Wall Street Raider

Wall Street Raider is a detailed financial simulation that enables users to amass wealth, acquire their own company or start one from scratch and build a corporate empire, using both legal or more underhanded means. In building their empire, players must brave natural, human and economic disasters.

The main window of the application can feel a bit overwhelming with its numerous options, buttons and data. However, most of the application's functions and features are neatly grouped into the several categories. The left side of the window displays commodity prices, a status display for the currently selected company or corporation and the player's balance sheet.

Search and research functions are grouped above and below the news headlines, ticker and game status displays. These enable users to plan their actions and predict the best course of action.

Transactions, which are actions the player can undertake, and the game's menu have their own dedicated spaces above the stock quote list.

In order to survive, players, just like in real life, must keep themselves up-to-date with the current status of both their opponents and every other financial entity in the game. All of these are simulated in detail and the information is available through multiple screens.

Users can take various actions based on the information provided. They can trade stocks or commodities, buy out companies, engage in harassment and rumor-spreading against their competitors.

Once in a while, users are faced with choices of a moral nature. Players owning large defense and aerospace corporations might be approached foreign states looking to buy missile guidance technology for nefarious purposes. These choices help keep game-play interesting.

This engrossing and comprehensive simulation can provide a challenge for even the most confident and well versed economist or gamer.