Black Gold (video game)
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980s |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Black Gold (Oil Imperium) |
Black Gold—also identified as Oil Imperium—is a business simulation game that debuted in 1989, developed and published by reLINE Software.
Gameplay
Participants assume control of one of four companies: "Interoil," "All American," "Transoil," or "Explora Inc." Each corporation competes to market and distribute oil through diverse strategic approaches. The game accommodates up to four players, either human or computer-controlled, with each turn representing a single month during which various activities consume a number of days.
There are four distinct victory conditions: completing a three-year campaign, outlasting competitors, capturing 80% of the market share, or generating $60 million in revenue. These objectives influence gameplay dynamics; for example, the process of drilling boreholes requires more time when aiming to reach the $60 million revenue target.
Operations span eight oil-producing territories: Alaska, North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the USSR, the Gulf region, and Indochina. Essential to success is obtaining licenses, tankers, and oil fields. Players may request expert evaluations on potential yield prior to purchasing fields. Drilling can be conducted manually or automated at an additional expense. Players can engage in competitive sabotage tactics such as setting fields ablaze or destroying tankers; security companies are available for defense against such attacks.
Critical gameplay elements involve handling delays in oil sales by manually constructing pipelines, correcting drill head misalignments during manual drilling sessions, and extinguishing burning wells using explosives under the guidance of a specialist named Ted Redhair, a character inspired by renowned firefighter Red Adair.
Reception
Kevin Warne from Games International awarded Oil Imperium a rating of 2 out of 5 stars. While acknowledging its promise, he criticized the steep learning curve and slow initial pace, suggesting that its appeal is mainly confined to devoted enthusiasts of business simulation titles.
Reviews
- Games Preview (August 1989)
- Amiga User International (October 1989)
- Commodore User (September, November 1989)
- Joystick (German) (August 1989)
- Zero (November 1989)
- ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) (October 1989)
- Amiga Computing (November 1989)
- Atari ST User (December 1989)
- Your Amiga (October 1989)
- ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (May, October 1989)
- Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft (1993, 1994)
- Power Play (July 1989; December 1991)
- Amiga Format (October 1989)
- Amiga Action (October 1989)