Software Reviews : CASTELLON: A SIMULATION OFDECISION-MAKING INA FICTITIO US DE VEL OPING CO UNTR Y IN LA TIN AMERICA,Version 1.0 Reviewed by Richard W. Slatta,North Carolina State University Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,7555 Caldwell Ave.,Chicago,IL 60648 (telephone: [phone] or 312-647-8822) Year of Publication: 1987 Materials: Three 5.25-inch disks,37-page manual Price: $20 Machine Specificity: IBM PC and compatibles System Requirements: 256K RAM,two drives,color monitor Effectiveness: Fair User-Friendliness: Good Documentation: Fair

Abstract

This simulation permits students to play the role of the president of a hypothetical Latin American republic. Representing a wide range of external and internal problems and pressures reasonably well, it is appropriate at the high school or college freshman level. CASTELLON is slow but thorough. As president of Castellon, the student sets an annual budget and allocates quarterly spending in various areas (defense, trade, foreign policy). At the end of each quarter, the chief-of-staff reports on how interest groups are reacting according to an opinion poll on presidential standing. The president's actions may precipitate a military coup.