Consider trading "Wallstreet" for something else
Written: Apr 15 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Simulation engine has promise
Cons: clunky interface
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| Agent.Orange's Full Review: Wall Street Trader 2000 for Windows |
Maybe my expectations were a little high. When I found Wallstreet Trader 2000 already marked down from $29.99 to $19.99 at the local Electronics Boutique, a flicker of doubt skipped across my mind. "Nah, I'm just lucky!" or something to that effect immediately chased the doubt away. I think in my eager anticipation to see what this game was going to be like, I kept on imagining a game of grander and grander proportions. I wanted a game that accurately simulated the real stock market, and yet something with a twist, a zing, a zip, something that would make a stock market simulation fun, maybe even exciting. Yes, perhaps I'm being unfair. Just like when your best friend tells you how great some new movie is, then their friends tell you, and so on, to the point where no matter what happens in the movie, it just can't live up to its reputation. Except in this case, you must all be thinking that I'm slightly warped for pumping myself up for a stock market sim. I still haven't figured out why I wanted this game so badly. Anyway, on with the beating!
Since I bought this game, and was unable to rush home and immediately start playing (which is normal, right?), I had to pacify my needs by reading the manual. After skimming through it one time, I realized that either the game is simplistic, or the manual is missing some material. It was only 28 pages, including the warranty and tech support pages! It turned out that the manual gives you all the information needed to play, but keeps everything written in almost terse paragraphs, describing the buttons and functions of the game. You are then expected to follow various tutorials as different aspects of the game become available to you (see below). *shrug* hey, fine by me, reading manuals are over-rated anyway. Since my going home situation hadn't changed though, I decided to continue reading.
The manual is sprinkled with sometimes funny, sometimes corny humor. It outlines your "boss" in the game, Lord Flemming, then informs you that you are expected to use Lord Flemming's computer to "...take the first steps towards a lasting world peace." The rest of the manual covers the basics of installation and navigation through the game. Overall, I felt the manual was dry, and most of what I read didn't stick. C- for the manual.
When I got home, it was late, so I only played for a brief half hour. The game starts with a couple of actors indirectly giving a little more background on what is going on. You will be expected to run a failing bank and turn it around into a profitable one. Of course, Lord Flemming must first make sure that you are capable of dealing with this, and so begins your first mission; prove you can make a profit.
The interface is a bit clunky and not-so-intuitive. I started a practice game to learn my way around. What I discovered is, with the time option set to 4 (out of 9), every few minutes, the various stocks would be updated with current prices. Also, you have access to various news clippings and reports. Did I mention the interface is kind of clunky? Oh, ok. Basically you are expected to read the various clippings and reports and react to them. There is an oil spill causing tons of damage to the wildlife and the surrounding areas? How will that affect your stocks? A war in the Middle East? What's going to happen to the price of oil? Inflation goes up in Japan? How will...ok, you get the point. Basically what this amounts to is long periods of trying to read various reports with sprints to sell or buy a hot item. The events are always changing in each game, so you can replay to your hearts content.
The first night, I didn't do so bad. The second day of playing, I went from a whopping selection of 2 stocks to buy and sell, to quite a bit more. Each is introduced gradually over time by dropping an initial report in your lap. I expected the game to have a larger number of stocks to trade in, the grand total being 70 at the peak of play, but without an intuitive way of tracking them, the few presented by the middle of my second mission was more than a handful. The game was more challenging with the three computer players added in the second mission who are trying to compete for the opportunity to run said flailing bank above. The game held my interest for about another hour or so, then I decided to see what the web site was like (http://www.interplay.com/wallstreet/index.html). Pretty skimpy, but there is a link to Monte Cristo Multimedia (http://www.montecristo-multi.com). Marginally better. I toyed with the idea of trying to find someone to play against on the Internet, but quickly decided to wander aimlessly around online instead of going back to the game.
The bottom line is, it just didn't grab my attention like I expected it to. That, coupled with an awkward interface made for a $20 game. The dynamics of the simulation itself is still interesting to me so I suspect I'll give it one more try tomorrow, a Saturday. Perhaps if I can waste an afternoon playing I will change my mind, but if I don't, then this will be a game to take back and exchange for store credit.
Overall I would say this game gets a grade of "C". I would suggest those with strong interest in the stock market, but aren't burnt out day traders, should take a look. If you are looking for a "beefier" game, then I would suggest looking elsewhere, the older game Capitalism comes to mind, but this game deals more with businesses and less with stocks. Alternatively, there is a game called Startup by the same people which might prove more interesting, but I haven't tried it yet.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Agent.Orange
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Member: Phillip Marquez
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Been busy with new job. I'm trying to get back into my online life...
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