Hong Kong Tycoon

I built a small game called Hong Kong Tycoon, set in the early colonial period of Hong Kong. The idea began with two games I played when I was younger. One was High Tea, a Flash game about the opium trade in the Pearl Delta. The other was a game I played in my Year 8 history lesson, which put us into the shoes of a Roman consul. I remember how quickly a historical setting became more interesting when I had to make decisions inside it, rather than just read about it in a textbook.

I have always liked history, and I think economic trading games are especially good vehicles for putting students into the perspective of a historical moment. Prices, shortages, transport, political decisions, and commercial risks give a period some texture. A student may remember a trade route more clearly after having to decide whether to send a ship, hold a stock of goods, or take a risk on a new market. The game does not replace reading and teaching, but it can create the questions that make those activities more engaging.

Hong Kong’s history is unusual, and I wish more attention were given to its early colonial history. That period is sometimes treated as a short prelude to the more familiar story of the twentieth century, but it was when many of the conditions for Hong Kong as a port city were established. The game is a modest attempt to let players think about that moment through trade and choices. The economics are very trivial, and the simulation should not be mistaken for a serious historical model. Still, I am interested in building more games like this in the future, with better research and more carefully designed systems.

I am also interested in making a Chinese translation of Hong Kong Tycoon. A Cantonese or Traditional Chinese version would make it easier to share with students and players in Hong Kong, and it would let me think more carefully about how the game’s historical terms should be explained. For now, the English version is available to play here. It is a small experiment, but I would like to see where the idea goes.