Trade Empires is a pausable real-time strategy game developed by Frog City Software in San Francisco and published by Take-Two Interactive and Eidos Interactive. In the game, players build transportation and trade networks that evolve over the course of centuries as technology develops. It was released on October 20, 2001, for Microsoft Windows. During development its working title was The Silk Road; however, this was changed by Take-Two and Eidos as they were concerned about the title being too highbrow.[citation needed]
| Trade Empires | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom box art | |
| Developer(s) | Frog City Software |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Business simulation game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editThe game features 19 campaign scenarios based on historical trading periods in human history. A step-by-step walkthrough is playable by users on the Learn to Play mode for the Shang dynasty of China (1700–1100 BC). The game imitates the historical period through the supply and demand process of that time. Goods such as rice, millet, silk cloth and jade idols are traded during the campaign. The Tang and Song era (AD 615–1280) of China is also depicted, although not as a Learn to Play option.
Other Asian trading periods include First Civilization (2500–2310 BC); based around the regions of the Indus Valley, Afghanistan, Zagros, Mesopotamia and Assyria.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 69/100[2] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |    [3] |
| Computer Games Magazine | [4] |
| Computer Gaming World | [5] |
| Eurogamer | 8/10[6] |
| GameSpot | 6.8/10[7] |
| GameSpy | 70%[8] |
| GameZone | 8/10[9] |
| IGN | 8.3/10[10] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 12/20[11] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 56%[12] |
According to review aggregator website Metacritic, Trade Empires holds a score of 69, indicating "mixed or average" reviews, based on nine reviews.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Trade Empires in stores [date mislabeled "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
- ^ a b "Trade Empires for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Allen, Christopher. "Trade Empires – Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Bauman, Steve (11 December 2001). "Trade Empires". Computer Games Magazine. theGlobe.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Geryk, Bruce (January 2002). "Trade Empires" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 210. Ziff Davis. p. 100. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Bye, John "Gestalt" (20 December 2001). "Trade Empires". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 January 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Parker, Sam (1 October 2001). "Trade Empires Review [date mislabeled as "April 29, 2003"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Hiles, Bill (3 November 2001). "Trade Empires". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Lafferty, Michael (13 October 2001). "Trade Empires Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Mike (30 November 2001). "Trade Empires". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ pilou (10 December 2001). "Test: Trade Empires". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
- ^ Sengstack, Jeff (December 2001). "Trade Empires". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 12. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2020.