You can vary your starting conditions in the game setup menu, but in general, you get a barely developed starting solar system and an imperative to conquer the rest of the galaxy. The options in the game are as robust as any other MicroProse strategy title. While each had its own distinct flavor, all these games shared many qualities. In many ways, Birth of the Federation is the next in the long line of MicroProse strategy games, breaking little from the mold set by Civilization and cemented by Master of Orion and Master of Magic. It is not so much that the game is an unofficial sequel to that classic space strategy game, but more that both games borrow so many features from Civilization. Anyone who has played Master of Orion will find Birth of the Federation very familiar.
