[05.13.26] Ability to Play as a Homeless Person

Brainstorm with Kjun
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@diachalln suggested this idea along with many other proposals, but it seems reasonable to highlight it not just as a sub-point, but as a separate topic.

Why does a family need to be tied to some real estate to start the game?

It would be really great if we could move our family into a city without buying a property, making the characters “homeless”. And it would be nice to also be able to reduce their starting budget.

This would allow everyone who wants to roleplay a “vagrant” who has to search for a place to sleep on park benches, wash up in public restroom sinks, and try to somehow earn money for food. Like the NPCs currently sitting in parks, but with active gameplay: not just perceiving them as “decoration”, but being a “super active beggar” yourself :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Gradually, the player could try to save up money to buy their own plot, or maybe, if they don’t want to buy their own house – fly to another city and continue to roam (or finally settle down) there.

Possibly, cities could have some semi-ruined abandoned houses on the outskirts where the homeless could sleep and store some items there, without actually owning the land. Or such a character could swim to an uninhabited island in Cahaya and live there… You could come up with many plot variations, but such an opportunity would clearly be quite interesting and unusual.

Thank you for your attention! :slightly_smiling_face: :folded_hands:

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My friend that’s a truly brilliant idea i completely agree. :folded_hands:

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Yeah. Homeless, dirty, smelly, but with a smartphone, especially a folding one for a few hundred bucks, it’s just brilliant. :grin: I offered to purchase the phone, but they told me that it was not reliable. Like in Asia, everyone leaves their mother with a smartphone in their hands. Maybe, but that’s not how it works in the rest of the world.
And so, yes, it will be really interesting - from dirt to princes. But it needs to be changed, otherwise it’s just absurd.

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Well, we can assume that smartphones in the Inzoi world are given to everyone at birth. It’s part of their body, like an ear for example :laughing:

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Yeah. Like in The Sims 3 and 4. Maybe it’s a subtle hint at a unified game universe. :grin: Although no, we know it’s just there for the sake of it. It would be cool to change phones though, I for instance walk around with a Nokia N95 - it’s stylish, awesome, stands out from everything else. I’m not interested in these smartphones at all, even though I have them available too.

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Yeah, about smartphones, as you remember, we already talked about this in previous threads - in Asia you can’t get by without them :grin:

But the point here isn’t “dirty-smelly”, it’s just about being able to move to a city without owning a house. And there you can live in hotels if you have enough money :wink: Or if you want - you can literally live like a hobo, bathing in the sea.

Exactly! :grin: :+1:

This should be passed as an idea to those suggestions when it comes to “development through the ages”. It would be really cool to play with this element there: no phones until the “2000s”, then gradually through Nokia analogs, then modern ones, and then holographic glasses if we’re talking about potential future development… :+1:

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A homeless person in a hotel is the same homeless person, just with money, it doesn’t change the essence. By the way, that’s a good idea: why doesn’t hygiene level increase when we swim in the sea or pool, at least from very dirty to half-dirty, that would be more realistic.

This is just as an example, the essence itself is what matters here. Although yeah, I’m one of those who advocates for historical ages in the game.

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By the way, it would be nice to implement that instead of a system of city laws and programs. Like it was implemented in The Sims 4. It’s both a whole gameplay mechanic and logical justification. And it just wouldn’t look like nonsense.

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Now that’s a “well-groomed homeless gentleman”! :rofl: He emanates fragrance after SPA treatments, he uses a tropical shower and sleeps on silk sheets :wink:

Yeah, I was thinking about that too when I was writing about the implementation of challenges. The thing is, this aspect hasn’t been thought through yet. You’re sitting on an island, grilling fish over a fire, swimming—and you still smell so bad that flies around you pass out :sweat_smile:

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Well, if you’re going to roleplay as Robinson Crusoe—that’s an option too. But then there’d be no connection and no cell phones accordingly.

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I could swear Kjun said this was already planned, though I can’t find the post now. I’d love a ‘deserted island’ start as well.

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Yes. I found it on the roadmap…

I hope this comes with a $0 starting balance. It would ruin it if you still had $25,000 in the bank.

I wonder if there should be a limit on the number of outfits per category. It would seem a little weird to play a homeless person with 20 sets of clothing. it would also add to the challenge - having to build your wardrobe.

And I would also love a deserted island start mode!!

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I don’t think that’s necessary. Just give him only one outfit.

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@RestlessSloth Oh, if he wrote that - it’s absolutely amazing! :heart_eyes: :+1:

@leeloorussia Exactly! I think a skirt made of palm leaves would be perfect! Would be a total savage! :fire:

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Thank you so much for mentioning me! :blush:

I’m really happy to see this idea getting more attention because I think it could add so much depth and storytelling potential to inZOI.

Starting without a home, with little or no money, would create completely different gameplay experiences and make every player’s journey feel unique.

I appreciate you highlighting the suggestion!

I absolutely love this idea because it would create so many unique stories and gameplay challenges.

It could go even further with features like:

• Sleeping on park benches, beaches, train stations, or abandoned buildings.
• Living in a vehicle, tent, camper van, or even a remote island.
• Starting with very different financial situations, from extremely wealthy to completely broke.
• A true rags-to-riches challenge where every achievement feels meaningful.
• Temporary jobs and odd jobs to earn money day by day.
• NPCs reacting differently depending on appearance, hygiene, and social status.
• The possibility of receiving help from charities, friends, or even strangers.

I also think there could be community support systems for homeless Zois, such as:

• Soup in trailer kitchens where Zois can receive free meals and water.
• Charity centers that provide food, clothing, blankets, and hygiene products.
• Emergency shelters where Zois can sleep safely during the night.
• Churches, temples, or community centers offering temporary support.
• Donation boxes where wealthier Zois can help those in need.
• Volunteers and social workers helping Zois find jobs or housing.

On top of that, the system could affect appearance and daily life: This would make the journey from homelessness to stability much more immersive, emotional, and realistic, turning it into a true rags-to-riches experience where every step forward matters.

• Sleeping outdoors for long periods could make Zois look tired and exhausted.
• Lack of showers could lead to dirty clothes and skin.
• Hair becoming messy and unkempt.
• Dirty nails and poor hygiene overall.
• Teeth becoming stained over time.
• Body odor affecting social interactions.
• Some employers being less willing to hire Zois who appear neglected.
• Different NPC reactions depending on personality (some helpful, some judgmental).
• Facilities like shelters, laundromats, and public showers helping Zois recover.

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Yes, that would create some very interesting complications, I totally agree! :+1:

And anyone who didn’t like that could, as always, live in a regular house, and it wouldn’t affect them in any way :smiling_face:

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My friends i saw it on the homeless starts roadmap.:+1:

@leeloorussia @Liessahl @Carnel @NIck_Olay @RestlessSloth @diachalln

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That’s awesome! Is there any information about when this will happen?

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It could probably happen sometime this year. :innocent:

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Yes, @RestlessSloth also mentioned this post a little higher up: [05.13.26] Возможность играть за бездомного - #12 by RestlessSloth

But it’s still just an idea for now. We can’t know if they’re working in that direction, because there haven’t been any updates since then, as far as I can see :man_shrugging:

So this topic is an attempt to draw attention to this issue. That’s why it’s great that you all sometimes bring it up, thanks for that! :sparkling_heart: :+1:

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