Anyone remember Taipan?
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tcjsavannah
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 Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:42 pm Post subject: Anyone remember Taipan? |
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It's a trading/Pirate game from the 80s. You're a trader in Southeast Asia and you go to different ports trading General cargo, Arms, Silk and Opium. You also have to fight off Li Yuan's pirates and eventually get a big enough ship and enough guns where you're fighting off 100 ships at a time.
It's essentially a RNG game but I can still play this game for hours on end.
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captainkidd78
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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HELL YEAH!
Tai-pan with the white cut-out ships that you blow holes into.
Funny and old, but still a good time
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tcjsavannah
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| Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Exactly.. the only difference in the ships came from when you sunk them, they would sink at a fast, medium, slow, slower or painfully slow rate. Hey, now that's good coding!
I just remember carrying this bad boy around on a 5 1/4" floppy disk in high school and playing it in the computer lab before classes started and during our computer class.
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BlueDEvil
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:05 am Post subject: |
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There is a windows remake and freeware too. Not as slow as the orginal. There is no change to the game.
I remember the original game came with a bug. Instead of taking a loan, you can loan to the moneylender by typing -ve values. This way, you can collect obscene interest. |
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tcjsavannah
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, in the version I have, you can just pay back the moneylender more money than you owe him, and he'll start generating negative money at obscene interest, then just use it as an ATM and get out $$ when you're in Hong Kong.
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to see if I can locate the freeware version.
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corsair91
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corsair91
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:01 am Post subject: |
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Let's Quickly Play Taipan!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvbfzJ7Xcfs
GhazPlays
21 Aug 2016
runtime 37:55
Taipan! for web browsers
https://taipangame.com/
Guide
https://taipangame.com/pdf/TaipanAHistoricalAdventureForTheAppleComputerAppleIIEdition.pdf
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https://www.squakenet.com/game/taipan-for-windows/
Taipan! for the Apple II
https://youtu.be/HJx0sKFbc7A
Highretrogamelord
22 Nov 2011
runtime 9:27
Game description:
Loosely based on Clavell's Taipan, this game is a trading simulation set in the Far East during the 1800s. The player is based out of Hong Kong and has a single trading ship with which he can transport one of four cargoes from place to place. There are different cargoes to be traded, from the cheaper general goods to the more expensive arms and silks, culminating in the opportunity to trade in the illegal opium trade.
Generally, the strategy here was buy low, sell high. To add some tension to the game, there is a random chance that you will encounter several obstacles to your trading empire. Random pirates, pickpockets, and thieves who rob you and your warehouse are all out there for their own benefit (and your detriment!) Li Yuen acts as the local mafia boss, extorting increasing sums of money for his "protection". Local authorities will seize your opium and fine you if you're caught, ruining an otherwise successful voyage. Local market conditions can render a price extremely high or low, giving you a chance to make a quick buck.
You have the option to trade up to a larger ship as time goes buy, as well as outfit your current ship with guns. However, beware! The larger the ship, the more pirate ships it attracts! Also, the larger ships are more expensive to repair.
You can play as long as you want--you're given the opportunity to retire once you reach one million. You're given a score at the end of the game based on your net worth, your ship size, and a few other factors.
All in all, this is a pretty decent trading simulation, even if the monochrome graphics left something to be desired. Although some parents may want to avoid a game with opium in it, overall it's great for teaching basic economic concepts to kids.
Last edited by corsair91 on Tue May 03, 2022 6:26 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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corsair91
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corsair91
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:13 am Post subject: |
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Old Abandonware Taipan! review
(So no link)
Taipan! hands players a 19th century cargo ship and a decision. You can start the game with cash (and an interest accruing debt), or with no cash and no debt (which requires winning a fight or two with pirates). Later, you buy additional guns, increase the boat's cargo space, and fight epic battles against increasingly overwhelming numbers of pirates.
The backbone of the game is cargo trading, trying to procure loads of silk, arms, "general" cargo, and -- if you're feeling like living dangerously -- opium. The latter fetches the highest price but is a target of theft and drug busts by local authorities in each port. You can bank money in your homeport of Hong Kong, and that's highly recommended, since carrying large sums of cash on you will also make you a target for robbers. The game is fast-paced, and really only features graphics during your fights with pirate fleets (and there's not much sound to speak of either, aside from bleeps and high-pitched trills to acknowledge keystrokes).
You can retire from your shipping career while you're on top, or stay in business until you go down fighting. As simple as Taipan! is, it's as addictive as the virtual opium you're smuggling.
One of my most favorite Apple II games ever and one of the best trading/economic games ever made, bar none, Taipan! is a masterpiece from Art Canfil and Mega-micro Computers that turned many gamers into hopeless addicts when it was released in 1982 and inspired a whole new genre of trading games.
Loosely based on James Clavell's best-selling novel Tai-Pan, the game lets you play the role of an ocean-going trader doing business in major Asian ports in mid-1800's. Your objective is simple: make the most money by trading and pirating. Based out of Hong Kong, you'll sail from harbor to harbor buying commodities including opium, silk, arms and "general" goods at a bargain, and sell them at a higher price elsewhere.
At the beginning of the game, you can start the game with either some money you borrow, or five guns with no debt. If you choose the latter, then you'll be dealing with Elder Wu, the moneylender. However, it might be better to have guns, because the Oriental seas are filled with pirates. When this occurs, you can attempt to run or fight back. Sinking enemy ships can earn you plenty of booty, but fighting can damage your ship severely. Occasionally, you can sail to Hong Kong to have your ship repaired. You'll also encounter Li Yuen, who will try to extort money from you. If you don't pay him off, he'll send his band of pirates to pester you, but fortunately they can be defeated.
What makes Taipan! a truly timeless classic is the excellent implementation and gameplay variety that encompasses different genres, from arcade in ship-to-ship combat to strategy in trading. Striking a balance between trading and pirating is key to success-as well as wisely investing your profits. You can keep extra funds in the bank for safekeeping, and even earn some interest. You could also borrow money from a bank or a moneylender. It is easier to borrow from the moneylender, but he charges exorbitant interest and starts breaking legs if you don't pay back on time.
Overall, Taipan! is a timeless masterpiece that you will keep coming back to. The combination of skill, reflexes, and luck (you'll never know when those muggers will show up) makes the game challenging and new every time you play. It's unfortunate that the PC version was never made.
Note: one of the "bugs" in the game allow you to repay the moneylender more than you owed him.. thus making him owe you at the same high interest rate! This means that a little investment early on in the game made you a multi-millionaire in no time at all. Obviously if you choose to exploit this bug, you'll find no challenge whatsoever out of the game, so cheat at your own risk 
Last edited by corsair91 on Wed May 04, 2022 11:13 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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corsair91
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:14 am Post subject: |
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Taipan for Windows
Freeware abandonware review
(so no link)
Taipan for Windows is a great fanmade remake of Taipan!, a classic historical trading game for Apple II based on James Clavell's best-selling novel of the same name. This version is extremely faithful to the original - it even includes the notorious "negative debt" bug from the original game, which you can toggle on and off from the Options menu! A nice Windows-based interface and the same addictive gameplay as the original makes this the version to own if you miss the old masterpiece. For more explanation of why Taipan! is one of the best games ever made, read my review of the original classic on this site. (see above)
Taipan - the legend is brought to the Windows operating system. This is a fanmade remake of the original game for the Apple II - and it features great gameplay in the environment of a true classic. The story is quickly told - you start off in the Hong Kong of the 1860s. You are the captain of a small ship and of course strive hard to become rich - a respected Taipan. You either begin with a little money you have lent from the local money lender who will charge you 10% a month, but would not normally lend someone without money anything (he will always lend you up to two times the amount you already have) or you start with 5 cannons on your ship but without any money (which also means no chance to lend anything). The last option might be the better one as in case you encounter some pirates you are not only able to defend yourself, but if you defeat them you will also get some thousand bucks.
The rest ist basic trading - buy low, sell high. Try to trade with the most expensive goods as fast as you can. Yes, that's opium - we're in east asia in the 1860s, remember? If you see opium for a low price in Hong Kong buy as much as you can - fill up your warehouse and hope that the prices will rise (and they will) - then sell and soon you'll be filthy rich.
However there are also dangers on your way up to fame and fortune - Li Yuen will ask you to pay for his pirates not attacking you - while in the beginning he won't ask much once you got a few millions in your purse his greed will increase. If you don't pay you can count on him sending out a larger fleet to convince you that it's wiser to pay. Of course you can play the tough guy and refuse to pay - the largest fleet I encountered so far consisted of 36 ships which I was lucky enough to defeat with a single percent of my ship's status being left after the battle. Still - the repair had cost me about 10% of what Li Yuen asked of me before. I have to add though, that I also lost my ship to a fleet of that size before - don't count on winning!
The game is not THAT hard, but got a nice atmosphere and its concept is easy enough to understand to have fun very fast and you'll see how much of a capitalist you are when you just can't get enough. My first gaming session got me up to about 150 millions - there's this certain addiction just making you want to increase your wealth a bit more to see if you can make it to the next higher title (I was "Master Taipan" at 150 millions - and that's not the highest). To make it short - this game's a must.
Last edited by corsair91 on Thu May 05, 2022 10:23 am; edited 2 times in total |
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corsair91
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:16 am Post subject: |
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corsair91
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Google search
Taipan for Windows
(untested)
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Taipan for Windows
https://download.cnet.com/Taipan-for-Windows/3000-2119_4-10145722.html
A classic trading game set in 19th century China. Go from port to port to trade goods, while avoiding pirates. Move up the ranks quickly by dealing in the expensive goods, like Silk and Opium. Be sure to use the bank often to increase wealth and avoid being robbed.
New in version 1.11: Installer now registers support file COMCTL32.OCX and Taipan now unloads all forms on exit.
Release November 8, 2008
Date Added September 13, 2002
Version 1.11
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
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https://www.freegamesutopia.com/game/taipan-for-windows/772/
RELEASE DATE: 2002
Last edited by corsair91 on Tue May 03, 2022 6:30 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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fleetp
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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I think I remember playing this, and that I stored opium in a warehouse that burned (or am I thinking of some other game)? |
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corsair91
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