Star Trade

Crash

Overall 55%

Producer: Digital Dexterity, 48K £6.50 (3) Author: J. Plunkett Star Trade is an intergalactic version of 'Monopoly' with a few variations. The property board is laid out in quite a different fashion, but bears similarities in that properties come in blocks depending on their purchase price range. There are other recognisable features like GO, Jail (or Remand Block), a safe area (or Dock) and chance cards. The properties have exotic names like Phobos, Io or Ceres, and between 1 and 9 players may take part against each other and the computer (or Trader). The instructions are on one side of the tape and the game on the other, but the game is run by computer prompts throughout so this presents no real problem. The graphics are efficient, although a little hard to read because of the crammed screen detail, and the colour could have been better used to alleviate the overall drab effect. An above average board game for those who like the type. Overall CRASH rating 55%, machine code.

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Crash

Use of Computer 59%

Graphics 40%

Playability 56%

Getting Started 58%

Addictive Qualities 60%

Value For Money 59%

Overall 55%

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Producer: Digital Dexterity Memory Required: 48K Retail Price: £6.50 Language: Machine code Author: J. Plunkett Star Trade is an intergalactic version of Monopoly with a few variations. They don't actually say that due to the kind of complications witch Automata have suffered, but they do say it is played very like Monopoly. It allows between one and nine players to take part but the computer will always muscle in on the game as well under the disguise of the name The Trader. The Instructions are on side B of the tape, which might prove to be irritating, except that the playing side is very well prompted and the available options shown all the way through. The board has many recognisable features like GO, Jail and Chance cards. Jail is referred to as the Space Remand Block, and the 'safe' corner is called Dock. The board is not at all traditional and includes a zig zag section which allows all the requisite spaces to fit in without having to make all the property squares too small. Each property is some Intergalactic body like Phobos, Io, Pluto or Ceres, and they are worth varying amounts depending on which property group they fall in. Players owning complete groups may build cities on them and increase the rentable value. All that's missing is the Community Chest, otherwise it follows the usual Monopoly rules. The dice is thrown automatically by the computer at the start of each player's turn. A 'Press any key' prompt clears the screen to-tell you what property you have landed on, whether it's for sale, and if so, for how much. If it's already owned by another player, the rent is autodocked from you. If it isn't, then the option menu allows you to purchase, bid for it (if already owned), build a city on it, view the title deeds (of all properties), check how much money every player has left, continue the game or abort it. Whenever it is The Trader's turn, the screen, normally in red with yellow detail, changes to blue with black detail. There is a 90 minute playing time allowed before the money totals are totted up and the winner announced. COMMENTS Control keys: numerics by on-screen prompt Colour: poor Graphics: all text in a generated face, reasonable Sound: entry beeps and some effects to indicate an event Features: 1 - 9 players

The Trader - a mean opponent in galactic wrangling.