Free Ice Cream Empire mobile game is the business
Has Milan's Bocconi University got the Tycoon genre licked?
How much do you reckon a degree in ice-cream retailing costs nowadays? No, we've not the foggiest idea either, but we'd wager it's more than free.
Well, that's how much your first foot in ice cream will cost you if you download a free copy of Ice Cream Empire (otherwise known as ICE, handily enough).
It's the brainchild of Milan's Bocconi University, which points out that for loads of Italians immigrants, selling ice cream was a first foothold in local economies, and one that led to the founding of businesses that still thrive today.
The University – which certainly gets our vote for Thursday's most enlightened educator – claims ICE offers a simple way to learn about supply and demand, stockpiling, promotion and accountancy.
To get started in ICE, you first choose where in Milan to put your stand – outside of Bocconi University, the central Piazza Duomo, the bohemian Brera district and so on – basing your decision on the weather and local news reports.
You then stock up on ice cream ingredients, deciding whether to make luxury cones or something more flakey, and what employees to hire (maybe a cashier, or a juggler to attract the kids?)
As the day unfolds you find out whether you're the next Ben and Jerry of ice cream, or more like Mr Whipped, then next morning you set off down the slippery slope once more.
Sounds sweet? To download the game, register at the University's Ice Cream Empire website. ICE was created with Italian mobile operator Tim and developer Impressionware.