Software Reviews : BALANCE OF POWER: Geopolitics in the Nuclear Age by Chris Crawford Reviewed by Dennis Rohatyn and Lukasz Pruski,University of San Diego Publisher: Mindscape,Inc.,3444 Dundee Road,Northbrook,IL 60062 (telephone: [phone]) Year of Publication: 1985 Materials: Diskette,manual Price: $49.95 System Requirements: Macintosh 128K Effectiveness: Good User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Excellent

Abstract

Summary: This program provides a simulation of international relations in which the threat of nuclear annihilation constantly affects all parties involved. The superpowers are in the foreground, but events in many different countries influence diplomatic and military crises which the player(s) must resolve. It includes Beginner, Intermediate, Expert, and Nightmare Levels of play, distinguished both by number and categories of available options and by the repertoire of programmed responses. The object of the game is "to increase your [u.s.] geopolitical prestige and weaken the geopolitical prestige of the Soviet Union," as measured in points, over a 1-8 year hypothetical time span. [Every quotation in this review comes from the instructional manual, which is thorough and extremely useful.] ]