Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | David J. Eastman |
| Products | Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator |
Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator, frequently referred to as ConfMEPS or simply Conflict, is a turn-based government simulation game created by PSI Software and released by Virgin Mastertronic in 1990. It was made available on DOS, Atari ST, and Amiga systems. Although it is no longer sold commercially, the original developer David J. Eastman has recommended obtaining the PC version from various "abandonware" websites.
The game is set in the year 1997, where players assume the role of Israel’s newly appointed prime minister following an assassination. The main goal is to overcome the four neighboring countries through either military invasion or political destabilization, with all involved nations having the capacity to initiate hostilities.
Gameplay
Gameplay unfolds in monthly turns, during which players manage a combination of diplomatic, espionage, and military strategies. Once a turn concludes, the game engine calculates results, and each new turn begins with news-style briefings summarizing recent developments.
Diplomatic statuses between nations vary from Military Pact to War. A unique "Attack means disaster" condition activates when every nuclear-armed country holds weapons, superseding other diplomatic relations.
Players determine Israel’s foreign policy toward each country, choosing to improve, sustain, or worsen relations. Elevating relations above Favourable leads to a reduction in Israel’s monthly defense expenditure by approximately US$100 million. However, efforts to enhance diplomacy are frequently hindered by hostile actions from other states. Relations with neighboring countries often degrade under aggressive conditions until conflict erupts. Deploying brigades along borders can influence these tensions; while such troop placements may sometimes deter enemy aggression, their overall impact on gameplay remains limited. Conducting successful Israeli airstrikes against nuclear facilities in Egypt or Syria further strains diplomatic ties.
Countries engaged in war with others might become allies of Israel if relations reach Favourable status, progressing to Profitable in the subsequent turn. At this level, players can request military alliances; allied nations may declare war on Israel’s adversaries sharing borders but are not compelled to involve Israel in their own conflicts.
When allied countries capture enemy territories, they often terminate their pacts with Israel and adopt hostile attitudes toward it, escalating tensions that can lead to war. Governments that are unstable but maintain Favourable yet aggressive relations tend to resist deterioration unless provoked by specific actions like airstrikes targeting nuclear installations.
During wartime, ceasefire proposals may be offered and accepted, restoring relations to Satisfactory. However, residual hostility often remains and can cause renewed conflict within a few turns.
Espionage
Each nation possesses a government stability rating; if this rating drops to its lowest point, the government collapses and the country is removed from play. Every turn, Israel can choose whether to decrease, sustain, or increase another country's government stability. Additionally, countries have an insurgency metric representing the strength of rebel forces. When one country conquers another, its stability improves to Very Solid, making it more resistant to destabilization efforts. Following a ceasefire at the UN Summit, the stronger side's stability rises to Very Solid while the weaker side’s drops to Good or below. If a nation’s stability falls to Weak or lower—or insurgency reaches Guerilla Force or beyond—Israel may attempt drastic tactics such as assassination or a coup. Successful operations result in government collapse and removal from the game.
After setting diplomatic and espionage policies, players advance directly into military decisions without revisiting earlier phases. Israel must also manage internal instability risks stemming from the Palestinian issue, which adversarial states can exacerbate. Furthermore, prolonged unresolved wars lasting two years or more increase public insecurity, posing threats of impeachment or assassination for the prime minister.
Military
Players are responsible for managing the defense budget and directing military operations against other nations.
Defense budget
Each game turn grants a defense budget influenced by regional tensions: it rises significantly during war or imminent threats (exceeding US$300 million) and decreases in peaceful periods (approximately US$100 million). This allocation mirrors the hostile intentions of neighboring states.
Armaments can be procured from the USA, UK, France, or a private arms supplier based in South Africa, who provides access to Soviet weaponry. Each vendor offers distinct weapons at varying costs; more advanced equipment becomes accessible after establishing procurement agreements. Certain weapons are exclusive to specific suppliers— for instance, anti-SAM helicopters are only available through the US and the private dealer.
Most deliveries arrive by the following turn, although shipments from the private dealer require 1-2 turns but allow acquisition during international arms embargoes targeting Israel.
Nuclear weapon research
All nations except Jordan and Lebanon have the capability to pursue nuclear armament, a critical strategic factor. Deploying WMDs often triggers a worldwide nuclear holocaust, ending gameplay. Players must carefully manage this threat, including neutralizing emerging nuclear facilities.
Financing nuclear development costs US$20 million monthly and is generally sustained. Once equipped, players may deploy nuclear arms in conflict, risking either swift victory or devastating defeat. A nuclear strike victory results in a UN arms embargo on Israel, necessitating reliance on private arms dealers until the subsequent UN summit.
Each year, Israel can modify its defense budget allocation (initially 35%) in 2% increments and expand the Army by two units, which may negatively impact relations with the United States. The US provides fluctuating economic and military support—up to four billion dollars—depending on diplomatic ties.
Palestinian problem
The "Palestinian problem" simulates Israel’s internal insurgency, influencing government stability similarly to insurgencies in other nations. Opposing forces can intensify Palestinian unrest, which worsens as player popularity declines, potentially leading to overthrow and game defeat.
Players may assign a brigade to police the Gaza Strip and West Bank, selecting between "soft" or "hard" approaches. Hard tactics yield greater effectiveness but provoke international condemnation, damaging US relations and reducing military aid.
At the yearly UN summit, players have the option to accept a Palestinian homeland, permanently resolving this conflict and improving relations with the US. Nevertheless, if war breaks out with the neighbor offering territory afterward, Israel suffers territorial losses reflected on the war progress indicator.
Military actions
Prior to war declaration, Israel can conduct targeted air strikes against neighboring countries aimed at military, civilian, industrial, or nuclear facilities. Attacks on military, industrial, and civilian targets occur only when diplomatic relations have deteriorated severely. Military strikes typically eliminate limited enemy units (e.g., five main battle tanks), while civilian and industrial strikes aim to further damage diplomatic standing.
Nuclear installations may be targeted at any time to disrupt or delay nuclear program progress. However, if a country displays a mushroom cloud symbol instead of a nuclear installation icon, it signifies successful warhead testing that prevents further nuclear disruption; this occurs if nuclear facility airstrikes fail for two consecutive turns.
If relations deteriorate and Israeli forces are stationed along the border, either Israel can initiate an invasion or be invaded, triggering war. Invasions require contiguous borders; Israel’s neighbors in Conflict include Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Although Libya, Iraq, and Iran can invade adjacent countries, they cannot directly attack Israel due to lack of shared borders.
During wartime, specific unit types counter others—for example, anti-tank helicopters target enemy armor but may suffer losses depending on opposing SAM defenses.
Reception
Alan Emrich provided a review of the game for Computer Gaming World, highlighting that "Conflict does not aim to serve as a precise simulation. Instead, it offers a lighthearted approach to Cold War politics within a futuristic Middle Eastern setting. The gameplay is swift, straightforward to grasp, enjoyable, and should not be taken too earnestly."
In a 1994 evaluation of war games, Computer Gaming World awarded Conflict a rating of three stars out of five, characterizing it as "Fast-paced and enjoyable," though noting it was not optimized for more advanced computer systems. (The game remains accessible today through DOSBox.)
- Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator available at the Internet Archive
- Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator – official website maintained by the game's creator
- Remake (for MS Windows) developed by Marco Fera with authorization from David Eastman. Version 1.2 was released on 2009-02-12.