Space Trader
Encyclopedia
Space Trader is a video game developed by the Canadian developer HermitWorks Entertainment, for Windows XP
, Mac OS X
, Linux
, and iPhone OS
. It was released on July 25th, 2007. It started development in 2005, headed by Cameron Tofer and Marcia Tofer, both previously of Bioware
, along with a group of other developers that have joined along the way. The iPhone OS version was released in 2009.
Currently Space Trader is at version 1.0.4, with a beta version of 1.0.6 available. A free demo is also available on the website.
Space Trader is a combination first person action and trading game with co-operative multiplayer, tied together with online scoreboards. Players assume the role of Traders
in a fictitious future universe. Their goal: to make as much money possible within a time limit. They accomplish this by leasing cargo ships, traveling to planets and trading with Merchants. Each Merchant trades different commodities, and each at different prices. Finding successful trade routes between these merchants is one of the strategic elements of the game. Players can also be stopped along the way by an omni-present government organization known as the Ministry of Accounts, and forced to pay taxes. As well, shady informants reveal the location of black market merchants and the location of criminal bosses, which the players can attempt to bring down for the bounty
placed on their head by the Ministry of Accounts.
In multiplayer, players work together in combat and attempt to thwart each other in trading by taking as many bonuses as they can from other players. All scores from games are uploaded to the Space Trader Website, and players are ranked against one another. The Space Trader website features community scoreboards and forums, along with information about the game.
.
Cameron Tofer
Marcia Tofer
Phillip Daigle
Scott Brooks
Phillip Djonov,
Steve Sarginson
Kjell Iverson,
Matthew Regan,
Troy Wuttunee-Campbell,
Andrew Carruthers,
Jordan Dennis,
Christy Schollen,
Ryan Trautman,
Ryan Walsh,
Lena Gilje
Dalyn Deschene
Chris Fraysse
Reid Gurlitz
Matthew Thorson
Space Trader is a popular game on The Great Games Experiment, and has maintained a spot in the 'Top 5 Viewed Games' since it was featured in early March 2007. In the May 2007 issue of PC Gamer
, Space Trader was featured inside of an article about The Great Games Experiment. A screenshot from the game as well as parts of an interview with Phillip Daigle of HermitWorks Entertainment were shown.
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, and iPhone OS
IPhone OS
iOS is Apple's mobile operating system. Originally developed for the iPhone, it has since been extended to support other Apple, Inc. devices such as the iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple, Inc. does not license iOS for installation on third-party hardware...
. It was released on July 25th, 2007. It started development in 2005, headed by Cameron Tofer and Marcia Tofer, both previously of Bioware
BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
, along with a group of other developers that have joined along the way. The iPhone OS version was released in 2009.
Currently Space Trader is at version 1.0.4, with a beta version of 1.0.6 available. A free demo is also available on the website.
Gameplay
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
in a fictitious future universe. Their goal: to make as much money possible within a time limit. They accomplish this by leasing cargo ships, traveling to planets and trading with Merchants. Each Merchant trades different commodities, and each at different prices. Finding successful trade routes between these merchants is one of the strategic elements of the game. Players can also be stopped along the way by an omni-present government organization known as the Ministry of Accounts, and forced to pay taxes. As well, shady informants reveal the location of black market merchants and the location of criminal bosses, which the players can attempt to bring down for the bounty
Bounty (reward)
A bounty is a payment or reward often offered by a group as an incentive for the accomplishment of a task by someone usually not associated with the group. Bounties are most commonly issued for the capture or retrieval of a person or object. They are typically in the form of money...
placed on their head by the Ministry of Accounts.
In multiplayer, players work together in combat and attempt to thwart each other in trading by taking as many bonuses as they can from other players. All scores from games are uploaded to the Space Trader Website, and players are ranked against one another. The Space Trader website features community scoreboards and forums, along with information about the game.
Development
Space Trader uses the open source id Tech 3, and is the first commercial title to use that engine since it was open sourced in August 2005. The full modified source code is available on the Space Trader website under the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
.
- Executive Producer
Cameron Tofer
- Creative Director
Marcia Tofer
- Producer
Phillip Daigle
- Programming
Scott Brooks
Phillip Djonov,
Steve Sarginson
- Art
Kjell Iverson,
Matthew Regan,
Troy Wuttunee-Campbell,
Andrew Carruthers,
Jordan Dennis,
Christy Schollen,
Ryan Trautman,
Ryan Walsh,
- Marketing and Promotion
Lena Gilje
- Quality Assurance
Dalyn Deschene
Chris Fraysse
Reid Gurlitz
- Quality Assurance
Matthew Thorson
Reception
PC Gamer
PC Gamer is a magazine founded in Britain in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future Publishing. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games magazines in their respective countries...
, Space Trader was featured inside of an article about The Great Games Experiment. A screenshot from the game as well as parts of an interview with Phillip Daigle of HermitWorks Entertainment were shown.
External links
- Space Trader on The Great Games Experiment (Maintained by HermitWorks Entertainment)