Thanks for the reply. I was thinking that the books are the way to go.

But I gave there an example: Patrician III. That is the type of game I am looking for. Has anyone tried it? It is a game from 2003.

I also found this site (I hope it isn't a problem that I am posting such a link here):

http://compsimgames.about.com/od/online/tp/fronstockmarket.htm

Good day. Please forgive me if this has been answered before but I have not seen any similar post here.

I want to play a strategy game that is completely about economics. No military (or very little).

I want to learn some things about the economics of the world. I would like to learn them in a pleasant way, by playing a game, not by reading 10 boring books.

I come here and ask for your advice. Which game should I try? What does it give me? What can I learn in the game that I can use in the real world?

I am basically looking for a game that simulates the creation and growth of a business, or that can teach me (risk free) to play at the stock market.

I am not very interested in graphics (so you can suggest a game from 1999 if it is really good). It doesn't have to be a single player game, you can give me examples of online games, even browser type games (I have seen an interesting browser online game that simulates a stock market, it looks interesting, but I am not sure if I should try it, maybe you can give me a better example).

The only game that I have ever played that fits my description is Patrician III. I really liked it, but I would like to try something more complicated now, something more challenging and more modern (not late medieval).

Star Craft is set in the future. So is Dawn of War, and they're good.ASK_Story

I like star craft too. And I wait impatiently for SC 2. So I don't exclude futuristic games from start. There can be some that I enjoy, SC was one off them and I am sure i will like SC 2.

You know why I actually prefer games that take place in medieval, ancient, modern, WWII? Because I recognize the stuff there, because the stuff there were real things. And here I mean: swords, bows, rifles, tanks, machineguns, hammers, armours, axes, firethrowers, etc. Those things actually existed.

But you can't say that about a ray gun, an anti-mater bomb, a laser sword or a laser gun. The design off those weapons, the way they work, and the impact that they have is the product off imaginations. Now don't get me wrong, I don't say that it is stupid to try to imagine the future, actually it is a good thing, for something to become a reality, to be invented, first someone has to imagine it.

So everybody has it's tastes and preferences. The good thing is that there are a lot off different games out there so that our tastes and preferences are satisfied.

You should try Gothic 1, then Gothic 2 with expansion. And then try Gothic 3. There will be an expansion for Gothic 3, I think it comes in november. And also Gothic 4 is going to come out (in 1-2 years).

I love the Gothic series, and I recommend it too you too. Have a nice time playing.

I enjoy RTS that takes place in a medieval environment. Well it can also be ancient, or modern, but I prefer medieval. I have played futuristic RTS too, but, as you, I got bored fast.

I also play other types of games, like RPG, city-building, turn base strategy, economic strategy (I am not sure if this last one is an official game genre, but I talk about games where you take a company and try to build a financial empire). But as before I don't like them to be futuristic.

You can also try this:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/fateofthedragon/index.html?tag=result;title;0

When lockpicking you get in low-left corner the lock with 2 things in it. One of the things is stationary, the other one can rotate. You have to rotate that one. There are at first only 4 possibly "hot-spots", left, up, down, right. When you "hover" the rotating lockpick above the hot-spot you can hear a sound, live the lockpick there and you will open the lock. Some ocks have 2-3 or more circles, you need to do the fing for all circles.

Maybe you didn't understand much but try to move the mouse left, right, up, down and look for that sound. When you here the sound hover the mouse over there and it will open.

After you get the idea is very simple. Good luck.

Normal at first. And if I love the game, I try on hardest difficulty.

Yes, in Diablo II, as sorceress and assassin, because I didn't had a choice to change the gender (but that won't be a problem in Diablo III as I hear).

A long time ago, I played MuOnline, with all characters, including the elf witch was a girl.

I have no problems about playing a female character, but I prefer the male ones, because I am a male.

1. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

2. Europa Universalis III + the 2 expansions