One of Kerbal Space Program’s biggest inspirations was a promotional Flash game for Top Gear: ‘That was the most similar game to KSP that I could find back then’
Felipe Falanghe, creator of Kerbal Space Program, traces his path to game development back to childhood experiences with Flight Simulator 4, which he played on his father’s laptop alongside his brother. Learning the game through trial and error sparked a curiosity that evolved into an interest in modding, further cultivated through other early PC games like The Sims.
This foundation in modding eventually led Falanghe toward game development as a career. In 2010, while employed at marketing firm Squad—a position he found unfulfilling—Falanghe began work on Kerbal Space Program. The development of KSP drew inspiration from diverse sources, including a promotional Flash game created for Top Gear, which Falanghe identified as “the most similar game to KSP that I could find back then.” This eclectic mix of influences, from classic flight simulators to niche promotional games, shaped the development of his acclaimed space simulation title.