Black Gold (video game) explained

Black Gold
Developer:reLINE Software
Publisher:reLINE Software
Rainbow Arts
Released:1989
Genre:Business simulation
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS

Black Gold (also known as Oil Imperium) is a business simulation game released in 1989 by reLINE Software.[1]

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to promote and sell oil and defeat competitors using a number of fair and unfair strategies. A game move always takes a month, and each action in the game costs one or more days.

The game is designed for four players, either human (using a hot seat method) or computer-controlled. Players take on the management of one of four corporations: "Interoil", "All American", "Transoil" or "Explora Inc."

There are four different game objectives to choose from: to play a three-year game, to survive the longest of all the game companies, to receive an 80% market share or to reach 60 million dollars. There are some game mechanic variations between the missions. For example, when playing to the first 60 million dollars, drilling a borehole takes longer than in the other missions.

There are eight oil-producing regions to choose from where players must acquire licenses, tankers and oil fields: Alaska, North America, Central America,[2] South America,[3] Europe, USSR, the Gulf region and Indochina.

The player can request an expert opinion of an oil field's probable yield before purchase. Once a field has been bought, the player may drill manually or pay game money for automatic drilling. Enemies in the game can disrupt play using sabotage. This can be done by igniting the oil fields, destroying tankers, manipulating balance sheets, etc. To protect against such moves, a player can hire a security company.

In the course of the game there are three action sequences. Oil sales can lead to delays, and the player must manually lay pipeline. Manual drilling requires the player to correct the deviation of the drill head. Finally, burning oil wells must be extinguished using dynamite. The latter can be carried out by a specialist called Ted Redhair (inspired by the famous Red Adair).

Reception

Kevin Warne reviewed Oil Imperium for Games International magazine, and gave it 2 stars out of 5, and stated that "it has the potential to be a good game, but after five fruitless attempts to get anything going at all they've used up all my goodwill and patience. At the very best this is strictly for those who really like these kind of games and are prepared for the hard work involved".[4]

Reviews

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Black Gold. My Abandonware. en-US. 2019-04-12.
  2. Patricia Madrigal Cordero. "Central America". Yearbook of International Environmental Law 22.1 (2012): 360–365. Web.
  3. de Almeida, F. F. M., de Brito Neves, B. B., & Carneiro, C. D. R. (2000). The origin and evolution of the South American Platform. Earth-Science Reviews, 50(1-2), 77-111.
  4. Mason . Paul . Computer Games . . 10 . 52 . November 1989.
  5. Web site: Games_Preview_Nr_8_9_1989. 22 May 2024. Internet Archive.
  6. Web site: Oil Imperium review from AUI Vol 3 No 10 (Oct 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack.
  7. Web site: Oil Imperium review from CU Amiga-64 (Nov 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack. 22 May 2024.
  8. Web site: Commodore User Magazine Issue 72. September 1989.
  9. Web site: Zero Magazine Issue 01. November 1989.
  10. Web site: ACE Magazine Issue 25. October 1989.
  11. Web site: Amiga Reviews: Oil Imperium. amigareviews.leveluphost.com. 22 May 2024.
  12. Web site: Atari ST User (Vol. 4, No. 10) - December - 1989: Atari magazine scans, PDF.
  13. Web site: Oil Imperium review from Your Amiga (Oct 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack.
  14. Web site: Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (November 1989). November 1989.
  15. Web site: Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!. www.kultboy.com. 22 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Amiga Joker Amiga Joker Sonderheft Nr.5 - Strategie Page scans - Amiga Magazine Rack.
  17. Web site: Kultpower Archiv: Komplettscan Powerplay best of 1989.
  18. Web site: Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!. www.kultboy.com. 22 May 2024.
  19. Web site: Amiga Reviews: Oil Imperium. amigareviews.leveluphost.com. 22 May 2024.
  20. Web site: Oil Imperium review from Amiga Action 1 (Oct 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack. 22 May 2024.
  21. Web site: Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!. www.kultboy.com. 22 May 2024.