Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:57:00 GMT
Real Lives is a “life simulator” that puts you in the shoes of someone, somewhere in the world. Who you are, where you’re born, and to who are based on real life statistics, as well as the random events that may happen to you. The interface is quite simple, the most prominent feature being a giant map in the center of the screen. Everything else is text and icons and buttons.
The most important button is the “Advance an Age” button, which you will be using to move forward in your life. As you get older, various choices and options will be presented to you – everything from schooling to finances to who you date and marry and have (or not have) children with. Of course, what you’re able to do depends heavily on where you start out, and at any moment tragedy can strike.
The game, as simple as it is, is incredibly compelling, and very sobering. In my first game, I was quite fortunate, having been born in a middle class family in Slovakia. I died at age 61 of rheumatoid arthritis as a well-to-do police captain with three healthy daughters. In my latest game, however, I’ve been born as a girl to an extremely poor family in rural China, and things are going to be difficult. Being beaten, raped, arrested, or contracting a fatal disease is not uncommon. It’s brutal.
As I said above, the game is based on real life statistics, and as you’re playing you can view those statistics as each event occurs. If you get food poisoning in Slovakia (as I did quite a few times), you can see statistics about what percentage of people like you living in Slovakia get food poisoning each year. The context in which the information is presented makes it so much less dry than if you read it in a periodical.
Real Lives works on a lot of levels: as a game, a simulation, and an educational tool. It also has the incredible potential to increase awareness and human empathy. So it wins pretty hard, all around!
The demo (available as a direct link from this Something Awful thread) is free to play for as long as you like, although if you want access to the character creator, you have to pay $25 for the registered version (via the first link). And here’s a thread I started on our forums for you to post your own “Real Lives.” Everyone should post their first!
(Source: Soldat Movies)
Posted in Highly Recommended, Social Impact, Windows, Sim | 38 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:58:00 GMT
I achieved a certain kind of zen playing Schiffbruch (“Shipwreck”) late at night. There’s something about the way the game captures the feeling of just having to survive from day to day that is very compelling. There’s no story behind why you were on the ship when it crashed, or any explanation about who you are or who you were with. All you know is that you’re stranded on an island (randomly generated with each game), that you left the wreck with nothing, and that you are dying with every step.
Some of you will probably say that this is a boring, repetitive game that requires too much trial-and-error and plain ol’ luck, and I’m not going to argue with you. After being rescued once I don’t feel any need to come back to it. But while I was playing I was so invested in the little home I’d created on the island that when it came time to leave it I was almost sad.
Link: Creator’s Homepage (which runs in a little Java applet, which is why I didn’t use it for the main link)
(Source: Soldat Movies, Image Source: Zizala?)
Posted in Windows, Sim, Strategy, Freeware | 23 comments
Posted by ithamore
Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:04:00 GMT
Takashi’s Space is not the final frontier, but it is the winner of the of this year’s Super Game Bakedown at selectbutton (results).
I have to agree with the voters that it is better than the other two finalists
(Overlords
by Alan Gordon and bd7007
by !=). bd7007 is too short, and it has too little to it. The recommendable Overlords is a good, challenging, minimalistic strategy game that fits interestingly between the RTS and turn-based variations of the genre, and it’s the most developed entry. But I have a crush on Space and all of its large polygon goodness, so my preference for it is a bit biased.
Space is a simple game that lets you develop your own planet from resources stored inside of the surrounding asteroid ring. Not all of the game’s planned features have been completely implemented, but it shows some potential. In some ways, it reminds me of Alex
Ghignola’s rather old, 58 Kb Crystal Pixels, although Space is simpler and more playable.
Speaking of simple, Space could honestly use more development. The planet can only be built with industry or residential sections, which don’t seem to evolve. After depositing resources in the Starbase, it becomes pointless to mine
the asteroids, since the Starbase’s reserves never decease. The game lacks documentation. A save file can be created, but it isn’t loadable. And completing a planet triggers no event or in game award, which causes me to suspect that some screenshots of the game used elsewhere are either of a different version than the “final” one or rendered instead of being in game.
According to Alan Gordon’s blog entry on the contest, “simply designing and building your planet is
rewarding enough, thanks to the wonderful visuals” of Space. And I
agree with the his compliment on the visuals, since I have a nostalgic admiration for 3D games made with large polygons. But now that I’ve been playing the game for over a week and working on this post for a couple of days, my crush has waned. I still like the way it looks, and it was fun while it lasted, but, in it’s current state, it isn’t rewarding enough for a long term relationship.
(Source: Cutting
with Scissors)
Posted in Windows, Sim, Strategy, Competitions, Action / Arcade, Freeware | 13 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Thu, 24 May 2007 20:57:00 GMT
“Play it before you live it” is the mantra behind World Without Oil, an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) that simulates a world oil crisis. Users submit stories via text, audio, or video describing events unfolding during the pretend crisis, and the game’s admins rank users based on how well their content fits with the reality of the game.
An interesting idea that I’m sure is worth trying! It sounds like a lot of fun… crowd-sourcing a real-world problem through role-playing and creative writing.
(Source: GameSetWatch)
Posted in RPG, Unique / Bizarre, Browser Games, Social Impact, Sim | 19 comments
Posted by Tim
Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:14:00 GMT
You can download Rider here.
Quoting dess:
it’s a motorcycle sim where you try to get your package to its destination on time without breaking any traffic laws (when cops are watching). reminds me of tokyo bus guide, but better since it involves motorcycles (and you don’t have to observe crazy bus codes). it’s a pretty nice chillout game. videogame sunsets!
There are some crazy rides to unlock if you play long enough.
EDIT: Options on the main menu, from left to right, are: records (for this playthrough), options, play and quit.
Posted in Unique / Bizarre, Highly Recommended, Windows, Sim, Freeware, Doujin | 9 comments
Posted by Shabadage
Sat, 09 Dec 2006 10:24:00 GMT
I was recently asked by a friend over MSN if there were any good, free racing games avaliable for the PC. I was actually quite astounded that he didn’t know of TORCS, easily one of THE BEST freeware PC racers ever made. Considering I didn’t see it up here on TIGS, I figured I’d add it in. (We need a “racing” category Mr. Yu!)
I feel as though I should explain something first, as TORCS has a rather interesting history. TORCS was inspired by RARS (Robot Auto Racing Simulator), which was a racing game where you didn’t drive, you programmed an AI to drive the car for you. I remember having quite a bit of fun a few years ago playing around with some (Horrible) AI for this game. This, my friends, was pure geek fun.
TORCS is basically the next evolution of that idea, allowing the player to race against other AI bots. Currently, the game boasts 42 cars, roughly 50 different AI opponents, and around 30 tracks to race on. While the graphics are not spectacular (If you’re a GFX whore, there’s always ChaseHQ2Evo [run Eu3E}3?kOoAO.bat before you try to play the game!], which has 2 cars and 2 tracks), they certainly get the point across, and TORCS is constantly being updated (though sometimes it takes a little while). You can even write your own AI opponents if you get bored. (May your attempts go much better than mine.)
Even if you’re one of those people who doesn’t typically like racing games (like me!) you should at least TRY TORCS. I know it’s managed to find a permanent space on my hard drive.
Posted in Linux, Windows, Sim, Freeware | 4 comments
