Prison Tycoon
Encyclopedia
Prison Tycoon is a business simulation computer game developed by Virtual Playground and published by ValuSoft in July 2005
that puts the user in charge of a prison
. Objectives are to keep the prison running, keep the staff happy, keep the prisoners in line, all while trying to make money.
Users are allowed to choose between a New England
prison, a modern U.S. Southwestern
-style prison, and a West Coast
-style prison modelled after San Quentin
.
A sequel, Prison Tycoon 2: Maximum Security
, was released on September 8, 2006, followed by Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown
in 2007 and Prison Tycoon 4: Supermax
in 2008, then 'Prison Tycoon: Alcatraz' in late 2010.
Also, THQ Wireless released a version of Prison Tycoon for the iPhone
in May 2009.
's Time Stevens gave the game only one star out of five, concluding his review by writing that "Prisons aren't supposed to be fun, so maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that a game about prisons isn't either". GameZone
gives the game a score of 5/10, praising the idea and concept but complaining about clunky graphics, dysfunctional camera angles and lack of instructions.
Some of common complaints of the game include bad camera angles, lack-luster graphics, choppy or slow framerates, annoying music and sound, and limited help for players; while most players agreed the concept was neat.
Once a player has constructed sufficient housing and basic amenities, prisoners begin arriving on buses depending on the capacity of the prison. Prisoners continue to arrive as long as there is sufficient capacity to hold them and depart as they complete their sentences. As the number of inmates increases the prison upgrades to a higher security level, beginning at low security until it becomes a maximum security prison. With higher levels of security the player has access to more advanced facilities and upgraded walls and guard towers. Players are able to click on both inmates and staff to get a basic description of their levels of satisfaction, fatigue, productivity, as well as misconduct for prisoners. Players are also able to assign prisoners to cells, jobs and activities by clicking on one of these things with the prisoner selected. Also, players can drag and drop guards to areas of high misconduct or to break up riots which occur within the prison if prisoners become too dissatisfied.
2005 in video gaming
-Events:*March 6 — The television show 60 Minutes tackles issues within video game controversy. This segment of 60 Minutes has been criticized by video game players for encouraging video game censorship....
that puts the user in charge of a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. Objectives are to keep the prison running, keep the staff happy, keep the prisoners in line, all while trying to make money.
Users are allowed to choose between a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
prison, a modern U.S. Southwestern
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
-style prison, and a West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
-style prison modelled after San Quentin
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
.
A sequel, Prison Tycoon 2: Maximum Security
Prison Tycoon 2: Maximum Security
Prison Tycoon 2: Maximum Security is a business simulation computer game developed by Virtual Playground and published by Valusoft in 2006 as a sequel to Prison Tycoon...
, was released on September 8, 2006, followed by Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown
Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown
Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown is a business simulation computer game for the PC. It was released in 2007 as the third game in the Prison Tycoon series.-Reception:...
in 2007 and Prison Tycoon 4: Supermax
Prison Tycoon 4: Supermax
Prison Tycoon 4: Supermax is a business simulation computer game for the PC. It was released in 2008 as the fourth game in the Prison Tycoon series...
in 2008, then 'Prison Tycoon: Alcatraz' in late 2010.
Also, THQ Wireless released a version of Prison Tycoon for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
in May 2009.
Reception
Prison Tycoon has generally received poor grades from critics. X-PlayX-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
's Time Stevens gave the game only one star out of five, concluding his review by writing that "Prisons aren't supposed to be fun, so maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that a game about prisons isn't either". GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
gives the game a score of 5/10, praising the idea and concept but complaining about clunky graphics, dysfunctional camera angles and lack of instructions.
Some of common complaints of the game include bad camera angles, lack-luster graphics, choppy or slow framerates, annoying music and sound, and limited help for players; while most players agreed the concept was neat.
Gameplay
The premise of the game is to create a functional prison complete with walls, guard towers, housing wings, dining, workout and medical facilities. The objective of the game is ultimately to turn your low security incarceration facility into a profitable maximum security prison. Funding is collected by the player through state funding, charitable donations and inmate labor depending on a myriad of factors, such as employee satisfaction and inmate happiness and rehabilitation. You have the option to start with a completely blank slate in a free-play mode or with the basic layout of an existing prison with several problems that need to be addressed in the challenge mode. The challenges range from rehabilitating a certain number of inmates, reducing the number of riots and fights within the prison or simply to reaching a certain level of security. To create a prison the player places buildings or walls along a grid system by selecting which building they would like and placing it somewhere within the boundaries of the map. There are over 100 different buildings that can be constructed. Within certain buildings the player can build different rooms from over 100 to choose from, such as rooms with multiple beds within one cell or solitary confinement cells. Buildings come with their appropriate staffing, for example guard towers come with guards already positioned in the tower and medical facilities come with medical staffing.Once a player has constructed sufficient housing and basic amenities, prisoners begin arriving on buses depending on the capacity of the prison. Prisoners continue to arrive as long as there is sufficient capacity to hold them and depart as they complete their sentences. As the number of inmates increases the prison upgrades to a higher security level, beginning at low security until it becomes a maximum security prison. With higher levels of security the player has access to more advanced facilities and upgraded walls and guard towers. Players are able to click on both inmates and staff to get a basic description of their levels of satisfaction, fatigue, productivity, as well as misconduct for prisoners. Players are also able to assign prisoners to cells, jobs and activities by clicking on one of these things with the prisoner selected. Also, players can drag and drop guards to areas of high misconduct or to break up riots which occur within the prison if prisoners become too dissatisfied.
Inmates
The game designers created 96 different looking inmates capable of over 100 different animations to allow for a varied prison population. Inmates have various meters above their heads which the player can monitor by clicking on the prisoners. They have levels of satisfaction, fatigue, productivity and misconduct. If inmates do not have activities, such as working out, playing basketball or performing work they will become dissatisfied and their misconduct meter will increase. Having high misconduct will result in decreased productivity and an increase in fights and riots breaking out within the prison. Ultimately, it is important to monitor inmate morale and keep it high to increase profits, as high inmate morale and sufficient rooming will result in more inmates arriving. Also, the player has the ability to suggest inmates to the parole board, for possible early dismissal. The approval or rejection of a prisoner is based upon the number of fights they have been in, the number of gangs they are affiliated with, the number of rehabilitation projects they have completed as well as their misconduct rating.External links
- Prison Tycoon - official site
- ValueSoft product page