Planet Eclipse Classic
Retro Arcade Game Review: Planet Master
Planet Master Jasper’s ubiquitous smile was eclipsed by a dark cloud of displeasure as he stepped over the lifeless carcasses of the JAGHERS. “What a miscalculation!” he muttered across his protruding lower lip, “I never would have guessed they were too far.” He picked up the spoor of the surviving pair of JAGHERS and prepared to herd the almost extinct predators into the next zone. A wry smile crossed his face as he realized that herding these two creatures into a safer environment was roughly analogous to that classic planet master of Terra fame, Noah. Planet master is a complex and challenging simulation. It will thrill those who have read the science fiction of Piers Anthony and Frank Herbert with their plots revolving around the necessity of conservation for survival.
In Planet master, the player is given the opportunity to select six endangered alien species and transport them to a terra formed, dodecahedron Space Sanctuary Satellite (SSS). The SSS is the player’s own eco-system to manage to the extent of his ability on one of five levels of play (Novice Planet tender, Journeyman Planet keeper, Professional Planet keeper, Advanced Climatologist, and Planet Master).
Each turn of the game represents one season of a planetary year with four seasons. The player determines the length of the game in years (five is the recommended length) and has the option of continuing with the same species at the end of that number of years.
The game begins with the player selecting the six endangered species he/she would like to attempt to preserve. It is at this point that the game makes its most extensive use of graphics. The game offers two different graphic views of the virtually unlimited number of species available. Unfortunately, all of the species look suspiciously canine to this reviewer. It is only after the selection process that one can find out the vital information on the species’ dietary habits. The dearth of information available at the selection stage limits the initial phase of selection to that of a guess. Fortunately the author indicates modifications that can be made to the unprotected program so that specie’s biological characteristics (including diet) can be viewed prior to selecting species.
While admitting that this may increase the educational value of the game, the designer notes that this modification removes some of the challenge of the game. In the next phase of the turn, the placement phase, the player must research by means of several different descriptions and tables. Here the player must balance the temperature, rainfall and genetically engineered crop production of the available zones with the particular needs of each species. The player must balance the need for one species to have optimal temperature and crop production of its primary food group with the need of a predatory species to be in proximity to its prey. I found that this is the point at which it helps to take notes. Since you don’t want to have to flash up the species’ description during each seasonal change, it helps to write down the preferred diet characteristics of each species. Also, I found it to be helpful to try to place the species in a zone with approximately the same temperature as their optimal point and where the first listed food on their diet flourishes. It was also helpful to note on a separate chart the seasonal fluctuations of each food during the early years of the game in order to anticipate where I could move species for maximum advantage at a later point in the game, but an analogous season.
Next is the results phase. At this point, the player gets to see how each individual species is surviving within the assigned zone. The player must note the satisfaction index, the percentage of dietary efficiency, the demographics of births, deaths and starvation, and crop production or hunting success/failure. On this basis, the player is assigned a percentage score for the season’s work and this is averaged into a cumulative rating. The cumulative rating will eventually determine the success or failure of the player (85% is considered successful at any of the 5 levels). After this rating is displayed, the game either:
1) Moves on to the placement phase of the next season;
2) Gives the player a final rating; or
3) Invites the player to continue the game with the same species. Those who insist on the pyrotechnics of game design (intricate graphics, sound effects and “real time” simulation) won’t find any bells and whistles in this game.
The major graphics displays are relatively static and uninteresting because the species’ sketches are not dissimilar enough and the graphs don’t fluctuate enough in a successful game to be interesting. However, those who find excitement in weighing data, mentally debating numerous possible decisions and making those “god-like” decisions of simulated life and death will find Planet Master to be a game to be played over and over again. Educators will enjoy using the game as an introduction to the idea of ecosystems and wildlife conservation.
The simulation not only sensitizes the player to the idea of wildlife preservation and management, but teaches the basic principle of ecological interdependence. Planet Master Jasper’s face began to shine with the brightness of his characteristic smile.
About the Author
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