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Prepare for an emotional survival experience set in a randomly generated city. CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience is now available DRM-free on GOG.COM with a 15% discount until 22nd July 2020, 1 PM UTC.

Explore, survive, earn perks, find items and kindness to develop your character and escape to a new life in this disturbing RPG. As the developers explain, this title is “a hate letter to the growing indifference in the world”.
Probably too much of a downer - thematically speaking - for most people, but I'm sure it will be right up other people's alley.
Going to pick this up when I'm back home.
Interesting idea. Hopefully someone who experienced homelessness first hand could contribute to the game.
I always wo9nder when I see things like this how accurate they are.

Sometimes they hit it spot on, others they go by people's impressions and the stories we would carefully edit before telling to service providers, and those are different in every town since all the places have their own priorities and if you don't match them you're out of luck.
I like it when computer games are about real-life topics. So this one looks very interesting. For the moment I wishlisted it. Might buy it, but will wait for some reviews first.
Ouch. Right in the feels.

I have to admit I feel conflicted. On one hand it looks interesting and it's important that it's raising awareness of people who are usually ignored by society. On the other hand, I'm afraid that playing this game for several hours might be emotionally draining.

I guess I'll buy it and be careful to play in short bursts.
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Waldschatten: I always wo9nder when I see things like this how accurate they are.

Sometimes they hit it spot on, others they go by people's impressions and the stories we would carefully edit before telling to service providers, and those are different in every town since all the places have their own priorities and if you don't match them you're out of luck.
It will be different for every country though. Being Homeless in USA you can still have amenities if you willing to work or panhandle enough and there's even private organizations willing to help you. Also rampant drug use among many homeless. But in country like mine (in South East Asia) people sleep under bridges, wearing ratty clothing and very limited access to clean water and good food. Also there's less private organization helping homeless people. Being homeless in USA you can still bounce back if you willing to but in my country you will ended up working lowly menial job and sometimes for life. Also drugs are too expensive but some kids buy cheap glue to sniff and damaging their brain forever.

Really. If I make homeless simulator based on my country it will be called "Depression simulator"
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RedRagan: It will be different for every country though.
Yes, and not just every country but different parts of many countries as well. In the US it can vary quite a bit by county, at least in terms of services and police/legal interactions (the US also incarcerates a lot of people, and many people are homeless when released). But in general as you mention food, water, and clothing are widely available here, although there is also a lot of sleeping under bridges. A large portion of people who are homeless in the US are disabled and unable to work and many who can work do, but often not enough to afford rent (at any particular time there are also a bunch of people who will only be homeless briefly). I'd guess the way the drug cartels interact with homlessness is different in the US vs. other countries. There is a huge variety of individual experiences even in any particular place (e.g. between people who have a car (or can stay with friends) and those who don't) as well as based on gender, race, sexuality, immigration/citizenship status, language, particulars of disability, any reasources available from family or friends, etc. I would guess the situation is quite different in some ways in countries with very low wages in general. In many places the quality of housing varies much more than in the US leaving a less sharp line beween homeless or not (although even in the US is is not always a sharp line).

The developers here are from the UK, so that will also be different from the US, particularly the government aspect and the limited generational homelessness. They do say "in the world" so I wonder if they are trying to make some generic experience based on aspects from around the world or if it is more specific to the UK.

In general, a game about homelessness seems like a bad idea to me. IMO, it would be much better if they try to raise money and awareness while making games about other things. Or make games that include stories from people who are homeless without trying to turn homelessness itself into a game. I also find it suspicious that they have a vague statement about raising money but no details.
I thought that was Doge at first.

Very sadness. Many hunger.
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I was homeless almost 20 years ago. While it was only for six months, those were very scary and emotionally taxing times. As much as I'd like to give this a try, I'd rather not revisit the memories that remain of my time on the streets.
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Ophelium: I was homeless almost 20 years ago. While it was only for six months, those were very scary and emotionally taxing times. As much as I'd like to give this a try, I'd rather not revisit the memories that remain of my time on the streets.
I feel you. You have stories to tell, unlike others.
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RedRagan: It will be different for every country though.
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joveian: I also find it suspicious that they have a vague statement about raising money but no details.
That's news to me. Yeah it sounds very fishy when they start claiming that they going to donate but no further information about that. I still give them the benefit of doubt though, but not going to buy their game on full price unless there's a pretty good review that said otherwise.
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joveian: I also find it suspicious that they have a vague statement about raising money but no details.
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RedRagan: That's news to me.
It is at the bottom of the page: "PLANS Our goal with this project is to raise awareness on the issue of homelessness, as well as raise money for it."
Really? This ismatter not a game. Do something tangible that actually helps people & resolves the issues of socio-economic disparity including corruption & exploitation.
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Hi guys! Developer here to answer your questions!

So far we've raised £7500 for charity. Our total profits don't currently equal that much, but we wanted to do something with our launch money. It's split evenly between CRISIS, Shelter and the Clocktower Sanctuary. I've attached our donation receipts as proof (Danny Hayes is me, the designer/coder for the game). Hopefully we can keep this going!

We're gonna do a full postmortem at some point soon that details our journey and all the finances and donations with more transparency. :)
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