gibson@trwrb.UUCP (Gregory S. Gibson) (10/29/88)
<There is a Dutch version, PD, called Risky, B&W only.
<Our version includes maps of the world, Canary islands and the Bijlmermeer.
<G.J. van Oldenborgh, t19@nikhefh.hep.nl
How can I get a copy of Risky?
I have Lords of Conquest for my Commodore 64.
How good is Empire? Is the Empire strategy like Risk or like
Lords of Conquest?
Gregory S. Gibson
gibson@trwrb.UUCP
--
Gregory Gibson
{...ihnp4,ucbvax}!trwrb!gibsonseitz@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Matthew Eric Seitz) (10/31/88)
In article <8398@trwrb.UUCP> gibson@trwrb.UUCP (Gregory S. Gibson) writes: > >How good is Empire? EMPIRE is excellent. >Is the Empire strategy like Risk or like >Lords of Conquest? Closer to LORDS OF CONQUEST than to RISK. EMPIRE is very different from RISK. Both are multi-player strategy games where you build up military forces, capture resuources, and attempt to conqer the world. EMPIRE is much more like the board games put out by companies such as Avalon Hill. Matt Seitz seitz@cory.berkeley.edu > >Gregory S. Gibson >gibson@trwrb.UUCP >-- >Gregory Gibson >{...ihnp4,ucbvax}!trwrb!gibson
to_stdnet@stag.UUCP (11/01/88)
From: ftg!dwm@stag.UUCP (Dave Meile)
Just thought I'd add my two cents to the "what's a good game similar to Risk".
(Plus, as an added bonus, a mini-review of Empire)
Two Strategy Games for the Atari ST
===================================
Up until recently, there have been few "strategy oriented" wargames
written for the Atari ST. Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI), makers
of a large number of wargames for the 8-bit Atari computer (as well
as for most other microcomputers), has focused primarily on fantasy
games for the Atari ST. Their first war game is titled COLONIAL
CONQUEST.
Meanwhile, Walter Bright and Mark Baldwin have been busy converting
the prime "abstract" wargame from mainframe to microcomputer. The
result is EMPIRE: WARGAME OF THE CENTER from Interstel (distributed
by Electronic Arts).
--------------
COLONIAL CONQUEST
Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Color Monitor required
not copy protected - "key word" protection
This game is based on the "empire building" prevalent in the late 1800's.
It is a strategy game on a world scale, allowing up to 6 players (human
and machine) to try to gain control of minor countries around the world.
It is a little like the board game RISK, in that you must pit your armies
against the armies of countries which you invade.
There are three scenarios - a "free for all" where the Player countries
own nothing and must conquer the world, an 1880 scenario where Players
have control over the actual historical areas at the time, and a 1914
scenario with similar historical control -- and a war against Germany
if you play England, Russia or France.
Players have supply centers in their country of origin. Here, they can
build armies or naval fleets (necessary to trasport armies across oceans).
Game play is simple. As each player's turn comes up, they are allowed to
build armies and navies, fortify countries under their control, extend
economic aid to neutral countries (for the purpose of thwarting another
player's attempts to control that neutral country), "spy" on other
countries to determine army strengths, "bribe" neutral countries in order
to gain control without sending in armies. Then, there is a movement
phase, where navies transport armies around the world, and armies march into
neutral or enemy controlled territory. Finally, there is a combat phase,
where armies (and navies) match off against each other to determine who
has control of contested countries.
Each of the player countries (England, Germany, France, USA, Japan, Russia)
has individual strengths and weaknesses. England has better armies and
navies, but they cost more and must sail from two ports within England.
Russia's armies cost less, but do not perform as well as armies of other
countries. You can play by yourself against 1 to 5 other computer-
controlled opponents with varying levels of play, or you can declare some
of those countries as "neutral". For example, I found it challenging when
starting out to play USA against a computer-controlled Russia, with the
other four countries relegated to the sidelines. (Remember, that's
TSARIST Russia ... the game is pre-Revolutionary!)
Play continues until one player reaches a certain score, which can be
set upon starting the game. Players receive a point for each battle won
and lose a point for each battle lost. There are also points awarded for
each country controlled. A "Save Game" feature makes it possible to
play with someone by mail by simply mailing the saved game to the other
player(s).
The manual contains an interesting article for the history buffs:
"At Play in the Imperial Sandbox: The Golden Age of the White Man's
Burden 1880-1914 by Robert S. Billings".
COLONIAL CONQUEST uses GEM menus and alert boxes, and allows yo to make
a copy of the game disk so you don't have to set your original disk at
risk. There is a "key word" protection scheme -- you must indicate the
correct information on a dialog box which appears when you boot the
disk.
All in all, a nicely addicting game, with enough variety in computer
play to make things challenging.
---------------
EMPIRE: WARGAME OF THE CENTURY
Interstel Corporation
Color or Monochrome
not copy protected - "keyword" protection
This game is very loosely a sequel to STAR FLEET II, but is in no way
dependent on that game for playability. Basically, EMPIRE is also a
strategic game of "empire building" for 1-3 players, including human
and computer players.
Players start with a single city and a blank map. The object is to
explore as much of the map as necessary to conquer the many cities that
are there. Each city can produce armies, fighters, destroyers, troop
transports, etc. to aid in exploration and conquering. The player must
move his forces through the world, decide on what needs to be produced
when (and where) and, of course, conquer the other players who will also
be doing the same thing.
Game play is deceptively simple. Move armies around to conquer cities.
Create fighter planes to explore more territory. Create troop ships to
move armies across water. Create destroyers and submarines to explore
the oceans and coastlines and to destroy othe troop ships. Build large
ships (including aircraft carriers) to attack enemy ships and to bombard
troops on shore.
The trick is that things can get mighty unwieldy after you've conquered
20 cities or so and have production of many forces coming each turn. A
player must do some thinking in order to be assured that armies will be
available for troop transports (or vice versa), and that the assault on
the enemies prime cities is backed by enough firepower to keep those
cities once they've been conquered. Movement of the enemy is hidden.
Commands are entered using the keyboard or from the menu bar. Movement
of forces can be made using the keypad or the mouse. There are a LOT of
options, and the novice player will make reference to the Command
Reference Card throughout the first game or so.
There are up to three players in a game. Each starts with one city and
no idea about the rest of the world. Any or all of the players can be
human or computer. There are two levels of computer opponent --
Standard and Expert. If you need more of a challenge, each of the
players can be handicapped/given an advantage through "Efficiency
Ratings" -- where you can increase or decrease the rate of production
and the combat efficiency of each player's forces.
There is a "demo" game mode which I recommend you watch if you've never
played before (you'll catch the basics within about 60 moves or so).
For those players who wish to play other humans via mail, there is a
play-by-mail feature. You can have a playing map generated by the
program, or design your own maps. One of the most recent games I've
played involved a map of the Caribbean included on the game disk. Other
maps have showed up on several BBS services, such as GENIE.
The manual is a joy to behold. Every command, every menu, strategic
hints, introductory material on the game, combat units, signing on ...
it's all there. You can back up the game onto a "playing" disk,
keeping the original from harm. EMPIRE will also run from a hard disk.
The program uses "keyword" protection -- you'll be asked for a security
word (the procedure is described in detail in the manual).
WARNING: this game is addictive. I spent many hours playing EMPIRE in one
of its original incarnations on a minicomputer. I bought the ST version
when it came out, and have spent several sleepless nights conquering
various worlds without realizing that time was slipping by so quickly.
Morning comes sooner than you think!
-- Dave Meile Flying Taoist Graphics ftg!dwm@stag.UUCP
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. (Sam. Johnson 1775)
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