''Network'' is a real-time, two player business simulation game developed by

David Mullich David Mullich () is an American game producer and designer best known for creating the cult classic 1980 adventure game ''The Prisoner'', producing the 1995 adaptation '' I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream'', and developing many games in the ''H ...

for the Apple II and published by Edu-Ware in 1980.

Gameplay

Two players play competitively against the computer, each taking the role of the programming chief for a major

television network A television network or television broadcaster is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay television providers. Until the mid- ...

. Each side bids on new television shows to add to the season's line-up, schedules them, monitors the weekly ratings, and then drops shows with poor ratings or reschedules them to recover from mistakes at the end of the thirteen-week season. The side with the highest ratings is the winner.

Reception

Bruce Webster Bruce F. Webster is an American academic and software engineer. He is currently a principal at Bruce F. Webster & Associates and an adjunct professor in computer science at Brigham Young University. Early life and education Webster studied ...

reviewed ''Network'' in ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the ...

'' No. 31. Webster commented that "Unfortunately, I just could not get interested in the game. It moves slowly and requires (for intelligent play) that the players keep track of a lot of information that is not always easily accessible. One friend I played against quit out of boredom at one point, and I found myself yawning. There is a lack of tension, which means that personal interest must be the overriding factor in playing the game - and I'm just not that interested in network planning. If you are, then this is the game for you; otherwise, I'm afraid you'll just be disappointed."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Network 1980 video games Apple II games Apple II-only games Business simulation games Edu-Ware games Multiplayer and single-player video games Video games developed in the United States