CE8214 Fall 2008 Assignment: Games as Simulations

Due October 15, 2008, printed, in class.

THIS LINK: http://nexus.umn.edu/Courses/ce8214/Assignment1.html

Play at least one transportation game from the list below. Describe the underlying models within the games (i.e. how does the game economy work (supply, demand, exchange, competition), what are the incentives and disincentives for players, what are the strategic interactions). Compare the underlying models with the real historical situation that the game is modeling. Present your results in the form of a paper of about 5 pages single-spaced that can explain the findings for a gamer, transportation professional, or academic.

List of Games by approximate difficulty

Easy

• TransAmerica (rules)
• Metro (rules)
• Ticket to Ride Europe (rules)
• Rail Baron (rules)
• Air Baron (rules)

Medium

• Railroad Tycoon (rules)
• China Rails (rules - see Empire Builder for most rules)
• Empire Builder (rules)
• Thurn and Taxis (rules (in WordPerfect format!)
• 1870 (rules)

Hard

• 1835 (rules)