Video game:The Seven Cities of Gold

Publisher Electronic Arts released Seven Cities of Gold in 1984. The classic strategy game transports players into the midst of the Age of Exploration. The year is 1492. Players assume the role of a Spanish explorer commissioned by the King and Queen of Spain to lead an expedition into uncharted territory. Players receive a fleet of four ships, one hundred men, and a set amount of gold, food, and weapons. They then set sail to discover the New World. Once they land in the Americas players explore the new land, meet and interact with Native American tribes, find treasure, and discover well-known American landmarks. Players may lead the expedition in any way they wish. They may focus on exploration and discovery or they may aspire to find riches in order to please the King and Queen and gain wealth and status. Players may choose to make peace and trade with Native Americans or they may choose to raid and plunder villages. Decisions do have consequences as players gain a reputation based on their actions. A bad reputation may make tribes immediately hostile and ambushes more common, but plundering villages is the fastest way to gain riches. It is up to the player to decide the nature of their expedition. The game also features randomly generated maps for players to explore, adding to the replayability of the game. Seven Cities of Gold was a commercial success and received critical acclaim at the time of release. Critics praised its open-ended approach, use of real-life situations and open-world design. Seven Cities of Gold inspired countless videogames including Sid Meier's Pirates! and Railroad Tycoon and is considered a classic in computer gaming.