Moonbase Lunar Colony Simulator – Colonization

Title Moonbase, Lunar Colony SimulatorGame Type Management SimCompany Wesson InternationalPlayers 1

MAJOR MS-DOS PROBLEM - The PC Version of the program (below) won't run under later versions of MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operation System, with the 'C:>' Command Prompt) i.e. Windows XP, Vista Basic, Windows 7... Probably works on Windows 95/98. Will it work on Windows 8 (in production)??? It is run using the MS-DOS Shell, not Windows. Other Software that won't run includes Star Trek: The Birth of the Federation. This comes with a good manual off Ebay. But Microprose's Master of Orion II is superior in every way! And WORKS!!! Take a look right down the whole page as there are some good great [science fiction] pictures, and it gives a good jist of how the game works.

[JUN06] "Coiled tubing units are so compact and have such great potential, the Mars Drilling Project is evaluating a coiled tubing unit to drill for water on Mars." It can rotate up to 90 degrees, and drill 400 feet/hour driven by Nitrogen. Reinaldo Latham, Coil Tubing Technology, Inc. (CTBG)

I thought I would include a review of this game, as it is a similar concept to colonization, and so might be of interest to some readers.

This is a very unusual game, quite apart from the run of the mill. It is one of my favourites. The game is not by a software company as such, but by a Construction Company, predicting a near future Moonbase, and showing how it can be technically, and more importantly economically feasible, the Programmers consulted NASA experts. The concept gels well, and seems plausible, but one decimal point in the wrong place for commodity prices, and it could all fall to bits. The game rightly predicted that there was a high change of finding water deposits on the Moon, in the form and crashed meteorites. Since the real life discovery plans for a Moonbase have been revealed, showing just how critical it is. In the game you don't allows find water, it is winnable without it - just! But a walk over with it, as it is needed for drinking, growing food (it is highly costly to ship in), and for making oxygen and rocket fuel (H2O -> Liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen).

Also mine Helium-3 for [as yet un-discovered] radiation free Fusion Reactors. The Russians plan a Moon mission in 2015 for this very purpose! Make high quality Semiconductors (better quality due to low gravity), Solar Panels, and Equipment for missions through out the Solar System. Low Gravity means material can be fired into orbit using a cheap Mag-Lev system, as opposed to the extoriantly high cost of lifting out of Earth Orbit. Also build Hotels for Ultra-Rich tourist, and get NASA grants, that dry up over the years or if war occurs on Earth. Stock Market Prices for all commodities.

You also get a big manual, which is a story, with technical and game information scattered through it, most novel (pardon the pun). The story involves, not surprisingly, the foundation of a lunar colony. With another Chinese colony on the other side of the moon (again very plausible in today's world). Among other thing they have to prevent a melt down of a fission reactor, see to a crashed lander, break a strike, and trade solar power with the Chinese, as one side of the moon is in darkness, when the other is light, with a lunar might lasting 14 earth days, this makes a lot of sense.

For once the blurb on the back cover, actually reflects the game, so I will include it:

You are Commander of Project Moonbase, NASA's long-range plan to Earth's Moon. From your multi-million dollar annual budgets, you must establish a base, then manage its growth into a full-fledged, independent colony. With savvy (and luck), you may create a self-sufficient city on the Moon, but not without adeptly handling the myriad leadership problems in the highly-charged political and harsh physical environment.

Explore and exploit the Moon's surface Explore the lunar surface for new mining sites. Process the raw materials you find into oxygen, water and helium-3, then use then internally or sell them to Mars missions. Build hotels for fat cats from Earth. Profits from ventures like these can free you from Earth's purse strings - you might even want to declare independence!

The rest is here:
Moonbase Lunar Colony Simulator - Colonization