Outwitters
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Asynchronous hex based strategy goodness
Jared Silver
The Uber Game — Can you make it in the gig economy?
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The Uber Game is online game by The FT.

You're a full-time Uber driver with two kids to support, and a $1000 mortgage payment due in a week.

Can you earn enough to pay the bill — and make more than other players? Find out!

Replies
Mohamed Dafalla
I've driven for lyft, this should be mandatory for the residents of SF lol
Charlie Benkendorf
Cool game. It would've been more realistic to say you dropped a fare off in Sunset, and there's a 3x surge in the Financial District, vs the other way around :).
Brian Lee
This is great thought provoking game. Tempts me to build a larger version with larger branching choices such as getting a university degree ie a modern version of Oregon Trail.
Ali Oral
This is absolutely one of the coolest things I've ever tried on this site. I absolutely fell in love with graphics and the info at the end (similar decisions, why you guys built this game etc.) made it even better. 5 out of 5. 10 out of 10!
Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen
What a lot of decisions, a driver needs to make. I never realised this until know. I did fairly well in the game, making the target, which is good to know. I hope someone makes an app from a rider perspective - focused on whether the app provides a fairer deal to its drivers (outsourced workers?)
Faisal Hassan
Lesson: Tip your drivers.
Patt-tom McDonnell
@faisal_hassanx Wasn't even aware there was tip functionality, Is it hidden away somewhere?
Colin Lee
@faisal_hassanx @pthm_ Not for Uber. By choice. If drivers receive tips at all, they're cash. Lyft encourages tipping in their app though.
Josh Beitler
This is really cool - super eye opening!
MrJDucky
Sorry! You only earned $904! You weren’t able to make enough money to pay your $1,000 mortgage bill But you did earn more money than 71% of other players on HARD mode. Great game and definitely reminds you to remember that other people have their own worries and needs. I don't ride with Uber, but if I did. I'd be tipping after this.
Tarun Gangwani
Love this idea and the goal. I ended up failing miserably on "easy" mode, which just goes to show how empty and pithy it is to tell someone "they can always drive for Uber" if they need extra cash.
Sooraj Chandran
Wow! This is super cool!
Steven Rueter
Wow. This is depressing.
Carmen
Great insight from the cozy office - I bet I could do it for 2 or 3 days - and after it, you feel pity for the driver, Just play it, you'll see for yourself ;-)
Vlad Calus
Made couple of clicks for a few minutes. If you wanna take a break, give it 15-20 min :)
Nathan Maas

Step into the life of an Uber driver - what is it like - what are your fears and concerns? Can you win?

Pros:

This is really well done and clearly created with empathy

Cons:

None that I can find after a day of playing.

Nathan Maas
It's rare I find a product created with such a deep level of empathy and whose focus is to give insight into a perspective someone may not have thought about or experienced first hand. 🎩 Hats off to the Financial Times for making this a reality. Having talked to so many Uber/Lyft drivers about life - this is really well done! Thanks for hunting it @jaredsilver 🚗 🙌
James Walsh
Super awesome game!
Rudy Lee
Wow this is amazing :D the makers did a great job! :)
Rick Segal

If you want to truly understand where the so-called 'gig economy' is going, this little simulation is for you. It's challenging and depressing all at once. Maybe people will better understand all this 'disruption' and such? Doubtful but one can hope.

Pros:

Easy ability to armchair drive an uber.

Cons:

nothing material

Vlad Dmytriiev
It looks quite interesting at the beginning of the game. Love the idea, thank you!
Jim Ji
Great stuff here. Should make it mandatory all potential hires play this game as a requirement hehe