[font=Lucida Console][size=4][red]Here's a recent review of Trade Wars 2002 from http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/bbsdoo ... 32708.html


When people think of traditional, old, hardlined bulletin board systems (BBS), they often think of huddled nerds over a computer screen diligently logging in each and every day to make sure their Dungeons and Dragon character still has the +17 Great Axe of Eternal Bloodbathing. This is potently false; people NEVER think about BBS systems.

Ha ha ha. That was such an unfunny joke. But all ''jokes'' aside, Trade Wars 2002 is an example of why people believe these stereotypes about BBS gamers. Without combing through extensive help manuals or boring physical booklets, it's extremely hard to get a foothold in the world of Trade Wars 2002. The learning curve is so steep that most casual gamers (which make up the bulk of BBS calls) probably won't play it more than once or twice.

Trade Wars 2002 has a novel concept - Get your own ship and blaze a path through the galaxy. It features over 1000 different spaces to explore, ships to blast, and bases to conquer. In addition, you can customize your ship with weaponry, defensive units, and other goodies. It all sounds well and good, right?

Hold on there, partner. Everything is text-driven, since it is a BBS game. That isn't a problem. The problem is that there's over 1000 places to explore, but no way of tracking them unless you're willing to write down the numbers and descriptions of the places you've visited. Oh wait, that doesn't help either, since all the places shift after a week due to the ''ever-changing nature of the galaxy''.

So you're basically stranded in space for the majority of the game. You can forget about buying and selling goods, i.e. actually trading, since the base locations shift so much. Consider yourself lucky if you can actually find two bases to trade to and from on your first day of the week. Even worse, the afermentioned ships will usually blast your weak cruiser before you have to worry about buying and selling goods. Established space nerds already playing the game have a GIGANTIC advantage over newcomers.

Outside of the fact that every single gameplay aspect is boggled, Trade Wars 2002 is a good game though.

Trade Wars 2002 doesn't offer much in the presentation values category, even by crusty old BBS standards. There's no ANSI graphics to spice things up, just page after page of boring text. Even the descriptions are sparse; new planets and quadrants that you visit are often given only two lines of text. It does little good to provide 1000 areas to explore if only ten of them have anything remotely cool.

If you're looking for a space exploration game to put on your BBS, or one to play on a BBS, stick to the outstanding product by Seth Able, Planets. This game will only appeal to the hardcore computer geek.

Rating: 2 out of 10

I see some of your points but it sounds to me you dont know the game all that well. What do you mean the sectors change? ports do not move.
Anyway yes this game is more geared to the computer lovers. It caters to heavy scripting and computer knowledge in general. But these things can be avoided by downloading a simple helper. SWATH, TWX, ZOC, ATTAC and TWAR are all good examples of helpers that will make the game easier to understand and keep track of.
You complain about no fancy ansi. Well most of us play with the ansi that is there turned off. The Draw to this game is that it is like reading a book. No need for pictures, the ships and battle scenes come alive in your own mind. So its much more cerebral then your average game.
Also this game has many players more then willing to show you the ropes and get comfortable with the game. I have to say this is my favorite game of all time. So before you judge the game, try those helpers poke around in here talk to some people. You may just like it.
Silver Dragon (SYSOP Hardcoded TWGS)
http://www.planettw.com (The Tradewars Home World)
telnet://Hardcoded.dnsalias.org
P.S My we page would be a good place to start if you want to get to know the game a bit better

quote:
When people think of traditional, old, hardlined bulletin board systems (BBS), they often think of huddled nerds over a computer screen diligently logging in each and every day to make sure their Dungeons and Dragon character still has the +17 Great Axe of Eternal Bloodbathing. This is potently false; people NEVER think about BBS systems.


This is true.

quote:
Ha ha ha. That was such an unfunny joke. But all ''jokes'' aside, Trade Wars 2002 is an example of why people believe these stereotypes about BBS gamers. Without combing through extensive help manuals or boring physical booklets, it's extremely hard to get a foothold in the world of Trade Wars 2002. The learning curve is so steep that most casual gamers (which make up the bulk of BBS calls) probably won't play it more than once or twice.


This is only partially correct. The learning curve is quite simple for a majority of players who do not intend to make Trade Wars the air they breathe. If you don't intend on playing against the truly dedicated players, most people can get by in the game with little more than a basic understanding. But then again, it only takes one skilled player to take out an entire game full of unskilled players.

quote:
Trade Wars 2002 has a novel concept - Get your own ship and blaze a path through the galaxy. It features over 1000 different spaces to explore, ships to blast, and bases to conquer. In addition, you can customize your ship with weaponry, defensive units, and other goodies. It all sounds well and good, right?


Over 1,000? What version is this guy reviewing?!?

quote:
Hold on there, partner. Everything is text-driven, since it is a BBS game. That isn't a problem. The problem is that there's over 1000 places to explore, but no way of tracking them unless you're willing to write down the numbers and descriptions of the places you've visited. Oh wait, that doesn't help either, since all the places shift after a week due to the ''ever-changing nature of the galaxy''.


The universe doesn't change unless the sysop utilizes some outside method of changing the universe layout. Ports do not move, sectors do not disappear and reappear, or even move for that matter. I'm not longer asking what version he's reviewing... I've got to ask what game is he reviewing, because it's sounding less and less like Trade Wars 2002.

quote:
So you're basically stranded in space for the majority of the game. You can forget about buying and selling goods, i.e. actually trading, since the base locations shift so much. Consider yourself lucky if you can actually find two bases to trade to and from on your first day of the week. Even worse, the afermentioned ships will usually blast your weak cruiser before you have to worry about buying and selling goods. Established space nerds already playing the game have a GIGANTIC advantage over newcomers.


The advantage part is true, but that is true of any long-term strategic game. Always has been, always will be. Again, ports don't move around, and even the least skilled of newbies will find port pairs easily and quickly in most games, even if they're not sure what to do with the pair when they find it.

quote:
Outside of the fact that every single gameplay aspect is boggled, Trade Wars 2002 is a good game though.

Trade Wars 2002 doesn't offer much in the presentation values category, even by crusty old BBS standards. There's no ANSI graphics to spice things up, just page after page of boring text. Even the descriptions are sparse; new planets and quadrants that you visit are often given only two lines of text. It does little good to provide 1000 areas to explore if only ten of them have anything remotely cool.


This again makes me wonder just what game Bobo The Clown is reviewing here. Trade Wars 2002 has always been considered to have one of the best, if not the best array of ANSI artwork ever created for a BBS-based game. The Tri-Cron screen, when it was first introduced to the game, received extremely favorable attention for its functionality and design. Excellent graphics are spread throughout the game. The gentleman who did the original ANSI artwork for Trade Wars 2002 for Martech Software now runs one of the premier 3d gaming companies in the US, with one extremely popular 3d First Person Shooter under their belt.

quote:
If you're looking for a space exploration game to put on your BBS, or one to play on a BBS, stick to the outstanding product by Seth Able, Planets. This game will only appeal to the hardcore computer geek.


Trade Wars 2002 has always had an appeal to a very diverse and varied audience of players, from the casual player to the ultra-serious uber-elite players. Proficiency in the game is not hard to come by, as there are many excellent reference materials available on the internet. Becoming an expert at the game is an ongoing battle as players are continuously devising new tactics and strategies. TW has something for everyone. It always has. Very few games have had the lasting power of Trade Wars 2002, and there's a reason for that. Appeal to players would be the main one.

quote:
Rating: 2 out of 10


I'll attempt to make a response to this review for gamefaq.com in the next couple days... probably after I get back home from my trip. A poor review is one thing, but a poor review based on a complete lack of information (one must wonder if the reviewer actually has bothered playing the game) is another.

Lisa M. Cutler
aka Rave
EIS Product Support