MarkTwain SamuelClemens ComputerGames VideoGames games Simulators riverboat steamboat steamship LifeOnTheMississippi Missippi SteamPower RobertFulton JamesWatt

October 23, 2005 6:41 PM

I've been listening to an audiobook of Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, and the descriptions of being a riverboat pilot got me to wondering: has anybody ever released a riverboat/steamship simulator video game?
posted by PinkStainlessTail to computers & internet (15 comments total)

Shit, I switched my tags with my post title. Sorry, RSS users.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:42 PM on October 23, 2005

This isn't quite the same thing, but you might like the simulation version of Ports Of Call, a remake of a classic Amiga game about shipping.
posted by johngoren at 6:55 PM on October 23, 2005

Check out Virtual Sailor. It’s uses a variety of watercraft and locales. The graphics are reminiscent of the older MS Flight Simulators, but they can still be fun to navigate. The “Eclipse” listed in the add-on boats section provides an image of the paddlewheel, but the larger detail resizes your browser..
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:00 PM on October 23, 2005

Hmm, interesting idea. A few minutes of googling didn't turn up much.

If someone doesn't answer your question, I'd look into flight simulator mods and flight sim fora. I know that there are tank/car, boat, and other non-flying-vehicle mods that can be plugged into flight sim engines, maybe there's one for riverboats.

However, I'm guessing that you're more interested in the roleplaying/recreation aspects rather than just to pilot a riverboat... sorry. It *is* a good idea for a game - there are tons of pirate simulators (the Disney branded Pirates of the Carribean game, which has virtually nothing to do with the movie, lets you play with piloting a pirate vessel as well as interact at ports, &c). I could imagine a riverboat game that could be a lot of fun.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 7:12 PM on October 23, 2005

*You have died of Cholera*
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 7:21 PM on October 23, 2005

Agreed: Great idea, and a great opportunity for Oregon Trail references.
posted by cribcage at 7:36 PM on October 23, 2005

the Disney branded Pirates of the Carribean game, which has virtually nothing to do with the movie

The branding really came after the fact: the game you reference was originally going to be Seadogs 2, but Bethsoft jumped at the chance to get some of that mouse money.

I really am interested in a full blown riverboat pilot simulator and I like your idea about scouring the flightsim boards for mods.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:38 PM on October 23, 2005

Amazon Trail focused on going up the Amazon River via boat. Though parts of it took place ashore, large sections involved piloting a boat through the Amazon and its tributaries. [Not quite what you were looking for, but somewhat related.]
posted by ubersturm at 8:01 PM on October 23, 2005

This won't answer your question, but if you enjoyed hearing about the navigational challenges posed by the Mighty Miss, you might also enjoy Erskine Childers' The Riddle of the Sands. It's a completely different sort of book (fiction, thriller, politico-spy novel) but it had some really fascinating navigational puzzles.
posted by Miko at 8:09 PM on October 23, 2005

Ask this question at http://boardgamegeeks.com, for an analog simulation.
posted by mecran01 at 8:54 PM on October 23, 2005

perhaps you should make one.
posted by delmoi at 9:12 PM on October 23, 2005

perhaps you should make one.

I would if I could, but my programming knowledge begins and ends at a badly executed HELLO WORLD.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:46 PM on October 23, 2005

While not quite what you are asking for, The National Great Rivers Museum has a barge simulator with a few scenarios for getting through the lock and dam. They also have a full scale steamship model. The museum is free and located across the river from St. Louis, MO.
posted by Svenny at 8:01 AM on October 24, 2005

Steering behemothly bulky barge-brethren along at a quarter knot upstream... I think I'd rather play dominos at the senior center :-)
posted by vanoakenfold at 8:52 AM on October 25, 2005

Ship Simulator?
posted by porpoise at 3:37 PM on September 4, 2006