Initially the player has Earth resources with which he can build ships and orbital factories. The first factory will give the player the technology to make IOSs (interplanetary operations spacecraft) which he can build orbital factories over selected planets and moons of the solar system. First the player can use the IOS to extract material from asteroids not found on Earth (such as silver, platinum etc.), and later build bases on the selected planets with the orbital factories so that exotic material is steadily produced.