Reviewed: December 24, 2005
Reviewed by: Tyler Whitney
Publisher
Viva Media
Developer
Cornelsen Software
Released: November 1, 2005
Genre: Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB: Everyone
8
7
8
6
7.0
System Requirements
Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
Viva Media and Cornelson Software bring us Genius: The Tech Tycoon Game, an enjoyable, yet simplified game, that takes you through the age of inventions from the 19th to 20th centuries As far as I can tell, this title bears no relationship to the past Zoo Tycoon and Railroad Tycoon games, from Microsoft and Take2 Interactive respectively, so please don’t look for similarities here.
Genius: Tech Tycoon Features:
- 5 Locations around the globe: Detroit, Pittsburgh, London, Berlin & Melbourne
- Solve and apply over 100 challenging physics puzzles
- More than 40 types of buildings
- Stunning real-time 3D graphics
- Take your start-up company to a massive multi-national conglomerate
- Complex strategy game based on real people and discoveries
- Excellent replay value – enjoy a different game every time
You begin with a single bicycle shop (we all love bikes right?), as you manage your inventories, factories and so forth, eventually growing into a powerful, multinational corporation. You can choose to start in Melbourne, Australia, Berlin, Germany, London, England, Detroit, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It goes without saying many of these spots are the central hubs of the industrial revolution, most notably the explosion of the auto industry in Detroit, and the monstrous steel works of aptly named “Steel Town” Pittsburgh.
You have to deal with varying levels of resources, terrain restrictions and so forth, all specific to your geographic region. For example, Australia is super rich in natural resources, but because of the harsh terrain, it’s difficult to build. Contrast this with Pittsburgh, which is flat and also has abundance of materials.
You have a steady team at your side to help advise your growing business too. Mr. Hoffman is your key advisor, not unlike a father figure, and will help throughout the game. His own assistant, George, is somewhat annoying and seems to always cause trouble, as he works his way into the business world. Rounding out the other helpers are Mrs. Friedrichs, Cunningham, Mary Rogers, and Henry Wagner. Each have their respective skills, like some better suited to science/research, and others who are more adept at general business management.
Speaking of management, this game is all about resource control, from your workers, to the ore you process. Each building has a certain purpose, that is relayed to you via a clear menu interface. You need to craft some end products though, so being able to link these materials to items like bicycles, automobiles and locomotives, is critical in becoming rich. You can construct harbors and a myriad of roads, bridges and other facilities to connect you to your market as well.
The core areas of advancement include; Engineering (1858-), Thermodynamics (1875-) Optics (1895-), Electricity (1915-), Astronomy (1935-) and so forth. Along the way, you will interact with the greatest minds of our times, men like Thomas Edison and Alfred Braun, to name just a few. You can also throw down some general advancements buildings, like schools, fire departments, parks, cafeterias and more. Think Sim City-lite. Be forewarned, you will have to contend with worker disputes, fires, investment failures and more calamities, but thankfully, Genius: Tech Tycoon won’t leave you to the wolves as it were.
The general A.I. and challenge of the game isn’t that difficult, especially in comparison to monster games like Civilization or the aforementioned Sim City. As long as you stay on top of your various charts, graphs and statistical overlays, along with heeding your advisors warnings, you should come out all right. There is an interesting puzzle element involving some basic math/physics issues, as well as recall ability.
As you read from various technical manuals and newsletters, your “Knowledge” factor in the major areas of industry (Eng, Electrical, Optics etc) will grow after every successful accomplishment. Some of these include identifying the 3 states of water, or the weighing of a gold coin to determine if it’s legit or not, to many other brainteasers-more than 100 in all to be exact.
I was delighted with the overall look and feel of the game. Bright, 3D-graphics greet you at every turn, with a generous palette of colors too boot. The cities and buildings shine and work well, intermixed in their grid like patterns, surrounded by forested areas, rivers and more.
Unfortunately, at times, they edges can look a little grainy and there aren’t any flashy special smoke/shadow effects here. It almost resembles screenshots from the classic Command and Conquer series, specifically in regards to the structures. Sadly, no Tesla Coils here… The general energy on screen is quite subdued, especially in the early days of horse and buggy. Trees don’t sway, throngs of people don’t crowd the streets etc-it’s all about the business.
This game is pretty easy on the ‘ol gaming rig too, requiring only a bear bones 700mhz processor and 128mb of Ram, something that is odd in this day and age of performance hogs, even in the realm of simulation/strategy.
You will first notice the pleasant narrator explaining the basics of the game, who then hands off to your right-hand man, Mr. Hoffman, who also has a rich, comforting, voice. The other advisors and characters in the game also chime in from time to time, accompanied by some text, with little anecdotes or advice, and do a good job of relay important information.
The music is comprised of light piano/orchestral tones, and does a solid job of supporting the entrepreneurial process, without annoying. Always a good thing in my book. It almost resembles Christmas music in some regards, but perhaps I’m just inundated by the times as I write this. Little sound effects like the clank of tools, buzzing of saws and general work hustle/bustle noise, adds something to the ambience. Other than that, it’s pretty sparse effects wise.
Depending on where you start, your path may be harder or easier, but ultimately it ends up roughly the same. You follow similar tech routes and accomplishments, and it seems somewhat linear in that regard, advancing along a set technology line. With no multiplayer and an utter lack of an online community, mainly due to it’s small audience, don’t look for many expansions or mod tools of any kind.
As a matter of fact, many CEOs would be hard pressed to find a more sound business model out there, albeit presented in much simpler terms. Keep your workers housed and happy, while balancing your factory output, and off you are to the land of success.
Genius: The Tech Tycoon Game combines solid graphics and sound with an intuitive approach to understanding the groundbreaking advances in the last 200 years. It’s not too simple that older gamers won’t have some fun, and it’s not too terribly difficult that some grade schoolers won’t be able to grasp. In fact, it might just be one of the few simulation titles that can be played as a whole family; Dad can balance the budget, Mom can design the layout, and the kids can build and terra-form to their heart’s content, all the while educating everyone in the process.
It won’t break the bank either, retailing for a modest $29.99, so head on over to Viva Media and check this quality title out.