Online games for money moguls?

May 1, 2009 6:31 AM

I dig "Mafia Wars" for its investment features. Would love to find more games about modern money-making and investing.

I've recently become a fan of Zynga's "Mafia Wars" game, via Facebook. Right now the bulk of the action (fighting battles, collecting loot, etc) is not as much an appeal to me as the accumulation of cash and investment property in the game. An odd side-effect has been that this part of the game engages my brain and I have actually become more productive elsewhere, structuring aspects of the game so that I play less often and maximize the investment return-over-time aspects of the game.

I am looking for other games (preferrably web-based, though I certainly will consider any others - PC games, board games, etc) that are more primarily about wealth accumulation. I do have Kiyosaki's "Cashflow" E-game (PC based) and do like it a lot. And I have seen other board games that are marketed as teaching tools (maybe rightly so) but that I thought were outrageously expensive.

I did see this AskMe thread, but it is from 2005 and almost all suggestions therein are now outdated or gone.

Any suggestions of games featuring financial empire-building (preferably modern)? While I am not as interested in stock market "day trader" fantasy games, I am certainly willing to look into those and any others suggested, since this is a new hobby interest for me.

posted by skypieces to computers & internet (14 comments total)

Capitalism 2 is almost certainly your speed. Not web-based, but highly-rated.
posted by DWRoelands at 7:02 AM on May 1

I haven't checked it out in years, but Wall Street Raider might fit the bill.
posted by dreadpiratesully at 7:23 AM on May 1

I think Eve online has those kinds of aspects.
posted by delmoi at 7:25 AM on May 1

Yeah Eve is, in a lot of respects, a massive online multiplayer economy simulator, with awesome graphics.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:49 AM on May 1

I'm not sure which came first, Mob Wars or Mafia Wars, but they're essentially identical. Mob Wars is played via Facebook, however.
posted by cgg at 7:50 AM on May 1

Oops -- you were already playing the facebook version of Mafia Wars. In that case, add Mob Wars.
posted by cgg at 7:51 AM on May 1

Wall Street Kid for the NES ?
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:55 AM on May 1

Have you played Inselkampf yet?
posted by teabag at 8:07 AM on May 1

Eve and Capitalism II both look awesome, and I intend to test drive them. If I may steer this a bit more after having seen the suggestions so far, I would love to find something that is "entrepreneurial" (i.e. an individual starts a business, handles home finances, builds a team, etc.). Think: a small-business version of "Capitalism".

One of the biggest attractions to tinkering around within Mafia Wars is that I don't have to devote so much time to it that is counteracts the motivational effect I am feeling. I know most people may want a game that sucks them in and is very consuming. I need something that is intriguing, almost educational in nature and won't penalize me for having a real life outside it.

Many thanks so far!
posted by skypieces at 8:18 AM on May 1

Not sure how it compares to other games but World of Warcraft has a complex economy. The Greedy Goblin writes about making money in that game. I know that Warcraft is known for sucking away your life but if your main goal is to play the Auction House then you can do so without even reaching the level cap. It's raiding at level cap which is the most time consuming.
posted by Niomi at 8:23 AM on May 1

I would think that almost any game whose name ends in "Tycoon" would probably tickle the nerves that you're looking to tickle.

There's also Entrepreneur, which might be closer to what you are looking for.
posted by DWRoelands at 10:42 AM on May 1

For something a little more real-life like, although a lot less varied, you might want to try your hand in the fantasy stock market on investopedia. It's about as lifelike as you can get, without using real money. My coworkers and I set up a league in June of last year and ran it through Dec 31st. You can imagine how that turned out. It was REALLY educational though. You can play against "the community" which is kind of more or less on your own, or you can set up a league with friends. It's actually fun, too, and could be what you're looking for.
posted by indiebass at 11:28 AM on May 1

Sounds like you want to play erepublik, which is web based.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:15 PM on May 1

www.hsx.com the Hollywood Stock Exchange

Simulates the stock market but instead you "bet on " movies. Very fun.
posted by mazienh at 10:09 PM on May 1