Trade Wars 2002! #
TradeWars 2002 (TW2002) is a groundbreaking text-based multiplayer space trading and empire-building strategy game released in 1991. As one of the most popular BBS (Bulletin Board System) games of its era, it laid the foundation for modern MMORPGs like EVE Online.
Work in progress #
These reference pages are incomplete. The eventual goal is to collect the all the best info available to help players get started and succeed with TW2002. But there’s a lot of stuff to document, and this will be a labor of love for years. If you think something should be added, please contact the sysop through email or Discord.
Gameplay Mechanics #
Players begin as space traders piloting a Merchant Cruiser equipped with cargo holds and basic fighters. The game takes place in a vast galaxy containing hundreds to thousands of interconnected sectors, where players can:
Trading and Economy The core gameplay revolves around buying and selling three main commodities: Ore, Organics, and Equipment. Players dock at various ports to trade goods and accumulate wealth to upgrade their ships and defenses.
Player Alignment Players can choose between two distinct paths:
- Good Traders: Receive Federation protection and can eventually earn an Imperial Starship
- Evil Traders: Can steal from ports and access the Underground, but risk getting caught and fined
Universe Population The game world features multiple factions:
- Human players who can form corporations
- Federation officers enforcing laws
- Ferrengi pirates who ambush traders
- Alien traders who roam space
The game’s innovative design and strategic depth made it incredibly popular during the BBS era, with tens of thousands of players worldwide, and it continues to be playable today through dedicated servers.