Most often, any economic games are compared with the world’s most famous game of this genre, «Monopoly» by Charles Darrow. And therefore, first of all, you need to understand how business simulators differ from this Titanic of the world of board games. Any business simulator is much more suitable for the formation of the mindset of a team player, an enterprising entrepreneur who knows how to compete profitably and cooperate profitably, and is not only an entertaining, but also an educational game.

The main disadvantage of the «Monopoly» game is its main goal: rationally using start-up capital, achieve ruin and bankruptcy of other players and take a dominant position. Unlike it, the «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators are not focused on direct competition. The basis of the «Monopoly» mechanics is walking in a circle and collecting cards of the same color, developing your business by investing money in its growth and ruining other players. In business simulators, it is possible to open joint businesses. It is only important to be the first to fulfill your own goals, and not harm other players.

The next well-known competitor to the «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators is Robert Kiyosaki’s «Cash Flow» game, first published in 1996. It is based on the principles of studying the basics of cash flow and accounting and has only two levels: the level of accumulation of initial capital (the so-called «Rat Race» or «Squirrel Wheel») and the level of creation of material and spiritual wealth («Fast Track») . The main disadvantages of this development: limited opportunities, outdated basic principles of increasing capital through the purchase of real estate only through mortgage lending without taking into account changes in the refinancing rate and lending rates. In addition, Kiyosaki’s game is not adapted to the conditions of the CIS.

Below I will compare «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators with the best economic games on the market («Cash Flow», «Rat Race», «Flixa», «Monopoly») in several dozen key parameters.

Game set execution, design

«Monopoly». There are options for every taste and budget. Basically an expensive beautiful gift edition, a field on hard laminated cardboard. Cartoon design. Figured metal chips and plastic meeples. New editions have electronic cash registers. «Cash Flow 101». Expensive beautiful gift edition, field on hard laminated cardboard. Cartoon design. Figured plastic chips. The new edition has the ability to use a mobile application for keeping records. «Finance and Investments». Expensive beautiful gift edition, field on hard laminated cardboard, 600 cards with rounded corners on thick cardboard. Strict design. Figured plastic chips. «The Oligarch’s Cash Flow». Large self-assembly box made of hard cardboard. 500 color cards on thick cardboard. Soft laminated playing field. Discreet design. «Rat race». Big box. Cartoon design. Soft laminated cardboard fields, hard box and black and white cards on colored paper. «Flixa». A set of cards in a small self-assembly cardboard box. Bright design.

What is included in the game?

Finance and Investment

Box, foam pad, 2 dice, game board, rules booklet with quick start instructions and glossary, 30 player sheets and 10 market sheets, 6 pencils, 1 pen, 1 felt-tip pen, 6 chips, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser and main component:

• 24 stacks of unique game cards, 600 in total, tightly interconnected with each other. Many are invariant (act under certain conditions):
  • depends on the level of the game;
  • depend on the profession of the player;
  • depend on the rank of the player;
  • depends on the gender of the player;
  • depend on the state of his affairs, the presence of certain assets / liabilities, children, completed trainings, courses;
  • depend on education.

Oligarch Cash Flow

Box, cardboard box, 2 dice, game board, rules booklet with quick start instructions and glossary, 30 player sheets and 10 market sheets, 6 pencils, 6 chips, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser and main component:

• 17 stacks of unique game cards, 500 in total, tightly interconnected with each other. Many are invariant (act under certain conditions):
  • depends on the level of the game;
  • depend on the profession of the player;
  • depend on the rank of the player;
  • depends on the gender of the player;
  • depend on the state of his affairs, the presence of certain assets / liabilities, children, completed trainings, courses;
  • depend on education.

Business Simulator Cash Flow

Box, 2 dice, game board, game bills, game rules booklet, player and market slips, pencils, 6 chips, sharpener, eraser and 5 stacks of 270 unique game cards, some of which are tightly interconnected with others, some are invariant.

Cash flow 101

Box, 2 dice, cardboard tray, game board, playing bills, game rules booklet, player and market forms, pencils, 6 chips and a set of colored chips, sharpener, eraser and 4 stacks of 140 game cards, loosely interconnected with each other.

Rat race

Box, dice, game board, game bills, rules booklet, player and market slips, pencils, chips, sharpener, eraser and 450 unique game cards in 8 stacks. The game balance is broken: some cards come out too quickly, others, on the contrary, slowly. Very frequent repetition of situations.

Monopoly

Box, 2 dice, cardboard lodgment, playing field, playing bills, game rules booklet, metal chips, plastic houses and hotels, about 100 unique game cards in two piles, several dozen street cards.

Flixa

Box, rules booklet, player and market slips, 100 unique game cards.

Game Rules

Only «Monopoly» can boast of the simplest rules. Next in terms of difficulty are «Flixa» and «Rat Race». Medium difficulty rules for «Cash Flow» and «Cash Flow Business Simulator». These games may require a host. The business simulators «Finance and Investments» and »

Most often, any economic games are compared with the world’s most famous game of this genre, «Monopoly» by Charles Darrow. And therefore, first of all, you need to understand how business simulators differ from this Titanic of the world of board games. Any business simulator is much more suitable for the formation of the mindset of a team player, an enterprising entrepreneur who knows how to compete profitably and cooperate profitably, and is not only an entertaining, but also an educational game.

The main disadvantage of the «Monopoly» game is its main goal: rationally using start-up capital, achieve ruin and bankruptcy of other players and take a dominant position. Unlike it, the «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators are not focused on direct competition. The basis of the «Monopoly» mechanics is walking in a circle and collecting cards of the same color, developing your business by investing money in its growth and ruining other players. In business simulators, it is possible to open joint businesses. It is only important to be the first to fulfill your own goals, and not harm other players.

The next well-known competitor to the «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators is Robert Kiyosaki’s «Cash Flow» game, first published in 1996. It is based on the principles of studying the basics of cash flow and accounting and has only two levels: the level of accumulation of initial capital (the so-called «Rat Race» or «Squirrel Wheel») and the level of creation of material and spiritual wealth («Fast Track») . The main disadvantages of this development: limited opportunities, outdated basic principles of increasing capital through the purchase of real estate only through mortgage lending without taking into account changes in the refinancing rate and lending rates. In addition, Kiyosaki’s game is not adapted to the conditions of the CIS.

Below I will compare «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators with the best economic games on the market («Cash Flow», «Rat Race», «Flixa», «Monopoly») in several dozen key parameters.

Game set execution, design

«Monopoly». There are options for every taste and budget. Basically an expensive beautiful gift edition, a field on hard laminated cardboard. Cartoon design. Figured metal chips and plastic meeples. New editions have electronic cash registers. «Cash Flow 101». Expensive beautiful gift edition, field on hard laminated cardboard. Cartoon design. Figured plastic chips. The new edition has the ability to use a mobile application for keeping records. «Finance and Investments». Expensive beautiful gift edition, field on hard laminated cardboard, 600 cards with rounded corners on thick cardboard. Strict design. Figured plastic chips. «The Oligarch’s Cash Flow». Large self-assembly box made of hard cardboard. 500 color cards on thick cardboard. Soft laminated playing field. Discreet design. «Rat race». Big box. Cartoon design. Soft laminated cardboard fields, hard box and black and white cards on colored paper. «Flixa». A set of cards in a small self-assembly cardboard box. Bright design.

What is included in the game?

Finance and Investment

Box, foam pad, 2 dice, game board, rules booklet with quick start instructions and glossary, 30 player sheets and 10 market sheets, 6 pencils, 1 pen, 1 felt-tip pen, 6 chips, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser and main component:

• 24 stacks of unique game cards, 600 in total, tightly interconnected with each other. Many are invariant (act under certain conditions):
  • depends on the level of the game;
  • depend on the profession of the player;
  • depend on the rank of the player;
  • depends on the gender of the player;
  • depend on the state of his affairs, the presence of certain assets / liabilities, children, completed trainings, courses;
  • depend on education.

Oligarch Cash Flow

Box, cardboard box, 2 dice, game board, rules booklet with quick start instructions and glossary, 30 player sheets and 10 market sheets, 6 pencils, 6 chips, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser and main component:

• 17 stacks of unique game cards, 500 in total, tightly interconnected with each other. Many are invariant (act under certain conditions):
  • depends on the level of the game;
  • depend on the profession of the player;
  • depend on the rank of the player;
  • depends on the gender of the player;
  • depend on the state of his affairs, the presence of certain assets / liabilities, children, completed trainings, courses;
  • depend on education.

Business Simulator Cash Flow

Box, 2 dice, game board, game bills, game rules booklet, player and market slips, pencils, 6 chips, sharpener, eraser and 5 stacks of 270 unique game cards, some of which are tightly interconnected with others, some are invariant.

Cash flow 101

Box, 2 dice, cardboard tray, game board, playing bills, game rules booklet, player and market forms, pencils, 6 chips and a set of colored chips, sharpener, eraser and 4 stacks of 140 game cards, loosely interconnected with each other.

Rat race

Box, dice, game board, game bills, rules booklet, player and market slips, pencils, chips, sharpener, eraser and 450 unique game cards in 8 stacks. The game balance is broken: some cards come out too quickly, others, on the contrary, slowly. Very frequent repetition of situations.

Monopoly

Box, 2 dice, cardboard lodgment, playing field, playing bills, game rules booklet, metal chips, plastic houses and hotels, about 100 unique game cards in two piles, several dozen street cards.

Flixa

Box, rules booklet, player and market slips, 100 unique game cards.

Game Rules

Only «Monopoly» can boast of the simplest rules. Next in terms of difficulty are «Flixa» and «Rat Race». Medium difficulty rules for «Cash Flow» and «Cash Flow Business Simulator». These games may require a host. The business simulators «Finance and Investments» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» have rules optimally balanced in complexity with step-by-step instructions for a quick start of the game. The rules are accompanied by a dictionary of economic terms and historical facts, the theory of cash flow. Together with these simulators, upon purchase, a special video course is provided — learning how to play the game.

Possibility to challenge the rules

Only in the business simulators «Finance and Investments» and «Cash Flow of the Oligarch» there is an opportunity to sue (the mechanism has been worked out) and challenge the situation that has arisen.

Game field

The game «Flixa» has no field, no dice, no chips. The playing field is formed from game cards laid out in a special way. The games «Rat Race» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» have a soft laminated cardboard field. The games «Monopoly», «Finance and Investments», «Cash Flow» have a field on hard, high-quality laminated cardboard. These games look more expensive. For the business simulator «Finance and Investment», an additional field is produced on an expensive high-quality velvet fabric oversized.

The fields in the games «Cash Flow», «Cash Flow Business Simulator», «Rat Race» have two levels: «Rat Race» («Squirrel Wheel») tracks for creating initial capital and «Fast Track» for fulfilling dreams and creating wealth . The fields of the business simulators «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» have four tracks in accordance with the cash flow quadrants. Levels: «Employee», «Entrepreneur», «Business» and «The Path of the Oligarch». These games have a variant of the game without a field.

Levels of the game

(the presence of the so-called «fast track»)

In «Monopoly» and «Flixa», there are no levels and no fast track. There are two levels in the «CASHFLOW 101» game. The second one is called the fast track. You can only buy businesses and dreams on it. In «CASHFLOW 202», you can still capture businesses with a white raider takeover and open franchises. Playing on the fast track is highly regulated and boring for professionals. Dreams do not contain expenses, which is the worst investment mistake! The fast lane game in «CASHFLOW» copies the principles of Charles Darrow’s «Monopoly» game. The game «Rat Race» can have 2-3 levels, depending on the version. These levels are presented in the form of additional small circles and additional sets of cards. The «Cash Flow Business Simulator» has two levels and a fast track. On it, the player has many more options compared to Robert Kiyosaki’s game: buying an enterprise, opening a franchise network independently and jointly, white takeover, black takeover, banking with three banks, stock trading, venture capital investment. All dreams have an expendable part, which is closer to reality, the process of achieving victory is more complicated.

In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators there are four levels corresponding to the cash flow quadrants. There is no fast track. Robert Kiyosaki’s so-called «Cash Flow» fast track in this business simulator is replaced by the second and third levels of the game «Entrepreneurship» and «Business». You can buy dreams and businesses at these levels. All similar features of the «Cash Flow Business Simulator» have been taken into account and improved. These simulators provide an opportunity to try yourself at a higher level of the «Path of the Investor (Oligarch)» (fourth level). It features fundamentally new opportunities that reveal the principle of thinking of the oligarchs: deals to invest in entire sectors of the economy, political struggle and the creation of cultural values.

Ability to optimize the game

It is possible to use cards of the «CASHFLOW 202» game version and the «CASHFLOW Business Simulator» along with the field from the standard «CASHFLOW 101» game. «Monopolies» of different versions are incompatible. «Flixa» is released with two additions «And the Crisis struck!» (25 cards) and «Let’s Do Business!» (20 cards), which significantly increase the gaming possibilities. «Rat Race» versions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 may be compatible. In the business simulators “Finance and Investment” and “Oligarch Cash Flow”, all cards are numbered and divided into piles. This allows you to introduce scenarios and trends into the game, exclude or introduce various opportunities into the game (for example, you can easily exclude all real estate or the entire MLM from the game). The ability to introduce new piles into the game and upgrade the game. High game invariance.

After sales service

Only EAP «Igrika» provides buyers of its games with updates and distribution of useful information, advice on playing the game, release of add-ons, additional training on playing the game, seminars for the exchange of experience for presenters, conferences and advanced training courses. With the purchase of the game, each presenter can join the Community of Game Practitioners, where there is a constant exchange of experience between the leading games.

Updates

«CASHFLOW 101» has only one option: to buy an add-on to the basic set and add «CASHFLOW 202» cards. The design of the game has recently been updated for the first time in two decades. The «Rat Race» is replenished every year with a new version with the next serial number: 101, 202, 303, 404, etc. Theoretically the versions are compatible. «Flixa» receives an expansion to the game every 2-3 years. The «Oligarch’s Cash Flow» business simulator has constant updates. Since the game is released in mini-runs of 50-100 copies, this allows you to correct inaccuracies and improve cards and rules. The fifth edition of the game is called «Finance and Investment» and has received a significant list of updates. The cards of the fifth edition fit the fields of all the previous ones. Monopoly is conservative and in no hurry to update the mechanics that have been proven for decades. However, various versions are released with new designs and new settings.

Gambling

The «Rat Race» is the most gambling game. The struggle for assets is going on with the maximum intensity of passions, there are many illegal operations in the game: bribes, bribery, dirty deals. Particular attention is paid to sales policies. «Monopoly» has a high level of excitement, you need to compete hard with other players for a place in the sun. In the «Flixa» game, it is impossible to harm other players, as a result of which the excitement is average, arising only due to price fluctuations in the real estate and securities markets, there are no illegal operations. There are practically no illegal operations in «Cash Flow», they are not encouraged, the excitement is low. In the business simulators «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» there is low excitement at the beginning of the game, illegal operations are not encouraged, but they are presented in sufficient volume. There is a criminal path for people with a special temperament and lack of conscience. Thanks to these simulators, you can test your future partners for honesty. High excitement at the end of the game, when it becomes possible to influence various spheres of society: politics, internal affairs, economy and culture.

Number of participants

«Monopoly» can be played by 2-6 people in the table version and 2-8 in the card version. In general, the optimal number of players for any economic game is no more than 5-6 people. Otherwise, the dynamics of the game drops dramatically. However, all other games have a stated number of players between 2 and 10.

Cooperation between players

In the «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators, as well as in the «Flixa» game, interaction between players is encouraged. Loans and agreements between players are allowed, cooperation and joint achievement of success are encouraged, the player has the right to hire another player to draw up his report, conduct business, etc. Some transactions are possible only with cooperation. In «CASHFLOW 101», player interactions other than buying and selling assets are prohibited. There is no cooperation in «Monopoly». You need to compete hard and ruin other players. In the game «Rat Race» is possible, but difficult to implement.

Analysis of deals and opportunities

Least of all opportunities for analysis in the game «Monopoly». The choice of purchased cells depends only on the player’s luck: whoever runs first will buy it if there is enough money. It is almost impossible to analyze the benefits from transactions. The only principle in the game is to buy what you can, build what your means allow. In the game «Rat Race» there is a choice of piles according to your financial capabilities. The cards analyze the Cost/Income ratio. In the Flix game, the profit from investments at the current moment of the market and the risk of investments are analyzed. The game simulates the live movement of the stock market and price fluctuations in the real estate market. The game «Cash Flow 101» is focused only on fundamental analysis (expensive / cheap, profitable / unprofitable). The player can choose cards from only two piles. The game «Cash Flow 202» is focused on the technical analysis of price trends over time (you need to buy an add-on). The widest opportunities for analyzing transactions are presented in the «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators. At the first level of the game, it is safer to invest using fundamental analysis (expensive / cheap, profitable / unprofitable). Therefore, at the “Employee” level, there are only three stacks of cards with deals that are convenient for this type of analysis (four in “Finance and Investment”). With each subsequent level, more and more opportunities and market news are added, according to which it is possible to carry out a fairly accurate technical analysis (trends, trends, waves). It also becomes possible to analyze the risks from investments, to insure assets. The cards contain information for both fundamental analysis and technical analysis. For simpler variants of the game, it is enough not to read additional information.

Audit in the game

In the «CASHFLOW 101» game, the auditor in the game only checks the reports. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators , the auditor not only checks the reports, but also monitors the time of execution of transactions, and also has the right to fine the participant if errors are found in the reports. Due to the audit, control over the correct filling of reports is created. There are no auditors in other games.

Personal financial statement

In the «Finance and Investment» business simulator the most simplified forms of the player and the market. «Oligarch Cash Flow», «Cash Flow Business Simulator» have detailed complex forms, while «Rat Race» and «Cash Flow» games have simple complex forms. To play «Flixa», just a sheet of paper is enough. There are no forms in «Monopoly».

Time limits (downtime)

Most economic games do not have time limits. For example, even though «Monopoly» is a fast game, it can reach a dead end and last indefinitely if the capital in the game constantly flows from one player to another. In all my games in the rules, the host and players are asked to keep a close eye on the time. Game participants learn to quickly make the right decisions, allocate their time, plan their actions.

Professions

In the «Rat Race» game, professions are too adapted to the reality of the CIS, too natural for the game. Very difficult start due to low income and long swing. In the «CASHFLOW» game, professions are simply translated from English and are far from the reality of the CIS. In the «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulator, there are six ranks of starting professions, conditionally adapted to the reality of the CIS. There are three professions in each rank, there is a job market, a mechanism for choosing professions has been worked out, and it is possible to change professions in the game. In the «Finance and Investment» business simulator, in addition, there are two additional ranks with 6 more professions. Professions are not taken into account in other games.

Getting income

In «Monopoly», active income in the form of salary, a fixed amount, is issued at the beginning of each game round. Passive income is generated from rent payment when another player enters your sector. In «Cash Flow» and the «Rat Race», only work is considered as the main source of active income, there are no others. Passive income is formed by investing. In «Flixa», active income is a fixed amount of savings given out at the beginning of each hand. Passive income is generated from real estate and business. In the “Finance and Investment” and “Oligarch Cash Flow” business simulators, income depends only on the player. During the accounting period, the player receives as much as he earned with the help of his assets and active sources of income. Active income (earnings) is possible not only from work, but also from several different sources from MLM to freelancing. There is an opportunity to develop and build a career. Passive income is formed by investing.

Additional training, qualifications

The “Oligarch Cash Flow” business simulator contains advanced training opportunities: trainings, self-education, advanced training, development of employees of your enterprises and corporate training. There is an opportunity to get a new and additional education, take refresher courses and trainings, change a profession. There is an opportunity to build a career as a top manager. Training affects business and real estate income, the effectiveness of transactions. In the «Finance and Investment» business simulator, in addition, trainings are placed in a separate stack of «Development» cards, which allow not only building a career, but also developing and scaling existing businesses at any level of the game. Some types of training give access to additional features in the game. In other games, there is no opportunity to undergo training and increase your efficiency.

Bank deposits

Bank deposits and other accumulative structures are widely represented in the «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators. There are also deposits in the «Flixa» game. There are none in other economic games.

Bank lending

In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators there are two competitive banks, there are several lending options, private lending institutions. A lending mechanism has been developed: it is forbidden to take loans for the purchase of shares, it is forbidden to take several types of loans in one game day, a loan for a loan is prohibited, debt restructuring is allowed, etc. In «Cash Flow» there are two options for lending, it is allowed to take a loan for a loan, which is not true.
Kiyosaki himself wrote about this in one of his books. He described only one story, when, in order to buy a property that was profitable at that time, Robert really managed to outwit bank employees and take out two loans in one day. Taking advantage of the fact that he was well known in both banks, he took out a loan from one of them. With this loan, he made an impressive first installment to the seller of the property and, with preliminary documents for the purchase, went to another banker he knew, without informing him that the real estate purchase transaction was financed by a loan from another bank. Having received a loan from a second bank, Kiyosaki managed to buy a fairly expensive property. Such transactions are extremely risky, often illegal and, moreover, are on the verge of a reputational foul.
In the Rat Race, lending is poorly developed. It doesn’t exist in «Monopoly» at all. However, it is possible to mortgage the property. There are two types of loans in «Flixa».

Cashless payment system

In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators, as well as in the «Flixa» game, only cashless payments using the player’s form. Requires filling out forms and mental calculations. In all other economic board games, banknotes of various denominations are used for calculations. Monopoly has premium publications where payments are made using a cash register and plastic cards.

Sale of assets

In «Cash Flow» and «Rat Race», only passive sale of assets by news cards or agreements to other players is possible. Possible sale to the bank for bankruptcy. In the Flixa and Monopoly games, you can sell assets to each other or pledge to a bank. In the «Cash Flow Business Simulator» there are two sectors where there is an opportunity to sell your assets yourself and act as a seller. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators, for the first time for such games, an expanded market for trading businesses is presented. You can create startups, you can combine businesses into holdings and sell them to investors. Free trade of business shares between players and all other features listed above.

Bankruptcy

In «Monopoly» and the «Rat Race», when a player goes bankrupt, they are out of the game. In «CASHFLOW» and «Flixa», there is one way to get out of bankruptcy. There are four ways to get out of the crisis in the «Cash Flow Business Simulator», there is an opportunity to leave the game at will. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators there are five ways to get out of bankruptcy and pay off debts.

Mortgage and leasing

The «Cash Flow» Game by Robert Kiyosaki is based on mortgage loans without the possibility of changing the refinancing rate. At the time of its creation, no one seriously thought about it. Moreover, on the wave of hype, a solid mortgage bubble was inflating just at that time. Similar to how they are now inflating cryptocurrency. This is very well told in the 2015 film «The Big Short». Kiyosaki managed to make money before the bubble burst. However, then he had to bankrupt one of his companies. After the mortgage crisis in America in 2007-2008, the game of Robert Kiyosaki lost its relevance and misleads ignorant people. It is good at most for a motivational push to study the world of finance. But to call it a serious learning tool today is already dangerous! In reality, many people suffered significant losses due to an increase in the lending rate and were not ready for this. The US real estate market collapsed and led to the bankruptcy of many people who used the Kiyosaki enrichment principle. The peak of evictions and seizure of real estate in favor of banks occurred in 2009. The US mortgage crisis was one of the forerunners of the global economic crisis, the consequences of which we are still raking. In the game «Cash Flow» there is no possibility of paying off mortgages on real estate and liabilities of enterprises.

The game “Cash Flow Business Simulator” is different in that mortgage and leasing loans
we can repay ahead of schedule, however, the already paid interest on these loans are considered penalties for early repayment, which is close to the real terms of lending. Mortgages are poorly represented in the «Rat Race» game. In the games «Flixa» and «Monopoly» it is not.

For «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators, a mechanism for the early repayment of all leasing loans, loans and mortgages has been worked out in detail. The cards immediately indicate the amount of all payments with and without a mortgage. The mortgage itself is calculated on the basis of actual conditions at Russian rates of 2015. All negative and positive scenarios for the development of events in the state economy (changes in the interest rate on mortgage loans, refinancing rates) are described. You can train your real estate skills to avoid future crises. In the event of a decrease in the refinancing rate, real estate becomes more profitable and, conversely, with growth, it can turn into a liability.

Set of securities

The widest range of securities, from penny stocks and mutual funds to blue chips and eurobonds, is in the «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investment» business simulators. The games have junk and profitable shares, vouchers, the possibility of privatizing state-owned enterprises, funds, indices, bonds (more than 20 types of securities). There are 6 types of securities in the «Cash Flow Business Simulator», 4 types in the «Cash Flow» and «Rat Race». In «Flixa», there are 4 types of stocks and bonds.

Options and derivatives of financial instruments, margin trading

Options are presented in the electronic version of the «CASHFLOW 202» game and add-ons without a good explanation. In the «Flixa» game, it is possible to open short positions. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators  the market of derivatives and derivative financial instruments from futures and options to short rates and margin trading, IPO is presented in detail. Description of options with historical references and examples is included in the rules of the game. The study of futures transactions is clear and simple.

Availability of the foreign exchange market

In almost all economic games, there is only one game currency. As a rule, this is a dollar. Some clones of «CASHFLOW» use the national currency — ruble or hryvnia, which makes the game much more difficult and less dynamic. In addition to the game «Flixa» called «And the Crisis struck!» trading in Swiss francs and cryptocurrencies becomes available. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators  there are advanced opportunities for trading foreign currency, including margin. There is an opportunity to invest in a foreign economy. There is a market for trading foreign currency (similar to «Forex») and cryptocurrencies.

Internet in the game

Widely represented by various opportunities from courses and freelancing to organizing startups and developing your own Internet company in the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators. Some features in the game are available when you go online. Not available in Monopoly. It is poorly represented in other games.

Startups and venture market

The game of Robert Kiyosaki and «Monopoly» is absent. Weakly represented in other games. The «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators widely present the possibilities of organizing and creating startups, investing in the venture market, the possibility of participating in IPOs of startups and trading their shares.

The presence of network marketing

Only in the «Oligarch Cash Flow» and «Finance and Investments» business simulators  there are advanced options for illustrating the mechanism of MLM. There are two competing MLM companies in the simulators. It is possible to make deals to sell a product, form your own distribution network, qualify yourself and qualify players and virtual people for the highest levels, build an organization and receive passive income from its work. In the games of Robert Kiyosaki, MLM is implemented only in a passive form in the form of cards. The same passive mechanics are found in the «Rat Race» and «Key to Wealth» games. It doesn’t exist in other games. That is why I once developed a special simulator for network companies — «MLM Game». It most fully shows all the principles of direct sales and structure building.

Opportunities in «Expenses» cards

Most of the economic games do not imply the presence of additional opportunities for standard spending. Only in the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators most of the expense cards can be useful and contain additional features for players. In addition, in these games, part of the costs can be compensated for by the actions or game professions previously taken by the players.

The presence of trouble

There are minor ones in «Monopoly» and «Flixa». There is a limited amount of trouble in the «CASHFLOW» game. However, they do not correspond to the level of the game: some can bankrupt a participant already at the start. There is a significant amount of trouble in the «Rat Race», there is crime. There is also no match for the player’s income levels. In the «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators, the troubles in the game always correspond to the level of the game and the player’s income. The higher the capital of the player, the more difficult tests he will face. Expanded negative scenarios and opportunities for training skills to work in crisis conditions. Various unpleasant situations in which players train their skills to counter fraudsters: in the game there are thieves, financial pyramids, and dishonest officials. However, in these simulators, some troubles can turn into additional opportunities.

Misconceptions and inconsistencies with reality

«Flixa» has a large gap in the movement of prices in the real estate market and shares. Nevertheless, the game is good for learning the basics of economics, trading and entrepreneurship. «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators are based on real events, cases, stories told by experts and consultants, startuppers and investors, mentors. The game has worked out all possible scenarios for the development of events based on the changes that have taken place over the past 30 years in the politics and economy of the CIS countries and Europe. «Cash flow» is a game close to reality. Contains some events from the real life of Robert Kiyosaki. However, it contains inaccuracies, simplifications and fraudulent transactions on the verge of fraud, for example:

• it is allowed to take a loan for shares, which is a very risky tool even for a sophisticated investor (in reality, a broker can request a source of financing for a transaction and refuse to sell shares);
• a deceptive impression is created about the safety of loans and credits;
• it is allowed to take a loan for a loan in one move (day) — financing the first installment at the expense of a consumer loan in order to take a mortgage loan on the basis of a bill of sale. In real life, even in time, this is extremely difficult to do, given the situation in the CIS and the work of bank security departments (credit committee).

Disadvantages of the «Rat Race»:

• low dynamics of the game due to the undeveloped ratio of income and expenses and the value of assets;
• too many criminal opportunities and impunity (analogous to modern Ukraine), lawlessness.

«Monopoly»:

• it is impossible to buy someone else’s property while the enemy has money;
• joint business and franchising is impossible;
• there is only one type of income generation (non-permanent), depending on the random probability of a player hitting your property, rent.

Comparison Summary

The «Finance and Investment» and «Oligarch Cash Flow» business simulators made a significant qualitative leap compared to many economic games, combining all the best. At the same time, “Finance and Investment” is the latest and most developed version of the “Oligarch Cash Flow” (see the difference between this games here). If I were to choose a transformational finance game today, I would only choose “Finance and Investment”!