RSS Feeds
retro
Wall$treet, Indeed: Financial Games of the '80s
Posted by Maggie Greene at 3:30 AM on September 29, 2008
I've mentioned the unfortunately named Stephen M. Cabrinety Collection blog a couple of times, but I really do love it — I'm always curious to see what gems will be dredged up from the archives. Following on the heels of a post from Owen on five games to play during a stock market crash comes a post showing what (some) people were playing during the financial downturn of 1987. In addition to some less stimulating titles from 'Blue Chip Software,' we get the fantastic box art of Wall$treet and the dismal sounding Black Monday, among others:
That's right, a game about the stock market crash of 1987, made in 1987. By current standards 500 points in a day is just a hiccup, but back in the early days it was enough to fuel a whole game. Wonder if there will be a game soon called "The Big Bailout", featuring real-time Henry Paulson supplication controls. Anyway, at least the current financial situation isn't very dire for computer-based games, sales being up 43% and all. Guess people may not want to play a game about the fall of the financial system during the fall of the financial system, but I wish they would. It's a great opportunity to teach and engage with a current problem that is definitely predicated by the playing of financial games in the late-80s, okay maybe not.
It's a fun look back at some not terribly scintillating-sounding titles (but leaping brokers? C'mon).
Financial Woes [How They Got Game]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
kilikafinal
Posted 3:43 AM 29/9/08
all future stock games will include the big bail out.
kilikafinal
Kenofthedead
Posted 3:35 AM 29/9/08
I'm just waiting for that Segagaga sequel and localized for the States.
Kenofthedead
Mike's Stalker
Posted 4:12 AM 29/9/08
I sense a sequel! Or rather a port. Big bailout should be included along with anguished stock prices.
Mike's Stalker
kathartik
Posted 4:02 AM 29/9/08
the big bailout should only be deployable via the konami code
kathartik
Hamsfork
Posted 4:01 AM 29/9/08
I think that is the best box art I have ever seen.
Hamsfork
DarthVegan
Posted 4:25 AM 29/9/08
Millionaire was fun. We used that one in middle school to learn about the markets.
That said, I learned a lot more about buying and selling from trying to read the galactic markets in Elite.
DarthVegan
matterask
Posted 6:15 AM 29/9/08
Ports of call?
matterask
matterask
Posted 6:15 AM 29/9/08
Oil imperium on Amiga... and that game where you we're the boss of a shipping company.
I want emulated Amiga games!
matterask
Orionsaint
Posted 6:53 AM 29/9/08
Mom!!! Mom!!! Can I have money for Wall$treet the game? Puh-lease!
Orionsaint
Ares
Posted 7:16 AM 29/9/08
I liked Wall Street Kid on the NES :)
Ares
TradePro
Posted 10:25 AM 29/9/08
500 points was a lot higher percentage move back then, more like 2000-3000 DJI points today.
TradePro
Netnavi
Posted 11:56 AM 29/9/08
So there were games that taught you about how to trade in the stock market? I really missed out. I'd be rich right now if I even knew how to get into the market. The terms and stuff just go over my head and I get confused when you have to deal with money. I get scared to even put my money out there like it's gambling. Though IF I knew how to do it I would have made a fortune with Nintendo this past year. *grumble*
Maybe some of these "kid" games (why were stuff for kids more educational back then? )could teach me real simple like and I could get in the market before the stocks go back up, though it's not like the stocks are exactly cheap for the ones I would buy.
Netnavi
MariettaFeardie
Posted 3:58 AM 29/9/08
Is that Bob and Dave on the cover of Wall$treet?
MariettaFeardie