Business Sims

[sabotai]

I've been in the mood to play some financial/business sims. I played Cap. Plus to death and Cap. II didn't really did it for me. But those are pretty much the only real business sims (but not "Tycoon" games) that I know of. Anyone have any suggestions for some good business sims (preferably ones I can buy online or freeware)?

[Eilim]

I've heard nothing but good things about Wall Street Raider (http://www.roninsoft.com/wsraider.htm) . I played the demo a long while back an remember thinking it was nice, but not nice enough to lay down the cash. Can't remember exactly why, but I think it had to do with the focus on the stock market and not truly "running" a business. Might be worth checking out.

If you find any others, please post your findings here, as I've been looking for a successor to the Capitalism series for a while now.

[path12]

I liked that one that Stardock put out about five years ago.....Corporate Machine I think. More abstract than a strict business sim though.

I hate working enough as it is. I don't need to play a work game.

[Antmeister]

The only ones I can think of are:
Simutrans (http://www.simutrans.com/) - Where you operate a transportation company.
VirtualU (http://www.virtual-u.org/index.asp) - Okay this one is not a business simulation per se, but most schools run like a business.

Both are freeware.

[Antmeister]

dola...

And I like path12's suggestion. You can try out a demo of The Corporate Machine (http://totalgaming.stardock.com/games/?id=tcm) from that awesome game publisher TotalGaming.net (http://totalgaming.stardock.com/) (no DRMs on any of the software and you can put it on any computer you own)

[sabotai]

I liked that one that Stardock put out about five years ago.....Corporate Machine I think. More abstract than a strict business sim though.

I hate working enough as it is. I don't need to play a work game.

Not too worried about how "abstract" a game is (Cap. Plus was hardly a strict sim). I just want a business game that has several industries to choose from, not just one that's the focus of the game. I'll give the demo a look.

I tried VirtualU awhile ago and was a bit "meh" on it. But it has been awhile so I'll give it another shot.

[Lathum]

I tried VirtualU but it was way to tedious

[lcjjdnh]

Wall Street Radier is a great stock market sim. That said, because you are a "radier" in the game, you will be accquiring controlling stakes in companies and will have have the chance to run a company. In terms of actually running a company, your options are limited in the micro sense, but you can make some broad decisions: R&D/Marketing spending (depending on industry), growth rate, dividend rate, fire management, mergers, accquistions, LBOs, greenmail, antitrust suits, etc.

[Izulde]

VirtualU = great idea but shoddy implementation. It has potential to be a lot of fun, but it doesn't quite reach it.

[Izulde]

dola,

There was one business sim I used to play that was a lot of fun, where you laid out the office and production facilities... and you hired and fired everyone, ordered the supplies, manufactured the product etc...

[daedalus]

dola,

There was one business sim I used to play that was a lot of fun, where you laid out the office and production facilities... and you hired and fired everyone, ordered the supplies, manufactured the product etc...Ahem, and, dare I say . . . a possible basis for an Izulde dynasty?!?!?! :D :D :D :D :D

[Neon_Chaos]

dola,

There was one business sim I used to play that was a lot of fun, where you laid out the office and production facilities... and you hired and fired everyone, ordered the supplies, manufactured the product etc...

Capitalism Plus?

[Young Drachma]

He's updated Wall Street Raider in recent months and it's still the same basic game, but lots of improvements.

[Icy]

I would love an updated capitalism or any good business tycoon, where you control propduction, sales etc etc.

I remember how must i enjoyed tycoon games in the past, about managing restaurants etc, but haven't found a good one for ages.

[sabotai]

dola,

There was one business sim I used to play that was a lot of fun, where you laid out the office and production facilities... and you hired and fired everyone, ordered the supplies, manufactured the product etc...

That sounds like a game I played years ago called Free Enterprise.

[Izulde]

Capitalism Plus?

No it wasn't Capitalism Plus which I also played.

You hired individual people with specific personalities and they had all these quirks and traits... and if one got a high enough stress level, they'd go postal on their fellow employees.

Machines could break down, etc.

[Izulde]

That sounds like a game I played years ago called Free Enterprise.

That may have been it... I'll have to do some digging around and see.

[Izulde]

Ahem, and, dare I say . . . a possible basis for an Izulde dynasty?!?!?! :D :D :D :D :D

:D If I can find the game again and if it'll work on XP possibly!

[Neon_Chaos]

That may have been it... I'll have to do some digging around and see.

Yup, I remember it as well, it was most probably Free Enterprise.

[MIJB#19]

That sounds like a game I played years ago called Free Enterprise.Oh man, that brings back memories of my 'freshman' year in 'college'. For one class playing a game of Free Enterprise was compulsory.