Movies and circuses

Unlike some people who appear to have had busy (social) weekends, I have had a completely lazy one. I’d meant to do lots of writing and reading and LibraryThing-ing (rediscovering our very eclectic non-fiction collection) but somehow none of that got done. Instead, I spent much of Saturday and most of Sunday managing… movie stars! No, I haven’t had a career change, I was playing a game called The Movies.

In terms of genres, The Movies is a so-called management sim – that is, you have a simulated scenario (a movie studio, a golf course, a rollercoaster park, a whole world) and you have to manage it and ensure it is a success. With the golf course you want to make sure it is well-laid out (so that golfers don’t get lost) and that the course is interesting. With the roller coaster park you want to have the most stomach-turning rides possible, without killing your patrons.

With The Movies, you are in charge of an up-and-coming movie studio and your aims are to try and make blockbusters and have superstars. This is not as easy as it sounds, as your movie directors seem to either have alcoholic tendencies (so they wander off set and get drunk in their trailers) or they just can’t get along with the actors, and the actress you are trying to prime as your main drawcard, Lulu Gabor, either binge eats or throws tantrums. A very funny, open-ended game.

M had a far more active weekend than I did, as we went to The Circus Shop and got him some juggling clubs and… a unicycle! Yes, Perth people, we have a circus shop in this fair city. It is nestled in the wilds of Maylands. We both enjoy going there – M for all the juggling gear, me for the dog Elric. Elric and I sit in the garden and play with various toys – I throw, he fetches. And the circus man, Reg, is always friendly and welcoming.

It’s going to be a busy week (exploding projects and all those last minute things that need doing before the end of the year), so I’m glad I’ve been able to recharge my batteries.

technorati tags: games, The Movies, management sims