Previous Next

Readers may have heard of a TV series about the wheeling and dealing of oil-rich folk in Texas. This strategy game from CCS aims to give you the experience of big business in the Lone Star State without having to leave your armchair.

Your ambition is to take over the Ewing empire or to be taken over in the attempt. You have to do most of the things real oilmen do: make seismal surveys, bid for concessions, move the rigs and drill, lay pipelines and transport the black gold back to your refinery at Dallas.

The screen display is in two parts. On the left is a map showing the area in which concessions may be available. Above and to the left of the map are letters allowing you to enter the coordinates for drilling and purchasing. On the right of the screen is your financial data showing cash, loans and revenue.

The player begins with cash of $100 million and must accumulate $200 million in assets and $80 million in cash before he can make a bid for JR's shares.

Available concessions are signalled by a flashing cursor on the screen. The player makes a bid; something around $8 million usually gets you the rights. Unfortunately, you may not find any oil there.

The game doesn't seem to involve any real skill; it's largely a matter of luck whether you strike oil or not. My assets shrank very quickly. Now I'll never get Ewing Oil. Or Sue-Ellen.