Free idea

Redoing an old spectrum game called Millionaire based on Micro ISVs.



There was spectrum game called Millionaire, a strategy/management game where you had to try to become a millionaire by running a software business. Each month you had to decide how to spend your time. There was the black hat stuff, like visiting Honest Harry for his shady deals, and positive options like working on the products and trying to push your software to retailers. Then there were financial decisions, how much to spend on advertising, and what quality of cassette (yes, really... cassettes) you wanted to use to distribute your software. The game took all of your decisions, factored in a massive amount of luck, and calculated sales figures and various special events (like being picked up by a magazine, or being sued because Honest Harry sold you some bad IP).

If it was rebuilt today based on how Micro ISVs are run, the core concept of the game could still work, it would just need a bit of expansion. It could be fun and addictive, and probably even a little educational. Do you use that little bit of GPL code, employ that iffy SEO company, or do you put more time into the product? How do you want to price your software, how much do you want to spend on Adwords this month, do you want to write a diggbaiting list for your blog?

The main problem with this idea is probably the very limited audience, I'm not sure it would appeal to people who don't remember the game Millionaire, and who don't run or hope to run a Micro ISV. I did say it was a free idea, not a good one...

I'd actually love to do this, I can think of reams of content and features, and I'd really like to play it, but I know that it probably wouldn't be a good use of my time. It's nice to dream, though.