Hollywood Mogul

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Hollywood Mogul
Developer(s) Hollywood Mogul Company
Publisher(s) Hollywood Mogul Company
Version 3
Platform(s) Windows
Release date 1997, 2006
Genre(s) Economic Simulation
Mode(s) Single player

Hollywood Mogul is a computer game released in 1997 that allows players to take charge of a movie studio. It was conceived, designed and published solely by Carey DeVuono. An economic simulation game, players can choose movie plots to use for a movie, set production budgets and select the talent as well. The game's goal is to create movies that sell well. Players must juggle the added concerns of movie budgets, cost over-runs, and irritable actors and directors in order to succeed.

A sequel, Hollywood Mogul 3 was released in late 2006. A pre-release was given to message board members and long-term fans on September 26, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Game Mechanics

Hollywood Mogul has five difficulty levels to choose from, each with higher annual budgets. A higher annual budget causes higher monthly expenses, making it more difficult to keep the studio profitable, which provides a greater challenge to the player.

  • New In Town ($125,000,000 Annual Budget)
  • Still Green ($250,000,000 Annual Budget)
  • On My Way ($500,000,000 Annual Budget)
  • Hollywood Player ($750,000,000 Annual Budget)
  • Hollywood Mogul ($1,000,000,000 Annual Budget)

Movies come in fifteen set genres, ranging from Comedy to Drama to Science Fiction, as well as six sub genres such as "farce" or "slapstick." Movies can rise and fall depending on what genre they are and what time of year they are released.

Acting, screenwriting and directing talent also play a great role in the success of a film. More popular talent costs more to hire, but have the benefit of raising the noticiablity of a film. Likewise, production budget, special effects budgets and advertising play a big role as well.

[edit] Speculation/Rumors

There is some debate as to how the profits for movies are computed, such as whether the month of release is important, or if certain genres of movies perform better in the United States rather than overseas. Also, it is generally believed that science fiction films require more special effects to create a realistic universe, while a Drama or Comedy would not need any.

Some ideas on how films perform:

  • Horror Films make more money in October (because of Halloween).
  • Action Films and Comedies perform well in the summer months.
  • Dramas are best in the winter.
  • Love stories do best in February (because of Valentine's Day)

[edit] Recognition

Robert Coffey of Computer Gaming World ranked Hollywood Mogul as one of the top three strategy games of all time in the magazine's 20th anniversary issue.

In February 2002, it was inducted to the Hall of Belated Fame by Home of the Underdogs.

[edit] External links