Launch of "If I Were The Finance Minister" Game 2008

Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua launched the 2008 version of "If I Were The Finance Minister" game at Raffles Junior College on 11 February 2008 at 2.30pm.

2. Containing improved interactive features, the game allows players a real-time look at how their choices in expenditure and revenue will impact Singaporeans. As the scenarios of the game are calibrated to reflect real-life situations, the game can also serve as a teaching-tool for use in the classrooms, allowing students to learn about resource management and making trade-offs. Students from Junior Colleges across Singapore have been invited, to be among the first to try their hand at the online role-playing game launched this afternoon.

3. The Game is targeted at teenagers and young adults and is similar in design to online Role-Playing Games. The initial version of the Game was introduced in 2005, but the gameplay has been updated annually. This joint production between the Ministry of Finance and Temasek Polytechnic's Informatics and IT School now encompasses lively animation and an improved interactive platform. New features that players can look forward to include an interactive Singapore Map that changes real-time with expenditure and revenue choices, and with random global shocks that force players to respond to real-life situations.

4. The Ministry of Finance hopes that through the Game, more Singaporeans can have a better understanding of the challenges and trade-offs that are required in the formulation of a National Fiscal Policy.

5. The "If I Were The Finance Minister" game can be experienced at the Budget 2008 Website at http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE