Business Games

Business Games is a software package published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro (Model A and Model B) and Acorn Electron. It was released in the Acornsoft Education range and includes two business simulation games; Stokmark and Telemark.

Gameplay

Stokmark

Stokmark is a simulation of the stock market. Up to eight players take turns to either buy or sell shares in a choice of four companies. As well as the price, players are given the price-to-earnings ratio and dividend yield. Prices change instantly when transactions are made (usually based on the standard supply and demand principle although there is a random element). After each round a news story is displayed which affects the value of certain shares. After every four rounds, players are awarded dividends on the shares they hold and are ranked on their total current value (of both cash and shares). The object of the game is to make the largest amount of profit.

Telemark

Telemark is a four player game where each player has to make decisions based on the manufacturing of televisions. This includes whether to build or extend factories, spend on improving management or marketing, and setting the price. When the player enters their price, it is not displayed on the screen so other players do not know what their competitors are charging until the end of each round. The game introduces terms and reports such as market share, overheads, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets. The instruction booklet provides detailed instructions on working out the break-even point as well as blank worksheets to be filled out by the players. The winner is the player who has made the most profit after a set number of rounds or the first player to gain more than half the market share for televisions.

World Business

World Business was a weekly half hour features programme on CNBC presented by Raya Abirached. The show covered recent trends in global business, technology, luxury markets and the business of sport. The programme aired in Europe on Friday nights and in Asia on Saturday mornings.

World Business was cancelled after it was revealed that the show's production company was doubling as a public relations firm for Malaysian politicians, including Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. The Sarawak Report, a blog run by Clare Rewcastle Brown, reported that FBC Media had been receiving payments from Malaysian politicians in return for positive coverage, including carrying puff pieces on the programme to improve Taib's international image.

References

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