Name Game: Mall Tycoon
Platform: PC
Genre: Economic simulation
Developer: Holistic
Publisher: Take 2 Interactive
The official system requirements:
Pentium (r) II 300 MHz
64 MB RAM
8X CD ROM
Video Card: 16 MB
Recommended:
Pentium III 500
128 MB RAM
32 MB Video Card
Official site: http://www.malltycoon.com
Economic simulator as a genre has appeared on PC with one of the first. Why? First, in America, where he developed the first game, the money - a fetish, an object of worship to a greater extent than anywhere else. Secondly, almost any human activity can be reduced to an economic model. And last but not least: a symbol does not require a great performance from your computer: no need to cheat the advanced graphics (as in, say, 3D shooters) and do not need a strong and fast, while AI (such as in the RTS).
In general, your Sim or Tycoon did not just lazy, some gaming companies even specialize in this - for example, unforgettable Maxis, and some, as in the case of Mall Tycoon Holistic, turn to this genre on occasion with slogans like "And we also both know how!" or seemingly no one has ever done Sim McDonalds in zero gravity! ". Here it was that since the advent of desktops we've been given "steer" practically everything you can imagine, from the amusement park (RollerCoaster Tycoon, etc.) to a small island country (Tropico).
Turn finally came, and to the supermarket or no ... super-duper-mega Market. "Mall" - another American invention, there are not going to buy something specific, but for the sake of simply spending money. There, you can easily pull the annual income of the average American. Say it is not so simple? Certainly not: in this "store" has everything from cinema to the dentist office. It was then and appears you are newly made businessman with a small initial capital. Your goal - to build a shopping complex that will attract and restless teenagers and capricious moneybags. Since Mall Tycoon looks in theory.
What we see in practice? Game meets us a colorful picture that demonstrates the life of a large department store, and a jaunty music - just such a play in American supermarkets. Then the menu appears, made in the same lurid style: options (extremely modest means, it should be noted), scripts, free mode.
Opt for a tutorial, which is designed to teach the basics of the game. And before my eyes ... asphalt field at the edges of which sheltered houses twin. And the feeling that all the inhabitants were evacuated in a matter of urgency - no signs of life. Well, the right side of the screen is a colorful menu is also very cheerful. Um, is not very clear what age gamers hoped to attract developers ... And although the wait, no age restrictions - is a shortcut Everyone (ieall 6 years and older)! Something tells me that the kindergarten tot does not know what the gross margin, rating, etc., and some midlevel manager scare this infantile design. Oh, this is my desire to cover anything and everything!
Still, back to the creation of the miracle of our store. Construction begins with the fact that ... We take great stele and the carpet on the tarmac (no, better to put the tile:)) and around the carpet construct the wall. A more interesting detail: when you add a floor to the building, it does not cost you a penny. To be honest, I'm currently building represented as something different. Well, okay, they know better. The building is ready.
Now you can place the stores (or departments): choose the location, type of goods, size (it depends on how many kinds of goods can be sold in this department). For each store you can determine the amount of rent and a percentage of sales, which pays the owner of a supermarket, that is, you. There is also an opportunity for an advertising campaign in the media, to improve the quality of goods and services, recruitment and staff development (only 3 of the profession). I have a lot of amused by the fact that under R & D can be investigated _dvornika_ :))), at the beginning of this narrow specialist for hire available. In addition, there are all sorts of decorations to attract customers: fountains, flowers, etc.
Finally, your miracle-store ready. Construct everything instantly - XXI century in the yard after all:), and then finally they appear ... no, no carious monsters, and buyers. However, the thought about the monster was carrying a grain of truth. Worse, "models" I have probably never seen before. They most resemble ghosts (remember, at the beginning of something all seemed to have died, not a soul on the street - woke up damned): these ephemeral creatures appear out of nowhere, hovering above the ground, simulating the walking, and pass through walls. And this set of sprites must be profitable for your store? What a mess! After recovering from shock, you begin to notice and other graphic design flaws: poor texture, unpretentious objects, bad animation. I note only of the advantages of smoothness and freedom to control the camera.
What is the result? Discouraging conclusion: no game itself, there is a set of features and ryushechek, but nothing that would have united them into one. The impression that the developers quickly blinded from what was at hand, this freak. Cause of failure - this desire to grasp the immensity: the game is equally interesting for all - utopia, and outright trash: I am sure that the models of buyers could make prettier. But if you're obsessed with earning a few million virtual, you can recommend Mall Tycoon. Especially if you've always dreamed of managing a large store, you may not notice the shortcomings of this work. Finally, I think the future interior designers will find this game interesting, as it offers real scope for creativity (and here we have a bed with irises, and there ...). So that Mall Tycoon, of course, not be a hit, but finds his gamer.
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