How to Create Your Own Private Challenge Game
There are two routes: the game’s own interface, or a script. The script route exists so you do not have to enter every setting by hand each time.
1. Using the game interface
Start a custom game
On the main menu select [New Game], then [Custom Game] on the Single Player Game screen.
Open the Challenge Game settings
Select the [GOALS] tab, then [Challenge Game].
Turn Challenge Game Mode on
Set Challenge Game Mode to [On], and set Number of Game Years to how long the challenge should last.
Set the rest of the game up as normal
Number of competitors, your start-up capital and everything else, exactly as you would for an ordinary game. Then click [Start].
2. Using a script
A script sets the game parameters and goals for you, with no manual entry.
Learn How to Create a Script Download a Sample Challenge Game ScriptTo load one, click [LOAD SCRIPT] on the New Game Setup menu.
In the Script window select [User-Created Scripts] at the top.
Click [Open Folder] at the bottom, copy your script file into the folder that opens, and return to Capitalism Lab. The script appears in the list — double-click it, or select it and click [Load].
Saving the challenge game
Once the game is created you can look over the generated world — the cities, their populations — and decide whether to keep it or generate another.
You will be asked whether to add another set of goals right after the game begins. Click [Skip] if you are happy with the goals you already defined.
To make the challenge harder, let the game run for several years before saving. The AI corporations expand with no human player present, so participants inherit a tougher field.
When you are ready, press ESC for the in-game menu and choose Save Game — or press ALT-S. Select [Challenge Game].
Then click [Save New] at the bottom of the screen.
You can still change the goals and challenge settings after starting the game and before saving it — press [F9] for the Game Setting menu.
Challenge Game Info file
Optionally, add a description and other detail to your challenge game.
Learn More about Challenge Game Info FilesSending the challenge game to participants
Open the challenge game folder
Click [Open Folder] to reach the folder holding your private challenge game files.
Send the file
Email it, share it via Dropbox, or transfer it any other way. Recipients save it into their own private challenge game folder using the same [Open Folder] button.
They select it from the main menu
Choose [Challenge Game] from the main menu.
Then [Private Challenge Game], and pick the challenge to play.
Viewing your challenge game status
Your private challenge game status page looks like this:
Appendix: creating a challenge game from the sample script
A worked run-through of the script route, start to finish.
Click [LOAD SCRIPT]
Top left of the screen.
Select [User-created Scripts]
Open the Script folder
Click [Open Folder] to open it in File Explorer.
Download and extract the sample script
Download the Sample Strategy Challenge ScriptExtract the script text file from the ZIP into the Capitalism Lab Script folder you just opened.
Load it and start
Switch back to Capitalism Lab and the new script appears. Select it, click [Load], then click [Start] — no settings need changing.
Decline the additional goals
Asked whether to add goals on top of the script’s own, select “No Goals”.
Save it as a challenge game
Press ESC and select [Save Game], or press ALT-S, then choose [Challenge Game].
Click [Save New]
On the Challenge Game screen. That completes the creation process.
Teachers: if you need help modifying the script for a classroom, email [email protected] and we will assist you. To change the script yourself, see the Scripts page.
With the challenge game created, the next step is distributing it — see Sending the challenge game to participants above.