Mad Games Tycoon

Pros

• Provides an authentic feeling window into the world of game development
• One of the most complex and nuanced indie simulators around
• Virtual reviews and press coverage are a blast to read

Cons

• Offers little guidance in how to proceed
• Early game can be oppressively hard

Mad Games Tycoon is a simulator that puts you in charge of your own virtual video game studio, and it does a great job of capturing both the thrills and the frustrations of working in the industry. This is a game that doesn't pull any punches, both in the density of its systems and the level of inherent challenge. It's also the kind of game that could only be dreamed up by a developer. There's an air of authenticity to the simulation aspects of Mad Games Tycoon, but once you start to understand the labyrinthine interrelated systems at its heart, it can be a lot of fun to play.

And while the learning curve is steep, Mad Games Tycoon mercifully starts you off with a modest operation to manage. You start off as a poor indie developer working out of your garage, but continued success can lead you to becoming one of the biggest developers or studios in the world. The game is particularly savvy in how it adds new complications with each step up, layering system after system as soon as you start to feel comfortable with how things work and asking you to manage an increasingly gargantuan number of different variables. By the time you're at the end game, your operations will cover multiple development studios, PR departments, QA testers, and motion capture and voice actors. It also feels like a glimpse into video games history, as you start off in the early 80s and make yourself all the way forward into the huge corporate culture that now defines AAA game development.

The variety of the systems here are impressive enough to be overwhelming. Creating a game isn't just about finding the right people for the job and balancing your books. You also get to name your titles and determine their length, genre, and game engine. There's a lack of transparency in these systems, but half the fun is about figuring out what works and what doesn't. The success or failure of your games is virtually represented through reviews, ratings, sales, and even awards. These little bits of flavor add a whole lot of much needed character to the game. While the graphics are colorful and somewhat silly, they can also be rather static, and there isn't a lot of personality in your company's day to day operations.

Ultimately, how much enjoyment you get out of Mad Games Tycoon is going to come down to how much patience you have and how frustrated you get by failure. One bad release is enough to tank your studio and end up on a game over screen, but players willing to persevere will find one of the densest, most complex, and engaging simulations on the market today.

Pros

• Provides an authentic feeling window into the world of game development
• One of the most complex and nuanced indie simulators around
• Virtual reviews and press coverage are a blast to read

Cons

• Offers little guidance in how to proceed
• Early game can be oppressively hard