Ayiti: The Cost of Life is a challenging, surprisingly subtle game that gets inside your head and shakes up some common notions about poverty and the struggle.

"What is it like to live in poverty, struggling every day to stay healthy, keep out of debt, and get educated? Find out now in this challenging role playing game created by the High School students in Global Kids with the game developers at Gamelab, in which you take responsibility for a family of five in rural Haiti."

The game emphasizes the importance of health, education, work and happiness for the success of a family. Things that many in developed countries take for granted. A lesson aimed at children works for adults as well.

Vicious Cycles

Racing games generally require a bit of practice and jamming on the gas. Shooters often require a strong trigger finger and a bit of luck. But in Ayiti, the cycles of life are a good deal more complicated and there may not be a way for your family to win.

Health is a huge challenge for the family in the game and in every day Haiti. Your family will get sick from hurricanes destroying infrastructure and from poor working condiitions. As health deteriorates this prevents family members from working and studying. This in turn hurts diets and happiness.

Happiness you say! Why should we worry about the happiness of those poor people? "At least they are getting food." Like many an office worker, and for much better reasons, your family members will not be able to work or study if they are unhappy. Depression arises from lack of food and poor health.

The strength of the game is that it illustrates how these factors work together that challenge those living in poverty. Why not take a gander?

---