| Early one morning in April 1992, 80 Molson Breweries management and sales rep switched on the closed circuit TV sets in their hotel rooms and received instructions from a Star-trek style video. Then they put on their space-age uniforms and stormed into a conference room to complete their mission - to sell "Intergalactic Water and Ice" to the skeptical residents of "Planet X". Smoke machines, music and sound effects created atmosphere. Teams had to adjust their sales approach to changing economic, political and social conditions on Planet X, and those who made mistakes were banished to "the Outer Limits" - a big wire cage. The man behind all this activity was Don Jones, president of Ottawa-based Business Simulation International Inc. (BSI). When he started the training company in 1988, Jones used standard training techniques like seminars and workshops. But wanted to get participants more involved, and after reading "about 400 books" on experiential learning and adult education, he designed a successful game for one of his clients. The idea of simulations is not new, Jones says, but some companies design generic games which they sell to many clients. "That's not our niche," he explains. BSI's custom-designed simulations take from four to six months to research and create. For the Molson game, Jones and his team interviewed sales staff, executives and bar owners to determine customer needs, company sales techniques and industry trends. Most of Jones' customers are located outside Metro Ottawa, but he has no desire to move. "There's an illusion that you have to be in downtown Toronto," he says. He explains that he can fly from Ottawa to the Toronto Island airport in less time than it takes many people living close by to get to downtown Toronto by commuter train. And he likes Ottawa's abundance of parks and recreational opportunities. "We love Ottawa and we like being a small company - but we like to have large clients," says Jones. BSI is currently working on games for Canada Post and Ortho Pharmaceutical. Training firms from New York and England are interested in BSI's work. "We're exceptionally please that we can do all that from Ottawa," Jones says. | 
