Reviews (36)

Review abstracted by Capalive.com
Professor Thomas Kosnik,
Consulting Professor, Stanford School of Engineering, and Lecturer, Harvard Business School , Technology Today, CNBC-TV Cable
"Capitalism is a world class, hands-on learning experience which I've used at Stanford School of Engineering and Harvard Business School. Gamers not only learn the subtleties of growing an entrepreneurial business but also learn about leadership and team building necessary in any business situation." "Capitalism is very realistic and will allow the dynamics to change depending on whether you're selling a cola product, which is sort of a low tech-branded consumer good, or whether your selling consumer electronics or a PC."

Professor Drew Fudenberg
Harvard University
"This game does an excellent job of modeling many of the key aspects of modern business. Not all aspects of it are realistic, but enough of them are that many sensible strategies are encouraged. In particular it's gratifying to me to see that the game rewards thinking about sources of long-term competitive advantage, be it from brand recognition, low production costs gained from learning-by-doing (a nice touch!), a monopoly on high quality inputs, or a big technological lead."

Businessweek, October 21, 1996
Capitalism isn't just for those who aspire to be the next Michael Dell or Sam Walton. It can be a fun and useful exercise for anyone who wants to test their entrepreneurial mettle without, for once, taking any risk. Players can choose to compete against computer-controlled rivals in four different industries: farming, manufacturing, raw material mining, and retailing. For a truly adventurous and time-consuming game, players can mix and match industries as captains of giant conglomerates. As in the real world, players compete locally, in one city, or fight it out on the global stage.
With so many possibilities, Capitalism is an intense strategy game, much like chess, where players must constantly think ahead. As such, it could easily overwhelm novices. But by adjusting several factors--competency and managerial style of the computer-controlled rivals, for example, can be varied from very aggressive to conservative--gameplay can be suited to various styles and speed. The game even allows a player to hire presidents to manage the day-to-day operations of different divisions so the player can concentrate on the big picture.

Far Eastern Economic Review, September 26, 2002
The mass market isn't the only audience for Chan's games. Like Virtual U, Capitalism has made the leap from game room to classroom. Because of its high degree of realism, the game has been used by professors at institutions like Harvard and Stanford Universities to help students learn basic business principles. Chan is hoping that Restaurant Empire and Hotel Giant will also be adopted for training and education. "Simulation games are a fun way to learn about anything," he says. "They prove that computer games aren't just about shooting things but can also be educational."

CNN - 22nd May 2002
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN Correspondent
Some guys have all the luck. They have the billion dollar market cap, the brand, and the empire, while the rest of us spend our lives toiling away in cubicles with no chance to ever run the show. That is until now. Even the desk jockey can claw his way to the top in "Capitalism," the game.Hong Kong game developer Trevor Chan just released the follow-up to the award-winning original, but the objective is the same. Move your assets to turn an upstart into the most profitable company in the world. First-time players can choose a challenge like, the world in your hands, where you manage a research and development lab out to post annual revenues of $400 million, and as you take on the competition, that's when the real drama begins.But "Capitalism" is no Business 101. Critics call it a deep involving game that could test even the sharpest business document. In fact, it's been used as a simulation exercise for business students at Stanford University.

Nice game but has some frustrating points.
Ok first off I think the first Capitalism title had a much better AI.In this title my computer opponents seem to flounder.Their stock price remains in the 10$ range while mine skyrockets to the 3000$ range.I leave plenty of options open to the computer but it does not take advantage of them.

Fire disastors are a pain in the neck.You will be informed that one of your buildings has been gutted by fire and will tell you what city.There seems to be no way to tell what you had going on in that building or even where in the city the building was.You are forced to check the entire map for a paved over spot and then guess what you used to do there.

Research is also annoying.If you hire someone to oversee your research they will often change what you are researching after it has finished its' alloted time.This would not be all bad except it changes what you get informed when the research is complete.For instance, say I am researching Cakes for 5 years and my scientist decides when it is done I will research Car.When the research is done I will get a message that, " Your research in Car is complete."It should be telling me that my Cake research is done.

Research also does not always work for me.Sometimes when the research has completed its' alloted time I will see no improvement whatsoever.

There is also an extreme lack of scenarios.Only 5 I believe.Global Domination is not one of them either.

The graphics were not all that great but that is not what I focus on the most in a strategy game.

I give the game 3 stars.The local competitors do make the game slightly challenging and I can overcome some other problems by painstakingly writing down on a pad of paper.

Features

• Real-time strategy game set in 15th- through 18th-century Europe
• Play the medieval campaigns of Jeanne D'Arc to the massive wars of Napoleon
• Intuitive interface and combat system
• Lead any of 140 nations with historical leaders and national research
• For 1 to 8 players using Internet or LAN connection

Reviews (62)

Very cool game
If you like history and computer strategy games this then EU2 is for you.In this game you take control of ANY nation that existed between 1420 and 1820 (that means the big ones, like England, France, Spain, etc. - and also strange ones like the Manchus, Cherokee, and the Byzantine Empire) and guide it to great power status through war, diplomacy, politics, economics, religion, and culture.Now, the graphics aren't the flashiest, and the controls and menus might take a little while to figure out, but once you master the controls this game becomes very addictive.

Make sure you get the latest patch, to fix any bugs that might be lurking in the game.

Great, In Depth Game
This game is for those of us looking for a little bit more of a thinking-strategy game. While most strategy games center around building up armies as quickly as possible, this game centers much more around building a successful civilization. The fact that it is in real time gives it some advantages over the Civilization series in that it is not quite as tedious. The game also takes place in the real world, with the players playing as real countries that existed historically. Historical events add spice to the game. The game lets you control many different aspects of a civilization. Not only are military and expansionist aims represented, but how much freedom you give your people, what economic system your country will be, and what role nobles, serfs, or the middle class will play in your country are only a few of the things you get to control.

There are only a few problems with the game. The graphics aren't the best in the world, which is not that big of a deal, depending on what you are looking for in a game. It is a little buggy (the game freezes once in a while), so save your game often. The game can get a little boring if you are not playing as one of the major world powers. And lastly, the choices of diplomatic maneuvers are limited, and don't represent the wide ranging options diplomats have in real life.

Despite these downfalls, I recommend this game to anyone looking for something different from the typical RTS games.

Editorial Review

Sid Meier's name is synonymous with outstanding games, particularlyturn-based strategy games. From the original Civilization toColonization to Alpha Centauri, Meier has been behind some of thebest games ever made. Now we can add Civilization III to the list. Thethird installment in Meier's signature series offers all the outstandinggameplay featured in the first two games while including new features andrefinements that keep the series fresh and engaging.

Civilization III offers 16 playable civilizations, and each has its ownstrengths and bonuses. The game begins in the year 4000 B.C., when yourcivilization is nothing more than a primitive tribe, and each turn progressesthe game forward in time. You manage growth, military production, citydevelopment, diplomacy, and scientific research as your civilization grows froma single village to several towns to a continent-spanning metropolitan sprawl.The fun is in deciding whether to research writing or the wheel, whether tobuild a musketeer to take out an encroaching enemy pikeman or direct your cityto work on the culturally significant Sistine Chapel. There are five ways to winthe game, ranging from wiping out the other civilizations with military power todefeating them through cultural dominance, which is one of several new victoryconditions.

Fans of Meier's other turn-based games will find the same addictive gameplaypresent in Civilization III. Building off the gameplay are several newadditions, specifically the new cultural rating and the new resource managementoptions. Every turn, each civilization earns culture points based upon how manywonders and other culturally significant structures are built within its cities.The higher the culture rating, the faster your civilization's borders grow. Ifyour border extends to an enemy city, it's possible to capture that city withoutshedding any blood; the city's citizens will be attracted by your culture andwillingly rebel.

The other big change is that you must collect raw materials in order to buildcertain units. For example, oil and rubber are required to build modern units,and if those resources aren't within your territory, you'll need to negotiatewith other civilizations for them. And because the game's negotiation process isvery deep and involved, you may find yourself cut off from key raw materials ifyou're at odds with other civilizations, which, in turn, will weaken youmilitarily.

The AI powering rival civilizations is quite good, and is capable of negotiatingcomplex arrangements with both your civilization and other civilizations. Thesenegotiations run from simple trade agreements to complex mutual protectionpacts, and it's not uncommon to find an enemy civilization taking steps toisolate you from the rest of the world.

There are a few minor issues with the game, most notably with unit imbalancesand the tedious endgame, which can drag on forever. These are minor problems,however, and don't detract from the overall experience. Fans of Sid Meier'sother games, or anyone looking for a fun and challenging gaming experience, oweit to themselves to pick up Civilization III. --P. Meyer

Pros:

• Enemy AI is very impressive
• New additions really add to the experience
• Very addictive gameplay

• Some unit imbalances
• Endgame is a little long-winded