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From: jjk@jupiter.astro.umd.edu (Jim Klavetter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: empire builder 1.8:  a plug and a request for human players
Message-ID: <8454@umd5.umd.edu>
Date: 19 Apr 91 18:03:15 GMT
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Reply-To: jjk@astro.umd.edu (Jim Klavetter)
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Organization: U of Md., Astronomy Program
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Yes, eb1.8 has been in my possession via a week or so now.  I think it
is a great game and well worth the price ($25, $15 for students).  I'm
not going to do a big review, but it is a strategic war game and very
different every time you play.  First there was empire on vms systems,
then xconq for X windows, and now eb for the mac.  I spent much more
time than I should ever have playing xconq as a grad student and now
I'll probably spend too much time playing eb.  It can be very
addicting.

But I found out quickly, playing xconq, that there was something
missing:  the human element.  Yes, especially with eb, you CAN play a
challenging game with the computer (because you can give it a head
start, etc), but it is missing the element of surprise, etc.  I would
really like to play against a human and luckily, eb is built with that
in mind.  I have done a little experimenting and it seems that you can
write the file out after every turn, which then can be mailed to the
other player (after binhexing), etc.  Although a little dull and lots
of overhead at first, this should be a relatively minor part later on.
So anyone out there think they want to try a REAL opponent?

jjk@astro.umd.edu also for Athabasca and Reudi
Jim Klavetter
Astronomy
UMD
College Park, MD  20742

PS.  I really haven't gotten the hang of supply/technology yet.
Either I can try and get the hang of it or we can play with "old"
rules.  I'm trying to make helicopters, land transport, infantry, etc
as I did with the xconq code.

PS2.  In deference to Chris Eliot, I'm not going to give the game away
to potential opponents, although there is a eb1.8 demo which I will be
happy to distribute.