on their realistic, aesthetic look and how they add to the game's visual appeal.
- Encourages creativity and new builds (weight 0.26): The DLC sparks creativity by allowing players to build replicas of real NASA rovers, trebuchets, and other imaginative contraptions. The limit is the player's imagination, according to reviews.
- Automation controller is a standout feature (weight 0.19): The kal controller and automation features are highlighted as amazing for creating complex, automated movements with robotic parts. It simplifies tasks like managing loops and sequences.
- Enhances rover gameplay (weight 0.19): Surface features and deployable science give rovers a clear purpose beyond driving around. Players feel motivated to build rovers for exploration and science collection on other planets.
- Developer dedication is appreciated (weight 0.15): Players recognize the dedicated development team's hard work, which resulted in polished, well-integrated content that feels like a natural part of the game.
- Inventory system is well-implemented (weight 0.15): The inventory system for Kerbonauts is praised for being well-done and improving mod compatibility, allowing for more convenient management of parts and tools.
- Suitable for veteran players seeking new challenge (weight 0.15): The DLC is recommended for players who have sunk hundreds of hours into Kerbal Space Program and are looking for new challenges and expanded gameplay possibilities.
- Solves fuel and science challenges (weight 0.14): Some players note that the new parts help solve problems like running out of fuel and allow for farming science points more effectively, enhancing long-term gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Many bugs remain unfixed (weight 0.96): Numerous bugs from the base game, such as orbit warp glitches and symmetry placement issues, persist in this DLC. Long-standing problems have not been resolved even years after release.
- Robotic parts are unstable (weight 0.82): Robotic parts such as hinges, pistons, and rotors are frequently described as wobbly, flimsy, and prone to glitching or breaking under load. This makes complex creations like tilt rotors or swing wings impractical.
- Content feels incomplete (weight 0.59): The DLC is described as lacking polish, with only about 40 parts, poor sound effects, missing tutorials, and features that do not spawn on older saves. Many feel it should have been included in the base game.
- Price is too high (weight 0.46): Players consistently report that the DLC is overpriced, with $14.99 being seen as unreasonable. Many suggest a price of $5-8 would be more appropriate, and the value is poor compared to the base game.
- Robotic parts are user-unfriendly (weight 0.4): Setting up robotic parts is confusing, with unclear explanations, no numeric input for angles, and poorly designed action groups. The interface is small and lacks clarity.
- Surface features are poorly implemented (weight 0.4): Surface features are rare, hard to distinguish from scatters, and become obsolete after one scan per celestial body. They have collision meshes that can crash craft and only generate on new saves.
- Poor value compared to base game (weight 0.37): At $14.99, the DLC costs nearly as much as the base game but adds little content. Many players feel it is not worth the price and that features should be separated into cheaper DLCs.
- Better alternatives exist in mods (weight 0.35): Many features, including robotic parts and science systems, are considered inferior to freely available mods. Players feel the DLC adds little that mods haven't already done better.
- Deployed science is slow and boring (weight 0.35): Deploying science equipment takes too long, often fails to recognize networks, and results in tedious gameplay. Only the seismic sensor is considered interesting.
- Deployable science is spammy (weight 0.28): Deployable science experiments generate excessive notifications every 10-60 seconds, flooding the message log and hiding important warnings. Messages cannot be dismissed in bulk and cause lag.
- Propellers and rotors have physics issues (weight 0.19): Propellers generate reverse thrust without correct pitch, consume double the listed fuel, and break at higher physics warp. Drag from moving parts is incorrectly handled.
- Developer trust is low (weight 0.18): Some players accuse new owners of botching the franchise, using cash grabs, and abandoning the game. This negative perception affects how the DLC is received.
- Performance issues and crashes (weight 0.15): The game engine struggles with the new content, causing lag, blue screen crashes, and hangs when loading the DLC. Integrity checks sometimes show file errors.
- No proper tutorials for robotic parts (weight 0.15): There is no clear in-game explanation for how to use robotic parts or deployable experiments, and no Spanish tutorials are available. This makes the DLC inaccessible to many.
- Robotic parts have sound and graphical issues (weight 0.15): New parts lack sound effects and have graphical glitches, making them feel unpolished. Propeller aircraft, for example, have no engine sound unlike jet engines.
- Robotic parts break with docking ports (weight 0.11): Using robotic parts with docking ports results in game-breaking bugs where movement becomes cosmetic or parts break. These issues are marked as low-priority by developers.
- Cannot land on the Mun properly (weight 0.1): Some players report fundamental issues like being unable to land on the Mun or progress past it, indicating possible progression bugs or difficulty spikes.
- Translation quality is poor (weight 0.1): The DLC suffers from poor translation from an outsourcing company, with Japanese text appearing in the English version. This is seen as a sign of low-quality work.

Gameplay feedback:
- Robotic parts expansion (weight 0.71): The DLC introduces a wide variety of robotic parts including hinges, pistons, rotors, servos, and controller systems. These parts allow players to build moving structures such as helicopters, propellers, and mechas.
- New science experiments (weight 0.52): Several new science experiments and deployable science stations are added, enabling players to gather data through surface bases, soil samples, and even seismic sensors. Some experiments generate science over time or can be triggered by crashing ships.
- Control and automation systems (weight 0.41): Players can use the KAL-1000 controller and other automation tools to create analog control groups, command loops, and symmetry for robotic parts. This adds precision and repeatability to complex builds.
- Surface features and objects (weight 0.24): The DLC introduces new planetary surface features like cryovolcanoes, rock formations, and dunes, along with objects that can be discovered and interacted with. These features are generated only at the start of a playthrough.
- Enhanced building and assembly (weight 0.22): New building modes add dedicated robotics and cargo tabs, along with rotate/translate functions for parts. The inventory system is also expanded, allowing more flexible vehicle construction.
- Extensive tutorial and learning curve (weight 0.1): The DLC has a long learning curve that often requires external tutorials, though an in-game tutorial is provided to help new players.
- Realistic communication networks (weight 0.06): The game includes realistic communication systems that require satellite relays for deep space missions, adding a layer of strategic planning.
- Diverse mission scenarios (weight 0.06): Players can engage with campaign mode, real mission-inspired scenarios, and user-created contracts, providing a structured progression system.
- Customizable difficulty settings (weight 0.06): Countless difficulty settings allow players to tailor the game experience to their preferred challenge level, from casual to hardcore simulation.
- Propellers enable flight without oxygen (weight 0.06): Rotors and propellers allow aircraft to operate in atmospheres lacking oxygen, expanding exploration options.
- Science grinding accessories (weight 0.05): Some new parts and experiments are perceived as grinding tools for accumulating science points, rather than adding meaningful gameplay variety.
- Janky helicopter parts (weight 0.05): The helicopter parts are considered less polished than base game parts, though they remain functional for their intended use.
- Cargo functions added (weight 0.05): New cargo-related parts and mechanics expand the possibilities for transporting goods and equipment.
- Colorful suits and cosmetics (weight 0.04): The DLC adds visually distinct suits for kerbonauts, offering cosmetic customization.
- ALSEP replica included (weight 0.04): A replica of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) is included, appealing to space history enthusiasts.
- Hydraulics not long enough for space elevator (weight 0.04): The hydraulic parts are noted as being too short to construct a functional space elevator, limiting some ambitious designs.

Performance notes:
- DLC loading causes crashes (weight 0.13): The game crashes and causes a blue screen when attempting to load DLC, suggesting a serious compatibility or stability issue with the new content.
- Engine struggles with new content (weight 0.13): The game engine struggles to handle new content, leading to performance issues and instability.

Recommendations:
- Mostly recommended DLC (weight 0.82): The majority of feedback strongly recommends this DLC, especially for fans of the main game, with many calling it essential or a must-buy.
- General strong recommendation (weight 0.68): A large portion of feedback is unequivocally positive, calling the DLC a must-have, highly recommended, or an essential purchase.
- Recommend on sale (weight 0.58): A significant number of reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing, citing the price as too high at full cost.
- Wait for discount before buying (weight 0.44): Many reviewers suggest that the DLC is only good value when purchased on discount, not at full price.
- Mods are better alternative (weight 0.3): Many users feel the DLC's robotic parts are inferior to free mods like Infernal Robotics, and recommend mods instead.
- Mixed robotic parts feedback (weight 0.3): Opinions on the robotic parts are divided: some love them and find them worth the price, while others find them fragile, buggy, or unnecessary.
- Best for dedicated players (weight 0.26): The DLC is seen as most valuable for players with hundreds of hours in KSP, but too complex or unnecessary for casual or new players.
- Recommend with caveat about bugs (weight 0.26): Several reviewers give conditional recommendations, asking players to wait until bugs are fixed before purchasing.
- Not for robotics-only buyers (weight 0.19): Multiple reviewers advise against buying the DLC if you are only interested in robotics, as mods are better and more stable.
- Worth for specific features (weight 0.15): Some reviewers find the DLC worth it specifically for making propeller aircraft, unfolding space stations, or for helicopter enthusiasts, but not for everyone.
- Essential for gameplay variety (weight 0.15): A few users emphasize the DLC greatly increases gameplay variety and is essential for a richer experience.
- Not for science expecters (weight 0.13): Some feedback warns that players expecting significant science content may be disappointed; the DLC adds little in that area.
- Concern over developer funding (weight 0.1): A few negative reviews mention that money from the DLC goes to private equity rather than original developers, discouraging purchase.
- Good for sandbox tinkering (weight 0.1): A couple of reviewers recommend the DLC only for sandbox mode tinkering or for those who prefer official content over mods.
- Buy to support sequel (weight 0.1): Some recommend buying the DLC as a way to support development of the KSP sequel, even if the DLC itself is not essential.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players reported game-breaking bugs with robotic parts like docking ports, hinges, and servos that malfunctioned, reset adjustments, and caused crashes. Many issues persisted for years without fixes, and the DLC felt incomplete and overpriced at $14.99 USD compared to free mods.
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): The DLC robotic parts were inferior to existing mods, wobbly, buggy, and missing features like sound effects and color customization. Players felt the developers abandoned the game, and the $15 price tag was too high for content that felt like a beta or semi-finished product.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.23): Players enjoyed the new robotic parts for creative engineering, such as building replicas of real spacecraft like Curiosity and Ingenuity. The DLC added meaningful content like deployable science, surface features, and enhanced exploration, providing good value especially when bought on discount.
- Excitement (weight 0.2): The new robotic parts, science instruments, and prop systems opened up creative possibilities like advanced probes, research outposts, and unique science methods. Players were thrilled to return to the game and experience the last update, which added a new dimension to gameplay.
- Gratitude (weight 0.06): Players appreciated the dedicated development team for listening to community feedback and implementing mod-like features into the base game. Being invited to beta test the DLC also contributed to feelings of gratitude.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): The game was praised as fun, well-polished, and visually appealing, with the DLC adding richness to surface missions through soil experiments. Many considered it their favorite expansion that brought substantial content.
- Liking (weight 0.03): Players found the EVA deployable science useful and humorous, and enjoyed the glowing suit aesthetic for Jeb.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): New ground scatter and science experiments gave greater purpose to planetary visits, and designing VTOLs with the new parts was both fun and practical for early science. The robotics were preferred over mods.
- Delight (weight 0.03): The new space suit made Jeb look fashionable, and the KAL controller was hailed as the single best part added to the game.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Players were angry that developers abandoned the game and engaged in cash grabs, with bugs in building and copying mechanics wasting time.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Persistent spam messages every 60 seconds from science parts and integrity check errors caused annoyance.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciated that the robotics integrated cleanly and were dependable, and that surface features were polished.
- Anticipation (weight 0.03): Players looked forward to continued game development with new features and improved translations coming soon.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): The game was described as amazing with mods and better than KSP2, with robotics being a massive game changer offering endless possibilities.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players felt relieved that they bought the game before new owners took over, and that they no longer needed to worry about mod updates.
- Love (weight 0.01): Some players expressed a general love for the game.
- Pain (weight 0.01): Trying to make anything remotely complex was reported as extremely painful.
- Fun (weight 0.01): The robots were simply fun to play with.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Some players have been playing KSP since they were young, evoking nostalgic feelings.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): One player found amusement in crashing a satellite into an asteroid because a TI-84 calculator died mid-flight.}