What is Strategic Management

Statistics
MGT306 - Strategic Management
Simulation game of Gazillionaire
Interim Report
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Executive Summary
Gazillionaire is a simulation game which is related to business in which the user buys the products at
low rates and sells at high rates. The user can run his own trading company, can work in a business
environment with various competitors. The game needs the development of a business strategy. To
become successful, a few skills are required and also guess work needs to be done to beat the
competitors. In order to win in the game of Gazillionaire, the alien commodities are bought and sold
and decisions are taken based on several factors like – demand and supply curve, monopoly,
exploring, random events and the strong competition. There is a trading competition between the
several players. By playing this game, a person can become a better strategic business thinker by
doing the business and analysing the profit potential and the risks. An active as well as dynamic
strategic mindset is developed, the recognition and capitalization of on demand – driven
opportunities is carried out, the problem solving skills are enhanced and the skills of looking forward
and reasoning back are developed. The strategies used are for the maximization of the profits.

Contents
Executive Summary...............................................................................................................................2
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Details of the game................................................................................................................................4
Conclusions..........................................................................................................................................10
Recommendations...............................................................................................................................16
References...........................................................................................................................................17

Introduction
Gazillionaire is a simulation flash game related to business which has won several awards. In this
game, the user buys at low rates and sells at high rates the made up products ( De Smale, 2015 ). The
user can run his own trading company, can work in a business environment with various
competitors. The game involves the development of a business strategy ( De Wildt, 2014 ). The
game designer asks what a person needs for his money. The game supports extra terrestrial
transactions ( Tragazikis, 2012 ). The game is quirky, friendly and runs smoothly. The game can
become an addiction as several planets are visited in the game. The game gives a very strong
experience educationally and helps one to develop the entrepreneur skills ( Proner, 2017 ). The
game is very adventurous with many graphics and online help sections and tutorials. To be
successful, some skills are needed and sometimes guess work needs to be done to beat the
competitors. It is a smart, challenging and whacky game ( Luna, 2013 ). The strategy is not ruined by
the marketing teams. The game does not have a lot of flash. In order to win in the game of
Gazillionaire, the alien commodities are bought and sold and decisions are taken based on several
factors like – demand and supply curve, monopoly, exploring, random events and the strong
competition ( Linneman, 2018 ). The game is sound financially and works on the principles of
demand and supply. The game based on business strategy was developed in the 1990s, where the
user acts as an entrepreneur, starts a small trading company and builds a business empire
( Łatuszyńska, 2016 ). The goal is to buy at low prices and sell at higher prices. There is a trading
competition between the various players. There are interesting items available for trading, the
graphics are strange and the names are bizarre ( Kim, 2018 ). By the help of this game, a person can
become a better strategic business thinker by doing the business and analysing the profit potential
and the risks. An active as well as dynamic strategic mindset is developed, the recognition and
capitalization of on demand – driven opportunities is carried out, the problem solving skills are
enhanced and the skills of looking forward and reasoning back are developed ( Karapetjan, 2015 ).

The recommendation is based on the strategies used for the maximization of the profits. The game
chosen here is a business simulation game – Gazillionaire. Here, the role chosen is of a space
shipping company’s leader. The strategic situation needs to be analysed and decisions must be made
to have an effect on the business. A user can play 20 turns in the free version.
Central Section - Details of the game
The aim of the game is becoming the richest business owner in the galaxy. It is a turn based game.
Each player gets a turn every week. The beginner level is chosen. There are 6 companies which
compete with the human players selected. Different planets can be selected like Vexx. The various
competitors are – Gizzy shipping ( freewheeling and chaotic ), Trading Corp. IV ( by the Book and
Neutral ), Vandergriff Ltd. ( Cautious Old guard ), Puffer Inc. ( Naïve Start – up ), Roke Transport ( Risk
Taker and Innovative ) and Hoff Meister ( Ruthless and Aggressive ). A spaceship can be chosen for
purchasing. An example is – The Globulizer ( which costs 120,000 kubars, has a light weight and is
fast , 7 – kuarp turbocharged engine is present and need 4 crew members for its operation, has 30 –
ton fuel tank and seating capacity for 7 passengers but 80 – ton cargo bay is a drawback ). Another
example is WormShuttle ( 12 crew members for operation , cargo bay small – 75 ton ) , Stinger XII
( fuel tank small – 20 tons ). We choose Kegger which has a cost of 120,000 Kubars and is a transport
vessel which is big, has a carrying capacity of 150 tons cargo and 35 tons fuel. It needs 2 crew
members for operation and has 3 – Kuarp engine but it can carry only 1 passenger. A loan of 120,000
kubars can be taken from Mr. Zinn but an interest of 4 % per week is required.
The various stages of the game are shown in the Figure 1 to Figure 12.

Figure 1
The Figure 1 shows the various levels at which a user can play. The various levels are – Tutorial,
Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Expert and Master. We choose beginner initially.

Figure 2
The Figure 2 shows the various planets to which the user can travel to buy and sell goods. Each
planet has a different weather and environment and different business scenarios.

Figure 3
There are 6 competitors which are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 4

The various spaceships available are shown in the Figure 4. Each spaceship has different properties
based on fuel capacity, crew members, load capacity , cost etc. A spaceship is chosen as per the
requirement.
Figure 5

Figure 6
Figure 7

Figure 8
Figure 9

Figure 10
Figure 11

Figure 12
Conclusions
The Table 1 shows the schedule of activities.
Table 1
Week 2 – Week 4 The game started gradually, more features were added
and the complexity of the game increased.
Week 5 The actual game was started and competition against
other allotted group was done. The commodities were
sold on one planet each week while taking care of
maintenance, costs, loans, salaries etc
Week 6 – Week 11 The commodities were sold and profits earned yet on

another planet.
In week 1, initially all the 7 companies are at the same level. The winning company must reach
5,000,000 kubars. A passenger is picked initially. The money is 1000 in the starting. So, money is
borrowed from the bank i.e. 25000. Then, the items bought are Lava Lamps ( 56 tons ) and
polyester. The features studied and explored while buying are weather, news etc. The planet is
explored properly like Ooom. Now, if the products show a market price more than what the user
paid, then it is sold and a profit is seen. The products with a higher profit percentage are searched
and are bought. Next, the fortune is read like Soothsayer. Then, we go to Stye and sell the ship
auction and win it. But if the performance is seen, it is going down. So, now some items are sold,
money is borrowed if less. Also, an insurance is bought at low premiums. Then, we go to Bass and
visit a Stock Brocker to find out which stock market is shooting up. Then, fuel is bought, the crew is
paid and the taxes are also paid.
The Figure 13 to Figure 21 shows the company history for week 3 to week 11 which gives a
comparative study for various companies.

Figure 13
Initially, we went to Pyke. A loan was taken. Then, the supply was checked. The maximum % is seen
for Lava Lamps and polyester and also their worth is checked. For Ooom also, the similar values are
checked. Money is borrowed and Lava lamps, gems and polyester are bought. Then, we go to Ooom.
After week 2, not much progress is seen. The planet is explored and all the 3 products are sold and
the loan is also paid back. Then, the exotics, moon ferns and Jelly beans are bought. After reading
the fortune, the money is deposited in bank. Next we go to Stye as many X fuels are present in Stye.
In Week 3, a good hike is seen. The exotics, moon ferns and Jelly beans are sold. Also, babel seeds ,
whip cream are purchased. The planet is explored. Some money is borrowed. Next comes Franc ship
auction. In week 4, a fall is seen. Then, babel seeds and whip cream are sold. The gems and oxygen
are bought. Then , a loan is taken and an insurance agent is bought. Then, we go to Bass. For week 5,
a fall is seen. Then the gems and oxygen are sold. Theh stock broker tells that Xeen exchange has
shot up. So, we buy diapers and whip cream as they have large profit margin. Also, the fuel is bought
as it is cheap here. The payment is done to crew, taxes are paid and the bank is paid, Then we go to

Pyke. The week 6 shows a rise. Some amount of loan is paid back to Mr. Zinn. An insurance is also
bought. Then we go to Bass which has a lesser travel time. In week 7, a fall is observed. The Stye
stock exchange shows a strong buy and hence it is bought. Some money is withdrawn as a long
distance is now needed. The week 8 and 9 ( money withdrawn from bank ) show a rise, week 10
shows a fall ( Ooom , pay crew wages after taking from bank ) and week 11 shows a rise again ( loan
paid back ).
Figure 14

Figure 15
Figure 16

Figure 17
Figure 18

Figure 19
Figure 20

Figure 21
In this game, a maximum of 8 companies can compete at a time. The business environment is inter –
galactic and based on buying and trading of goods. The economic concepts like capitalization, profit
margin, overhead cost, compound interests get developed by playing this game. The complicated
scenarios created help to develop good problem solving skills. A timely feedback is given for any
action of the user and helps to develop entrepreneur abilities. It is basically a goal – oriented re-
enactment of the real world scenarios in the form of a simulation game.

Recommendations
The supply chart is an important part to be taken into consideration. If an item is purchased , then its
benefit potential and stock needed are considered. If the profit potential is good, then the supply
chart is searched for low supply % at a planet. To find an item with high profit potential as well as
low supply % is a tough task. If we are unable to find any such items, then we auction the items
which have a low value of profit potential. Estimations need to be made and risks need to be taken
in such cases. The market exchange values also need to be considered. If an upward pattern is seen,
then good contribution must be made. If a descending pattern is seen, the offers must be sold. If a
stock rises continuously for a month, the next week chances are that it will rise.
In starting, it is to remain 50,000 kubars below the credit limit. Anything which we cannot stand to
pay, must not be offered. The time and money spent to travel to different planets must be saved. It
will be good to buy and sell fast instead of keeping the items for long. There is a restriction on the
amount of load that a ship can hold. This also needs to be taken care of.

References
De Smale, S., Overmans, T., Jeuring, J., & van de Grint, L. (2015, December). The effect of simulations
and games on learning objectives in tertiary education: A systematic review. In International
Conference on Games and Learning Alliance (pp. 506-516). Springer, Cham.
De Wildt, L. A. W. J. (2014). On the Subject of Play: Digital Game-Play as Models of Ideologies.
Karapetjan, G., Massana, M. D. M. T., Gallard, V., Meulemans, S., Stępień, M., & Thys, S.
(2015). Business board game (Doctoral dissertation, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Escola
Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Vilanova i la Geltrú).
Kim, S., Song, K., Lockee, B., & Burton, J. (2018). What Is a Game?. In Gamification in Learning and
Education (pp. 15-23). Springer, Cham.
Łatuszyńska, M. (2016). Experimental research in economics and computer simulation. In Selected
Issues in Experimental Economics (pp. 151-169). Springer, Cham.
Linneman, T. (2018). BMGT 499.05: Strategic Managment. Cell, 406, 239-2921.
Luna-Marín, M. (2013). Análisis del juego de simulación empresarial Gazillionaire en el colegio
Badalonés en el aula de Formación Profesional (Master's thesis).
Proner, J. (2017). The typology of digital games and their ability to educate an individual. Marketing
Identity, 5(1/1), 364-375.
Thinking, C., & Learning, D. TITLE Career Activity File K-12: School-Based Enterprise. PUB DATE 2000-
00-00 NOTE 79p.; Produced by the Oklahoma Department of Career and.
Tragazikis, P., Kirginas, S., & Gouscos, D. (2012). Digital games for entrepreneurial learning,
innovation and creativity: examples and evaluation criteria. International Journal of Innovation and
Regional Development, 4(3-4), 314-337.