Kerbal Space Program.

[Geo]

Why did the developers 'shrink' the objects in their game that much? Or are Kerbals only the size of ants?

[Mart]

Smaller planets have smaller escape velocity. Lower costs. Easier to launch mass into orbit, etc. 

[Geo]

That's simply a matter of upgrading their numbers on booster power, profits, and so on. So in my view that isn't really a reason to shrink things that much.

[Mart]

Humor seems to be one of their design factors. I suspect Kerbals might consider going fishing instead when orbital launch costs were too high. Just my guess, but I do not play this game.

[Geo]

'kay. Humor I can believe.

[Unorthodox]

Why did the developers 'shrink' the objects in their game that much? Or are Kerbals only the size of ants?

I'm guessing transit times.  New Horizons has been flying for 10 years.  Even warping the game to max, that would mean sitting for a hell of a long time.  There is a mod for earth based size/distances though

[Geo]

Even so, the developers could have come up with a star system setup similar to Gliese 581. Everything packed within Venus' orbit.

[Unorthodox]

You'd favor fudged distances but realistic size rather than just a roughly 1/10th scale across the board?  Or no analogs and just random planets?

[Geo]

Well, in the case of Gliese 581 there are no fudged distances as far as astronomists have determined with the confirmed planets. They are packed within Venus orbit.

[Buster's Uncle]

That actually makes sense.

[Unorthodox]

Well, in the case of Gliese 581 there are no fudged distances as far as astronomists have determined with the confirmed planets. They are packed within Venus orbit.

So you'd prefer a completely alien system with no real analogs. 

Or no analogs and just random planets?

[Geo]

Well, in the case of Gliese 581 there are no fudged distances as far as astronomists have determined with the confirmed planets. They are packed within Venus orbit.

So you'd prefer a completely alien system with no real analogs. 

Sure, why not? Less chance something 'familiar' looking bites me in the posterior midgame then, because it acts different.

[Unorthodox]

Personal preference, then.  IIRC the developement history specifically added analogs one by one to model our solar system, at least for Eve and Duna.  Then they added (forgetting the name) and Jool was just to see if they could get a gas giant to work with the game engine. 

Modders have all kinds of systems out there now, and even some that have multiple stars (though THAT model in this engine is very strange to me).

[Geo]

Modders have all kinds of systems out there now, and even some that have multiple stars (though THAT model in this engine is very strange to me).

Let me guess. the smaller star(s) orbit the biggest one like planets do, instead of orbiting each other along a barycenter?

[Unorthodox]

There's ostensibly a "black hole" they all orbit, yes. 

No idea what the transit time between stars might be.