VGA Planets is a graphical multiplayer play by turn war game that simulates combat in space between galactic empires. The game emphasizes mining, colonization and the construction of starships. The players compete against each other economically and militarily on a galactic scale.
Although there is an economic component to the game, but it is mainly a tactical and strategic wargame. Although the player with the best economy usually has the best potential to win, its not the purpose of the game and the scoring system reflects this.
The game system allows players to construct their own starships by selecting various components and placing them on a given hull type. This game can handle from two to 11 players. The game is designed to be a BBS or Net game. This game can also be played on one computer alone. The game can be played on any BBS that supports file transfers, with or without the sysop's help. Many people are playing VGA Planets over the NET using Email and UUENCODE.
To begin the game, you are given a planet, a starbase, and two ships. You have to manage your planet's population and resources wisely. You can create more ships and expand your domain through colonization or conquest of neighboring planets. Of course, the other players are attempting to do the same thing.
The game can also be set up so that players start with just freighters and no homeworlds.
VGA Planets can be compared to a 11-player chess game in which all players move all their pieces simultaneously, one turn at a time.