Planetmaster Jasper’s ever-present smile was overshadowed by a dark cloud of disgust as he stepped over the lifeless corpses of the JAGHERS. “What a miscalculation!” he murmured through his protruding lower lip, “Never would have guessed they were too far apart.” He picked up the trail of the surviving pair of JAGHERS and prepared to lead the nearly extinct predators to the next area. A wry smile crossed his face as he realized that bringing these two creatures to a safer environment was roughly analogous to the classic teacher from the planet of Terra fame, Noah. Planetmaster is a complex and challenging simulation. It will thrill those who have read the science fiction of Piers Anthony and Frank Herbert with its plots that revolve around the need for conservation to survive.
In Planet master, the player has 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 ecosystem to manage to the best of their ability at one of five levels of play (Planet Rookie, Journeyman Planet Keeper, Pro Planet Keeper, Advanced Climatologist, and Planet Master).
Each game turn represents a 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 to continue with the same species at the end of that number of years.
The game begins with the player selecting the six endangered species that they would like to try to preserve. It is at this point that the game makes the most extensive use of graphics. The game offers two different graphical views of the virtually unlimited number of species available. Unfortunately, all species look suspiciously canine to this reviewer. It is only after the selection process that one can find the vital information about the feeding habits of the species. The scarcity of information available at the selection stage limits the initial selection phase to that of a guess. Fortunately, the author indicates modifications that can be made to the program without protection so that the biological characteristics of the species (including diet) can be seen before selecting the species.
While admitting that this may add to the educational value of the game, the designer notes that this mod takes some of the challenge out of the game. In the next phase of the turn, the placement phase, the player must investigate through several different descriptions and tables. Here the player must balance the temperature, rainfall and the production of genetically modified crops in the available areas with the particular needs of each species. The player must balance the need for a species to have optimal temperature and crop production from its main food group with the need for a predatory species to be close to its prey. I found that this is the point where it helps to take notes. Since you don’t want to have to display the species description during each change of season, it is useful to write down the preferred dietary characteristics of each species. Also, I found it helpful to try to place the species in an area roughly the same temperature as their sweet spot and where the first food in their diet flourishes. It was also helpful to plot the seasonal fluctuations of each food during the early years of the game on a separate graph to anticipate where you might move species for maximum advantage at a later point in the game, but in an analogous season.
Next is the results phase. At this point, the player can see how each individual species survives within the assigned zone. The player must note the satisfaction index, the percentage of dietary efficiency, the demographics of births, deaths and famine, and the production of crops or the success/failure of the hunt. On this basis, the player is assigned a percentage score for the season’s work and averaged into a cumulative rating. The accumulated 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:
1) Go to the placement phase of the next season;
2) Give the player a final grade; Prayed
3) Invite 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) will find no bells and whistles in this game.
The main graphics screens are relatively static and uninteresting because the sketches of the species aren’t different enough and the graphics don’t fluctuate enough in a successful game to be interesting. However, those who find excitement in weighing facts, mentally debating numerous possible decisions, and making those simulated life-and-death “divine” decisions 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 also teaches the basic principle of ecological interdependence. Planet Master Jasper’s face began to glow with the brilliance of his trademark smile.