Planet M.U.L.E.

Much like Bunten, I am a transgender woman, so I recognize this game as an important part of queer gaming history. I do find it odd that she, being queer, made a capitalist sim and an imperialist sim, but who am I to judge? Anyway, I'm new to M.U.L.E., but I hear nothing but praise for it, and I'd be down to find a playgroup ;D

Although I can't speak much for the global domination games (mainly because I haven't really played them), Dani's work explored the duality in imperialism and capitalism. "Coexist" is probably the best way to summarize it. In Seven Cities of Gold, if one upsets the natives of a land you are "sharing", then one is less likely to succeed. In MULE, players who play just for their own score will never see the high scores of a truly optimized, specialized, and coordinating colony.

Dani Bunten was an entrepreneur. In this simulation we call life, we'll fall under the wheels if we try to directly oppose large problems; particularly the problems we cannot solve alone. Unfortunately, we must at least at times be part of the wheel.

I'm sure I don't speak alone, but MULE didn't just teach me economics, it taught me how to cooperate and play with others. Dani is on record as saying what happens outside the computer during a game (the meta game) is as important as what is happening in the game. When we're playing MULE, we're not conqueroring (albeit mostly empty) planets, we're playing with each other. And if we're introducing MULE to a younger generation, we're teaching them valuable life skills.