VGA Planets is a graphical multiplayer play by email war game which simulates strategic combat between galactic empires. The game emphasizes mining, colonization and the construction of starships. Players compete against each other economically and militarily on a galactic scale.

The game is basicly a strategic war game, but there is also an important economic component in the game. Depending on the game setup logistics and economy will play a key role in longer conflicts. However, maybe the most important part of the game is diplomacy, which is too often ignored. To survive you'll need fighting, economic and diplomatic skills.

The game system allows players to construct their own starships by selecting various components and placing them on a given hull type. Up to 11 players can participate a single game. The game is designed to be a BBS or Net game. It 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.

In the beginning of the game, you have to expand fast. You have to use your resources and population wisely, colonize well planets with natives and search for planets rich in minerals. 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.

VGA Planets can be compared to a 11-player complex chess in which all players move all their pieces simultaneously, one turn at a time.