Print Shop

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

THESE FINANCIAL TIMES Move over Freddy Laker, Charles Forte, and Rupert Murdoch as computer buffs enter the world of high finance in three new business simulations which recreate the world of airlines, printing, and hotel management. Airline offers you the chance to play Freddy Laker for an afternoon as you decide the number of aircraft to operate, whether to buy or charter, whether to enter into a loan or a fuel contract and the levels of staffing and maintenance. As if this were not enough to worry the would-be international airline tycoon there are also tax demands, strikes, cancelled flights, hijacks, and crashes to be taken into consideration. Autochef casts you as the managing director of a catering company. The forward purchasing of foodstuffs and wines must be carefully considered involving the exchange of vast sums of money. And you'd better make the right decisions for there is an angry organised group of shareholders itching to oust you from the managing director's office. Print Shop is the last of these three business game programs. In it you have to decide the number of staff to employ, the amount of money to be tied up in paper, and the type of paper to be purchased. Airline, Autochef, and Print Shop run on a ZX81 in 16K or on a Sinclair Spectrum. The games cost £4.75 each or £12 for three and can be obtained from London-based Case Computer Simulations.