Space Bucks

Build a trade empire that spans the galaxy

• Space Bucks
• from Sierra On-Line, Inc.
• Windows 3.1 or 95 CD-ROM
• Minimum 486DX-33, 8MB RAM
• MSRP $54.95

n Space Bucks, players start with one spaceport, one starship and 200,000 credits. By encouraging the fledgling economies of neighboring star systems and building trade routes between them, these initial assets will hopefully grow. Three other companies are after the same market, though, so competition for valuable routes is fierce.

The primary way for gamers to increase their holdings is to rent land on other planets for a spaceport, which grants exclusive trade rights, and to build starships to service the trade route. In addition to rent, the locals may insist the deal be sweetened with a shopping mall or the like. Five races inhabit this galaxy: Secanii, Tesarians, Colikar, Krec N'hads, and Humans. Each makes products that the others desire, and a wise trader will set up routes that take advantage of this (Humans, for example, will buy all the Ambrosia (booze) the Colikar can pump out).

Add to this equation the fact that there are 12 planet types (which determine raw material availability), 12 commodities, a web of prejudices between the races, constantly advancing technology, natural disasters, strikes, pirates and toxic waste ... in other words, Space Bucks is one complicated game. (See our playing tips.)

While there's nothing wrong with complexity, large amounts of information require efficient ways to access that information. It's here that Space Bucks needs work. For instance, once a trade route is laid down, it's impossible to review it at a glance. Rather, each section of the route must be individually analyzed as to what's being picked up and dropped off. Juggling these routes and commodities is time consuming and keeps the game from being really great. These problems only become worse as a player's empire grows.

Other aspects of the game, such as the stock market, never play a great role in the course of things. Another discrepancy is that the manual lacks an index and, mysteriously, it doesn't say how the game is won. Presumably winning comes from driving the other three shipping lines out of business, but it simply doesn't say.

Visually Space Bucks is quite attractive. The galaxy can be viewed at four different zoom levels, and the icons are distinctive. The spaceships can be seen busily plying their routes like a high-tech ant farm, and special reports or breakthroughs are announced during little news breaks.

Despite the difficulty of keeping track of everything, it's both fun and satisfying to work out a really profitable route that balances supply with demand and doesn't produce too much toxic waste. Later in the game, surplus cash becomes available for covert operations like hiring pirates to harry the competition. And nothing beats a successful slander campaign to muscle an opponent out of a choice star system.

Overall, Space Bucks is a solid offering for any would-be empire builder.

My first game was a disaster because I didn't really know what I was doing. After getting over the learning curve, though, I had fun. It's rather addictive. -- Brooks

Previous Games | Request a review | Next Games