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Following a spate of financial modelling games for the Spectrum comes Taipan, a simulation of the ins and outs of Oriental trading, with the aim of accumulating the princely sum of $1,000,000.

Money is earned by buying and selling various products such as arms, silk, opium, women (!) and general provisions. Goods can be bought cheaply at one of the five far-eastern ports and then sold at a profit at one of the other ports.

Sounds easy, but of course to put a damper on things a particular nasty piece of work known as Sum Yan (the money lender) is clamouring for your debt of £5,000 (used to buy your junk) to be repaid with hefty interest.

Should Sum Yam become impatient, he will not hesitate to send the boys round, and all your hard-earned cash will be gone. Other hazards include storms while travelling from port to port, and jettisoning of goods to prevent your junk from sinking.

There are three levels of play, from beginner to financial wizard, but the last is the only level really worth playing. Rather repetitive, the same financial tactics applying to nearly every game with little change in the structure of play.

I.O.