The Third World War (video game)

Infobox VG
title = The Third World War


developer = Extreme
publisher = Micronet
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platforms = Sega CD
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The Third World War is the name of a Sega CD turn-based strategy game designed by Extreme, where you play against the computer as a nation of your choice in the present day or in the future. The game was similar to a computer game version of Risk. Each nation had its own strengths and weaknesses and you were given a limited number of terms to develop your nation's society, technology and military power before it was the computer's turn.

You had the option to play the game in different historical points in history, i.e. during the Cold War or in the future. The object of the game was to defeat the computer without starting world war three. The game failed to generate much commercial success due to its limited graphics, and difficulty the player often had in developing a military presence that could compete with the computer.

Winning

Victory is achieved by one of two ways, a military victory or an economic victory. To achieve military victory, you must conquer 51 different nations. Once the 51st location is conquered, the victory will commence, and a small speech by your country's leader will ensue.

Nations

You can choose one of 16 nations to lead. The United States of America, Russia, Japan, Germany,China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, or Libya. There are several other areas in the map that are gray inmost game options, that are not selectable to control, but are conquerable (such as Cuba, Vietnam, Mexico, and Ethiopia).

Trivia

*Released in the US on Feb 28, 1994.

*The Japanese cover of this game shows Saddam Hussein shaking hands with Bill Clinton [http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/megacd.html#t] .

*One of the scenarios, text appears in the game that a cure to the AIDS virus has been found. This could be the first time that a video game has made reference to the disease.