Executive Decision
August 9th, 2004We played a three-player game of this 1971 Sid Sackson business game last Wednesday. I had heard mixed reviews, but it sounded different and it is still talked about, despite being as old as me, so I bought it an unused copy on eBay for £10, which did not seem like an unrealistic gamble.
Executive Decision has to be the most perfect economics game ever produced. It encapsulates the concept of supply and demand perfectly. The 1971 components are fantastically old-school: just some Monopoly money, a laminated blue board covered with tables, a crayon and player record sheets. It is such a contrast to modern components like those in Pirate’s Cove. Some might dislike them, but I think they add to the charm of the game.
Players have to make as much profit for their corporation as possible in twelve months. To do this, they invest in raw materials, make finished goods and sell them. All decisions are taken in secret and revealed simultaneously. If people choose the same options, raw materials are more expensive or sold goods are cheaper. This emulates supply and demand and the uncertainty of markets exquisitely. You have to think about the desires of the players, given the raw materials they already hold and which options they are likely to choose. Although there is a lot of luck with the secret action selection, this is a subtle, skilful game.
Unfortunately there are some aspects of Executive Decision that show its age. Firstly, it is very dry. Players only use paper and pencil to micro-manage financial figures. There is lots of arithmetic required which will drive off a lot of people. One player said it reminded him too much of his work. Secondly, once players are behind, it’s difficult to catch up, as this is a game of incremental gains and losses. I got a big lead at the start of this playing as I quickly realised it is fatal to price yourself out of deals. By the time the others realised this, I was comfortably ahead and impossible to rein in.
Bruno Faidutti normally dislikes dry games, but gives one a surprisingly good review. I think this is because of the blind bidding and it is certainly an original, thoughtful game. After playing lots of light German games recently, Executive Decision felt like reading the Financial Times after a regular diet of the Daily Mail. I would not play this all the time, but occasionally it would be good to stretch my mind and arithmetical skills.