Farmer Universe Town Story is a serious game, developed on a very slim budget. It is not precise in all details, but covers a wide range of topics. It is meant to be both educational and slightly provocative, with the sole intent of making people think about these topics and, hopefully, realize that each of us can make a difference in helping to end poverty.
Farmer Universe Town Story is a serious-thought-provoking online game and business strategy simulation activity for high school teens and college students where you have to manage an impoverished farm in a dried out desert area of Sub-Saharan Africa. This is an exceptional survival role-playing game online, and gives you a striking, first-hand insight into extreme rural poverty, and the hardships and challenges faced by the millions of starving, struggling farmers and families of developing nations. In Farmer Universe Town Story, you have to make tough moral and survival decisions in order to provide for your underprivileged family, while enduring droughts, disease, poverty, corruption and war. How ethical will you be when you desperately need to pay your rapidly-ailing family’s food and medical bills? Will you accept virtual money to survive in return for storing chemical waste, and even housing terrorists?
The Deal: Your proactive mission is to help the head of the family turn this small farm in a developing nation into a commercial success. You must carefully budget and decide which crops to grow each year to sustain your family, and grow. There are several crops to choose from (corn, wheat, cotton and peanuts), and some prove more risky than others, providing potentially large earnings or huge losses. Make enough profit to invest in the necessary tools such as ploughs, harvesters and tractors to improve your crop yields. Increase your capital by investing wisely in essential buildings such as sheds, wells and barns. But remember, all investments have associated risks; wells can dry up, barns can be destroyed, and livestock may be stolen. Remember also – Do not become too greedy! You must first prioritize your family’s health, or they may weaken, and be struck down by a deadly disease!
How to Play: Each year you must decide which crops to grow on your restricted budget. Use your computer mouse to select and buy crops, livestock, tools and buildings. Left click in the upper left corner of the game screen, and then drag and place the crops in your field. Left click your mouse again on a family member in the center of the screen to administer medicine and other options. When you have bought all your items for the season, click the “Right Arrow” in the top right corner of the screen to forward your circumstances one year in time. You then receive an annual report of how your farm has performed.
To succeed, you need to display good business acumen and strategic thinking skills to help ensure that your family, farm and community is safe and prosperous into the future. Carefully strategize and invest in “Communications” to coordinate sales with other farmers, “Infrastructure” for easier access to markets and “Crop Insurance” to give your family an income when your crops fail. Support a local “School” and “Clinic” for improved health and education services in your area. Donate to a local “Politician” who genuinely works for peace, health and prosperity for all. This will help benefit the long term well-being of the entire nation. When you have succeeded in purchasing the six above mentioned items, you win. Good luck with your new farming venture and survival challenge!
