Alter Ego (video Game) Article Index for
Alter Ego
Website Links For
Alter
 

Information About

Alter Ego (video Game)




  developer Peter J Favaro
  publisher
  released 1986
  genre Life Simulation Game <br> Role-playing Game
  modes Single Player
  platforms Commodore 64 , Apple II , DOS , Mac OS


''Alter Ego'' is a personality Computer Game released by Activision in 1986 . It was created by Peter J. Favaro , Ph.D. for the Commodore 64 , PC (under DOS ), Apple II , and the Macintosh . The game allows the user to make decisions for an imaginary person (being therefore the player's Alter Ego ) and shows what possible consequences these decisions could have on that person. ''Alter Ego'' was available in both male and female versions, each using a different set of experiences.

The player's alter ego began the game as an infant; the game presented the user with a tree diagram with nodes, each labeled with an icon. The player would choose an icon to choose an "experience" or situation to explore. Each of the icons showed what kind of experience it held by its picture (e.g. a heart denoted a romantic event). After making a choice in each node, the user was moved back to the tree with that node marked as completed. In this manner, the user could progress to the next experience, thus living through his or her alter ego's entire life and examining what impact their decisions had.

As with other Role-playing Game s, ''Alter Ego'' kept track of Character Statistics throughout the game, which in turn would affect the alter ego's ability to succeed at certain choices. For example, in the high school segment, the player might be given the choice of trying out for the school Baseball team, or deciding to instead crack down and study harder to try to improve in math. This decision might change the alter ego's "Physical", "Confidence", and "Intellectual" statistics, which in future experiences might influence the alter ego's ability to get into college or succeed in social situations.

The game was advertised as being based on actual Psychological knowledge and experience. It was a novel concept, to some degree similar to '' The Sims '' (but while ''Alter Ego'' let the player experience his or her own personality, or the consequences of changing it, ''The Sims'' allows the player to observe and explore others'—hidden—personality and interaction in situations).


EXTERNAL LINKS