Summary

'Reach For The Stars' is a computer game on a 5¼ inch floppy disk with a manual in a cardboard folder.

The third edition was introduced in 1987. This added more choice and decision making to the game. There is also greater emphasis on military and economic aspects of the game.

This is a four player game of space conquest and colonisation. A player, starting with one planet, expands their space empire by exploration and colonisation, while maintaining tight economic control of the existing empire. Expanding empires eventually collide resulting in interstellar warfare. If those conquered are not garrisoned adequately or at all, there is a possibility of rebellion. Players can benefit from investment in research in new technology, such as navigation, industry and weaponry.

This object was collected because it was designed and produced by an Australian software development company, the Strategic Studies Group, commonly known as SSG, that makes strategy war games.

The original Reach For The Stars was released in 1983. It became an instant classic. According to SSG, it can be said to have started a genre of 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) space games, and 'was a hit because it contained great gameplay, excellent balance, tough AI, great replayability, addiction and fun, qualities sadly lacking from many of today's games'.

The game was also collected because it is representative of games developed for the Apple II series of computers.

In 1983, the donor's parents gave him an Apple II Europlus. He used it for essays, medical school assignments and games. He became especially interested in war games and he stated that an Australian Sydney-based company Strategic Studies Group had the best war games at that time, which he began and continued to collect.

Part of a representative collection of hardware, software, trade literature and promotional material that documents the history of the Apple company, and its contribution to, and impact on the computer industry and society.

Physical Description

Three- fold cardboard cover, printed in colour with slots for a floppy disk and manual. Cover shows a futuristic spaceship amongst stars and planets. The disk is a black 5 1/4 inch floppy disk and the Player's manual is a booklet of 32 pages.

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