Thank you, I was clicking on those and making some choices accordingly, but the game never seemed to progress. I could have a strong welfare state but riddled with pollution, or an environmental paradise powered by consumerism. I get that the game is about choices, but surely there's a mechanic that kicks in at some point? I just kept clicking the same things over and over and not really progressing.
Historically society hasn't progressed into a new system, then regressed into the previous system cyclically. Different societies are qualitatively different, not merely different arrangements of quantitative variables that all add up to the same sum; there are certain arrangements that one can regard as better than others. It's true that communism won't be a struggle-less, problem-free utopia, but I regard it as a better arrangement of society and as the next step in historical development after capitalism.
I wasn't arguing for communism over capitalism; the main issue I took with your post was the stupid ahistorical assumption that communism and capitalism are two sides of the same coin, that the two could ever interchange or revert between eachother. Communist society comes about by the movement to abolish capitalism, a movement generated by the contradictions present within capitalism. If communism isn't the end of history, then what follows it will emerge out of the contradictions present within communist society and generate something qualitatively different both from communist and capialist society.
The USSR was not communist. It was not close to being communist. It was not progressing towards communism. If you think that the USSR was reeeaaallly close to communism, then you have a completely inaaccurate understanding of both the USSR and communism. Only a few minutes reading the Wikipedia articles on communism and the USSR would show how demonstrably false you understanding is. Considering that you are apparantly too lazy to look these things up before bringing them up, I'll help you by posting links below.
People do want to work, clearly you have no understanding of human labour. People want meaningful work, not redundant mindless, drudgery that grinds you down and leaves you an empty husk. If humans/people don't want to work, then how did we even get to this stage of our development (Not a question just a rhetorical statement). Human labour is why we have progressed, it began in it's infancy, prehistory and grew because humans remain active, not only for survival but also for the drive to learn. If we do not learn we die, our brains deteriorate. Even under capitalism when people retire do they remain inactive, no, because it is boring to be inactive. They typically do something they like or have always wanted to do, if they have the means, and continue until they die, or become to physically impaired. Your statements is ridiculous and just because an idea pops into your head doesn't mean you should say it. And just because you have the ability to say your opinion, doesn't mean it holds any weight or is logical in any way. Sometimes it is better to say nothing and be thought dumb than say something and prove it.
this is a great game...it's kind of depressing, haha, realizing nothing cant happen without sacrifice...but it's such a great game. thank you for your hard work and thank you for making this available to everyone!
Interesting piece. I like how it explains why it's possible to replace/improve a few things under capitalism, but that you'll be fighting an uphill/unwinnable battle unless you also fix the underlying assumptions and systems.
I guess it begs the question, though: what actual policies should we put in place, or what action can we take, to "click the gems"?
I mean, the game is an exercise in "Solving" Capitalism. A lot of the switches needed to complete the game are just magical on/off switches unrepresentative of the real world. I'd assume it's satire.
I'm not sure what I'm missing, I've clicked everything but nothing else in the city seems to need changing. Doesn't seem like I finished the game though, the gems turn back into grey blocks after some time.
Hi there. You can find the links behind the grey blocks / gems in the same way you do for the city itself, by holding down the right mouse button and dragging over two of them!
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Great job with the game! And super cool to see it on Kotaku!
I haven't a clue what i'm doing, but i'm loving this nonetheless. Very addictive and well made game. Anyone care to point me to an idiots guide?
Thank you, I was clicking on those and making some choices accordingly, but the game never seemed to progress. I could have a strong welfare state but riddled with pollution, or an environmental paradise powered by consumerism. I get that the game is about choices, but surely there's a mechanic that kicks in at some point? I just kept clicking the same things over and over and not really progressing.
Historically society hasn't progressed into a new system, then regressed into the previous system cyclically. Different societies are qualitatively different, not merely different arrangements of quantitative variables that all add up to the same sum; there are certain arrangements that one can regard as better than others. It's true that communism won't be a struggle-less, problem-free utopia, but I regard it as a better arrangement of society and as the next step in historical development after capitalism.
I wasn't arguing for communism over capitalism; the main issue I took with your post was the stupid ahistorical assumption that communism and capitalism are two sides of the same coin, that the two could ever interchange or revert between eachother. Communist society comes about by the movement to abolish capitalism, a movement generated by the contradictions present within capitalism. If communism isn't the end of history, then what follows it will emerge out of the contradictions present within communist society and generate something qualitatively different both from communist and capialist society.
The USSR was not communist. It was not close to being communist. It was not progressing towards communism. If you think that the USSR was reeeaaallly close to communism, then you have a completely inaaccurate understanding of both the USSR and communism. Only a few minutes reading the Wikipedia articles on communism and the USSR would show how demonstrably false you understanding is. Considering that you are apparantly too lazy to look these things up before bringing them up, I'll help you by posting links below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union
You can click and drag between two problems and get the underlying problem, then click it, to be able to continue.
People do want to work, clearly you have no understanding of human labour. People want meaningful work, not redundant mindless, drudgery that grinds you down and leaves you an empty husk. If humans/people don't want to work, then how did we even get to this stage of our development (Not a question just a rhetorical statement). Human labour is why we have progressed, it began in it's infancy, prehistory and grew because humans remain active, not only for survival but also for the drive to learn. If we do not learn we die, our brains deteriorate. Even under capitalism when people retire do they remain inactive, no, because it is boring to be inactive. They typically do something they like or have always wanted to do, if they have the means, and continue until they die, or become to physically impaired. Your statements is ridiculous and just because an idea pops into your head doesn't mean you should say it. And just because you have the ability to say your opinion, doesn't mean it holds any weight or is logical in any way. Sometimes it is better to say nothing and be thought dumb than say something and prove it.
this is a great game...it's kind of depressing, haha, realizing nothing cant happen without sacrifice...but it's such a great game. thank you for your hard work and thank you for making this available to everyone!
Interesting piece. I like how it explains why it's possible to replace/improve a few things under capitalism, but that you'll be fighting an uphill/unwinnable battle unless you also fix the underlying assumptions and systems.
I guess it begs the question, though: what actual policies should we put in place, or what action can we take, to "click the gems"?
Amazing game. I wish it was this easy to fix problems in real life.
Nice!
i really like the concept and how one problem leads to another but can be solved.
I like the slow build and the way you can combine abstracts to get to bigger issues!
do you actually believe in this stuff are you insane
communism doesn't work
(or are you meming)
Death to capitalism!
Fucking commies! get off this American site and go live in north korea you cuck
Why are games like this even on this site. I hate games posted like this, :/ it ruins itch.io.
Oink Oink capitalist pig oink oink
do you live in a capitalist country? if so, capitalism got you that device that you're using to comment
you not cammustusm
nazisI mean, the game is an exercise in "Solving" Capitalism. A lot of the switches needed to complete the game are just magical on/off switches unrepresentative of the real world. I'd assume it's satire.
10/10. Great puzzle game
Just one more dream.
Loved the message but after getting the four main GEMS I felt I was stuck.
Is there supposed to be a "Arrived @ Utopia" message?
Glad you liked it! The background colour should change when you've transformed all the basic elements and all parts of the city.
I'm not sure what I'm missing, I've clicked everything but nothing else in the city seems to need changing. Doesn't seem like I finished the game though, the gems turn back into grey blocks after some time.
Hi there. You can find the links behind the grey blocks / gems in the same way you do for the city itself, by holding down the right mouse button and dragging over two of them!
....I have no idea what's supposed to be going on or how it relates to the subject matter of the game.
I really like this game, good job!