Editing VGA Planets

{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = VGA Planets
|developer = [[Tim Wisseman]]
|released = [[1992 in video gaming|1992]]
|genre = [[Turn-based strategy]]
|modes = [[Multi player]]
|platforms = [[DOS]], [[Macintosh]], [[World Wide Web|Web]]
}}

'''''VGA Planets''''' is a multi-player space strategy war game originally released in 1992. The game simulates combat in space between galactic scale empires.  It follows the [[4X game]] (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate) model: The players start with a home world, and have to build spaceships, explore the galaxy, colonize planets, mine minerals, build up their industry.

The game is set in the "Echo Cluster" where 11 different races fight for control. It was one of the first [[indie game]]s to become commercially successful.<ref name="Tringham">{{cite book|last1=Tringham|first1=Neal Roger|title=Science Fiction Video Games|date=2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781482203899|page=393|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QH3SBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA393|access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}}</ref> It was notable for being played via email, without a central server:<ref name="Pantuso">{{cite book|last1=Pantuso|first1=Joe|title=The Complete Internet Gamer|date=1996|publisher=Wiley|isbn=9780471137870|page=183|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZIXAQAAMAAJ&q=%22VGA+Planets%22|access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}}</ref> each game of up to 11 players is handled independently, with the players sending their orders for each turn to the computer which manages that game.<ref name="Tringham" />

A hosted web version is now available.{{As of?|date=November 2021}}

==History==
The game was originally released in 1992 but became well known as a play-by-mail game<ref name="mcf95">{{cite book|last1=McFedries|first1=Paul|title=The complete idiot's guide to Usenet newsgroups|date=1995|publisher=Alpha Books|location=Indianapolis, Ind.|isbn=9781567615920|page=221|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ulAPAQAAMAAJ&q="VGA+Planets"|access-date=27 January 2017|language=en}}</ref> in 1994 with version 3, although the prior version 2.2 was already played worldwide. Version 3 allows up to 11 players to join, each of them leading one of the 11 possible races. In 1994, the game was distributed as [[shareware]], which could be purchased for $15<ref name="cirulis199310"/> and registration was free.<ref name="netgames94">{{cite book|last1=Maloni|first1=Kelly|last2=Baker|first2=Derek|last3=Wice|first3=Nathaniel|title=Net games : your guide to the games people play on the electric highway|date=1994|publisher=Random House Electronic Pub.|location=New York|isbn=9780679755920|page=53|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxFAAAAYAAJ|access-date=27 January 2017|language=en}}</ref> Although games could be set up directly by any group of players, a common way to find groups was to post and answer game invitations on the [[Usenet]] group {{Not a typo|rec.games.vga-planets}}.<ref name="netgames94"/><ref name="Pantuso"/>

The predefined races are modeled after ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''[[Star Wars]]'' and ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'', though custom races can be created with special tools. Each predefined race has some special powers and specific fields of expertise (for example: Cyborgs can assimilate native races into colonists; Robots are expert minelayers; Birdmen excel at spy tactics and cloaking).

''VGA Planets'' follows the [[4X game]] (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate) model: The players start with a home world, and have to build spaceships, explore the galaxy, colonize planets, mine minerals, build up their industry, etc. The game has no built-in victory condition: the players have to agree on one before starting a game.

===''VGA Planets 3''===
Clients up to version 3.0 were [[DOS]] programs; from version 3.5 on there were clients for [[Microsoft Windows]]. In addition, there are [[cross-platform]] [[Third-party developer|third-party]] tools, including clients written in [[Java (programming language)|Java]]. A third-party [[Linux]] client named "GNOME War Pad" is also available.<ref name="GWP">{{cite web|last1=Di Pentima|first1=Lucas|title=GNOME War Pad Site|url=http://gnomewarpad.donovansvgap.com/intro.php|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref>

===''VGA Planets 4''===
This is an expanded version of the original, with many new races and many new rules, expanded fleet combat - and the addition of ground combat units.

===''VGA Planets 5''===
This new browser-based version, based on version 4, was supposed to be published in 2011, but in February 2012 was put on hold indefinitely.<ref name="starcube">[https://sites.google.com/site/csplanets/starcube "StarCube is currently on indefinite hold until the development team can be rebuilt."]</ref>

===''VGA Planets Nu''===
In May 2010 a new project was approved by Tim Wisseman <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tim Wisseman gives his blessing to the VGA Planets 3 Remake - Planets Nu |url=http://planets.nu/post/tim-wisseman-gives-his-blessing-to-the-vga-planets-3-remake |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=planets.nu}}</ref> called ''VGA Planets Nu'' to rebuild the version 3 game with modern web-based technology.  The ''Nu'' project was developed over the course of 2010 and was released for live games in November 2010.

''VGA Planets Nu'' is a remake of the version 3.0 game which runs on the web in a web browser or via the mobile app.  The Nu project aims to overcome the technology challenges found in the older ''VGA Planets 3'' versions which do not run on modern technology and create many barriers to entry for new players.  Players sign up and can start playing immediately.

This is now the most common way to play ''VGA Planets''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

==Original gameplay==
The gameplay for both version 3 and 4 uses three programs: a master program that allows the creation of a universe with the desired characteristics; a host program that acts as a server; and a copy of the client program for each player.<ref name="grghowto">{{cite web|title=How to Play - VGA Planets 4 @ GRG Zone|url=http://www.grgzone.com/games/planets4/playing.html|website=www.grgzone.com|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref>

First, the host sends a file with the initial conditions to each player. The client program allows the player to view data about the game and make decisions. Once the player has finished giving orders for the turn, either the client program or an external helper program takes the data, creates a turn file (usually with a {{Not a typo|.TRN}} extension), and sends it to the host person, who feeds all the turn files into the host program. The host processes all the turns and creates new status files (usually with a {{Not a typo|.RST}} extension), which are then sent back to the players. This process can be fully automated (the host can be an automatic server).

At the time that the game gained popularity, [[LAN]]s and the [[Internet]] were not generally available to the public, so ''VGA Planets'' was primarily played via dial-up [[bulletin board system]]s (BBS), gradually moving to email as a [[PBEM]] as it became more widely available. The turn files and the game status files were transferred to and from the BBS or by email manually. This required games to have a regular hosting schedule.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| CGW = version 3.0 {{rating|4|5}}{{r|brooks199405}}
| award1Pub = ''Computer Gaming World''
| award1 = Finalist (Honorable Mention), Online Game of the Year, June 1994{{r|cgw199406}}
}}

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' in 1993 and 1994 noted ''VGA Planets 3.0''{{'}}s "clunky" interface and lack of single-player AI, but approved the "great deal Mr. Wisseman is giving the computer gaming public" for $15, and his "constant striving to improve his product". The magazine recommended that "anyone who enjoys spaceploitation" should try the game,<ref name="cirulis199310">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=111 | title=In Cyberspace, Everyone Can Hear Your Modem Scream | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1993 | access-date=26 March 2016 | author=Cirulis, Martin E. | pages=106–107}}</ref> stating that it "is very similar in feel to a play-by-mail system but without the cost and wait".<ref name="cirulis199402">{{Cite magazine |last=Cirulis |first=Martin E. |date=February 1994 |title=The Year The Stars Fell |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=94–104}}</ref> A May 1994 survey in the magazine of strategic space games set in the year 2000 and later gave ''VGA Planets 3.0'' four stars out of five, calling it "excellent ... easy to learn, tough to master".<ref name="brooks199405">{{Cite magazine
 |last=Brooks
 |first=M. Evan
 |date=May 1994
 |title=Never Trust A Gazfluvian Flingschnogger!
 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118 
 |magazine=Computer Gaming World
 |pages=42–58}}</ref> Another article in the issue described ''3.0'' as "a wonderful blend of ''[[Reach for the Stars (computer game)|Reach for the Stars]]'', ''[[Master of Orion]]'' and ''[[Diplomacy (game)|Diplomacy]]''".<ref name="foster199405">{{Cite magazine
 |last=Foster
 |first=Ted
 |date=May 1994
 |title=A Little Piece of Vulcan, A Little Piece of Sol
 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118 
 |magazine=Computer Gaming World
 |pages=158–164
 }}</ref>

In June 1994 ''VGA Planets'' was named a Finalist (Honorable Mention) for ''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s "Online Game of the Year" award, losing to ''[[Multiplayer BattleTech: EGA|Multiplayer BattleTech]]''. It was the first PBEM game nominated for the award.<ref name="cgw199406">{{Cite magazine
 |date=June 1994
 |title=Announcing The New Premier Awards
 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118 
 |magazine=Computer Gaming World
 |pages=51–58
}}</ref>

The game sold more than 50,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bruce|last=Geryk|url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/history_spaceempire/p2_03.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011203095148/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/history_spaceempire/p2_03.html|title=History of Space Empire Games|archive-date=December 3, 2001|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Stars!]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.grgzone.com/games/planets4/ VGA Planets 4 Information and Tools from GRGZone]
*[https://planets.nu/#/howtoplay/intro VGA Planets Nu]

[[Category:Browser games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Turn-based strategy video games]]
[[Category:4X video games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Play-by-email video games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:1992 video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]