Inspiration
The idea behind Rent is Overrated was born from a combination of personal experiences, research, and a deep desire to create something meaningful. As a group, we’ve witnessed the rising rent prices in Ottawa, a subject that’s becoming a significant part of public conversation. Additionally, we had previously conducted research on homelessness, and when we saw the Carleton Impact Challenge, we immediately felt compelled to create something that would shine a light on this issue. We wanted to do something within our skillset, but also new and impactful, with the potential to raise awareness about the harsh realities of homelessness.
What it does
Rent is Overrated is an interactive game where players experience 10 days in the life of someone who, through no fault of their own, is forced into homelessness. The protagonist starts with a regular life and a loyal dog, only to find themselves struggling on the streets, facing the dire consequences of rising rent prices, societal neglect, and unexpected circumstances.
The game’s primary objective is to sensitize players to the hardships that many people face daily. It highlights the reality that homelessness can happen to anyone, regardless of how hard they try to avoid it. The game aims to show that survival is not always a matter of willpower or effort, but sometimes a matter of circumstance and uncontrollable factors. It serves as a powerful reminder that homelessness is an issue that touches everyone, not just those who we traditionally think of as "homeless."
How we built it
We built Rent is Overrated using Gemini to craft an adaptive story that responds to player choices. The game allows players to navigate the protagonist’s journey, making critical decisions that affect the course of the story. Each decision the player makes contributes to their survival, but also reflects the uncertainties and challenges of being homeless.
For the design of the game’s website, we used Figma to create the layout and visual flow of the pages. Canva, particularly its AI tools, was utilized to generate art for the game, which helped us give the game a visual style that reflects its serious yet approachable tone.
Challenges we ran into
As is often the case in hackathons, tiredness was a challenge that we had to navigate. Long hours and the pressure of the timeline made it hard to stay focused at times. Moreover, one of our biggest challenges was managing our ambition. While it’s easy to get excited about the potential of the project, we often underestimated the time and effort required to bring our vision to life. Balancing what was feasible and what was ideal took constant effort.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Despite the challenges, we’re proud of our ability to use Gemini AI to shape the narrative and give the game a dynamic, interactive quality. It was our first time using AI in this way, and it opened our eyes to its potential in storytelling. Moreover, the idea itself, combining social impact with gameplay, was something we really enjoyed working on. We are also proud of the fact that the game serves a purpose beyond entertainment, helping raise awareness about an important issue.
What we learned
Through this project, we learned just how powerful AI can be in enhancing creativity and storytelling. However, we also discovered how important it is to understand and control the AI’s capabilities. It’s easy for AI to go in unexpected directions, and while this can be exciting, it’s crucial to know exactly what the AI is doing to ensure it aligns with our intentions.
Additionally, we learned the importance of time management and keeping our goals realistic. While ambition is valuable, it's just as important to understand the limitations of time and resources during a project like this.
What's next for Rent Is Overrated
Looking ahead, we hope to develop the game further. Our initial goal was to allow players to write their answers, giving them more control over the narrative. We plan to enhance the interactivity of the game, allowing for even more personalized experiences. We’d also like to expand the storyline, add more depth to the character development, and potentially introduce more scenarios and choices that reflect the complexity of homelessness.
Our goal is not just to make the game more engaging but also to continue raising awareness about homelessness and rent issues. We want to keep evolving the project to make it as impactful as possible.
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