An obscure title

[Songbird]

I did a cursory search of the forum and did not find a reference to the following, very old, game (old for a pc game anyways).

I have been playing around with a TRS-80 emulator (Vcc) and was playing a title from 1984 by the name of "Star Trader" by Steve Hartford & Computerware. I'm surprised word never made in to GDW (or maybe it did) but the game is totally inspired by Traveller- including the names of systems (some missing a letter here and there) and fueling-up at gas giants!

The game is very dated, but if you've not, give it a try... it is interesting to see a fan's graphical representation of Traveller during the '80's.

 

[aramis]

I believe it was a port of the Apple II game... which Marc Miller now owns rights to because it was a trademark and copyright violation. (Marc allows distrubution of the Apple II provided his ownership is not challenged...)

 

[Whipsnade]

Wil,

Is this the game Loren Wiseman writes about occasionally? The one where the programmer didn't know what the term "Foreward Observer" actually meant so they described the skill as having good eyesight or some such?


Regards,
Bill

 

[aramis]

Wil,

Is this the game Loren Wiseman writes about occasionally? The one where the programmer didn't know what the term "Foreward Observer" actually meant so they described the skill as having good eyesight or some such?


Regards,
Bill

Don't know; I don't follow Loren's posts...

 

[Songbird]

I don't think it is an Apple port of Traveller or Space, I've played both. This games offers a crude 1st and 3rd person perspective. Also, there is no cargo with an economy per se. This game allows the player to act as a shipper. The player can take the cargo to it's rightful place or sell it on the black market. The player can also steal other AI players cargo at the space port.

Fights with pirates are very weak, bascially an first person arcade shooter.

The player can also better his/her ship at port, buy fuel, fuel-up at gas giants, etc. The map offers 15 worlds only, pulled from the Regina subsector mostly and 50-60% of the names are missing a letter (probably to stave off legal action).

 

[Gray Lensman]

Star Trader Origins

For Star Trader: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trader

For what it later became: http://classictw.com/
(I am an semi-active player).

 

[Songbird]

Nice one Lensman, but still... nope. Go here:

http://nitros9.lcurtisboyle.com/startrader.html

You'll note in the screen-cap on the right, the name of the star system: Pixie. Ripped right out of the Regina Subsector it is!

When I stumbled upon this page I became a bit obsessed for a few days at getting the .bin file up and running.

 

[Gray Lensman]

Nice one Lensman, but still... nope. Go here:

http://nitros9.lcurtisboyle.com/startrader.html

Hmm... Nope never bumped into this one, did play the other one though.

On the side - there have been some traveller edits to the Trade Wars 2002 game, I have never played in one though so I wouldn't know about the name issue.

 

[magnusfalkirk]

Downloaded the file, then downloaded an emulator, for Mac OS X, now my main question is what are the controls that make the game do anything? I can get it to startup but nothing after getting to being in port.

Dean

 

[Songbird]

Weird as it seems, there is seldom anything to do during the first port. take off to another port; there will be options there that are consistent with a given port, and there will be options you can use.

Sadly, I can find no manual or instructions, so it's a matter of exploring to discover what you can do within the game though, on the positive side, it is a watered down version of Traveller.

 

[Higgipedia]

On the side - there have been some traveller edits to the Trade Wars 2002 game, I have never played in one though so I wouldn't know about the name issue.

I *LOVED* TW2002. You just brought me back to BBS and FidoNET days!!!

 

[Songbird]

magnusfalkirk,

I take it back. Run the emulator, on the left top, open configuration, go to joystick, and make sure "mouse" is selected.

After the startup screen, another screen should appear letting you chose difficulty. Pick difficulty, then a new screen. Roll your mouse pointer over the choices and click. You may have to scroll the pointer high to select the first level of choices. If you've trouble formatting a disk for saving your game, PM me and I'll drop a line.

 

[Gray Lensman]

I *LOVED* TW2002. You just brought me back to BBS and FidoNET days!!!

What, no comments about the 300 Baud modem!
Yes, I am showing my age.
Used to use FidoNet (Free Information Dissemination Organization for you newbies ) to do play by post D&D and Traveller games with college buds all over.

Also used to walk the dog while waiting for pages to load too! :rofl:

Best forum for Tw2002 these days is www.classictw.com

When I post there (rarely) it's as Gray Lensman, lately when I do play a game it's as Reeboxx.