SimCapitalism
After reading this enlightening critique of the computer game "Caesar III" by Mattheus von Guttenberg today, I have decided that I should (note: "should" is not necessarily synonomous with "will") create my own video game.
Now, I have no familiarity with "Caesar III" or any of the newer simulation video games that endow the player with absolute power over a society of people, but it sounds remarkably similar to a game that I played once many years ago: SimCity.
Games like this are immediately frustrating. The player, tasked with building a growing and thriving city, is obligated to raise taxes in order to finance the construction of EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT in the city. I remember playing SimCity many years ago and thinking, "These must be the laziest people on the planet! Why is it that there is no private construction going on at all in this city?"
After reading Guttenberg's review today, I can see that this genre of games still fails to incorporate the one fundamental component that drives economic advancement the world over: entrepreneurship. In fact, every "SimPerson" in these games is no more than a slave - going to and fro at the behest of the absolute ruler.
So my new game idea would be titled "SimCapitalism." This would be a new addition to the simulation genre that would allow for much easier gameplay. In fact, the player's only task would be to sit back and watch the city build itself!
It's amazing that the world's autocrats-in-training took the personal initiative to: (1) acquire a job to earn money; and (2) go to the store and purchase a game that would satisfy their highest utility. Yet, they completely fail to recognize the role that markets should play in that game.
But then, since they have no choice in schools, what else do you expect?
