Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 18
Construction and
Construction and management simulations (CMS) offer players the chance to build
things, such as anthills or cities, while operating within economic constraints. In
this chapter you'll learn about the gameplay of construction and management, and
consider the unique actions and challenges these games provide. You'll also study
user interfaces in these kinds of games. As an example, we will spend time discuss-
ing
SimCity
, which was the first successful CMS.
Although they do not involve construction, we'll also look at pure business simula-
tions, games that focus on managing economic processes. The section on hybrid
games examines titles such as
Age of Empires
; hybrid games blend certain qualities
of CMSs and war games. Although Chapter 14, “Strategy Games,” addresses war
games, some hybrid games include interesting economic elements as well; we'll
refer to them throughout this chapter where appropriate.
Simulations?
Construction and management simulations (CMSs) are games about processes. The
player's goal is not to defeat an enemy but to build something within the context
of an ongoing process. The better the player understands and controls the process,
the more success she has at building. CMSs typically include both a free-form con-
struction mode, in which the player can build things any way she likes, and
prebuilt scenarios for her to manage.
CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SIMULATIONS
A construction and management
simulation is a game in which the majority of challenges are economic and concern
growth. Construction activity is an essential element of any CMS. Pattern recognition
and exploration challenges may also be present. CMSs avoid physical coordination and
conflict challenges, unless they are hybrids with another genre.
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