How much do simulations cost?

Finding this information out has proven to be rather tricky. Simulation companies are pretty tight-lipped organizations. Maybe because of all their ties to military work??

Anyway, it seems that individuals can purchase games (£20-£125), software (£30 - £800) and books (£20-£60). The price range for individuals to purchase simulation software spans a wide and not so clearly understandable range. For example, you can buy mystrategy for £65 and do 80% of your analytical work or you can drop something like $2000 (USD) on buying the same type of software from Powersim? Go figure. Why buy Powersim Studio? Well, two reasons I suppose: (1) you need to create links between SAP-SEM (or BW) and your simulation; or (2) you need to create an enterprise level simulation.

But WAIT...you can use any system dynamics software (vensim, iSee, Powersim, myStrategy) and strip out the equations (think of the equations as a programming language) and compile them into executable code, slap on a slick web interface and BOOM you've got yourself a networked simulation ready to go! HVR has a simulation compiler -- talk to Dr. Dave Exelby -- email me and I'll send you his details.

Off-the-shelf simulations for training are becoming very popular. Most organizations spend between £3,000 - £15,000 licensing simulation games for their internal training programs in strategy, business administration, marketing, finance and others.

Simulation projects completed by HVR Consulting Services and others in the space range from £25,000 two-day working workshops to £2.5 million IT system roll-outs for banks, oil & gas, FMCG and pharmaceutical companies. The average project fee to develop a custom simulation to help management improve their decision making is ~£223,000 (based on analysis of eight companies in the simulation space).

To use three of GSD's simulation games (unlimited, permanent use) would require a £28,350 investment on the part of the organization.

To use all of their simulations (unlimited, permanent use) would require a £73,800 investment.

Pricing and licensing for using simulations in your training are flexible. GSD offers two ways of buying:

• Pay as you train - least expensive option for experimenting or trying out with a few students; best option for professors or trainers with limited budgets who must pass the cost on to their students.
• Permanent licenses - Most flexible as the licenses do not expire as in the pay as you train model. Best option for a university to purchase and use across many courses to maximize their investment returns.

2006 - The Tipping Point for Simulation Science
Selling Simulation Science
What is Simulation Science?