The Game

Dallas is a board game of oil exploration and exploitation in Texas. A map of Texas is shown splitting the region into hundreds of plots each with a potential to discover oil. After making seismic surveys you are required to make decisions on purchasing concessions, the movement and use of drilling rigs, and the building of platforms and pipelines. Can you take-over the Euing Empire, or will you be taken-over in the attempt!

Introduction

This is a business simulation of the wheeler-dealer oil rich folk who live in Dallas. The program will appeal to all members of the family. The program starts with setting up a map of Texas, splitting the region into hundreds of plots, each with a potential to discover oil. You are required to make seismic surveys, bid for concessions, drill for oil, build production facilities and lay pipelines. The game is menu-driven and the player is able to direct his corporation along many diverse routes. The object of the game is to accumulate $200M in net assets and $80M cash in order to take over Euing Associates. There are three levels of difficulty.

The Board

A map of the oil fields is displayed. On the left hills and woods are shown in which drilling and production facilities are more expensive.

1. Drilling rigs need to be moved from Dallas.
2. Pipelines need to be connected to the Dallas refineries to maximise production.

A flashing cursor will indicate fields for which concessions are offered. After purchasing a field then progress through the following:

• Concession purchased.
• Drilling rig in place.
• Oil strike.
• Production facilities built.
• Pipeline to Dallas refinery laid.

Menu

Drill - Drilling well
Fin - Request for finance
Lay - Laying pipelines
Prod - Build production facilities
Rig - Move drilling rig
Survey - Seismic survey

To effect a command, you are required to key underlined capitals.

Problems Encountered

Blow outs, tornado, drilling accidents, increase in government taxes, crude oil surplus and insufficient funds.

Hints On Playing

Start the game by making seismic surveys to establish plots which have good prospects. You need to bid high for concessions until you have at least three. (A bid of $8-$10 million usually succeeds.) Concessions east of hills and close to Dallas are worth more because development costs will be less. You must develop a field in the correct order:

1. make seismic survey (this step is optional)
2. purchase concession
3. move Rig
4. Drill for oil
5. build Production facilities
6. Lay pipeline

You may make seismic surveys either before purchasing a concession where each survey costs $200,000 or make an appraisal survey with a test well for $1.2 million after purchasing the concession.

However, do not be put off by a 'Poor' report as it is still possible to strike a gusher even in a field with a 'Poor' report. Fields are at greater risk from disasters, i.e. blow-outs, accidents, etc., the more they are developed. It is usually best *not* to risk the first field which is producing by laying a pipeline immediately.

Consequently, it is usually preferably to develop other fields, the cost of development can then be financed out of the revenue of the producing field. Loans may be sought to finance the building out of production facilities. You will however be charged interest on the loans and risk factors also increase when loans exceed $20 million. You will not become insolvent because before the company's finances reach that state, you will have fallen prey to being taken-over by Euing Associates.

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