Life by You, an upcoming game aiming to rival The Sims in the life simulation genre, caught attention at Gamescom 2023 due to its daring take on interactions and relationships. With its strong development team and an extended period before its release, Life by You is vying for the top spot in the world of life simulation games.
During our experience with the game, we had the chance to talk to a developer about one of its most intriguing features: the dynamics of relationships and interactions between characters.
What immediately struck me about Life by You during Gamescom 2023 was its fearless approach to incorporating genuine, adult outcomes based on your decisions. If you choose to neglect your in-game job, the screen floods with a passive-aggressive email from your virtual boss, reminding you to return to work. Moreover, the game permits various interactions with other characters that can impact your relationships with them.
Paradox Tectonic’s senior game designer, Hannah Culver, provided insight into the game’s mechanics by guiding me through a day in the life of her in-game character, Ronnie. During this walkthrough, I noticed that players have the option to either flirt or use strong language with NPCs.
In Culver’s demonstration, she chose the latter, resulting in her character giving a rude gesture and using profanity towards her coworker Elijah, purely for comedic effect.
AI Responses and Relationship Meters
Culver emphasized the intriguing aspect of how the AI characters react to such interactions. She explained, “Each person reacts differently based on their relationship, location, or even traits. If I had been confrontational with a different character, the outcome might have been distinct. However, in this case, he wasn’t tolerating my attitude.”
Characters in Life by You maintain relationship meters with one another, spanning from friendly to hostile, influenced by their actions. As the relationship meter progresses in one direction, new dialogue options and interactions become available.
Culver elaborated, “Your interactions expand as you become friendlier. There are also certain negative interactions that are only possible if you’re on bad terms with them, creating distinct relationship stages. As you grow closer to others, your conversation possibilities widen.”
Life by You’s Unique Approach
Life by You differentiates itself from The Sims in numerous ways, particularly in the realm of relationships. While both games incorporate relationship systems, Life by You aims for greater realism in portraying choices and their outcomes.
The option to use strong language and employ gestures like flipping the bird represents just a fraction of the game’s broader commitment to authenticity in interactions.
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