Written by Thomas Weber, J-1 Exchange Student
Synopsis: Through this game, you will have to make decisions, take actions and meet people in order to maximize the improvement of your personal skills, the success of your studies and the development of human relationships in the city of San Francisco. This is a 5 month game where you can unlock some additional maps to play such as Los Angeles, Yosemite, San Diego, New York and Montreal.
Principal character: You will play ‘Thomas’, a 22-year-old Frenchman from Bordeaux and the Basque Country. He is one of the ‘Business & Management’ characters. His strengths are his adaptability, his energy and his expertise in events management. On the other hand, his weak points are his French accent, his grumpiness and his strike mentality. There are multiplayer levels to pass. You will have the opportunity to play in collaboration with players of many nationalities.
Physical description: he doesn't wear a beret or hold a baguette all the time. Press “X” to start playing!
Level 1: First week: From Paris to San Francisco
Skills and resources required: administrative papers (DS-2019, Passport & Visa) & accommodation.
This is the first level of the game. This level takes the form of an open world in which you can wander around to discover your environment (the city) and test the character's abilities. This will unlock achievements such as ‘gaining confidence’, ‘Spanish language to order a burrito’, ‘escape game skills to access Airbnb’.
The main enemies to face in this level are:
- ‘sense of direction’. Unlike the game ‘A Year in Paris’, your character doesn't have the item ‘know the city like the back of your hand’. So you'll have to experiment with itinerary errors and visit neighborhoods to find out where your character can recharge his batteries. - ‘American food’. Accustomed to European food, you'll have to adapt your diet in this game. This quest will allow you to obtain the power of ‘budget management’. Places like Target, Trader's Joe or the student center can be good checkpoints.
- English. Although made for a French player, this game is in English, and subtitles are unavailable. You'll need to get the ‘adapting to different accents’ and ‘not afraid to make mistakes’ items.
During this introduction your base camp will be an Airbnb located in the mission district. After this level, you'll feel comfortable and ready to tackle the second level.
Level 2: Integrate the international community.
Where and when: SFSU campus, January 21.
This level takes place over half a day. It's a pivotal moment in the game, as it allows you to surround yourself with key characters as you continue your journey.
The level begins with you meeting other players. You have to make a choice by selecting the table you want to join. In our game, the player sat at a cosmopolitan table (Australian, German, French, Korean and Indian). This will enable him to improve the following attributes: open-mindedness (+30pts), language (+20pts), friendly relations (+40pts).
Two main obstacles will stand in our character's way: shyness and cultural differences. These obstacles can easily be overcome by using items such as ‘experience of a lifetime’ and ‘I'm here to learn from others.
It's important to pay attention to the cinematic presentation of the rules of the game to the player. This sequence, proposed by the SFSU international team, gives tips and warns the player. This is useful for the rest of the game. Do not skip it.
Level 3: Develop a routine.
This is not a level as such, but rather an ongoing mission. In this mission, you'll visit places, use objects and interact with other characters on a regular basis. This will allow you to validate checkpoints and conserve your health points. For example, you can visit the Mashouf Wellness Center to develop your stamina, agility and team spirit by accepting the ‘basketball’ mission. You can also connect online to interact with your friends and family, even if they are playing other games such as ‘France 2025’, ‘Call of Brazil’ or ‘China 2K25’. You can also choose to consume items that are popular with your character, such as European food. But be careful not to use up all your gems (which serve as virtual currency).
To obtain the bonuses associated with these missions, you'll need to complete a number of secondary quests, such as doing your shopping, doing your laundry or managing your schedule, taking into account the time difference with your base camp. There are no real enemies to face in this level, just a time limit for completing everything. Avoid the ‘procrastination’ character. To defeat him, you can use the cheat code ‘set yourself deadlines’, which will force your character to complete the missions.
Level 4: Getting used to the courses
The last level of this first chapter of ‘Exchange program in SF - French version’ is devoted to the courses you have selected in the lobby.
As a reminder, you have chosen the following courses:
- entrepreneurship rounds 1 and 2
- business and society
- information systems
- management
When you start this level, you will be surprised. These rounds are not played in the same way as the French rounds. It's not the same gameplay.
You'll have to get used to the class structure. In fact, on this new map, you'll have to submit your opinion even more. You'll also be more on your own. What's more, the other players will act with more freedom than in the French games. In this game, you're allowed to wear a hood or a cap, to leave the arena whenever you like or even to arrive late.
To complete the levels, you will need to commit individually and collectively. The main dangers in this final round are “obtaining books” and “gaining access to classrooms”. Do not hesitate to use the special abilities “bookstore” and “SFSU gateway”.
Successfully completing this level will give you access to potential sequels such as ‘creating your own business - music festival version’ and ‘participating in the development of a fairer, more sustainable world’.
Well done, you have completed the first four levels of the game, and now you are ready for the second chapter: “Exploring San Francisco and Sacramento”.