I am still looking to get Persian Incursion, I play Victoria 2 (Vicky2 in player parlance) and Pandemic, both very fun.

I might only add Supreme Ruler: Cold War and Theatre of War to the list, both quite enjoyable as well. I'm still looking for a good modern country-rule sim in the vein of Victoria for the current world though.

As budgets and internal politics come to the fore of wonkish studies, if the author knows any recommendations for budget and governance simulators as well, do tell.

Superpower 2 had a lot of potential as a geopolitical simulator. Set in modern times, it was an open ended or a scenario game where the player took control of economic, political, military, and diplomatic affairs. You controlled budgets, made industries either state owned or private, everything from various food production to utilities to luxury manufactured goods. You could design military hardware, wage war, form alliances and treaties, move forces, and conduct covert ops.You could even ban or allow same sex marriage and abortion, and could lose by being defeated in an election (if you chose a democratic form of govt).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperPower_2

LOL - I hate the real "War on Terror" since it just a global scam that allows us to continue pumping money into the Military Industrial Complex...

But I *love* the way this game looks. I saw it at the book store too and almost bought it for my favorite wonk. Thanks for the recommendation - I've still got a last minute gift to pick up and this one will be it.

At least we can take our own aggression about the War on Terror out in a fun way when we go over to his house next year. :-)

Labyrinth is another card-driven board game in the Twilight Struggle mold, but dealing with the GWOT. The designer, Volko Ruhnke is a CIA intelligence analyst.

His latest is Andean Abyss, also card-driven but multiplayer. It portrays the four-way struggle over Columbia between FARC, AUC, the cartels, and the government.

Holiday sales always provide a good opportunity to check out some old favorites that you may have missed out on for one reason or another. Recently I was able to acquire a cheap copy of Tropico 4 and have thoroughly enjoyed the ferocity and glee with which it embraces its banana republic aesthetic.

Generic FPS. If it's going to be an action game then at least something like Deus Ex: Human Revolution to get them thinking outside the gun-shaped box.

Persian Incursion:
-Forcibly eliminate all settlements not protected by West Bank "wall"
-Beef up security on all borders, including Syrian/Jordanian border in West Bank
-Nuclear first strike on Iranian army/navy/air force bases, with focus on Rep Guard
-Immediate follow-up air strikes on all Iranian nuclear facilities
-Nuclear strike on all nuclear facilities not destroyed to a certainty
-Air strikes on Hezbollah & Hamas strong points
-Dare anyone to respond

You are forgetting Hearts of Iron, that is probably the most detailed (it covers WWII) game for armchair generals and policy wonks. It is from the same Swedish makers of Victoria. As some wise soul said, games like Civilization are for inept commanders like Mussolini, Hearts of Iron is for the Churchills.

I'd go for the Civilization 5 and send it as a gift to one of those world leaders who can't build lego blocks if they tried. Maybe they could place it on a portable slate tablet pc so if they get stumped, they can play and learn before making any destructive decisions.

Recently I was able to acquire a cheap copy of Tropico 4 and have thoroughly enjoyed the ferocity and glee with which it embraces its banana republic aesthetic. Holiday sales always provide a good opportunity to check out some old favorites that you may have missed out on for one reason or another.
massagista
avioes venda

I hate the real "War on Terror" since it just a global scam that allows us to continue pumping money into the Military Industrial Complex. I Game with Messenger

very non-traditional, but board games are definitely great fun if you can get people together to play them. The problem with all of them is that it is hard to get enough people together for the amount of time that one of these takes to play austintxapartments.net, but if you have enough friends who want to devote this amount of time to learn and play then it is totally worth itdulse.