Highest score ever achieved in Dictator

Novosedoff

I wonder if anybody can ever beat me by score as Dictator :)
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0001388

My highest result in this game was 222..

Jumping Stack

Well, that is a very good score - would have been just good enough to win Dictator when it came up in competition on the Speccy Tour 2008. I'm glad you didn't take part because I won this one with 213 - as recorded here

http://www.homeactionreplay.org/search.php?gamename=Dictator&tourney=52

Very well done!

Excellent cynical game Dictator - rewards all the worst character traits - ruthless self-seeking is the only way to get close to 200 points!

Novosedoff

I mean it's kinda tricky to keep the balance in the end. Because basically one can stay alive with all the money it stole only by escaping when a revolution strikes, so one shouldn't weaken the opposition too much, otherise they'll just shoot you.

The only way to flee from the country and to get a high score is basically to raise the revolution by allowing high strengths for the opposition.

Novosedoff

After a little replay I've actually managed to beat myself with the new score record of 293!!!

Novosedoff

Yeah, now for the first time I can confirm that there is a winning strategy in this game, and the strategy is achievable. By "winning strategy" I mean the strategy that lets you stay in the office for as long as you want.

In brief, one must steadily cut the monthly costs to the nil (initially by cutting costs even for secret police). Never go into too expensive ventures, such as building irrigation system, purchase of more ammunition for the army or free education for the peasants.

As for political rationale, you gotta keep the balance of your decisions. If you strengthened one group, dont forget to pay the other weakened groups back by taking opposite decisions at next steps. Keep the secret police strengthened to the maximum along with own bodyguard. You can easily survive through a series of revolutions and assassination attempts if secret police and your own strength are at their maximum. If you see any 2 groups have become too strong, you may even wish to punish them after the revolution, but generally I'd recommend not to punish anyone. Revolutions actually seem a better option in terms of predictability of outcome and likelihood of survival compared to assassination attempts. So dont eradicate any group completely, which will only force them try to assassinate you in the absence of any other options available.

The game will actually go in circles, where only regular source of your income is achieved through nationalization of American business. Cost reduction options will also be available and regularly raised by either peasants or landowners. For later game stages I recommend never cut the costs for police. Also you shouldn't take political decisions that will weaken the secret police by responding positively to such requests as freeing peasants leader, allowing labour unions or sacking police chief.

In the screen below I demonstrate the main screens after 80 months in the office. The landowners are dangerously too powerful (after I made a couple mistakes), so at next steps I will certainly diminish their strength. I wish anyone tries to beat my record..

Now I gotta run to share my strategy with Mr Putin ;)