SimHealth

SimHealth is one of the strangest simulation games offered by simulation experts, MAXIS. MAXIS is very well known for simulation strategies, some of which include Sim Ant, Sim City (the most popular series), Sim Earth and Sim Life. This particular simulation game was released in the middle nineties during the Congressional debates over President Bill Clinton’s theories on health care. SimHealth was developed by Thinking Tools Incorporated specifically for play in the DOS format. It features an isometric view and is usually considered as much an educational tool as a simulation game.

The goal of SimHealth is entirely unique. The user is faced with the monumental task of reforming health care in the United States of America. This simulation is a very serious game with very dry and serious subject matter. There is no humor, but much serious detail in the game. The user, as the newly elected President of the United States, has to balance the needs of the populace, the role of insurance companies, and the fees of health care providers. Segments of all communities will flourish or suffer based on the policies created by you while you are in office. The ultimate goal is to create a system that will keep most all parties involved content, gaining the President a second term in office as a reward for his brilliance. Obviously, if this were an easy chore, there would be much less to debate about in current presidential races. MAXIS hoped to capitalize on the importance of the subject at a time when it was at the forefront of most media attention.