Strategic Conquest Plus
Gameplay
Strategic Conquest Plus is a game in which features and enhancements to Strategic Conquest include the option for automated moves, an automatic save game function, digitized sound and networking support from AppleTalk. The game takes place on a 60-by-100 foot square map, and the player wins by conquering the world. Players may compete against each other or against computer opponents of up to 15 skill levels. Each player begins the game in their home city and must begin building armies, exploring the world and capturing other cities which can produce new war machines.
Development and release
Strategic Conquest Plus was released in 1986. In later documents this is generally referred to Strategic Conquest 2.0. The Apple II version of 1.0 shipped the same year,{{cite web |url=http://www.dadgum.com/giantlist/ |title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers |accessdate=2008-05-01 |author=James Hague}} and the Plus version the next year.{{cite web |url=http://apple2history.org/history/appy/aha87.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011124043925/http://apple2history.org/history/appy/aha87.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-11-24 |title=Apple II History Software |access-date=2008-05-01 |author=Steven Weyhrich |date=1992-09-21 |publisher=Steven Weyhrich}}
Reception
William H. Harrington reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "Strategic Conquest Plus is one of those rare games that the author seems committed to improving. With a host of innovative new features and the ability to withstand a billion or so replays, SC+ is certainly worth taking a look at. Just keep the sound down if the boss is around."{{cite magazine |last=Harrington |first=William H. |title=Micro-Reviews |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=March 1987 |volume=1 |issue=35 |pages=53}}
James D. Hornfischer for MacUser said that "With this wonderfully playable yet intricate program, PBI has superseded the tired genres of shoot-'em-up arcade spiels and rigidly structured text adventures."{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/MacUser8802February1988/page/n243/mode/2up|title=MacUser February 1988|date=February 1, 1988|via=Internet Archive}}
David Langendoen for Home Office Computing rating the game at 4 stars for overall performance, and said that the game was "a strong enough game to overcome [its] handicaps and come out smelling like silicon roses".{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/home-office-computing-november-1989/page/100/mode/2up|title=Home Office Computing - November 1989|date=November 1, 1989|via=Internet Archive}}
Byte named it the game of the month for May 1987,{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/198705_byte_magazine_vol_12_05_desktop_publishing_and_internal_modems_pdf__mlib/page/276/mode/2up|title=198705 Byte Magazine Vol 12-05 Desktop Publishing and Internal Modems|date=April 1, 1987|via=Internet Archive}} and runner-up for game of the year of 1987.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/198803_byte_magazine_vol_13_03_new_math_coprocessors_enhanced_ega_vga_boards_pdf__mlib/page/182/mode/2up|title=198803 Byte Magazine Vol 13-03 New Math Coprocessors - Enhanced EGA VGA Boards|date=April 1, 1988|via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/198808_byte_magazine_vol_13_08_25mhz_machines_macintosh_supplement_pdf__mlib/page/38/mode/2up|title=198808 Byte Magazine Vol 13-08 25mhz machines - Macintosh Supplement|date=April 1, 1988|via=Internet Archive}}