Robot Tycoon is a business simulation game that involves a rather simple mechanic.  You play as a young entrepreneur that is in the business of building different types of robots for the community.  Each robot that you construct is a combination of a unique shape, color and function.   Your task throughout the game is to take requests from potential customers and build them robots. 

The game begins with a nicely narrated introduction that gives you enough background to get started with your business.  When you first begin playing the game, the same narrator walks you through the process of taking an order and building a robot.  There’s some trial and error involved, but it is not too difficult to grasp the basic mechanics of the game.  In the lower right corner of the main screen is a ‘mentor’ icon that contains more in-depth instructions on how to play.  I think the best way to get started is to first familiarize yourself with the basic gameplay and then go through each section of the ‘mentor’ tutorial. 

The controls operate exclusively via the touch screen and they work very well.   Once you receive the order from the customer, you are taken to the factory.  Here you need to choose the correct shape, color and wiring scheme to build the robot.  If you make a mistake, it will cost you some building materials and you get to try again.

While you are building robots, there is a clock that represents a monthly business cycle.  At the end of the month you have the option of investing in a store with assistants or building a factory that specializes in one robot.  The overall goal of the game is to determine what the community wants and to provide that at the lowest cost.

The game ends when you finally decide to purchase a factory and specialize in one robot.  Upon completion, you get an abundance of statistics that represents how well you ran your business.  At that point, you can start a new game and try to achieve higher marks.

Robot Tycoon has some added educational benefits with regard to problem solving and basic economics.  While the framework is there for lessons in economics, the implementation is not as smooth as it could be.  To take full advantage of these benefits, we recommend this as a game for both children and parents to play together.

Although the game is simple and engaging, it is not without some drawbacks.  Unfortunately, there is no support for multiple profiles.  In other words, if you have one iPad and want to compete with other members of the family, you need to keep track of your score somewhere else.  Along the same lines, the game does not keep track of your statistics across separate game plays.  We found this a little frustrating since there is no way to really see if you improved or not. 

Although we like the simplistic nature of building the robots, we would have appreciated another level of difficulty for more advanced gamers that included more complex machines.  We found ourselves wanting this added difficulty after playing through the game multiple times.  If the developers included an ‘advanced mode’ after reaching a certain level of expertise within the game, we would recommend this Robot Tycoon to a much wider audience.

-Michael Stroud, Executive Editor - Apps

APP STORE DESCRIPTION:
Ever wonder how you’d do as an entrepreneur?

Find out in Robot Tycoon! Start by selling robots door-to-door, responding to your customers’ needs. Then, upgrade to a storefront or -- if you’re really tycoon material -- a factory! Will making custom products keep clients happy or prevent you from expanding? Are you better off building the robots yourself or hiring someone else? You have to roll up your sleeves before you can roll in the dough. Are you up to the challenge?

Unique Features
Great for all ages. Play by yourself or try to beat your daughter. Kids love building and selling robots, but don’t be fooled! Adults find the complex scenarios plenty challenging.

Play any time. Pick up and play or sit down and power through all three levels. Beware, though -- it’s addictive!

Real world experience. Robot Tycoon gives you insight into the real life of an entrepreneur like no other game: it was developed by wildly successful entrepreneurs with decades of experience.

Favored by gamers and educators alike. You’re in good company. Robot Tycoon is used in top business schools, like Harvard and Northwestern. Gaming experts have called it one of the “best sims in the world,” stating it’s the benchmark MIT and Microsoft should aspire to. It also won the prestigious Horizon Interactive and Summit International awards.