''Incunabula'' is a

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

Avalon Hill Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the company ...

for

IBM PC compatible IBM PC compatible computers are similar to the original IBM Personal Computer, IBM PC, IBM Personal Computer XT, XT, and IBM Personal Computer/AT, AT, all from computer giant IBM, that are able to use the same software and expansion cards. Such ...

s in 1984. It is the original computerized version of Avalon Hill's ''

Civilization A civilization (or civilisation) is any complex society characterized by the development of a state, social stratification, urbanization, and symbolic systems of communication beyond natural spoken language (namely, a writing system). ...

board game Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well. Many board games feature a co ...

, preceding

Sid Meier Sidney K. Meier ( ; born February 24, 1954) is a Canadian-American programmer, game designer, designer, and video game producer, producer of several strategy video games and simulation video games, including the ''Civilization (series), Civiliz ...

's ''

'' which was published in 1991.

Gameplay

The gameplay loosely follows the rules of Avalon Hill's ''

. It consists of three type of "scenarios", Incunabula, Imperium, and Traders. Incunabula resembles the board game most. One to three players can play and the computer players can be randomly assigned basis of law and "personality". The personalities determine how likely a computer opponent is to attack you. Personalities are: *Choleric *Phlematic *Melancholic *Sanguine The choices for basis of law are: *Theocracy *Oligarchy *Utopia *Khanate Combat follows Civilization rules with a one for one unit loss. There are no technologies to obtain but each player's progress is tracked through phases such as clan and tribe. The game is won on the basis of accumulating trade. The different laws and personalities, and random starting positions, are the only game variations. There is only one map, and no varying difficulty level.

Reception

Jerry Pournelle Jerry Eugene Pournelle (; August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017) was an American scientist in the area of operations research and human factors research, a science fiction writer, essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers. In the 1960s ...

in 1985 reported that Avalon Hill's ''Incunabula'' and ''By Fire and Sword'' "snaffled off more of my time than I could afford". '' Computer Gaming World'' that year noted the resemblance to Avalon Hill's ''Civilization'' board game and wondered why the company did not call the video game ''Computer Civilization'', and cautioned that because of the lack of map variations or difficulty levels, "the probable solitaire life of the game could be rather limited". It nonetheless concluded, "Incunabula is an interesting and enjoyable multi-player game. The combination of combat, good trading, and diplomacy will give a wide variety of gamers something worth a closer look". In 1990 and 1993 the magazine gave the game three stars out of five.

References

External links

* {{Civilization 1984 video games 4X video games Avalon Hill video games DOS games DOS-only games Video games developed in the United States

Gameplay

Reception

See also

References

External links