Re: What was the name of this ][ game??

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Quill Son writes ...
>
> >
> >Robert Fletcher responded ...
> >>
> >>    I will make a quess and say " Universe " is the title to your game. ....
> >
> >
> >Rubywand responded ...
> >
> >>     Yes; I'm pretty sure "Universe" is correct. The official title is
> >>"Universe II". An Apple II (128k IIe or IIc) version was released by
> >>Omnitrend Software back in 1986. ....
>
>
> 
> Unfortunately, I don't think that's the one I'm thinking of.  1986 was at least
> 3 or 4 years later than I remember having this game.  (And I only had an Apple
> ][+). ....


     By 1986, "Universe II" was available on several other platforms
(IBM, Mac, ...), all named "Universe II". This indicates that the game
may have been around for some time in an earlier version-- i.e. the
"Universe" mentioned by Robert. "Universe II" was my first encounter
with the game; perhaps you and Robert played "Universe".

     It is, for sure, not hard to mix up two or three games after such a
long time. Mixing "Planet Miner", "Mines of Titan", and "Elite" could
yield something close to the game you describe. Even so, Robert's
"Universe" still looks like a good bet. You may be able to track it down
in the list of classic game programmers which has been mentioned on csa2
from time to time. What the heck; just a minute ...

     Okay; a hop to dejanews.com and a filtered search led to the Giant
List at http://www.dadgum.com/glist/list.html  maintained by James
Hague, jhague@dadgum.com . A scan of the Giant list produced this entry:

Carbone, Thomas R.
   Universe (1984, 800, Omnitrend) sequel: Universe 2 by William Leslie
   Paladin, with William Leslie  (1988, AMI/ST, Omnitrend)
   Paladin II (1993, PC, Omnitrend/Impressions)


     So; it turns out Robert was exactly on-target. A game named
"Universe" (by the same guy who managed production of "Universe II")
came out a couple years earlier. This would fit with your
recollections.     


Rubywand