C&VG


Enterprise

Publisher: Melbourne House
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #69

Enterprise

Question: What is the name of the game in which you zoom off into the depths of space, trading with aliens, buying food, fuel and dodging the interplanetary police? Answer: Enterprise.

That fooled you. Hands up everybody who said Elite? Thought so. Well, you would be forgiven for Enterprise is unbelievably like the classic Elite. If I were unkind I'd say these games could be identical twins.

In Enterprise you play the part of an entrepreneur or, to put it more accurately, a crook.

Enterprise

Having decided to set yourself up as Interplanetary Merchant Pilot you find you haven't got the readies to buy a spaceship. So you whip one which displeases the law and means you're in for a stiff prison sentence if you stick around. Then it's off to deep space with the aim of earning enough money to retire to the Paradise Planet.

You do this by collecting minerals and selling them to anyone who's fool - or desperate - enough to buy them.

As well as selling to them, you can buy food, fuel and insurance from the traders and get your ship repaired. Some traders are more friendly and more honest than others. The price you receive depends not only upon the state of the economy, but also the rarity of the minerals on that particular planet. Most traders offer discount on bulk items and be careful not to lose your no-claims bonus on the insurance.

Despite receiving interest on your money from the "Ron Nice Guy" credit agency the amount of money required to retire rises incessantly with inflation.

You also have an Inventory which provides you with all the information about your current status, bank balance, retirement target, insurance cover, insurance premium, food supplies, and amount and type of minerals carried in the cargo bay.

A damage report gives the status of all the ships primary equipment. Engines, photon shield, cargo bay door, food storage system and braking system.

Damage may be done to the ship either by collision with minerals police ship or during entry into the atmosphere. Damage to the engines or boosters will cause them to run less efficiently, using more fuel until their eventual failure.

To claim on your insurance policy you must first take out a policy from one of the aliens. The price is based on the status of the items being insured and the economy of the planet you buy it from. If you issue a subsequent claim on your policy then the item claimed upon (Ship, Food, Fuel) will be returned to the condition it was in when the policy was formed.

Moving the cursor with the joystick onto any of the planets shown on the screen that are within your hyperjump range. Press fire on planet to see the characteristics of that planet and set the hyperjump coordinates, fire to return to map.

When trading with aliens you may say anything you wish. They usually enjoy idle chit-chat and the less helpful of them often try to digress, but by chatting to them it is possible to ascertain more about their general character and lifestyle which will be useful to you in future.

A dictionary definition of Enterprise includes the following phrases "daring spirit" and "a bold attempt". Neither fit this Enterprise. It's directly from the clone zone.