Spending is a lot more fun when you have the money
Release Date: 8h February 2011
Developer: McKinney
Genre: RPG, Educational, Simulation
Mode: Single Player
Spent is a game where you place yourself in the shoes of the marginally employed for a month. Your goal is to simply survive financially. In a sense it is an educational game because it highlights difficult choices which face people in that situation and shows why it is difficult to move beyond poverty. Pretty relevant given the hard times the US is facing right now.
You begin by getting a job then live from day to day hoping to make it all the way through the month. Some may feel the choices are a bit vicious but really that is the whole point and the reality of the situation. It would however, be fair to say, some of the difficult situations aren’t quite so frequent as all that. That higher frequency is balanced out by the game ignoring the small-time expenses of life, such as more shopping and petrol.
I should warn that this game is a lead in to a charity; ‘Urban Ministries of Durham’. I briefly checked it out and it seemed clean enough though I felt it’s claim to not be church based misleading. If donating, consider other worthwhile charities for people in this situation.
Spent offers positive entertainment because it allows people to experience things which they may never have experienced, and likely never would want to. It is innovative, conveys the situation very well and helps to improve the awareness of a problem many like to ignore.
The flash graphics look good and convey the message and challenge well. Sounds effects and music in Spent are light but aid the sense of immersion adequately.
Spent’s Difficulty is fairly high. I won 2 out of 3 games so it is quite possible to survive. It all depends on what you are willing to sacrifice.
Spent runs in browser and is flash based so most modern browsers will be able to handle this. It is the full game and is free to play.
Game: 3½/5 Positive: 
One Response to “Game Review: Spent”
This game was very entertaining but very unrealistic. They make it seem like very dime you have to pay is due immediately. You can get student loans deferred and if you get into a car accident you don’t have to pay the money while you are on the side of the road. They ask you these questions but they do not make it clear the bills that you will have to pay every month so that you can create a budget. I just move into an apartment and the landlord raises my rent by $150? I have a contract! No way am I paying! And I’m not moving. See you in court buddy! I just think they thought of the most horrible things in life and presented them to you in a 30 day period and force you to make an immediate decision when real life is not like that. I am going through financial difficulty myself so I know what it is like to be in need. I pray and the Lord comes through everytime. He keeps me and that is all I need.