User Reviews

1. Review Date: 2008-09-20

   This game combines history, geography and economics and is totally non violent. Recommend the game for younger children who are not into war games but want something educational. Parents seeking good game for children should get this one. Not complicated, easy to install and play.
   
   User: Robert Taylor
   Rating:
   Summary: Awesome game
   Helpful Votes: 0
   Total Votes: 0
   

2. Review Date: 2005-07-07

   In 1939 there was agame called Trans it was exactly like Trade Empire but older.
   
   User: $review.reviewer.Names
   Rating:
   Summary: Based On the past
   Helpful Votes: 0
   Total Votes: 7
   

3. Review Date: 2004-07-03

   1. Technical problems: I have encountered no technical problems with this game. It functions equally well on windows 98, ME, XP, XPpro.
   The game once installed does not require the disk for play and has never caused a problem with my computers. I have encountered no errors.
   2. Graphics: Graphics are simple and not particularly impressive in comparison with other games in the same venue.
   3. Sound/Music: the game has a limited variety of sounds. There are several music scores for different ages and cultures.
   4. The game is somewhat challenging and complex so it probably isn't the best choice for young children. Although it is rated for young children I assume this is on account of the fact that there are no adult content (read sexual or violent) considerations to worry about.
   5. Game play: In this game you manage a Trade company in one of several offered regions and eras. Essentially you buy or produce products at the lowest price you can find and sell them for a profit. Changes in technology cause markets to open and close and political considerations can cause markets to be more or less profitable. The game offers other factors in regards to transportation systems, improving ones own market by placing civic improvements and the competing trade companies.
   5. I have no reservations recommending this game to strategy enthusiast. As an older game the price should be reasonable ($10-$15) and the game is exceptional in that it works without the need to download patches and reconfigure your system with fixes just to play. That by itself is quite refreshing. There is or was at the time of this post (7/3/2004) an additional scenario available for download. I hope you find this review helpful. Happy Gaming.
   
   User: Jason Huddleston
   Rating:
   Summary: Trade Empires
   Helpful Votes: 7
   Total Votes: 7
   

4. Review Date: 2003-03-03

   I am dismayed by the complaints in other reviews that Trade Empires requires too much micromanagement. It should be obvious that this is the case if you bother to study the game even a little before playing. If you don't like games of resource allocation and balancing, I'm not sure why you would even consider this one.
   Trade empires does a great job of presenting a "merchant's-eye" view of historical periods. It is engrossing in the same way that SimCity (the original) was way back when: you watch your ecosystem grow and try to nurture it as best you can.
   That being said, I think the choice of using scenarios was the wrong one for this game. The victory conditions often seem arbitrary or contrived, and it would be much more fun just to pick a historical period and geographic area and go. There is also very little in the way of rewards-your merchants get special abilities after a certain amount of service, but I never find the abilities to be all that useful. Nothing connects you to the game in a personal way.
   The design and development of Trade Empires are both quite good, but the style is a little lacking. Particularly when you compare the game to Frog City's previous game, the masterful Imperialism II. I2 was a gorgeous game with period details and oodles of style. Trade Empires is flat and lifeless. Perhaps the breadth of cultures and time periods is where the disconnect occurs?
   In any case, Trade Empires is well worth checking out if micromanagement is your thing. If you're looking for the next amass, deploy, and destroy RTS, you should look elsewhere.
   
   User: J. Loomis
   Rating:
   Summary: Play the demo (or at least read the box) before you buy.
   Helpful Votes: 7
   Total Votes: 8
   

5. Review Date: 2001-12-16

   This is the first time I gave a bad review for a game.The reason
   that Trade Empires only got 2 stars is lack of interest.First of all the scenarios are way to micromanaging (in other words hard)and when you do get something right there is no fanfare not even
   a pup up video.The graphics are lame the wagon that goes all over the map is so tiny it looks like a ant.No zoom feature
   and the status bar is also confusing.So if you want a quick or
   at least enjoyable trip through history get AOK or EE.
   
   User: K. Rogers
   Rating:
   Summary: NOT WORTH THE PRICE
   Helpful Votes: 8
   Total Votes: 12
   

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Editorial Reviews

Beginning at the dawn of human civilization and progressing through the 19th century, Trade Empires is an episodic transport and trade simulation that lets you create a merchant empire. Controlling your family dynasty of merchants, your mission is to build vast transport and trade networks that change over thousands of years as new technologies are developed and more modern products are discovered.

In Trade Empires, you'll start out simple, with one merchant and his donkeys. Gradually you'll build up your merchant empire until you control a vast trading web. You can manipulate the supply and demand economy to dominate the other merchant families. Or you can corner the market and undercut their prices. Perhaps you'll want to explore and exploit, continually discovering new markets and products, from silk in the Far East to steel in industrial Europe. You can adapt your family's trading network to an ever-changing economy or face defeat when your competitors purchase advanced technology and deliver superior products. Build vast transportation networks, using anything from dirt trails to railroads, and compete against other merchant families who are powered by a clever artificial intelligence. There are more than 200 structures and 30 units in 15 different episodes.

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