Paralives

{{Infobox video game

| title = Paralives

| image = Paralives Steam artwork.jpg

| developer = Paralives Studio

| publisher = Paralives Studio

| platforms = Windows, macOS

| released =

| genre = Life simulation

| modes = Single-player

| designer = Alex Massé

| artist = {{ubl|Léa Sorribès|Sonia M’hamdi|Alice Joubin}}

| programmer = {{ubl|Alex Massé|Anna Thibert|Jérémie Tessier|Étienne Brisson}}

| composer = Andrei Castañon

| engine = Unity

}}

Paralives is an upcoming life simulation indie game by Paralives Studio for Windows and macOS. The game, heavily inspired by The Sims, features house building and management in a small town.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/08/15/why-paralives-is-looking-to-be-the-sims-new-rival|title=Why Paralives Is Looking To Be The Sim's New Rival|last=Welch-Murphy|first=Emma|magazine=Game Informer|language=en|date=2019-08-15|access-date=2020-04-12|archive-date=2020-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607004104/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/08/15/why-paralives-is-looking-to-be-the-sims-new-rival|url-status=live}} It is scheduled for release in early access in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2024-02-07 |title=The Sims-like Life Simulator Paralives Gets a 2025 Release Window |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-sims-like-life-simulator-paralives-gets-a-2025-release-window |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=IGN |archive-date=2024-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207160710/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-sims-like-life-simulator-paralives-gets-a-2025-release-window |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Lauren |date=2024-02-07 |title=Paralives will enter early access in 2025 and will never have paid DLCs, only free expansions |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/paralives-will-enter-early-access-in-2025-and-will-never-have-paid-dlcs-only-free-expansions/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=PC Gamer |archive-date=2024-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207161228/https://www.pcgamer.com/paralives-will-enter-early-access-in-2025-and-will-never-have-paid-dlcs-only-free-expansions/ |url-status=live }}

Gameplay

Paralives will take place in an open world environment with employment opportunities alongside events such as festivals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/paralives-preview-das-neue-die-sims-lebenssimulation,3358689.html|title=Paralives ist das alternative Sims von Fans für Fans|last=Schermann|first=Natalie|website=GameStar|language=de|access-date=2020-08-12|date=2020-06-12|archive-date=2020-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824024158/https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/paralives-preview-das-neue-die-sims-lebenssimulation,3358689.html|url-status=live}} Players can build houses, create characters and control their lives in a desired way.{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/gonzoo/noticia/4282392/0/paralives-un-simulador-de-vida-que-recuerda-a-unos-sims-personalizados-al-detalle/|title='Paralives', un simulador de vida que recuerda a unos sims personalizados al máximo detalle|website=20 minutos|language=es|access-date=2020-08-12|date=2020-06-08|archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812163836/https://www.20minutos.es/gonzoo/noticia/4282392/0/paralives-un-simulador-de-vida-que-recuerda-a-unos-sims-personalizados-al-detalle/|url-status=live}}

The character creator, titled as "Paramaker", allows the customization of the appearance and personality of "Parafolk", the name of the in-game characters. Players are able to customize the physique and height of the Parafolk. The root and shade of hair, clothing and accessories can be toggled as intended using color swatches, color wheels and texture selection.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/sims-competitor-paralives-shows-off-new-character-creator/ |title=Sims competitor Paralives shows off new character creator |last=Wald |first=Heather |date=2020-05-20 |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-date=2020-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627012156/https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/sims-competitor-paralives-shows-off-new-character-creator/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Height Sliders Confirmed as Paralives Team Reveals Character Design {{!}} The Paralives Hub|date=19 May 2020|url=https://paraliveshub.com/height-sliders-confirmed-as-paralives-team-reveals-character-design|access-date=2020-10-13|language=en-GB|archive-date=2020-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018134143/https://paraliveshub.com/height-sliders-confirmed-as-paralives-team-reveals-character-design|url-status=live}}

A similar system is in place for objects and structures, allowing the player to adjust the size, placement, color and texture of walls, floors, windows, doors, and furniture.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/paralives-a-new-sims-like-game-looks-cool-1843551132|title=Paralives, A New Sims-Like Game, Looks Cool|first=Luke|last=Plunkett|website=Kotaku|date=2020-05-19|access-date=2022-09-17|archive-date=2022-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172528/https://kotaku.com/paralives-a-new-sims-like-game-looks-cool-1843551132|url-status=live}}

The simulation aspect of the game features "together cards" that appear to players after a "together bar" is filled up during a character's conversation.

Development

Paralives is being developed by indie game designer Alex Massé.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/07/06/interview-the-art-and-inspiration-of-paralives-the-indie-game-set-to-take-on-the-sims/ |title=Interview: the art and inspiration of Paralives, the indie game set to take on The Sims |last=Bell |first=Alice |date=2020-07-06 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-date=2020-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814000452/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/07/06/interview-the-art-and-inspiration-of-paralives-the-indie-game-set-to-take-on-the-sims/ |url-status=live }} After working on several projects such as PewDiePie's Tuber Simulator and a number of demos for Project Tiny, Massé quit his job and began developing Paralives regularly. Development of the game started in January 2019 and was officially announced in June 2019.{{Cite web|title=Development|url=https://www.paralives.com/development|access-date=2021-07-21|website=Paralives|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721045319/https://www.paralives.com/development|url-status=live}}

Paralives was initially a solo project by Massé, but as of May 2024, the team has expanded to twelve people, collectively forming Paralives Studio.{{Cite web |title=Press Kit |url=https://www.paralives.com/press-kit |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Paralives |language=en-US}} Massé wants Paralives to offer a sense of endless customization with "powerful and intuitive tools that allow players to easily create any house with precision". He was inspired by the road tool in Cities: Skylines and developed a similar tool in Paralives for building houses. The developers incorporated the technique of procedural animation, which involves automatic reactions based on previously created animations to save developing time.

The game is being funded through the crowdfunding platform Patreon and backers are invited to propose suggestions regarding content they would like to see in the full release. Massé chose to use Patreon after seeing Ooblets{{'}}s success on the service. By November 2023, the Paralives Patreon page had over 15,000 supporters and earned over $35,000 per month.{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Rachel |date=2020-07-30 |website=PC Gamer |title=How Paralives is using Patreon to compete with The Sims |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-paralives-is-using-patreon-to-compete-with-the-sims/ |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-date=2020-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811043411/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-paralives-is-using-patreon-to-compete-with-the-sims/ |url-status=live }} Massé plans to release the game in Early Access on Steam and support the game with free updates and modding, where people can share their designs on the Steam Workshop.