i will leave a bit of a lengthy review on this one. i hope you will take the time to read it and understand.
first of all the thumbnail for this caught my eye as i was looking through the 51 pages of the bundle for racial justice and equality, so i will compliment you on that front.
this game is strange and a bit disappointing. it relies on stereotypes. the asian man who wants to "leave the rice paddies" and works until he dies, the black african man who gets killed by a cop and dies wishing he had more sports cars, the white woman who is a lesbian who gets murdered or gets an abortion which ends that run right there.
i would absolutely not rag on a game with these backstories IF they were vent pieces created by people in those situations. but as this was made by a white man, i simply can't see it as anything other than performative or insulting, especially as i'm assuming you chose to submit it to the bundle. it's one of those pieces of media that just didn't need to be made, except for back-patting.
another compliment- i did like the music and the way the character and their eyes follow the mouse like they're a tamagotchi. a little unnecessary detail but one that does show you care about the visuals in your games.
i hope you've read through. i don't want to come off as a hateful person or anything, i do think you could've had something here if it was a different premise. your voice is better used to uplift and support minorities, rather than tell their stories for them, however simplistically they're represented.
the message is... punch in the face obnoxious, but doesn't offer anything original with it or try to say anything about it. Also blatantly untrue in a lot of cases, your life doesnt end just because one thing didn't work out.
I guess the point is to force priviliged people to see injustice? But yeah it's rather pessimistic and shallow (not unecpected from a tiny game jam game but still :/)
Game spells out the moral for you after only one playthrough (despite multiple endings) and the moral written out doesn't seem in tune with what's actually in the gameplay
ngl i get the distinct impression the dev doesn't have a whole lot of friends who aren't white guys
not sure if I agree with all of the more critical comments, but this is definitely a bleak game. I'm pretty sure I got most of the endings and the only remotely happy one involves dying young to become a martyr. Every time you die you get the same message about being more compassionate and treating others differently but no matter what you choose you always die sad and alone, usually due to forces beyond your control. there's a message about privilege and inequality in there somewhere, I'm just not sure if the game says anything meaningful about it.
There is also an ending where you have a great business that ended up failing at some point, you are loved and admired by your family and community but "can't help but think you could have done more with your business"
It didn't "strike at ... preconceptions" though, it enforced them. The woman is always held back by sexism. The black man is almost always held back or killed by racism. The Asian man is limited by living "somewhere in Asia" and can either be a rice farmer or a factory worker. It makes all underprivileged groups out to be nothing but our oppression and gives the idea that we'll never make it without it holding us back. While it's a nice message to tell other cishet white guys to hopefully do less oppressing, it seems to go under the assumption that no one playing this could be Black, or Asian, or a woman, or in any other oppressed group. And if we are, it's just a smack in the face that that's ALL we're seen as.
So, 4 messages in a row to make sure I still want my character to abort, and because I click yes every time, the game is over? I hope that was random... I don't mind the fact that the character has to face her mother/friends leaving her for this action, it unfortunately happens. But making 4 questions out of 5 about "are you sure? your mother/friend/coach/etc really thinks you should keep it!" feels a bit preachy... :/
this game comes across like it was made by someone unaffected by these struggles and super disingenuous. I appreciate what the developer was trying to do but it feels performative.
Wow! This is actually super fun to play. Most people know of the injustices in the world but to experience it in a game is much cooler! Each different path in life? Amazing! It was fun to see what affected what in my "life". Would 100% recommend to my friends :)
It's a remarkably realistic game, and the only remotely positive ending was one that had important future changes in it, making it the only life with any real immortality.
One of the best and most replayable short games on itch. Also love the (mostly) fun tongue-and-cheek delivery of a very easy-to-forget but simple truth in life.
i don't see the problem here, you have different choices dependent on different backgrounds, such as urban or rural, am i missing whats offending people?
I understand that this is a "life simulator" and that life involves politics. I understand that people are upset about this game, because of its vague political position evident in the wording being pushed at them.
I also know that people are defending the game and are trying to explain that its just trying to show the sad unfairness in the world.
Lets be honest, right here, right now. There is no political position, but there is a simple fact: that the author obviously does want to push that the world is unfair. However, its done badly. Life is chance, but it is not based on "privilege". Or, at least, the game depicts life as only dependent on it, which is entirely false.
That is all I got. I dunno lol. Just annoying, how people believe that believing certain privileges are a thing, makes you leftist, or political at all. Its upsetting, and like I said, annoying. Its an alright game, and the music is nice to listen to, so play it and you give your own thoughts, I guess.
These comments. Apparently being able to see the sad unfairness present in the world is a political position. But the fact that you've offended so many people with such a simple game means you're on the right path. Very well done, keep it up.
"Making marginalized groups feel like they'll never be anything but a stereotype and will never be happy means you're on the right path! ;) You defeated racism and misogyny by making people just feel worse about them! Congrats!"
It only took one play to see the one sided-ness of the game with its clear left leaning message, life will never be fair for everyone, that's how it is, that's how it will always be, and no one is not subject to the unfairness, it doesn't matter if you are white, black, gay or straight, life is never fair.
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i will leave a bit of a lengthy review on this one. i hope you will take the time to read it and understand.
first of all the thumbnail for this caught my eye as i was looking through the 51 pages of the bundle for racial justice and equality, so i will compliment you on that front.
this game is strange and a bit disappointing. it relies on stereotypes. the asian man who wants to "leave the rice paddies" and works until he dies, the black african man who gets killed by a cop and dies wishing he had more sports cars, the white woman who is a lesbian who gets murdered or gets an abortion which ends that run right there.
i would absolutely not rag on a game with these backstories IF they were vent pieces created by people in those situations. but as this was made by a white man, i simply can't see it as anything other than performative or insulting, especially as i'm assuming you chose to submit it to the bundle. it's one of those pieces of media that just didn't need to be made, except for back-patting.
another compliment- i did like the music and the way the character and their eyes follow the mouse like they're a tamagotchi. a little unnecessary detail but one that does show you care about the visuals in your games.
i hope you've read through. i don't want to come off as a hateful person or anything, i do think you could've had something here if it was a different premise. your voice is better used to uplift and support minorities, rather than tell their stories for them, however simplistically they're represented.
the message is... punch in the face obnoxious, but doesn't offer anything original with it or try to say anything about it. Also blatantly untrue in a lot of cases, your life doesnt end just because one thing didn't work out.
I guess the point is to force priviliged people to see injustice? But yeah it's rather pessimistic and shallow (not unecpected from a tiny game jam game but still :/)
good little game very nice although the choices are quite limited
Interesting idea. The execution was very on-the-nose, so to speak - so I would have liked more subtlety.
The message at the end of each game would work better if each life was much longer.
Though, the game is alright for what it is. The morals behind it are rather bleak, though they harbor some greater truths.
It's called a game of chance because it (and life) are out of your control. I think that's worth something.
This really wasn't that good
Game spells out the moral for you after only one playthrough (despite multiple endings) and the moral written out doesn't seem in tune with what's actually in the gameplay
ngl i get the distinct impression the dev doesn't have a whole lot of friends who aren't white guys
not sure if I agree with all of the more critical comments, but this is definitely a bleak game. I'm pretty sure I got most of the endings and the only remotely happy one involves dying young to become a martyr. Every time you die you get the same message about being more compassionate and treating others differently but no matter what you choose you always die sad and alone, usually due to forces beyond your control. there's a message about privilege and inequality in there somewhere, I'm just not sure if the game says anything meaningful about it.
There is also an ending where you have a great business that ended up failing at some point, you are loved and admired by your family and community but "can't help but think you could have done more with your business"
Feels like the game was made to make a statement, and its dumb
I admire your efforts to strike at people's preconceptions with this game! Good luck to you in your future.
It didn't "strike at ... preconceptions" though, it enforced them. The woman is always held back by sexism. The black man is almost always held back or killed by racism. The Asian man is limited by living "somewhere in Asia" and can either be a rice farmer or a factory worker. It makes all underprivileged groups out to be nothing but our oppression and gives the idea that we'll never make it without it holding us back. While it's a nice message to tell other cishet white guys to hopefully do less oppressing, it seems to go under the assumption that no one playing this could be Black, or Asian, or a woman, or in any other oppressed group. And if we are, it's just a smack in the face that that's ALL we're seen as.
obnoxious game with no lasting or impactful message
So, 4 messages in a row to make sure I still want my character to abort, and because I click yes every time, the game is over? I hope that was random... I don't mind the fact that the character has to face her mother/friends leaving her for this action, it unfortunately happens. But making 4 questions out of 5 about "are you sure? your mother/friend/coach/etc really thinks you should keep it!" feels a bit preachy... :/
That's the point. This is how it is if you want an abortion.
That's how it is when you try to get an abortion irl so it's accurate...
I know, you're right... but I can't help but think that not the best choice. Maybe it just hit too close to home idk
It's not random. Every choice ends a certain way, and they always end badly.
this game comes across like it was made by someone unaffected by these struggles and super disingenuous. I appreciate what the developer was trying to do but it feels performative.
I really appreciate this game. Thank you for making it!
Wow! This is actually super fun to play. Most people know of the injustices in the world but to experience it in a game is much cooler! Each different path in life? Amazing! It was fun to see what affected what in my "life". Would 100% recommend to my friends :)
Well idea is great however I didn’t like that fact that there are too many redirects.
what a preachy game.
It's a remarkably realistic game, and the only remotely positive ending was one that had important future changes in it, making it the only life with any real immortality.
is there ever a happy ending
Gotta love when a game just straight up tells you the intended message after one go -_-
Not what I expected. It was better! Truly, I did not expect such unpredictable endings. Will play a dozen more times!
This is a fun game.
Ok, dude, I get it. Life is not fair, but we deal with it anyway. Jeez!
this is actually wonderful! the ending was very well put. kinda ominous, but it gets to people.
That's Weird...
Love it! It's like a quick review of so many different lifes, while I get to live only one of them in reality!
These comments are more depressing than the game
Hahaha!
One of the best and most replayable short games on itch. Also love the (mostly) fun tongue-and-cheek delivery of a very easy-to-forget but simple truth in life.
i don't see the problem here, you have different choices dependent on different backgrounds, such as urban or rural, am i missing whats offending people?
yes u r
Alright. Lets get to it.
I understand that this is a "life simulator" and that life involves politics. I understand that people are upset about this game, because of its vague political position evident in the wording being pushed at them.
I also know that people are defending the game and are trying to explain that its just trying to show the sad unfairness in the world.
Lets be honest, right here, right now. There is no political position, but there is a simple fact: that the author obviously does want to push that the world is unfair. However, its done badly. Life is chance, but it is not based on "privilege". Or, at least, the game depicts life as only dependent on it, which is entirely false.
That is all I got. I dunno lol. Just annoying, how people believe that believing certain privileges are a thing, makes you leftist, or political at all. Its upsetting, and like I said, annoying. Its an alright game, and the music is nice to listen to, so play it and you give your own thoughts, I guess.
Dudes love the song made with Beepbox
i use that alot 2
For all that don't understand: everything is meant to have a bad ending
These comments. Apparently being able to see the sad unfairness present in the world is a political position. But the fact that you've offended so many people with such a simple game means you're on the right path. Very well done, keep it up.
preach it
"Making marginalized groups feel like they'll never be anything but a stereotype and will never be happy means you're on the right path! ;) You defeated racism and misogyny by making people just feel worse about them! Congrats!"
It only took one play to see the one sided-ness of the game with its clear left leaning message, life will never be fair for everyone, that's how it is, that's how it will always be, and no one is not subject to the unfairness, it doesn't matter if you are white, black, gay or straight, life is never fair.
Bro what you going on about?
extremelyaveragejoe is angry that the game points out that white and male privilege exist lol
very good
This game is really amazing, congrats!
this is unfair /s