Work simulators: Phenomenon from Germany

After a long day at work, just come home, kick off your shoes and ... work. Though this may sound like a stressful way to end the day, it is in fact a popular pastime: What we are talking about is computer games. Work simulation games offer players a realistic experience of all kinds of different jobs. 

One of the best-known simulation games is the “farming simulator”. It involves players running a farm, driving a combine harvester, sowing, harvesting and selling their crops, and investing in new machinery. This series of games first appeared in 2008 and now has over 20 parts that have sold nearly 30 million times. The simulation game market is also booming when it comes to other professions: There is a long distance bus simulator, a car workshop simulator, a fire brigade simulator and many more. 

The farming simulator is sold by astragon Entertainment, a leading German games publisher based in Düsseldorf. It is known for games such as the “Construction Simulator” and the “Police Simulator”. Making the games as realistic as possible is the company’s main objective. For its “Bus Simulator”, it collaborates to this end with renowned brands. “There are even 25 branded manufacturers in the Construction Simulator. Our partners provide us with the vehicle and machine data, which our developers then carefully reproduce.” The developers also talk to people who actually do thejob in question. And even the clothing is based on the products of real-life manufacturers. 

It is striking how many of the work simulation games are produced in theGerman-speaking world, where they have many fans. “Perhaps people here simply have a great interest invehicles, machines and technology.” That said, the games are by no means only a German phenomenon, but a global success. So what is the fascination? “Simulations are relaxing and less hectic and stressful than other games perhaps are.” And anyone who once wanted to become a police officer or to drive a train or tractor can now turn their childhood dream into reality. 

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