I recently replayed Artist Survival Simulator. It was the first game I ever played that was based on living the life of an artist. Unfortunately, most of those games seem to be a bit more on the depressing side and this one is no different.
Artist Survival Simulator is supposed to show you how difficult it is to tough it out as an artist. Luckily, it’s not too realistic. It’s a very narrow, simplistic, somewhat negative and bleak, version of an artist’s life, but it’s making a point.
You’re a student, living in Europe, who just completed your studies in Fine Art and have embarked on your career as an artist!
There are only 4 things you can choose do each month:
- Make art! (You make no money from this)
- Work for a living… (Get Money – amount varies, Lose Inspiration)
- Apply for a grant. (Might get money – amount varies. Can get denied. )
- Undertake an inspirational excursion. (Get Inspiration, Lose 2000 Euros)
It seems an artist’s entire artistic career is based on getting grants and surviving from odd jobs in between. In fact, you can’t even make money from your art at all!
However, we’re very disciplined and our monthly living costs never fluctuate from 1000 Euros. Lucky there’s no inflation.
The entire goal of the game is to see how long you can survive as an artist and how many art works you can produce before you fail.
Your artistic career is over if you run out of money or when you have lost your inspiration. There’s no way to get it back once it’s gone.
Now, these options are very simplified and outdated in comparison to the real world. Nothing is this simple and black and white. Fortunately, life is actually very complex and gives us opportunities in many forms. We, at least, definitely have more than 4 choices a day.
Still, I really liked this game because C’mon, it’s an artist’s life for me! I’m stoked and ready to give it my very best! I just wish it wasn’t so gloomy.
I survived as an artist for 41 months and produced 7 art works.
My buddy Andrew survived as an artist for 85 months and produced 13 art works. (Maybe he’s meant to be an artist!)
How long can you survive?
Artist Survival Simulator
http://nyxxx.se/ass/
Free Browser Game
Made in Twine in 2014. Originally called Konstnärsspelet (Swedish).
Story & Game Design by Gabriel Widing.
Illustrated by Albin Werle
Translation to English Leo Nordwall