Ports of Call

Maker:
Klein & Ulrich
Year:
1987
Systems:
PC (DOS) / PC (VGA) / Amiga (OCS)
Genres:
Strategy / Simulation
Tags:
Business / Multiplayer / Nautical / Logistics
Languages:
German / English
Median Rating:
5/5

Thoughts by Adhoc (24 Feb 2001) – PC (DOS)

Ports of Call is an early business simulation classic which especially on the Amiga found lots of fans. You’re in control of a fleet of tramp ships which means that you don´t actually buy and sell goods yourself but rather look for charters to deliver.

1 to 4 human players can take part in either a timed game (1–3 hours) or an unlimited one. After selecting a home port you’re ready to go. On the main screen you can see the world map (numbers on it show the locations of heavy storms), at the bottom there are numerous stats and on the right three buttons to view a globe, visit your office and go to the ship broker.

The ship broker is selling 7 different ships in 3 categories: Cheap but very old ships, good quality pre-owned ships or brand-new hi-tech vessels. They also vary in size which has an influence especially on the action scenes I’ll mention later. The ship prices vary throughout the year and when you want to buy a ship you should watch the market for some time because you can literally save millions when you catch the right time for an acquisition.

A recently acquired ship becomes available in your home port after some days. In a port you have several options. You can repair and refuel your ship, checking today’s charters, lay your ship up for some time and load a selected charter. You’re earning your money by accepting charters. There are many different goods to ship around and naturally hi-tech goods yield the best profits. Sometimes charters have a certain time limit in which to deliver them. When you´re able to do this in time you could earn big money. Charters are changing daily so if there’s nothing interesting around just lay your ship up for a day. Sometimes you’ll get a special secret offer to deliver a suitcase or some boxes with arms; nice extra money but if you get caught you’re in BIG trouble (detention, huge fine…).

When you’ve found a good charter you load it and after a few days you’re ready to leave the port. You can either do this manually by steering the ship out of the harbour in a certain time limit or you can hire a tug for some bucks. The same is true for entering another port. After choosing at which speed to travel (watch your fuel usage!) you’re into the open sea. You watch your ship sail around the globe and there are some things which could happen. Throughout the game there are some action scenes: leaving or entering a port, avoiding a collision with another ship, rescuing a shipwrecked person and maneuvering through reefs. When you succeed you get a higher status which raises your loan frame but when you fail it goes the other way (besides damaging your ship…). On your way around you’ll also encounter heavy storms where you have the option to sail around them (which takes several days) or go right through them (which could severely damage your ship).

Your prime concern should be to find 2 ports where you can get good charters in both so all your trips are profitable. A good start is Rotterdam or Hamburg (lots of hi-tech goods) and Monrovia (lots of illegal wares), but better save your game often because sometimes your ship is attacked and robbed by pirates along the African coast.

A little bit annoying are the action parts because they come up quite often. Especially with bulky ships they are sometimes hair-raising; every port has its individual layout so some are easy to handle whereas others look quite impossible to find a way through. Luckily the big and modern ships have transverse thrusters which let you turn at the point. And also don´t forget to visit your office regularly otherwise someone could think of stealing some bucks from you.

All in all a nice and not overly complex business simulation and surely worth a look or two.

Archived Thoughts

Thoughts by Josh (14 Sep 2011) – Amiga (OCS)

It is the year 1987… the year of a game by Sparks and Beethoven, aka Martin Ulrich and Rolf-Dieter Klein, which became a cult classic almost immediately. I have to confess I cannot evaluate the game in an objective way, because I was immediately spellbound.

Ports of Call is a trading and economy simulation from the beginnings of this genre which, for its time, was able to glue its players to the screen. The game was published in German, English and French and the game’s basics are quite straightforward. After founding your company, you buy some halways decent ship (on credit). With this, you then run goods of all kinds across the seven seas until you’ve earned enough to pay for a better ship. Hopefully the start of your fleet increasing in size.

At the ‘ship broker’, you can select between seven different ships and three different ship classes. Provided your wallet is deep enough, of course. After ordering a ship, you have to wait a couple of days before it can be loaded in the home port. The prices of ships are in permanent fluctuation. It might happen that a good ship will be available for much less money tomorrow. That is why it is worth visiting the ship merchant as often as possible, especially if you are a little short on cash.

What has to be mentioned in addition is that the game contains some additional sequences. For example, you have to avoid icebergs and other ships or even save people from drowning from time to time. The most famous one is the tricky arrival at (or departure from) a harbour in which you have to control your ship manually. Usually, you can pay a towboat to handle that for you, but beware of strikes – then, you have to do it yourself.

Even piracy and smuggling has been taken into account in this game. Pirates only ever appear on the African coast, though. Smuggling offers arrive from time to time. This can earn you a lot of money, but if it fails, it will cost appropriately much. Another factor which can cost a lot is neglecting your office. If you don’t stop by every now and then (at least every one or two weeks), you have to live with certain people simply helping themselves to the contents of the cash box.

Depending on the route and the port, there are different offers. Electronics and weapons are generally most profitable. The better the quality of your ship (the exact condition plays a significant role!), the higher the financial offers.

Special precautions are necessary for delivery with a specific deadline. Even if you make it in 21 days, you still need at least two or three more days to unload the cargo! So you have add that time to the amount of days it takes your ship to arrive at the port. Otherwise, you have to pay hefty contractual penalties.

Conclusion: Ports of Call does not shine with complex interconnections, but maybe this is exactly its main draw with so many people. After some time, you will have learned exactly which routes and which ports will allow you to make easy money. The graphics are not particularly detailed, but nice to look at. The sound is a little weak, especially since the only sounds can be heard in the lift to the ship merchant and while controlling the ship in the harbour or on the high seas (avoiding dangers). Nevertheless, it is a lot of fun to experience this simulation. Guaranteed fun for hours or even whole nights. I know what I’m talking about… :-)

Translated by Mr Creosote

Files

Screenshots

PC (DOS)

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Amiga (OCS)

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Box

PC (DOS)

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Amiga (OCS)

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