Life is a Play is my first work in the field of game design. It is not only an exploration of game mechanics, but also carries my thoughts on life. The core theme of the game comes from a question that has been lingering in my mind for a long time: Is it hard work that determines destiny, or is choice and luck the deeper dominant factor?

 

In reality, people often say "as long as you work hard enough, you will succeed", and I have practiced this, but my experience has made me question this concept. I have invested a lot of time and energy in pursuing my dreams. I have no shortage of talent or hard work, but fate does not always unfold according to the ideal script. Because of some luck, I had to give up my dream temporarily, just as some key accidental factors can often change the entire situation in an instant, making all efforts in vain. It is this feeling of uncertainty about reality that prompted me to design this game.

 

Inspiration: Uncertainty of Destiny

Life is like a play. Everyone's "script" is different when they appear on the stage. Some people are born rich, some people have outstanding looks, and some people can only rely on their hands to fight. You can't choose your starting point, but you can choose how to interpret your life. In Life is a Play, the initial attributes of players (wealth, appearance, health, happiness) are determined by rolling dice, simulating the differences in origin in reality. Each player needs to formulate a strategy under given conditions to decide how to balance stability and risk, so as to shape his own destiny.

 

However, this game is not just a reproduction of reality, but a reflection and re-creation of reality. Even if the starting point is different, the choice can still change life. Players can choose to accumulate wealth steadily, or take risks to start a business, or even go all out and leave everything to the unknown. What ultimately determines the outcome is not simply wealth or success, but the balance of happiness - this is not only the core mechanism of the game, but also the sublimation of my understanding of life.

 

Design concept: a combination of strategy and drama

In design, I focus on balancing randomness and strategy. Rolling the dice determines the starting point, allowing players to experience the impermanence of fate, but the subsequent decision is the key. Work provides stable income, entrepreneurship brings high risks and high returns, and gambling is a pure test of luck. This mechanism not only enhances the diversity of the game, but also allows players to weigh risks and benefits at each choice, simulating the decision-making process in reality. At the same time, I added a lot of dramatic events to make each round of the game full of uncertainty. For example, a workplace decision may lead to huge losses, and a gamble may bring unexpected wealth. These uncertainties allow players to find a balance between strategy and chance, just like real life.

 

Summary: Game is life

"Life is a Play" is not only my first game work, but also an experiment on the possibilities of life. It has no fixed script, no absolute path to success, and every play will bring a new experience. And this is where it is closest to reality-fate may not be controlled, but the choice is always in your own hands.