Real Lives 2004 - Living Other People's Normal Lives?

Thanks to USA Today for its article discussing an educational videogame which allows players to live the life of another person. The piece explains: "Real Lives 2004 starts by automatically generating a life based on current population and birth rate statistics", before explaining possible outcomes: "Our teen-testers were able to experience many different lives in just a few hours. One was a boy born into a poor family in Zhangzhou, China, who did not attend college or vocational school. As a mail clerk, our teen-tester faced decisions about gambling, alcohol and drinking... He found romance but had no children and he died at age 84 from cancer."

Comments

Don't slashdot The Underdogs, but...

[FooAtWFU]

URLs not linked for nicety purposes, but designed by Dr. Peter Favaro and published by Activision in 1983 we find:
http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Alter+E go%3A+Male
http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Alter+E go%3A+Female

Alter Ego is one of the rare games that's not only outstanding in every respect, but, like Fool's Errand, is so original in concept that it's hard to categorize. You play your own alter ego in this game, going through life stages while making decisions that impact several characteristics, such as calmness, trustworthiness, etc., that in turn affect the number of choices you have in future situation. You might learn a surprising thing or two about yourself while playing this life simulation. Overall, an outstanding game in every respect, and much more realistic than Maxis' recent blockbuster The Sims years later. Two thumbs up!

Form free link

[Fizzl]

Here

Mmmm.. Karma whoring.

Re:Older 'life simulators'

[krazykong]

Actually, someone has actually recreated that game in a web based format. It can be played here..