Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
AIR BUCKS (Ver. 1)
(I) Impressions; Edward Grabowski; 1992; **
Int/Land/Op-St
1
Ahistorical, clumsy and slow, the struggle to achieve commercial air hegemony just was not worth the effort. No effort was made to simulate the actual trans-oceanic air routes, and the economic game was characterized by inexplicable responses to rational decision-making -- recommended as an economic tutor for the paranoid schizophrenic.
AIR BUCKS (Ver. 1.2)
(I) Impressions; Edward Grabowski; 1993; **
Int/Land/Op-St
1
This upgrade improved certain elements and added better graphics. Consider it as medium surgery; it helped, but the patient was still comatose.
AIRLINE TYCOON
(I-95 CD) Monte Cristo/Spellbound; xxx; 2000; UNRATED
Int/Op
xxx
Airline management in a world of three other competitors.
AIRPORT TYCOON
(I-95 CD) Global Star/Krysalis; Tim James; 20000; *
Int/Land-Air/Tac-Op
1
The economics of commercial air travel was executed in a fashion akin to O'Hare Airport in the midst of a four foot snowstorm. The joystick options worked erratically, dooming an otherwise mediocre design to the dregs of computerdom.
AMERICAN DREAM: THE MANAGEMENT
SIMULATION
(I) Blue Chip; Jim Zuber; 1986; UNRATED
Int/Op
1
A detailed simulation with the player acting as the CEO of a robot manufacturing company.
A-TRAIN
(I) Maxis/Artdink; T. Nagahama; 1992; **
Int/Op
1
SimCity on rails; actually a port from a Japanese company (ArtDink), its emphasis was on economic profits and virtually excluded fun.
A-TRAIN CONSTRUCTION SET
(I) Maxis; xxx; 1993; UNRATED
Int/Op
xxx
A scenario editor for A-TRAIN.
BALANCE OF THE PLANET
(M/I) Accolade; Chris Crawford; 1990; *+
Int/Str
1
Political correctness run amok; try to achieve ecological success through economic interdependencies. It had all the appeal of being force-fed raw sewage.
BANK PRESIDENT
(I) Lewis Lee Corporation; xxx; 1985; UNRATED
Adv/Op
xxx
A simulation of banking before the era of super-mergers. The game specialized in product lines, salaries, redemption of stocks and bonds, as well as investment portfolios. Setting loan rates and speculations added to the "fun".
BARON
(Ap/A) Blue Chip; Jim Zuber; 1984; UNRATED
Int/Op
1
A financial simulation specializing in real estate investments and speculations.
BASEBALL MOGUL '99
(I-95 CD) GTI/Infinite Monkey; Clayton Dreslough; 1998; ****
Int/Op
1
A well-executed simulation of running a major league baseball team -- from hot dogs to player contracts. This was an extensive program, but one which was barely marketed to the public. The manual could have used an extensive rewrite with more examples and tutorials added.
BIG BIZ TYCOON
(I-95 CD) Animedia; xxx; 2002; UNRATED
Int/Op
1-2
A quasi-SIMS simulation involving the workplace. Are you a worthy successor to Dilbert's pointy-headed boss?
BIG BUSINESS
(I) DigiTek; xxx; 1991; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
A comedic view of commodities trading; bundled with WALL STREET, a more serious perspective.
BLACK GOLD
(I) Electronic Zoo/Rainbow Arts; xxx; 1990; UNRATED
Int/Op
1-3
Economic competition in the oil industry.
BUSINESS SIMULATOR
(I) Reality Development Corporation; xxx; 1986; UNRATED
xxx
1-2
The equivalent of a college level course in business administration, the player begins with a start-up company and attempts to develop a profitable multinational corporation.
CARTELS & CUTTHROATS
(Ap/C/I) Strategic Simulations, Inc.; Dan Bunten; 1981; UNRATED
Int/Op
1-6
One of the original business simulations -- more game than reality.
C.E.O.
(I CD) Artdink; xxx; 1995; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
A business simulation starring James Coburn as the cameo executive who gives advice as the player attempts to maximize profits and drive the competition into bankruptcy -- probably done during the period when Mr. Coburn's arthritis was acting up.
CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
(At) Mach-ina; R.C. Chiofolo; 1984; ***+
Int/Land/Str
1
An economic simulation of the British Empire, this was a text-intensive product. One of the first spreadsheet simulations, it provided an interesting challenge in the early days of computer gaming.
CLIPPER
(At) Program Design, Inc.; John Bayes; 1982; *
Beg/Nav/Tac
1
An "educational" simulation (with all the baggage that entails), this simulation represented a voyage of an 1850 clipper ship attempting to deliver its cargo and maximize its profits. Its high point (?) lay in teaching basic compass direction (0-360 degrees).
CORPORATE MACHINE
(I-95 CD) Stardock Systems; Brad Wardell; 2000; UNRATED
Adv/Op
1-8; M
A sequel to ENTREPRENEUR, only more playable as a game.
DETROIT
(Am/M/I) Impressions; David Lester; 1994; **
Int/Op-Str
1
Great concept/mediocre execution, this simulation of automobile manufacturing suffered from a dearth of playability coupled with an overly restrictive economic environment. The world wars acted as a brake on automobile manufacturing, while in reality, defense contracts expanded manufacturing plant capacities. Similar design decisions elsewhere made this an exercise in frustration, and a "coulda been"...
DIRECTOR'S CHAIR, STEVEN
SPIELBERG'S
(I-95 CD) Knowledge Adventure, Inc.; xxx; 1996; UNRATED
Int/Op
1
Create, write and produce a hit movie -- but watch out for the Hollywood accountants. No information available on gameplay.
EMPIRE BUILDER
(I) MPG-Net/Mayfair/Tantalus; xxx; 1992; UNRATED
Beg/Land/Econ
Multi; M
An on-line version of Mayfair's railroad building boardgame, this was much more of a game than a simulation, but it could be great fun. Construct rail lines across the United States and compete for cargoes in a profit maximization game.
ENTREPRENEUR
(I-95 CD) Stardock Systems; Brad Wardell; 1997; UNRATED
Adv/Op
1-8; M
A well-done game of economic competition, but don't expect to shake it out of the box and play; a master's in business administration might help.
FACTORY MOGUL
(I-95 CD) Monte Cristo; xxx; 2002; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1
GADGET TYCOON re-released without any warning label that it is the same product.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
(xxx) Avalon Hill; xxx; 1982; UNRATED
Int
xxx
A game of foreign currency speculation.
GADGET TYCOON
(I-95 CD) Monte Cristo; xxx; 2001; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1
An economic manufacturing enterprise simulation.
GLOBAL DILEMMA: GUNS OR BUTTER
(M/I) Mindscape; Chris Crawford; 1990; **
Int/Land/Op-St
1
A graphically dull, but economically (albeit unrealistic) detailed simulation of warfare and its impact on society. Some interesting concepts were marred by an otherwise undistinguished game.
HOLLYWOOD MOGUL
(I) DeVuono Games; Carey DuVuono; 1994; UNRATED
Int/Op
1
A game of Hollywood production and finance.
INSIDE TRADER
(I) Cosmi; xxx; 1987; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
A real-time game of stock trading, but one whose underlying theme was too heavy on gaming and not enough reality-based options.
INVISIBLE HAND
(I-95) 2am.com; xxx; 1998; UNRATED
Int/Pol
1-multi; M
An on-line game of contemporary economics.
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MAKE MILLIONS
(M) Scarborough System; G. Richard Freyling, Arthur Lewbel and Tom
Snyder; 1986; UNRATED
xxx
1
Begin with $250,000 and try to make $7 million through stock transactions and five vertically integrated companies.
MARCO POLO
(I CD) I-Motion; xxx; 1995; UNRATED
xxx
1-4
History without fun, caravans without élan; this simulation offered no combat and not much gameplay.
MARKET MOGUL
(I) Datamost; xxx; 1984; UNRATED
Int
1
A text-only business simulation in which the player must become CEO of a conglomerate. With ten stock companies and four commodities, the player must be elected president of each company in order to win.
MERCHANT COLONY
(Am/ST) Merit/Impressions; xxx; 1991; **
Int/Nav/Op-Str
1-2
Hudson Bay and the British East India Company -- the age of Trader Barons. The game was marred by poor graphics, a poor interface and marginal historical accuracy.
MILLENNIUM AUCTION
(I) Eidolon; xxx; 1994; UNRATED
Int
1
A light-hearted view of art auctions and big business.
MILLIONAIRE
(Ap/I) Blue Chip; Jim Zuber; 1982; UNRATED
Op
1
A stock market simulation, with fifteen companies on the board available for trading.
MILLIONAIRE II
(Ap/I) Blue Chip; Jim Zuber; 1987; UNRATED
Op
1
The successor to MILLIONAIRE, it added margin and short sales.
MONEYBAGS
(I) Cosmi; xxx; 1988; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
A business simulation similar to INSIDE TRADER.
MONOPOLY
(I-95 CD) Hasbro; Louis Castle; 1995; ***+
Beg/Econ
1-5; M
A well-executed, albeit slow to execute, version of the famous boardgame.
MONOPOLY DELUXE
(I) Virgin; xxx; 1993; UNRATED
Beg/Econ
1-4
A computer version of the famous boardgame.
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OIL BARONS
(C) Epyx; xxx; 1985; UNRATED
xxx
1-8
A simulation of oil exploration with a cardboard gameboard.
OLIGOPOLY
(I) XOR; xxx; 1988; UNRATED
xxx
2-6
Seize control of the multinational corporation and rule the world.
PATRICIAN
(I) Readysoft/Triptychon; xxx; 1993; **+
Int/Land-Nav/Op-Econ-Dip
1
A game of economic trade in the Hanseatic League (fourteenth century Germany). Suffering from an awkward interface and manual, it was more than superseded by MERCHANT PRINCE.
PIZZA TYCOON
(I) MicroProse; Stefan Kurth and Thomas Langhanki; 1995; *+
Int
1
A simulation of the restaurant business, it concerned itself with the 3Ms of business -- marketing, menus, and the Mob. As a design concept, it had potential; as executed, it was execrable -- as a pizza, it could be described as "half-baked".
PORTS OF CALL
(Am) Aegis; Rolf-Dieter Klein and Martin Ulrich; 1987; UNRATED
Int/Nav/Op
1
A graphically well-done game of maritime commerce.
POWERHOUSE
(I) Impressions; David Lester and Chris Foster; 1995; **
Adv
1
Control one of four megacorporations in an attempt to dominate the energy marketplace. Once again, an interesting concept ruined by sub-mediocre execution -- in a word, dull, dull, dull.
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RAGS TO RICHES
(I) Interplay; Thomas R. Decker and R. Leigh Ardrey; 1993; **
Int-Adv
1
Two real-time simulations of economic challenge -- 1929 and modern. Potentially interesting, but its real-time aspect proved ludicrous and the game itself was saddled with inconsistencies, poor play values and design decisions which quickly relegated it to the bargain bins.
RAILROAD EMPIRE
(I) ArtDink; T. Nagahama; 1990; UNRATED
Int/Op-Str
1
Attempt to build a transcontinental railroad within one year.
RAILROAD TYCOON
(Am/M/I) MicroProse; Sid Meier; 1990; *****
Int/Land/Tac-Op-Str
1
A moveable feast, this simulated the growth of the railroad from 1828 onwards in various areas (Eastern U.S., Western U.S., England and Europe). Richly detailed and graphically inspiring, it was a gamer's game -- both in terms of economics and the mechanics of railroads.
RAILROAD TYCOON DELUXE
(I) MicroProse; Sid Meier and Bruce Shelley; 1993; ****+
Int/Land/Tac-Op-Str
1
Upgraded to VGA graphics, this offered offers eleven new engines plus maps for South America, Africa and the entire United States. Sadly, the map of Great Britain had been deleted. While the program had been upgraded in terms of graphics, the laying of track was more difficult in the newer version. Regardless, both versions are recommended and I still play them. Recently re-released as part of a "shovelware" package -- CONQUER THE WORLD.
RAILROAD TYCOON II
(I-95 CD) G.O.D./Pop Top Software; Phil Steinmeyer; 1998; ***+
Int/Land/Tac-Op-Str
1-4
The newest version, finally available for Windows 95. The tutorials were overly complex and track construction was more difficult; tunnel construction and train right-of-ways were lacking. On the other hand, most of the world was included and the program was extremely deep. Still, I missed the sheer exuberance of the originals.
RAILROAD TYCOON II:
THE SECOND CENTURY
(I-95 CD) MicroProse/Pop Top Software;
Phil Steinmeyer; 1999; ***+
Int/Land/Tac-Op-Str
1-4
A sequel with newer trains.
RAILS WEST
(At/Ap/C) Strategic Simulations, Inc.; Martin Campion; 1984; ****
Adv/Land/Op-Str
1-4
A simulation of corporate empire-building and greed before the terms were co-opted by the savings and loan institutions. Marginal graphics and some internal bugs detracted from this otherwise fascinating picture of railroad building and finance in the latter half of the 19th Century. Lacking the graphic splendor and detailed train mechanics of RAILROAD TYCOON, its economic modeling was even more detailed.
RUTHLESS.COM, TOM CLANCY'S
(I-95 CD) Red Storm; xxx; 1999; UNRATED
Int/Op
xxx
A game of economics and intrigue based on the series by Tom Clancy.
SPECIALIST
(I) V Ware; xxx; 1987; UNRATED
xxx
1
Try to keep the stock you specialize in functioning within an orderly market through judicious use of supply and demand. Make the market, and make it right.
SPECULATOR
(I) OCO Software; xxx; 1985; UNRATED
xxx
1-6
Futures commodity trading in the pits. React to news reports and market conditions; similar to TYCOON.
SPECULATOR
(I) Capstone Simulations; xxx; 1993; UNRATED
xxx
1
A tongue-in-cheek game of real estate ventures.
SQUIRE
(Ap/I) Blue Chip; Jim Zuber; 1985; UNRATED
Op
1
A business simulation involving trading in stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities.
STALIN'S DILEMMA
(I-95 CD) N/A; Ed Bever; 2001; NOT YET RATED
Int/Str
1
Designed as an educational tool in order to illustrate the options of Soviet industrialization between 1928-1942.
TRAFFIC GIANT
(I-95 CD) JoWooD; Hans Schilcher; 2001; NOT YET
RATED
Int
1
TRANSPORT TYCOON
(I) MicroProse; Chris Sawyer; 1994; **+
Int
1
Economics through transport; but this was much more of a toy than a valid economic simulation (environments included Europe, toy land, South America, and a desert)..
TRANSPORT TYCOON DELUXE
(I-95) MicroProse; Chris Sawyer; 1995; **+
Int
1
The sequel for Windows.
TROPICO
(I-95) Gathering of Developers/PopTop Software; Phil Steinmeyer; 2001; ***+
Int
1
An amalgam of city-building (e.g., CAESAR, PHARAOH) and the SIMS, this was a game of Central American despotism. The player was the new leader and had to maximize his goals (which could include both nation-building as well as personal aggrandizement); among the attributes one could assume were Tourette's syndrome (not overly charismatic). This product was well-designed, but politically incorrect to the nth degree. A combination of the board game JUNTA and the computer game HIDDEN AGENDA in real-time, its largest flaw may well be that it was a "one-and-a-half trick" pony.
TYCOON
(Ap/At) Blue Baron; Jim Zuber; 1984; UNRATED
Op
1
An improved version of MILLIONAIRE.
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VIDEO STOCK MARKET
(Ap) Computer Adversary; Greg Berckes; 1985; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1-4
A stock market simulation with six companies.
VIRTUAL CORPORATION
(xxx) Microforum; xxx; 1995; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
No information available.
WALL STREET
(I) xxx; xxx; xxx; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
Bundled with BIG BUSINESS; no information available.
WALL $TREET RAIDER
(I) Capstone; Michael Jenkins; 1990; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1-4
Take control of an ailing corporation in a market economy and make it profitable.
WALL STREET TRADER 2000
(I-95 CD) Interplay; xxx; 1999; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1-5; M
A real-time strategy economic model -- its strength was the lively scenario; its weakness was the lively scenario (which tended to detract from pure economic decision-making).
WIZARD OF WALL STREET
(I) Synapse; xxx; 1985; UNRATED
xxx
xxx
Stock sales (including short and margin options) with 12-24 stocks in six industries.
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ZAPITALISM
(I) LavaMind; Steven Hoffman; 1996; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1-6; M
An economic simulation in a fictional island environment.
ZAPITALISM DELUXE
(I-95 CD) Ionos/LavaMind; Steven Hoffman; 1997; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1-6; M
The new and improved version.
ZOO TYCOON
(I-95 CD) Microsoft/Blue Fang; xxx; 2001; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1
The economics of operating a zoo-for-profit
ZOO TYCOON: DINOSAUR DIGS
(I-95 CD) Microsoft/Blue Fang; xxx; 2002; UNRATED
Int/Econ
1
The economics of operating a zoo-for-profit, albeit stocked with prehistoric beasts.
1830: RAILROADS
AND ROBBER BARONS
(I/CD) Avalon Hill/SimTex; Francis Tresham (boardgame); 1994; ***+
Int/Land/Op-Str
1-6
A computer version of the classic boardgame of railroading and finance, it may be too faithful. If you know the boardgame, this version is highly recommended; if you do not, the documentation may appear somewhat opaque in terms of successful gameplay.