Against the Odds Magazine #53

Against the Odds magazine investigates military history from a broad perspective. The economic, political, religious and social aspects of warfare are examined in concert with events on the battlefield. Each issue of ATO features: Informative and insightful articles showcasing the history behind events, plus regular columns by noted game designers providing insight on the latest trends and events.

Game included in this issue — ROME, Inc.: From Augustus to Diocletian. You know the old adage of running a country like a business. What about an empire? ROME, Inc. allows the player to run the operations of the Roman Empire like a business, but with a bit more blood, bread and circuses. After hostile takeovers of such competitors, like Carthage, Greece and Gaul, Rome has been incorporated into an empire, ready to monopolize the ancient world. As the player, you are not "the Emperor"—you select and replace emperors, and all the statesmen under him. ROME, Inc. begins with the "startup" of the Roman Empire under Augustus in 27 BCE to Diocletian in 286 CE. You'll control the workings of the empire throughout, although you can pick four distinct "starting points" and run shorter scenarios of any length you like, depending on your corporate acumen and endurance.