War Inc. (1997)
Genres:Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Themes:Warfare, Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:War Inc. (Project Airos in Australia and Germany) is a real-time strategy computer game developed by Optik Software. It was published by Interactive Magic for DOS on August 31, 1997. It incorporates a rudimentary stock market, placing the player directly in control of research and development and the ability to completely customize units by using a variety of components.Show more
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An interesting blend of real time strategy and empire management plus stock market simulation. You can design your own units, play the stock market, improve your army and then send your mercenaries on different missions C&C style. One of the most unique strategy games out there.
This was one of my first PC games, i searched for years for it and i rememberd it having a lot of uniqe aspects to it. Not a lot of RTS games had a stock market or units with limited ammo, it might have been confusing but those are my memories
Also something that is just etched into my memory from the game is the Main Menu office, always adore the diagetic UI like that
War Inc. was an incredible RTS experience, and what set it apart for me was its seamless integration of a stock market system with the traditional strategy gameplay. The R&D mechanics outside of matches added an extra layer of depth, making every decision feel meaningful. It was a truly fun and engaging time.
Reviving this classic wouldn’t even be that difficult. Like many older titles, it just requires some DOSBox know-how—mounting the game file as a virtual CD and launching it from there. Once set up, DOSBox handles the rest, making it surprisingly straightforward to get running again.
In the times when there was a host of great RTS games, this one stood out: it had some actual meta going on between missions... and arguably even more engaging than battles themselves!
Stock market, not mercenary wages, was your main source of income.
Careful R&D was your key to victory. Never had I spent more time thinking if I need a swift lightly armored APC or a heavy energy-shield equipped tank (and on a budget) - the balancing and prototyping was that engaging/challenging!
Also you could be fired.
Played this game in my youth and always stuck with me for how innovative it was. The use of stock market investments in conjunction with R&D to design your own units blew my young-mind away! The innovation of this game is at par with juggernauts Dark Reign (1997) and Syndicate (1993). A MUST play for any RTS fan!
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