Taipan was (and is) a classic role-playing game from the 1980s. 
While not as graphically oriented as some of the other popular games of the time (e.g. Choplifter, Karateka, and Lode Runner), Taipan still managed to capture the imagination of almost every player that laid hands upon it.

Loosely based upon James Clavell's best-selling novel "Tai-Pan", the game lets you play the role of an ocean-going trader doing business in major Asian ports during the mid-1800s. Your objective is simple: make the most money possible by trading and pirating. Based out of Hong Kong, you'll sail from harbor to harbor buying commodities including opium, silk, arms, and "general" goods, and selling them again at a higher price elsewhere.