| SimTower: The Vertical Empire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | OPeNBooK |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Director(s) | Yoot Saito |
| Series | Sim |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Macintosh, Saturn, 3DO |
| Release | Windows, MacSega Saturn
|
| Genre(s) | Construction and management simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
SimTower: The Vertical Empire (originally published in Japan as The Tower[a]) is a construction and management simulation video game developed by OPeNBooK and released in 1994 for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh System 7. Outside Japan, the game was published by Maxis and branded as part of their Sim series. Ports for Sega Saturn and 3DO were released in 1996. A sequel titled The Tower II was released in 1998 and called Yoot Tower outside Japan.
The game allows players to build and manage a tower and decide what facilities to place in it, in order to ultimately build a five-star tower. Random events take place during play, such as terrorist acts that the player must respond to immediately.
Critical reception towards the game was generally positive. Reviews praised the game's formula, including its open-ended nature and its ability to immerse the player into the game. Criticism targeted the game's lack of documentation, which some reviewers found made it harder to learn how to play the game. The in-game speed was also criticized for being too slow, which was a crucial issue in the game because time must pass for the player to earn income to purchase new facilities.
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