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A financial game. After an age of loading in the slow mode, the screen clears to show a representation of a terminal screen, complete with an acoustic modem on and through which you receive your financial gen.

You start with £1000, and by careful buying and selling in four types of mining shares - gold, lead, tin and zinc - you can make or lose money as their prices vary on the market. If you run out of cash, you can acquire a limited loan which must be repaid in 10 turns, plus interest at the going rate.

Other forces are at play however, as a rather splendid rendition of a line printer shows at the foot of the screen. Sell a bundle to buy into gold for example, and before you can lay a hand on your shekels, the taxman leaps in and grabs his share.

Up to six players are catered for, and the aim of the game is to make a million first. Playing on your own isn't much fun, and whilst playing with a friend is better, it still isn't wildly exciting.

Perhaps this is a result of a limited number of random forces at play. Once you've had the attentions of the taxman, and watched the market vary, you've about seen the' lot. Don't expect a quick result either. We played for over an hour, and in that time I only amassed £655,000 - chance would be a fine thing!

D.M.