Major Franchises

Simulation Games for Computers

Since the beginning of computers, engineers and programmers have been working on creating on simulation games to train pilots, educate students and entertain consumers. No genre of computer games has a deeper legacy and no genre offers such diverse gameplay options. Simulation games have survived every trend of computer gaming, from RPGs to first-person shooters to real-time strategy games to massively multiplaying online RPGs. Simulation games will likely outlast them all.

History

Simulation games have an illustrious and complex history. They've been around for decades and have more applicable uses than any other type of "game." While this article will focus on simulations available to consumers (PC simulation games), it is important to know what other types of simulation games exist in order to fully understand the development of the genre.

The Early Days

The very first computer "games" were simulators that ran on hardware-specific technology. The first known "computer game" was a CRT missile firing game developed in 1947 by Thomas Goldsmith and Estle Mann. Flight simulators intended for training also appeared in these early years. The legacy of these "games" exists today in the form of military training sims, flight sims, space exploration sims and a whole host of other professional training technologies.

Economic simulation games developed out of database and financial management software that was never intended to be fun and didn't get integrated into the gaming world until the 1980s. Interestingly, today, management sims are amongst the most popular available in the genre. In some sense, any database system that gives users new data based on user-generated information could be considered a primitive simulation game (though most at the IRS would probably argue that playing "database games" isn't particularly fun).

However, these early "games" were hardly games at all and until recent decades, their influence was difficult to chart. In the mid 1970s, mainframes at universities hosted the most simulation games. Air Warrior  became the best of early flight simulation games (though it would be laughably unplayable by today's standards). An early Star Trek simulation game  had appeared a few years earlier. Spaism  was another early mainframe space simulator. However, the genre remained relatively quiet on the entertainment front well into video game's Golden Age.

Development as an Entertainment Medium

The earliest simulation games for personal computers were various ports of the early Star Wars mainframe games. However, in 1982, Utopia became the first full-fledged Sim game. In the following years, four other major games marked the touchstones for the genre well into the 1990s.

Utopia

Utopia

Released in 1982, Utopia  is popularly considered the first PC sim game. Utopia is a two-player only game in which competing players use gold bars to create rudimentary buildings and build a small society. As the island populations grow, each player has to feed and care for his people. As the islands population grows, a players score goes up. When it decreased, the score goes down. Players must deal with randomly generated pirates, rain and resources. The player with the most points at the end wins. While basic, many of Utopia's features were refined and presented more completely in Sid Meier's Civilization series. Utopia is still available via Intellivision's Greatest Hits  packages.

SimCity

SimCity

SimCity  began the city-building simulation craze and established the perimeters for all management games. Even though modern games deal with a whole strata of minutia, they all more or less mirror the click-and-point resource management interface first introduced in 1989 by Maxis designer Will Wright. SimCity was Maxis' first product. The company has since evolved into the most successful producer of simulation games. SimCity has been ported to many consoles and is still available on PC via emulation or in the SimCity Classic pack. The game has led to a series of games that includes SimCity 2000,  SimCity 3000  and SimCity 4. 

Populous

Populous

Populous  is the seminal single-player God Game and one of the most long-living games ever created, with plenty of players even today. Players in the game create a civilization of followers who the players directs to build up castles and fortifications to ultimately wage war against a competing God. The game was unique in that it allowed users some, but not ultimate, control over the in-game sprites. Players can manipulate land and use spells to direct their followers actions, but can not physically inhabit a followers' mind. Though simple, the game is addictive and has spawned two sequels, Populous II  and Populous: The Beginning. 

Civilization

Civilization

Civilization  set the benchmark for two genres of simulation games when it was first released in 1991: historical simulations and nation-building games. Though it was not the first of either genre, it was definitely the most enjoyable and innovative of both, allowing players to build a nation from the dawn of civilization into the space age, practicing diplomacy, developing new technologies and waging war along the way. Civilization has often been categorized as a strategy simulation game. However, the game truly defies nearly all pigeonholes. It has given birth to one of PC gaming's most celebrated series, which contains four main games: Civilization, Civilization II,  Civilization III  and the recently released Civilization IV.  Civ is available today in the Civ boxset. 

Perpetual Evolution

Innovation in hardware capabilities has led to vastly more complex simulation games, creating near endless possibilities for the genre, which has always served to create massive playing environments and ever-more-complex interfacing. The current age of simulations took off in 2002 with the release of The Sims,  one of the most original (and popular) games of all-time. Though not without precedent, the imagination put into The Sims has brought the genre to all-new heights. Its creator, the brilliant Will Wright, has since initiated work on Spore, a game that seeks to create an evolution-mimicking creature-building simulation game.God Games also helped push the boundaries of home simulation games in the mid 90s and early 2000s. During that period, Populous designer Peter Molyneux, who crafted Dungeon Keeper  and later, Black & White,  presented a morally ambiguous style of simulation, a trend that has effected all genres since. Molyneux struck gold again by pushing management sims into the next level of game play during the mid-90s with Theme Park. Molyneux continues to develop innovative games that focus on morality and choice.

The Sims 

Modern Strategy Genres and Games

There are dozens are strategy games released every year and it seems new genres are forged every few months. The 2000s have seen a rash of fantastic simulation releases and the tradition continues today. Perhaps because of its games immensity, the strategy genre has produced the most consistantly solid computer games this decade. Expect "Genetic Simulations" to be the hot new genre in 2007.

Management Simulations

SimCity, Tycoon and More

SimCity 4

SimCity 4  ups the ante for city building games both graphically and with gameplay. Simcity 4 focuses on in-depth regional planning and lets users zoom in to see the results.

Railroad Tycoon 3

Railroad Tycoon 3  is exemplary of the Tycoon series, but manages to shine above the rest. Railroad Tycoon 3 boasts complex economic and travel models that will delight train fans.

The Movies

The Movies  lets players become direction and studio head, shooting and releasing movies, hiring and firing stars and staff, and try to take top place at the awards ceremony.

Wildlife Park 2

Wildlife Park 2  lets players create a creature-filled wildlife mecca.  WP2 ups Zoo Tycoon by allowing users simulataneously moreconstruction freedom and in-game direction.

Historical/Strategy Simulations

Sid Meier, CivCity and More

Civilization IV

Civilization IV  is simultaneously the most complex and fast-paced Civilization game to date. Additions include the ability to spread religion and the "great persons" feature, which allows players to give birth to a number history's greats.

CivCity: Rome

CivCity: Rome  takes its cues from many great strategy games, not the least of them Civilization and Caeser. Players build Rome up from a tiny civilization into a magnificent kingdom, with hundreds of building options along the way.

Sid Meier's Pirates!

Sid Meier's hit Pirates!  came to PC and XBox last year and has stood the test of time. Pirates! is a hybrid adventure-strategy with beautiful graphics and incredible depth. Choose your nationality and talent, draft your ship and get to sea.

Blazing Angels

Blazing Angels  manages to outperform nearly every World War II flight simulator on the market by providing a truly fun multiplayer experience. Pick your favorite specilized flying unit and take to the skies.

God Games

The Sims, Molyneux's work

The Sims: Deluxe Edition

The Sims  is the highest selling computer game of all-time and for good reason. The game is highly addictive, incredibly deep and appeals to a both hardcore and casual gamers. Become obsessed with the life of your Sim and take their career to the next level.

The Sims 2

The Sims  and The Sims 2  are better thought of as companion models than sequels. The Sims 2 brings you closer to the life of your sim and also introduces genetic and inheritance properties missing from the original game. Its been ported to a number of consoles in various incarnations.

Black & White 2

Black & White pc  takes Molyneux's most ambitious series up a notch. Play God as you see fit. Either shower your followers will gifts and joy and reign with an iron hand pledging death and destruction to all those who dare question your power. Personify your rule in the guise of your creature.

Vehicular and Other Simulators

Ships, Trains and the Rest

Ship Simulator 2006

You wouldn't think a ship simulator could really bring much excitement to the table, but somehow Ship Simulator 2006  does just that. Choose from eight ships and navigate the seas delivering your cargos.

Trainz: Driver Edition

Trainz: Driver Edition  attempts to make the rail life a little more glamorous. The game focuses on driving in several different modes. A Driving Mode with ready-made tracks and a Railyard mode for more traditional sim gaming.

Comic Book Creator

All you really need to know about Comic Book Creator  is the name, but if you want some ear candy, know that in addition to creating your own exportable comic books, this game allows you drop your images from maximum customization.

See Also ...