Space Trader

Space Trader is a video game developed by the Canadian developer HermitWorks Entertainment, for Windows XP, Mac OS X, Linux, and iPhone OS. It was released on July 25, 2007. It started development in 2005, headed by Cameron Tofer and Marcia Tofer, both previously of Bioware, along with a group of other developers that have joined along the way. The iPhone OS version was released in 2009.

Currently Space Trader is at version 1.0.4, with a beta version of 1.0.6 available. A free demo is also available on the website.

Gameplay


Space Trader is a combination first person action and trading game with co-operative multiplayer, tied together with online scoreboards. Players assume the role of Traders in a fictitious future universe. Their goal: to make as much money possible within a time limit. They accomplish this by leasing cargo ships, traveling to planets and trading with Merchants. Each Merchant trades different commodities, and each at different prices. Finding successful trade routes between these merchants is one of the strategic elements of the game. Players can also be stopped along the way by an omni-present government organization known as the Ministry of Accounts, and forced to pay taxes. As well, shady informants reveal the location of black market merchants and the location of criminal bosses, which the players can attempt to bring down for the bounty placed on their head by the Ministry of Accounts.

In multiplayer, players work together in combat and attempt to thwart each other in trading by taking as many bonuses as they can from other players. All scores from games are uploaded to the Space Trader Website, and players are ranked against one another. The Space Trader website features community scoreboards and forums, along with information about the game.

Development
Space Trader uses the open source id Tech 3, and is the first commercial title to use that engine since it was open sourced in August 2005. The full modified source code is available on the Space Trader website under the GNU General Public License.

Reception


Space Trader is a popular game on The Great Games Experiment, and has maintained a spot in the 'Top 5 Viewed Games' since it was featured in early March 2007. In the May 2007 issue of PC Gamer, Space Trader was featured inside of an article about The Great Games Experiment. A screenshot from the game as well as parts of an interview with Phillip Daigle of HermitWorks Entertainment were shown.