
The Omega Virus is an electronic board game designed by Michael Gray and first released in 1992.
The game takes place on the BattleSat-1 space station, which has been taken over by a malevolent AI known as the Omega Virus, which seeks to redirect its Kill Sat array to target Earth. Players take the role of one of four Commandos sent to find the Omega Virus and destroy it before it wipes out all of humanity.
The game is for up to four players, though it can also be played by just one. Gameplay primarily consists of moving to different "rooms" on the board in search of Access Cards which will allow you to access more rooms and AVDs (Anti-Virus Devices) for combating the Omega Virus. The game was unique at the time for its electronic components, with a module at the center of the board which regulates gameplay, and which allows both the Omega Virus and the BattleSat 1 AI to speak to the players throughout.
This game contains examples of:
- 20 Minutes into the Future: According to the manual, the game takes place on 30th September 2051, 59 years after the game was first released.
- Absolute Xenophobe: The Omega Virus is described as "highly anthrophobic" and seeks to use BattleSat 1's laser array to wipe out life on Earth.
- Benevolent A.I.: The BattleSat 1 computer has its own artificial intelligence which spends the game desperately trying to halt the Omega Virus and calling out for help from the players.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The Commandos are colored red, yellow, blue and green, as are their Probes. The Rooms on the board follow the same coloring scheme, although their colors don't have anything to do with which players can enter, as any player can enter any room so long as they have the right Access Card, and all players start with green Access Cards.
- Computer Virus: The Omega Virus is a sentient computer virus described as "Class 8...extremely intelligent...self-replicating" which infects the BattleSat 1 computer system seeking to gain control of the station.
- Headbutting Heroes: Even though the Omega Virus poses a threat to all life on Earth, and everyone loses if the countdown ends before any player has stopped it, the players are all competing against one another to stop the virus first in order to take control of the station. Players can even attack one another in order to steal equipment.
- How We Got Here: The manual starts with a brief comic detailing the plot of the game and ending just as the Commandos you play as are sent to the station.
- Intercom Villainy: The Omega Virus uses the station's intercom system (aka the module at the center of the game board) to taunt the players throughout the game.
- Kill Sat: BattleSat 1 is a satellite laser array originally created to protect the Earth from meteors. The Omega Virus seeks to repurpose the station's lasers in order to wipe out "human scum".
- Race Against the Clock: Depending on the number of players and the level of difficulty the game is set at, you can have anything from a 10 minute to 35 minute countdown to stop the Omega Virus.
- Robot Buddy: Each player can obtain a different Probe Robot which essentially acts as a secondary player piece.
- Space-Filling Empire: The comic included in the manual reveals that Earth at this time is comprised of four different superpowers — the North American Federation, Euro-National Force, Oceanic Republic and Asiatic Alliance — all of which are competing to take control of the station. Each Commando you can play as was sent by one of the four nations.
