Trade Empires
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Trade Empires
| image = Trade Empires UK box art.png
| caption = United Kingdom box art
| developer = Frog City Software
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Eidos Interactive|EU|Take-Two Interactive}}
| series =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|13 September 2001{{Cite web |title=Trade Empires in stores [date mislabeled "May 17, 2006"] |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/trade-empires-in-stores/1100-2812216/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}|EU|2 November 2001}}
| genre = Business simulation game
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
| modes = Single-player
}}
Trade Empires is a pausable real-time strategy game developed by Frog City Software in San Francisco and published by Take-Two Interactive and Eidos Interactive. In the game, players build transportation and trade networks that evolve over the course of centuries as technology develops. It was released on October 20, 2001, for Microsoft Windows. During development its working title was The Silk Road; however, this was changed by Take-Two and Eidos as they were concerned about the title being too highbrow.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Gameplay
The game features 19 campaign scenarios based on historical trading periods in human history. A step-by-step walkthrough is playable by users on the Learn to Play mode for the Shang dynasty of China (1700–1100 BC). The game imitates the historical period through the supply and demand process of that time. Goods such as rice, millet, silk cloth and jade idols are traded during the campaign. The Tang and Song era (AD 615–1280) of China is also depicted, although not as a Learn to Play option.
Other Asian trading periods include First Civilization (2500–2310 BC); based around the regions of the Indus Valley, Afghanistan, Zagros, Mesopotamia and Assyria.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 69/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/trade-empires/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Trade Empires for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Christopher |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=35145&tab=review |title=Trade Empires – Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117054110/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=35145&tab=review |archivedate=17 November 2014 |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| CGM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Bauman |first=Steve |date=11 December 2001 |url=http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/tradeempir-01-r1.html |title=Trade Empires |website=Computer Games Magazine |publisher=theGlobe.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011226133111/http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/tradeempir-01-r1.html |archivedate=26 December 2001 |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| CGW = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Geryk |first=Bruce |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_210.pdf |title=Trade Empires |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=210 |date=January 2002 |page=100 |accessdate=9 February 2020 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816005218/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_210.pdf |url-status=live }}
| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web |last=Bye |first=John "Gestalt" |date=20 December 2001 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_tradeempires |title=Trade Empires |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020107183232/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_tradeempires/ |archivedate=7 January 2002 |url-status=live |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| GSpot = 6.8/10{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Sam |date=1 October 2001 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/trade-empires-review/1900-2815691/ |title=Trade Empires Review [date mislabeled as "April 29, 2003"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=9 February 2020 |archive-date=30 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530175545/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/trade-empires-review/1900-2815691/ |url-status=live }}
| GSpy = 70%{{cite web |last=Hiles |first=Bill |date=3 November 2001 |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october01/tradeempires/ |title=Trade Empires |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217155633/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october01/tradeempires/ |archivedate=17 February 2005 |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| IGN = 8.3/10{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Mike |date=30 November 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/01/trade-empires |title=Trade Empires |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
| JXV = 12/20{{cite web |author=pilou |date=10 December 2001 |url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001791_test.htm |title=Test: Trade Empires |language=French |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |accessdate=10 February 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065130/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001791_test.htm |url-status=live }}
| PCGUS = 56%{{cite magazine |last=Sengstack |first=Jeff |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/trade_empires.html |title=Trade Empires |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=8 |issue=12 |date=December 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315134407/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/trade_empires.html |archivedate=15 March 2006 |accessdate=9 February 2020}}
}}
According to review aggregator website Metacritic, Trade Empires holds a score of 69, indicating "mixed or average" reviews, based on nine reviews.
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References
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