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The Good
The economic model is actually quite good, and challenging even for the experienced player. If you like pure economic sims, this is worth a look. You can play it in a historical mode and actually learn something while you play.

The Bad
It really doesn't do anything you couldn't do in a plain boardgame or a spreadsheet. You sit there waiting for something truly exciting to happen, but it doesn't. All you can do as you get robbed or lose a ship, is shrug your shoulders and moan. If you play it for more than an hour, I advise that you take a break with a level of Quake or similar game. Just to get the frustration out of the system.

The Bottom Line
It's a nice little game for the entire family or for playing with a few friends - but make sure those friends are REALLY into this kind of thing, or you'll be playing solitaire before you can say "shiver me timbers".