VGA Plus!® Second Edition has been finally released after a one-year beta test.
Eventual new bugs will be fixed in some future Service Packs.

The Service Pack 3 is scheduled for June 2000. At the time, NO more new VGA Plus! versions are scheduled.

Note: Many new features have been introduced from 1.x serie, so all VGA Plus! users should upgrade to this version.

Current version: 2.00 build 148 (Service Pack 2) of 24 Apr. 2000

News: 2

Added "Single-alliance game" configuration parameter.
Added "Allow dumping whole starbase" configuration parameter.

Changes: 4

VGA Plus! sets to 0 all negative mineral ores it finds on planets. This to restore a normal game scenario if there're players affected by the "Dump" command bug (see Bug fixed).
Some changes in message topics. Winplan shows correct topics and images when reading all VGA Plus! messages.
VPCONFIG.EXE loads and shows old configuration files exactly as readed by VGAPLUS.EXE. Now, you'll be able to see which options will be "ON" if you run the current version of VGA Plus! without updating the configuration file.
VGA Plus! Core Library has been slightly changed to improve speed and memory usage of some functions.

Bug fixed: 3

Sometimes the "AutoTax" command still caused taxes to be set at 99%.
The "Dump" command was not working right when reciclying the starbase's torpedoes.
The "Dump" command caused losses of minerals when used to dump a whole starbase (this caused by an internal overflow error of VGA Plus!).

Version: 2.00 build 136 (Service Pack 1) of 9 Feb. 2000

News: 2

Added "Transfer Torpedoes To Starbase" extended mission.
Added "Transfer Fighters To Starbase" extended mission.

Changes: 2

The source code of "Refit" command has been revised and enhanced to fix all knows bugs.
The "Refit" command, if needs to build some components and the megacredits on planet are insufficient, converts the necessary supplies into megacredits.

Bug fixed: 5

Sometimes the "AutoTax" command caused taxes to be set at 99%.
Sometimes the "Refit" command caused building of components at higher tech level than available on starbase.
Sometimes the "Refit" command caused refitting with components at wrong tech level.
The "Refit" command caused remaining beam weapons to be stored into starbase as torpedoes launchers.
An error in "Step By Step" mode confirmation message for "Transfer xxx" extended missions has been fixed.

Version: 2.00 build 129 of 6 Jan. 2000

News: 27

The mnt friendly code (Maintenance Ships) has been replaced by the new extended mission "Maintain".
The dst friendly code (Autodestruction) has been replaced by the new extended mission "Autodestruct".
The nrh friendly code (Recycle ship & store hull) has been replaced by the new extended mission "Decommiss".
The planetary miN friendly code were been replaced by 6 new command processor commands: BaseLay, BaseLayWeb, BaseLayIn, BaseLayWebIn, BaseScoop and BaseSweep
Added "Drill" extended mission.
Added "Autotax" command.
Added "Config" command.
Added "Detonate" command.
Added "Natives join colonists" function.
Added "Exploration maps" function.
Added "Receive help from natives" function.
Added two new configuration parameters related to starbase's minefields. Now hosts can allow starbases lay, scoop or sweep minefields as desired (i.e.: an host can allow starbase lay and not allow scoop and sweep instead)
The "Dump" command now accepts an optional parameter that specifies what players want to recycle.
The "Decommiss" extended mission can now operate if the ship is orbiting an allied starbase.
The "Hyperjump" extended mission now accepts an optional parameter that specifies an exact jump length. Also, the hull n°87 is equipped with a new hyperdrive engine that allow longer jumps.
If Command Processor cannot recognize a command sends a warning message back to the relative player.
The "Build queque message" function now reports pbX friendly codes.
Added a new configuration parameter that allows laying a new minefield when a ship lay mines (Lay Mines and Lay Web Mines) into another existing minefield.
Introduced a new Error Manager model. Now, when an error occurs, VGA Plus! ignores the command that caused the error and continue processing all other commands.
New VPCONFIG.EXE program.
Added many new configuration parameters related to old VGA Plus! functions.
Now VGAPLUS.EXE and VPCONFIG.EXE use VGAPLUS.PLN language module to localize the user interface in languages other than english.
Introduced "Step by Step" run mode.
Now VGA Plus! recognizes if a players had missed last turn and if so, maintain the player registered/shareware status to execute correctly the automatic functions.
A more defined Alternative Score system has been designed.
VGA Plus! shareware version will run up to turn 30.
Added the configuration parameter "Allies" to allow hosts enable/disable the "Allies" command. If disabled also the "ffX" and "eeX" friendly codes will be ignored. This parameter is useful in games with fixed alliances.

Changes: 15

Now, when a starbase lay a minefield, the unused mines are not longer converted in torpedoes at higher tech possible. Mines are now subtracted from the available torpedoes starting from tech 1.
The "Beam Up Multiple" extended mission was not working as described in the documentation. Now this function has been updated to work as described.
The "Racename" command now accepts lowercase characters.
The "Give Planet" command now, if there's a starbase, maintains in stock the common hulls.
The "Refit" command now can be only sent by the starbase's owner.
The "Refit" command now can work also on ally's ships.
The "Build Queque Report" function works faster.
The extended missions are not longer cancelled when VGA Plus! exits.
New brand Command Processor module. Now it's faster and more stable than previous versions.
Winplan now will show correct topics and images when reading VGA Plus! messages.
No minefield was created if a shareware player tried lay a minefield with another race's configuration. Now VGA Plus! lays a minefield with the player's configuration instead the desired race's configuration.
Now, if you want to set "REBEL GROUND ATTACK" mission after an "Hyperjump" extended mission, you must set the ship friendly code to "rgX" instead "rXX" used by previous VGA Plus! versions.
Planetary friendly code "SFS" has been removed.
VGA Plus! now search the ship-list files in the current folder a then, if not found, in the game folder. This change is for HOST.EXE compatibility.
Now "Remote control" second fase executed in VGA Plus! fase 3 has been placed at the end of this fase, so "Starfleet Report" messages report a remote controlled ship as part of the original owner's fleet.

Bug fixed: 17

The "Allies Drop" command was not working.
The "Fix" command caused starbase to disappear if used on undamaged ships.
The "Autodestruction" message reported a wrong ship name.
Error 11 (Division by zero) occurs in starbase's mine laying functions.
The "Transfer fighters to ship" extended mission was working only if receiving ship had more fighter bays than transferring ship
The special missions were not restored correctly under HOST.SRACE.
The "Give" command was accepting only uppercase "TO" keyword.
The "Give Planet" command was not correctly recycling the starbase's hulls.

The following errors occur only in VGA Plus! version 1.50.000:

The Command Processor module was not recognizing "<" character in universal messages.
The "Dump" command was not working.
The "Refit" command was working only on first 500 ships (ID).
Registered players were recognized as shareware players in VGA Plus! Fase 2 and Fase 3.
All extended missions were working only on first 500 ships (ID).
The "Hyperjump" extended mission had an approximation math error.
The "Hyperjump" extended mission was not saving correctly the new ship coordinates.
The "Fix" command was not working on allied ships under few cases.
An error in "Alternative Scores" function was causing a player to have more points than other players.

Description
VGA Plus! is an add-on program for VGA Planets 3.x that introduce many new features, enhancing the game fun. Many of those new features are designed to emulate the Portable HOST behaviours in games hosted with Tim Wisseman's HOST Program.

Software requirements
VGA Plus! was developed for Tim Wisseman's HOST.
VGA Plus! needs HOST/HOST.SRACE 3.22.012 or higher, or HOST 999 3.22.024.003 or higher.

VGA Plus! Overview
This section shows VGA Plus! functions

• Command Processor
  VGA Plus! implements a mechanism by which players can affect the actual operation of the program. A VGA Plus! module known as the command processor interprets special messages from the players and modifies the game configuration without any host intervention. This mechanism allows for players to set up formal alliances, to change and view their race names, and other such functions. The host can configure which aspects of the command processor will be available to players.
  
• Extended missions
  VGA Plus! Extended Missions represent a new set of ship missions that enhance the current set of standard missions. These extended missions can be accessed via the M.I.T. interface in WinPlan or VPA, or through the VGA Plus! command processor for DOS Planets users. Note that EchoView also allows setting extended missions.
  
• Remote Ship Control
  Remote ship control is a VGA Plus! feature that allows players to control each other's ships without having to relinquish ownership. This can be useful in many situations. In team games, for example, a fleet of ships may represent different players, and keeping the ships co-ordinated with respect to waypoints, missions, friendly codes, etc. is fraught with errors of (mis)communication. It would be much easier if a single player took control of this fleet and yet the ships retained their ownership.
  
• Starfleet Summary
  With this option every player will receive a message reporting the currently number and class of all your starships.
  
• Alliances Status Message
  With this option every player will receive every turn a message reporting the currently alliances status. This message is simpler to understand than the alliances status showed in "Priority Build Points" HOST message.
  
• Build Queque Message
  With this option every player will receive every turn a message reporting the Building Queque. The first value indicates the Base ID, the second indicates the pending ship class and the last parameter indicates the Building Order.
  
• Alternative Score
  This is a more complex ad exact score method than standard. Good planets have more value than poor planets, as good ships and good starbases than poor ships and poor starbases. Also the standard ship's abilities are taken in account in the score.
  
• Receive help from natives
  This function allows players to receive random help from native populations. This help include more mined ore, starbase tech upgrade or free starbase build (if starbase was not present)!
  
• Natives join colonist
  This function allows native population to become regular colonist members.
  
• Exploration maps
  This function will create individual XYPLAN.DAT files for each player, 'hiding' planets that the player has not yet 'seen'. As players fly out into space they will 'see' new planets.
  This will make universe exploration more inventive a scenario.

The shareware version of VGA Plus!
To encourage registration, this program will cease to function after turn 30 of the game. This does NOT mean you can start testing at turn 15 and continue for 20 turns; it means only the first 30 turns of the game (1 to 30). In addition, a nag message will be sent to all players every turn. Otherwise, all features of VGA Plus! are enabled.

Special thanks
To Tim Wisseman for his help and for VGA Planets.
VGA Planets official site is www.wilmington.net/vgaplanets

Thanks to all involved in VGA Plus! SE Beta Test and to everyone sent suggestions to make VGA Plus! one of the best add-ons for VGA Planets. Now all VGA Planets players can see the result of this effort... I hope they enjoy it as I enjoyed in programming VGA Plus! Second Edition... thanks again!

A special thank to Daniele Zonari's Beta Test Team that discovered about 50% of found bugs.

A great thank to Martina, who encouraged me enough to start this long-time project... Thank! ^_^

[All registered marks on this page are property of respective owners.]