BIZLIVE! (2019)

BIZLIVE! is a card-driven business strategy game themed around alternative satirical news and large global companies. An economic simulation game, it forces negotiations between players and the pursuit of aggressive strategies in the face of constant challenges from news events. It gamifies several core economic concepts such as cash and capital, cash flow management, supply and demand, auction (for companies and executive team members), valuation of companies, acquisitions and divestment, synergies, business risks and opportunities, and return on investment and return on equity. Additionally, it alerts players to the importance of news and alternative news in constructing the reality that impacts companies. Four Chairmen fight for control over 24 companies and 20 executive team members, while navigating 141 satirical news events that create risks and opportunities for companies. The Chairman with most company value and positive cashflow created during the four quarters of the game wins. The best chairmen increase the initial sum of 30 Merx (for Mercurius) to more than 100 Merx during the game. BizLive!’s purpose is to mimic real life’s never-ending struggle between fate, luck, chance on the one hand, and conscious, rational, strategic management decisions on the other hand. —description from the designer