Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)

From: Joey Browning <jbrowning@stc.net>

Date: Tue, 09 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Phil Shulkind wrote:
>
> Steve Pritchard <steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk> writes
> >This is a PBM we're talking about here, isn't it? Is he off his trolley?
> >Does anyone else out there remembering someone trying to sell a game called
> >"Portinium" for huge mounds of wonga too?
>
> Yes, we remember Portinium, can only assume that whoever designed it
> thought there were a lot of mugs with a lot of money to throw away!
> Seems like he wasn't the only one...
>
> Phil Shulkind
> PHILDEE ENTERPRISES
> Professional Play By Mail since 1990
> http://www.phildee.demon.co.uk

Well, I can speak a bit on Portinium, as I spole with John James (the
GM) quite a bit when I edited Flagship US (RIP). I never heard the
*whole* story, but he basically purchased lots of (then) very expensive
Mac computers, hired several artists and writers (most of them friends
of his) for decent salaries, and plunged in with a game that had, well,
not much gameplay - you basically walked around picking up "stuff" in 4
different time ages, and when you ran into someone else, you fought -
whoever had the best "stuff" generally won. Exciting for about, oh, 5
minutes. When it became clear that he couldn't make it fly (he had, at
most, maybe 40 players), he wanted to recoup all his expenses. Needless
to say, that too was a tad unrealistic....He was a hell of a nice guy,
and meant well, but had zippo business sense!

Oh, and as a former Traveller PBM player, I can confirm that the battle
routines, at least for lower tech ships, worked fine!

Joey Browning
jbrowning@stc.net

References

Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
"Kerry Harrison" <kerry@dell.com>
Thu, 04 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
echack@crl.crl.com (Edmund C. Hack)
Sat, 06 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
"Kerry Harrison" <kerry@dell.com>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
"Steve Pritchard" <steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
Phil Shulkind <phil@phildee.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
Bill Westhead <bill@cledwards.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
"Kerry Harrison" <kerry@dell.com>
Thu, 04 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
echack@crl.crl.com (Edmund C. Hack)
Sat, 06 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
"Kerry Harrison" <kerry@dell.com>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
"Steve Pritchard" <steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Traveller PBM (was Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer)
Phil Shulkind <phil@phildee.demon.co.uk>
Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Sun, 16 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
Bill Westhead <bill@cledwards.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Writing new PBeM software and need a programmer
silver@phoenyx.net (Karen J. Cravens)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 00:00:00 +0000