One of the more enjoyable computer gaming experiences I've had is when I played Pop Top Software's game Tropico for Mac/PC. The game has you assume the role of a Fidel Castro-like character that has recently come to power in the fictitious Caribbean island of Tropico. On the standard default difficulty level, you take power in the 1950s and work toward re-building your island that is suffering from poverty, being bullied by Cold War superpowers, and, of course, recovering from the revolution that brought you to power.
It's a great teaching tool for students studying about Cold War politics and their affect on third world nations from the 1950s-1990s. During the game you have to find a salvageable balance between keeping your people happy and not antagonizing either the U.S.A. or the Soviet Union. Rub the U.S.A. the wrong way and they're liable to erase your revolutionary regime with an invasion. Cross the U.S.S.R. and they might just fund and equip a pro-left insurgency to topple your wanna-be capitalist paradise. Oh yah, don't forget, you have the added challange of keeping enough of your people happy to earn re-election every 4 to 6 years. Winning the game means surviving as Tropico's leader for 50 years (more if you choose higher difficulty levels).
Players have complete control over building their island's infrastructure. Do you want to become a tourism hot spot or an industrial and agricultural powerhouse? Will you accept financial and military aid from competing Cold War adversaries? If so, can you deal with conditions attached to these American or Soviet goodies?
While the game is showing its age compared to many current PC/Mac games, Tropico still works on most Macs made during the 2002-2006 year range. I've used it before as an enrichment activity (time permitting) when teaching the Cold War for my 10th grade World History class.
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