| |
Designer's Notes |
|
In the 1990s, something very unique was happening in the world. Around a small |
|
neighborhood in Wisconsin, children were simulating countries and economies. |
|
Governments and businesses were established, kids were drawing currencies by hand, or |
|
printing them with old computers using rudimentary software. Both inflation and |
|
deflation occurred, including several instances of hyperinflation. Kids as young as 5 years |
|
old were engaging in diplomacy and making business deals. The game was called City, |
|
but the lines between reality and fantasy were often blurred. Physical battles were fought, |
|
items and services were traded for play money, and social relationships were often |
|
manipulated to improve one's standing in the game. Elections, rebellions, treaties, |
|
business contracts, military conquest, taxes, government regulations, theft, investigations, |
|
court, and more. It all happened in the game. It was a complicated phenomenon that never |
|
happened anywhere else on the planet. |
|
|
|
Kids, of course, can't fully understand every aspect of the game. Even most adults can't. |
|
When I started designing the game at age 9, I only partially understood what I was |
|
creating. As the years went on, more mechanics were added to the game, and rules were |
|
updated as I learned about the world. Despite these complexities, young children can |
|
understand some elements of the game that might surprise adults. Generally, I recommend |
|
that kids can start playing at 5, though there have been several 4-year-olds that have |
|
played. But kids often start getting very creative with the game around the ages of 11 and |
|
12. And I have noticed that teenagers often come up with ideas that adults don't. Each age |
|
group, as well as different personality types, adds their own interesting dynamics to the |
|
game. Kids can both learn and contribute naturally in ways that fit their personalities as |
|
they gain experience. MicroCiv is also more than complicated enough that adults can play |
|
it among themselves, far surpassing the complexity of most other games. |
|
|
|
With the new version of MicroCiv, I wanted to capture the essence of the original City era |
|
as much as possible. Obviously, things have changed since then, and some things can't be |
|
reproduced in their pure form for various reasons. But it has also been improved in other |
|
ways and is now more safe and structured than it was before. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|