yes it is true, the new game by nasa is an online video game to give a preview of an eventual MMO. i think it is brilliant as we need to foster interest in space and space exploration of we will never get anywhere. i stand by my statement that we can save our economy by doing a very similar thing to kennedy in the 60's and aim for mars! if we pull together to make a successful mars mission we can do great things.
hopefully this game adds to the allure of space travel and inspires kids to seek science based schooling. the game is available on steam here:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/39000/and the press release is here:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jul/10-148_Moonbase_Alpha.html