1869 - close to the wind
| 1869 - close to the wind! Experienced history part I. | |||
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| Studio | Max design | ||
| Publisher | Max design | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
 1992 1993
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| platform | Amiga ( ECS / OCS , AGA ), DOS | ||
| genre | Turn-based strategy and business simulation | ||
| Subject | Maritime trade, 1854 to 1879 |
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| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer | ||
| control | Mouse and keyboard | ||
| medium | 3 disks | ||
| language | German , English | ||
| copy protection | Manual | ||
| Age rating |
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1869 - close to the wind! , Subtitle: Erlebte Geschichte Teil I - published in the USA as 1869: History Experience Part I - is a turn-based strategy and economic simulation game by the Austrian manufacturer Max Design , which was published in 1992 and was released for the Commodore Amiga and the PC. The name is based on the opening year of the Suez Canal .
Subject
Up to four human players compete against each other between 1854 and 1879. Each of them has the task of building a trading empire by sailing the Seven Seas as a shipowner and transporting up to 20 goods on different types of ships, from small two-masters to 2,000-tonne trucks.
Gameplay
In the ship trading simulation (with the mouse), the length of the game can be selected in five stages from five to the 26th year and always starts on January 1st, 1854. The home ports are "1" London , "2" Liverpool , "3" Le Havre , "4" New York or "5" Savannah to choose from. SAVANNAH is also the name of the ship, which has to be entered as "copy protection" from the original manual at the start of the game. At the start of the game, each player receives $ 7,000 starting capital. The first steps usually consist of buying a used sailing ship from the local shipyard and hiring a crew . A well-trained team costs more, but has the advantage that it can assert itself better in dangerous situations.
The ports differ in terms of their goods and prices. In addition to pure commercial transactions, lucrative passenger trips and, with the corresponding risk, weapons transports to crisis areas can also be carried out in individual situations.
During the crossings, the different seasons affect the duration of the transports, and any storms and the inevitable mussel growth leave their mark on the seaworthiness of the ships. Historical circumstances can be switched on or off in the game: This circumstance proves to be problematic especially with intensive intercontinental trade, because not in every port there is also the possibility of having the ship overtaken after arrival in a shipyard. Especially the colonial areas like Africa or the still young USA do not have the necessary infrastructure at the time of the game . In addition, sensitive goods can rot on board if the crossing is z. B. greatly extended by rough seas.
If the capital should run out, there is a bank available to the players (provided they are creditworthy). The taxes are offset in the game according to the old English tax system, i.e. the previous year's taxes are not due until December 31 of the following year. They are also calculated according to the size of the ship.
Processing of historical events
Historical events have been realistically incorporated into the game and affect the flow of the game. For example, the American Civil War , the opening of the Suez Canal or the triumphant advance of steam navigation expand or limit the players' options for action. 103 pages of the manual are devoted to the description of the historical background. a. The world of the 19th century and seafaring in the 20th century are treated in separate chapters.
Platforms
Three versions appeared: One each for Amiga 500 , Amiga 1200 and DOS . The two Amiga versions differ mainly in the quality of the graphics. The quality of the graphics in the PC version is on par with the Amiga 1200.
reception
"[...] a sparkling gem in the currently well-filled treasure chest of economic simulations with historical appeal"
The magazine PC Joker praised the historical accuracy as "impressive", the magazine Amiga Games honored the game with its Amiga Games Award .
In 1994 the successor Oldtimer - Experienced History Part II appeared .
Web links
- 1869 - Close to the wind at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Joachim Nettelbeck: 1869 . Review. In: Amiga Joker . No. 9/92 , July 31, 1992, pp. 28 f . ( kultpower.de [accessed December 1, 2018]).
- ↑ a b Knut Gollert: History book - 1869 . Review. In: Power Play . No. 8/92 , July 1992, pp. 42 f . ( kultpower.de [accessed December 1, 2018]).
- ↑ a b Robert Klages: High-End Simulation by MAX Design - 1869 . Review. In: Amiga Games . No. 10/92 , September 1992, pp. 26 ( kultboy.com [accessed December 1, 2018]).
- ↑ Joachim Nettelbeck: 1869 . Review. In: PC Joker . No. 5/92 , 1992, pp. 70 ( retropoly.de [accessed December 1, 2018]).
