Riverworld

Riverworld was a PC game released in 1998 by Cryo entertainment, based on the series of novels by Philip José Farmer.

In the game, the player takes the role of Richard Burton, the nineteenth century explorer. The game begins with a lengthy cinematic sequence, showing what happens to Burton after he has died - how he comes to enter Riverworld.

The game is similar in concept to real time strategy games, such as Microsoft's Age Of Empires. Although Burton is the central character, it is seen from a third-person perspective, and other people within the game can be moved and controlled.

The player begins with control of one territory along the River, with two opponents - shown in green and blue, and led by other historical figures - controlling other territories. These areas of land can be captured by gaining control of the central grail stone - a mushroom shaped object in the centre of each. More people can be recruited by building houses, for which wood needs to be collected; other buildings, such as docks and workshops, can be built to train people as engineers and scientist, in order to advance the civilisation.

The game begins in the Wood age - a very primitive time where wood from trees is the main resource. The game then advances, after completing sufficient technological research, through other ages, including the Stone and Iron Ages, through to more modern ages (Steel, Uranium), and through to the future, with corresponding advances in technology and weaponry.