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Exploration

DOS - 1994

Also available on: Amiga

Alt names Christoph Kolumbus, Exploration: A Game of Strategy and World Conquest, Voyages of Discovery
Year 1994
Platform DOS
Released in Germany, United Kingdom (1994)
United States (1995)
Germany (1996)
Genre Simulation, Strategy
Theme Managerial
Publisher Black Legend Ltd., Interactive Magic, Inc., Software 2000
Developer Software 2000
Perspective Top-Down
4.53 / 5 - 111 votes

Description of Exploration

Read Full Description

Exploration is a fun game of 15th – 19th century era of exploration from Interactive Magic.

Earlier released in Europe by Black Legend as Voyages of Discovery, the game attempts nothing that we haven’t seen before since the days of Seven Cities of Gold or Colonization: a combination of trading, exploration, war, and economics elements set in the age of exploration. But it does add a lot of complexity to the familiar formula. You can play against up to four computer or human (via network options) opponents. The main goal of this game, as is in most strategy games of this kind, is to either annihilate or do better than your opponents.

In Exploration, this is accomplished by exploring the world with sailing vessels, finding other neutral civilizations and either conquering or befriending them, and developing a good economic base by trading with these new alliances. War is also another option, but one that should be avoided at all costs because it tends to reduce your meager assets. Success in the game relies on laying efficient and profitable trade routes between your colonies and your home port. As time passes, new and bigger ships become available for you to lay longer routes. You can also send expedition groups on shore—these units have the ability to either conquer or befriend the natives they meet.

Random elements such as disease, starvation, and fires must also be dealt with. After you have founded a few colonies and established some trade routes, the game becomes quite repetitive and there is no “meta-goal” (such as declaring Independence in Colonization) to alleviate the tedium.

Another weak point in Exploration is the tedious user interface that forces you to click on multiple screens to get to the option you want. There are not many shortcut keys you can use to jump quickly to common actions, and the graphics are for the most part too drab and blocky. One of the game’s few redeeming values is the relatively high replay value thanks to random maps, but this isn’t much help when the game as a whole is rather repetitive.

The bottom line is clear: try Exploration only after you have played just about every other historical trading game. Only an average rating for this one. If you like extensive micro management, however, this underdog is well worth a look.

Review By HOTUD

External links

Comments and reviews

DrNilsson 2022-12-20 2 points DOS version

English DOS Manual is available here https://archive.org/details/exploration-manual

larwin 2022-06-13 2 points Amiga version

you can use google translate for the german to english manual. copy and paste each page you want to read. i find too many bugs in both amiga version and exploration for dos. but i still like something about this game. in my previous post im talking about colonial ports not the home port. theres a major difference.

larwin 2022-06-13 1 point Amiga version

How do you transfer goods from colonial port to ships. I can only figure out to transfer goods with expeditions. is this game really that flawed they didn't program a simple mechanic to transfer directly from port to ship?

Zero 2022-02-08 2 points DOS version

Keyboard layout
In addition to mouse control, some menu items can also be accessed directly via the keyboard:
MAIN MENU INFORMATION
F1 home port F6 goods
F2 general map F7 soldiers
F3 Search F8 Production
F4 Save
F5 End of game
COMMANDS
M move
W wait
S Anchoring/fastening
E expedition form
U unload army
Space no commands
C centering
F ships
Esc end round

BERDIE 2021-08-10 0 point

Anyone know where to find the English manual for this?

Steapa Steapason 2020-11-30 2 points DOS version

hallo
also ich bin auf save gegangen und habe dann auf "Game Name" geklickt, dann kommt ein "-" und man kann einen Namen eingeben, dann noch auf "save" klicken.
beim nächsten mal laden war mein spielstand wieder geladen
das war jetzt am 30.11. 20

kWh 2020-11-26 0 point DOS version

Hallo, ich habe Kolumbus hier bei abandonware im Browser gespielt. Hat zunächst erstaunlich gut funktioniert. Speichern war nur möglich mit dem Name "Test1". Nach dem Browser Neustart hatte ich eine ganz andere Landkarte und einen anderen Spielstand. Wie löst man das Problem für spätere neue Spielrunden? Warum lässt sich nicht ein eigener Name vergeben?

Nick 2020-03-24 -6 points DOS version

I down loaded Exploration how do I get it to work on Windows 10

joe 2018-08-15 0 point DOS version

I love this game! I can't remember how to land though! Could sure use a manual!

victoraugustosantoslouza 2015-09-07 0 point

Muito bom não a melhor

ashish 2015-08-24 0 point

this game is very interesting

KouYouko 2015-06-13 2 points DOS version

I bought one exemplar of Exploration in a second hand shop.
I did not figure out how to install, so i came here in this wonderful site to download xDDDD

I hope that i can help with something. :)

Kisses ~

yosef 2015-03-30 -1 point DOS version

like it

Illy 2014-09-04 -6 points DOS version

Is this available as an app?

issa 2014-04-05 -8 points DOS version

I really want to download exploration

bibi 2012-11-17 -4 points DOS version

it's my favourite play

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Share your gamer memories, help others to run the game or comment anything you'd like. If you have trouble to run Exploration , read the abandonware guide first!

 

Download Exploration

We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentation when possible. If you have additional files to contribute or have the game in another language, please contact us!

DOS Version

DownloadEnglish version 2 MB DownloadISO Version English version 374 MB ManualEnglish version 2 MB

Game Extras

Various files to help you run Exploration, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.

ManualGerman version 1 MB RefcardEnglish version 176 KB

Amiga ROM

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