Can a realistic "Slice of life" game work?

[themistermanguy]

There have been life Sims like Animal Crossing before. But even in life Sims, they still have some weird, fantastical element to it. However, what if there was a realistic slice-of-life game, completely grounded in reality. No quirky animals, no fantasy setting, no super-serious, complex story, no combat, no bad guy, no save the day and get points. A game that was down to earth, simple, and was really just about living the day to day lives of regular, no frills, relatable characters. The best comparisons I can make are TV shows like The Weekenders or The Adventures of Pete and Pete. A sort of, Interactive sitcom if you will. Could a game like that actually work? And be a success?

 

[Saelune]

Well, Sims is popular. A more realistic Sims probably would also be popular. Id probably like it, cause I'm so crippled by anxiety that the freedom to live through a world where I can just actually X out would be cool.

 

[Remus]

As mentioned, if you suffer from anxiety or are just generally reclusive, games of this nature will always find an audience with their ability to let people express their inner freak without repercussions. In an online environment, the most notable example - Second Life - led to many people creating goth S&M characters akin to the nightclubs in the Matrix or Blade films. Anything more puritan with less freedom likely would not attract as large of an audience.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

Of course it can be done, and it should be done. I await the day that developers do not feel the need to include supernatural or fantastical elements in order to make a game exciting or interesting.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Isn't the Shenmue basically a slice-of-life game series? There's a bit of brawling in that apparently, but nothing fantastically or out-of-this world.

 

[CaitSeith]

Try Harvest Moon (specifically the SNES version). No fantasy elements or the like there. It's just working in a farm that you just inherited: you must clear the fields, grow plenty of crops, buy many cows and chickens, marry one of the 5 eligible wives, and have a child.

 

[FPLOON]

You mean... like a Life Simulator? If so, then I prefer if it was like Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star...

Other than that, I guess Minecraft can fit the bill from a satirical-survivalist perspective...

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Persona games are partially like this, but with an anime flavor to it of course.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Can it work? Mechanically yeah it can. Would it sell? I have my doubts. Though slice of life and what your defining aren't generally the same. The adventures of Pete and Pete had a 10 (How old was little Pete?) with a tattoo of a dancing girl. I'm sure you could find children with tattoos but that is sufficiently off that I wouldn't call it "realistic". Oh and they had a friend who thought he was a superhero. In real life your kids wouldn't be allowed outside if that guy was hanging around and he certainly wouldn't be their best friend.

I would second the Harvest Moon suggestion, it's pretty mundane at least as far as farmers go. Most of us have no first hand experience with farming these days but whatev.

 

[Amaror]

Well yes, obviously it can work. It does work. Why do you think do people buy all those x-simulator games, like farming simulator or truck simulator. Because they are basically that. A somewhat realistic depiction of what a life doing those jobs is like.