Cold War Dare

George Bush Presidential Library Foundation

About this game

The year is 1989. You are President of the United States in transforming times. After forty years of oppression, the people of Eastern Europe are daring to defy their Communist overlords at home and in the Soviet Union. And as President, you too face daring decisions: how far will you go to encourage democratic reform? How much will you risk a Soviet crackdown on these freedom-seeking peoples? Will your efforts help bring democracy to Eastern Europe, or will you provoke the Soviet Union to bring down its wrath, setting the cause of freedom back by decades?

This is a strategy game about presidential decision-making in the context of the Bush 41 presidency in those epochal years of 1989 and 1990. As Poland legalizes Solidarity, as the Berlin Wall falls, as people in every country take to the streets seeking greater freedom and human rights, the world is changing under your feet. As President, you must analyze changing situations, weigh risks, and make decisions, all while trying to keep your alliances healthy, your relationships with foreign leaders strong, and the drive towards freedom and democracy always moving forward. And in the end, you can compare your successes and failures with those of President Bush 41.

“Cold War Dare” is an educational outreach product by the George Bush Presidential Library.

Credits:
Directed and produced by Dr. Shirley Hammond, Director of Education, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum © 2016, George Bush Presidential Library Foundation

Game design and development by eduweb.

Thanks to:
Dr. Jeffrey A. Engel, Consultant
Mary Finch, Audiovisual Archivist
Christopher Pembelton and Zachary Roberts, Archivists

Ratings and reviews

The Game is very challenging at times but it's main issue is the bugs that still exist within. As an example I had gotten close towards the middle of the game and it froze I tried seeing if could fix it but to no avail. I think an update to fix all the minor issues such as the lag and other bugs would make this much more enjoyable.

I would rate it a 5, but it has bugs still present, like the game suddenly hanging on the "Take Action" phase and the chips not showing when it happens. Also, attempting to democratize the Soviet Union is almost impossible to do (I pulled it off several times, but it came at the cost of some Eastern European nations not being fully freed). I don't mean to be an Anti Soviet, but it would make a cool alternative history. It's pretty cool to get a "perfect ending" with all states being blue.

A good experience. However, the game sometimes bugs during a phase. For example: The only country which is possible to draw an event is Bulgaria, then i drew the event but can no longer progress since the game thinks im not finished yet.

What's new

Configurations added to support Android phones