Business simulation games, also known as economic simulation games or tycoon games, are games that focus on the management of economic processes, usually in the form of a business. "Pure" business simulations have been described as construction and management simulations without a construction element, and can thus be called management simulations. Indeed, micromanagement is often emphasized in these kinds of games. They are essentially numeric, but try to hold the player's attention by using creative graphics. The interest in these games lies in accurate simulation of real-world events using algorithms, as well as the close tying of players' actions to expected or plausible consequences and outcomes. An important facet of economic simulations is the emergence of artificial systems, gameplay and structures.
There are many games in this genre which have been designed around numerous different enterprises. Theme Park World can be called a business simulation because the goal of the game is to attract customers and make profits, but the game also involves a building aspect that makes it a construction and management simulation. This genre also includes many of the "Tycoon" games such as Railroad Tycoon,Business Tycoon Online and Big Biz Tycoon. Other notable business simulation games include Air Bucks and The Movies.
Trevor Chan is a notable developer of business simulation games, having developed the 1995 game Capitalism which has been described as the "best business simulation game".
Active development of Internet technologies and the growth of the Internet audience in recent years gave a powerful impetus to the development of the industry of online games, and in particular, online business simulations. There are many varieties of online business simulations - browser-based and downloadable, single-player and multiplayer, real-time and turn-based. Among the most notable online business simulations such as Virtonomics, IndustryPlayer and Tycoononline. These three awesome games for one reason or another have lost popularity and player base in recent months.
Simunomics is a great example of new promising business simulation games. The micromanagement aspect of the game has been reduced to simple steps, and with the integration of the community into a virtual city. It makes the market react to the behavior of companies managed by players. The game is free, and has a player base that ranges anywhere between 700 to 1000 active players as of 03/10/2013. Towards the end of 2012, the game developers partially implemented a Stock Market within the game to make it more realistic. The Stock market is functional, but in its early stages and still considered to be in Beta Testing. It is expected that player based companies will be integrated into the Stock Market sometime in 2013.
Read more about Business Simulation Games: Real-world Applications, History
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—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
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