More and more video games are being developed to mirror the realities -- and competition -- of business development. Games such as Lemonade Tycoon, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon, John Deere American Farmer, Vegas Tycoon, and Zoo Tycoon all offer players the chance to make it big -- or fail big -- at their choice of business.
While I give props to John Deere for the rare video game licensing opportunity, I question the proliferation of "tycoon" games. Do we really need to get trump'd again? What might be more interesting than these Sim City-like efforts might the management aspects of sports games such as Madden 2005 and Out of the Park Baseball, which allow players to manage new drafts, players' salaries, stadiums, and concession stands.
Maybe you should play Lemonade Tycoon before you take on the ballpark franks.
Related Stories: | Topics:Management, learning, training, + development, Deere & Company, Vegas Tycoon, Culture and Lifestyle, Games, Hobbies and Pastimes |
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Recent Comments | 4 Total
August 9, 2004 at 1:27pm by Kathryn
Games are one of the best ways to learn. Most games teach unconsciously and teach about a universe neither you nor I would like to inhabit. that said, I don't believe that games have reached near their potential. I believe that so strongly I'm betting the future of my company on it. We are developing games to teach the dynamics of ethics and ethical leadership. Games that generate wins if you: meet your business goal, develop your people, contribute to your community and don't trash the environment. Ultimately you will be able to "compete" with less aware businesses to develop street smarts while keeping your soul. If we don't like the world we've created, then we must create a world we want to live in. What better way to "practice" than in games?
August 9, 2004 at 7:02pm by scarlett
The best game is the Sims - it mirrors real life so you can waste away your own! hdtv
August 10, 2004 at 9:58pm by Dennis
Games like railroad tycoon, lemonade tycoon and others like them has taught me and a lot of those I know about business. The games provide a perspective for a person to be alert in factors that are relevant to our respective field of endeavors. Furthermore, it contributes to developing more skills that we do not realize we will need later.
September 3, 2004 at 1:07pm by kurt squire
well, you know how i feel about the topic, Heath :P. I agree that there's a lot you can learn from games, although i also worry about the proliferation of tycoon games -- most of which are based on the same economic model / game play. even school tycoon basically is the same engine as zoo tycoon, treating each little kid as customers (an interesting idea, in a way).
sadly, the games industry seems to have no problem pushing out clones of successful franchises.