LifeGame script

The Lifegame consists of 195 situations of which the programme allots 13 situations for each player: two situations of childhood, youth and old age, four of young adulthood and three for mature adulthood. In addition, there is a test on health matters for the 40-year age mark. The transition from one age group to another is shown by an animation.

The length of the game depends on three factors: the reading speed of the player, the quality of the computer used, and on how long the player spends on each question. With fairly peaceful tempo and relatively good computer Lifegame takes about 8 minutes to complete.


LifeGame script

First animation: The Lifegame mascot is shown swimming in a primal sea. This is followed by a video clip and a child?s birth scream.

Starting text

Screen 1: Lifegame takes you through an imaginary journey from childhood to old age. The character in the game is involved in situations where you make the decisions by pushing one of the buttons. If there is too much delay in your answer, the outcome is alloted for you.
Many factors influence one?s health. Lifegame concentrates on those that an individual can decide on.

Screen 2: You choose the sex of your character. The images given in the Lifegame are allusive and do not always relate to this choice.

Screen 3: Choose a name for your character from the three alternatives.


TRANSITION ANIMATION: rise to one?s feet: The Lifegame mascot clambers out of his cradle, crawles on all fours, gets to his feet and peeps out of the window.

Situations of childhood 1 ? 28
1. You?ve fallen from the playhouse roof and hurt your arm. Sitting in the doctor?s waiting room, you look around.
a) Looks familiar. I?ve often been here to get patched up.
b) I?ve had the odd scratch in the past.
c) I?ve never had to drop by here before.

2. A friend at playschool says vegetables are food for rabbits not people. You reckon:
a) That?s quite true
b) He?s talking bull.
c) Depends what vegetables.

3. You?re out rowing with your cousin. You don?t know how to swim very well. Your cousin leaps into the water and starts swimming to the shore, shouting that you?re a coward if you don?t do the same.
a) I row to the shore.
b) I jump in right away.
c) I jump in when I reach more shallow water.

4. You?re on holiday and you?ve been told that you?re not allowed near the shore on your own. You want to go and see if the waterlillies are in flower, but all the grownups are sleeping.
a) I sneak off to the shore alone.
b) I wake one of them up and ask them to go with me.
c) I wait until they wake up.

5. You?re very allergic to animals. Your friend invites you to go riding. What do you do?
a) Take a double dose of anti-allergy pills and go along.
b) I can?t always be worried about the effects. I?ll go.
c) I won?t go riding, so I suggest we go swimming instead.

6. Your dad finds a chocolate bar on you which you nicked from a shop. He keeps going on at you to find out where you got it. What do you do?
a) lie and say a friend gave it to me.
b) come clean and promise not to steal again.
c) tell the truth but say that all my friends do the same.

7. You?re ill. The doctor sticks a probe down your throat and then checks your eyes with a bright light. It feels unpleasant.
a) Next time I?ll go to the doctor only if I?m forced to.
b) I complain about it to Mum.
c) I went and did the examination with a spoon and torch on a friend - who threw up!

8. You get some brilliant sweets from your Granny. She promises to give you some more if you don?t eat the first lot before lunch. What do you do?
a) Scoff the sweets immediately.
b) Wait until after lunch.
c) Try to wait, but the temptation is too great.

9. The day?s been a complete mess. And what?s more you end up accidently breaking your new toy. What do you do?
a) Kick the broken toy across the room.
b) I don?t want to see anyone, just get out of here.
c) I complain to the consumer ombudsman, or else to my Mum.

10. You catch your Dad smoking at a party. He?s strictly forbidden you to smoke, and now he?s secretly having a smoke. What do you do?
a) Blow up at him in front of everyone.
b) Tell him off in private.
c) OK, if he can smoke, so can I.

11. You would have liked to play the bear in the spring-term school play. But you were given the part of the squirrel, while your friend got the role of the bear.
a) This always happens to me.
b) At least I?ll get some nuts as the squirrel.
c) I tell my friend that the bear is more stupid than the squirrel.

12. You?re going by train for the first time alone to see your grandmother. Your mum tells you that your granny will meet you at the other end. The ticket inspector promises to show you the engine. The train sets off, and you think:
a) Am I going to get to see the engine soon?
b) Granny won?t be there, I?ll get lost and?ll never find my way home.
c) If only the journey were over and Granny was waiting at the station.

13. You?re four years old and out tobogganing. Your parents want to go home, but you don?t. What do you do?
a) Scream and shout until I get my own way.
b) Reckon I have to go.
c) Demand to get some sweets before I agree to go.

14. You?ve been going to day care for a month. How do you get on with the other kids?
a) Pretty well.
b) I can?t say - I haven?t really got to know them
c) We fight quite a lot.

15. You don?t believe in Father Christmas any more. It?ll soon be Christmas and the five-year old from next door asks you about Santa. What do you answer?
a) Sure there?s a Father Christmas.
b) You never know.
c) Only kids believe in Father Christmas.

16. You get a board game you really like for your birthday. After a few months:
a) It?s covered in dust and forgotten.
b) I?ve played it a few times.
c) I?ve played it a lot.

17. You?ve moved to a new area where you don?t know anyone. You go out with a ball to where there are other kids playing. What do you do?
a) Ask to join in.
b) Start playing with the ball and wait for someone to come over to me.
c) Keep my distance and check out the situation.

18. You go to a museum. The hall there has a brilliant echo. You decide to do your monster bird sound effect and let out a blood-curdling screech. The guide orders you to be quiet.
a) I carry on screeching.
b) I stop. The show?s over.
c) I?m always being treated wrong.

19. It?s your younger brother?s birthday and he gets a lot of presents. You think that:
a) It?s OK, I?ll get presents when it?s my birthday.
b) Those presents really belong to me too.
c) I want presents too, and now!

20. You and your folks are visiting another family and you?re asked to stay overnight. How do you respond?
a) I want to go home.
b) Is someone else staying too? I?m not staying here alone.
c) Yeah, I?d be glad to.

21. Your younger sister has been asked to join the school choir. She hesitates because she thinks she?s not a very good singer. What do you say to her?
a) Of course you should join.
b) No way are you going, you?d show me up.
c) So what, you don?t have to be an opera singer.

22. You?re staying in the country with your family. They seem to be having a good time, but you?re starting to feel bored. You?ve got to think of something to do, but what?
a) I start quarreling with the others.
b) I take a walk by the shore.
c) I demand that we go straight home.

23. You?re 12 years old. You don?t smoke, but some girls from a higher class offer you a cigarette. What do you do?
a) Smoke it and try not to cough.
b) Tell them I quit ages ago.
c) Duck out of the situation.

24. You?re lost in the woods and can?t find your way home. Night is falling and you?re feeling tired. What will you do?
a) Sit down and wait for the wild animals to come and get me.
b) Look for the highest rock and shout for help from there.
c) Carry on like mad and hope that I?ll find some way out.

25. You?ve been given a bike, and you start learning how to ride it. You fall and graze your elbow. What will you do?
a) Put a plaster on the graze and push on no matter what.
b) Take it easy for a bit.
c) **** the bike! I?ll go in and watch a video.

26. Your friends ask you out in the evening. You?d like to go but you?re not allowed to. What will you do?
a) Go out with my friends anyway
b) I don?t want to annoy my parents, so I won?t go.
c) Try again to get my parents to let me go.

27. You?ve been in first grade for six months. You meet your cousin and chat about the good and bad sides of school. You find that the good sides are
a) learning new stuff and hanging out with friends.
b) Forget the learning, it?s being with friends that counts most.
c) I can?t think of anything good to say about it.

28. It?s been suggested that you wear a brace on your teeth. You think about it a while and decide:
a) No way. Braces are terrible.
b) The quicker it?s done the sooner it?ll be over.
c) I?ll wait a year and then see.

TRANSITION from childhood to youth
Animation: The mascot sits on the bed. On the wall is a poster of a teddybear. The mascot combs his hair looking himself in the mirror, and covers the teddybear poster with a poster of a band.

Situations of youth 29 ? 69
29. A survey is being done about the life styles of 16-year olds. There?s a question about smoking, to which you answer
a) I smoke, but plan to quit.
b) I smoke but don?t plan to quit - at least not in the near future.
c) I don?t smoke.

30. Your older sister had started dating. You see a packet of condoms in her room, and you think:
a) It?s smart to be prepared.
b) random
c) What a waste of money.

31. You?ve bought a motor bike and are setting off on your first long trip. What do you think?
a) I?ll drive carefully and arrive safely.
b) See what the bike can do when the coast is clear.
c) Shoot ahead and leave all the cars standing.

32. You?re buying food, and you see that on sale are apples from an organic farm you know as well imported varieties.
a) I?ll go for the organic ones.
b) It?s the price that counts.
c) It?s what they look like that matters.

33. You fill in a form about sports, where you?re asked how often you exercize until you are out of breath. You reply:
a) At least 2-3 times a week.
b) About once a week.
c) Occasionally.

34. For the last few weeks you?ve had a stomachache and have felt bad. What do you do?
a) Go to the doctor.
b) Decide to fast.
c) Wait to see if it?ll go away.

35. At weekends you often party with your friends. How do you usually feel the next day?
a) Usually hung over. I end up drinking a lot when partying.
b) Usually I feel OK, but sometimes drink too much.
c) Just fine.

36. You have to visit your friend. The easiest way is to go over the ice, the route along the shore is much longer. You have heard in the local radio warnings about the ice being too thin.
a) Sure, the ice will hold. I?ll go straight across.
b) random
c) I?ll go along the shore.

37. You?re dating, but your partner wants to end things. You?re still in love and splitting up would be tough. What do you do?
a) Try not to show how I feel, nor will I talk about the situation with anyone.
b) Discuss the situation with a friend.
c) Badmouth my ex-partner to everyone behind his/her back.

38. In class everyone has to give a talk about a book they?ve read. How do you feel ?
a) I?ll manage alright.
b) I?ve been scared stiff since I heard about it.
c) I won?t do nearly as well as the others.

39. You?ve won a clothes store lottery and the prize is a fashionable but unusual looking jacket.
a) I?m not going to wear it - people would laugh.
b) This?ll make me look really cool.
c) I?ll wear it but tell everyone that I didn?t choose it myself.

40. You?re talking to a friend about happiness. You say:
a) I?m usually unhappy.
b) I?m sometimes unhappy.
c) I?m pretty happy.

41. You?ve got to find a summer job. What do you think of your chances?
a) Something?s sure to come up.
b) There?s no way I?ll find anything.
c) I might get lucky.

42. You?re going to visit a friend, but when you try to get a ticket you find that all the seats are booked. The teller says that you should have phoned earlier.
a) How come I never get anything done.
b) This is crap service.
c) This won?t happen again.

43. It?s your birthday and you and your friends are playing music loudly, but it?s not deafening. One of the neighbours comes round and complains about the noise. What do you say?
a) Stop complaining, we?re having fun.
b) Just this once - it?s my birthday.
c) It?s not late - I?ve a right to.

44. Your friend gently teases you and you come down on him/her really hard. You can see that you?ve hurt him/her. The next time you meet you
a) act as if nothing happened.
b) show I?m sorry, either by saying or doing something.
c) think so what. I didn?t start it.

45. You?re talking with your friends about how you all get on with your parents. You say:
a) I get on just fine with mine.
b) We argue a lot about what I can and can?t do.
c) I don?t care that much what my parents say.

46. You and a friend plan to go to a movie, but you have different ideas on what you want to see. What?ll it be?
a) We either go to the movie I want or we won?t go at all.
b) We?ll miss both because we?re wasting time arguing.
c) We?ll toss for it. The loser can choose what we?ll see next time.

47. A class mate tells you of being bullied by a couple of others. You haven?t noticed anything yourself, but what do you do?
a) Listen to what he/she says, but I won?t get involved.
b) Go and check what the bullies have to say.
c) Take the problem to the form teacher.

48. Your parents are starting their summer holiday. They want you to go with them to the country, but you?d rather stay at home. What do you do?
a) Go with them but complain about it.
b) Suggest that I stay a couple of days at home and then join them later.
c) Decide to stay at home and not care what my parents say.

49. There?s someone who seems to be interested in you. You?re not specially interested. He/she calls you and asks if you want to go away for the weekend. You
a) promise to go because nothing better has come up.
b) think of an excuse not to go.
c) make it clear that I don?t want to go out with him/her.

50. The person you?re dating wants to have sex with you. You feel that you don?t yet want to but he/she seems not to take you seriously. What do you do?
a) Agree to have sex because I?m scared my partner will leave me if I don?t.
b) Ask my partner if we can wait until I feel the time is right.
c) End the relationship because I feel I?m being pressured.

51. Your friend has been hurt in a car crash, and you go to visit him/her in hospital. Things go OK but whenever your friend starts talking about the accident he/she gets upset. What do you do?
a) Try to be comforting and talk about whatever my friend wants.
b) Bawl out the driver who caused the accident.
c) Try to steer my friend?s thoughts toward something nicer.

52. You?ve had a row with someone. That evening you see this person smashing up your bike, so you hit him/her. In the morning you think again about what happened.
a) I?d still do the same.
b) I shouldn?t have done that, but these things sometimes happen.
c) I?m fed up with myself. It?s not smart to hit anyone, but I was so angry.

53. You?re dating and you want to have sex with your partner, but he/she thinks it better to wait. What do you think?
a) I?ll manage to seduce him/her anyway.
b) I?ll look for someone else who?ll say yes.
c) I?m prepared to wait.

54. Your dad wants you to carry on doing sports even though you no longer like to. He used to be pretty good at sports himself. What do you do?
a) Carry on because I don?t want to disappoint my dad.
b) Stop doing sports even though my dad will feel let down.
c) Hang around with the sports crowd, but I?m not going to take part any more.

55. Your 17th birthday ends up in a massive fight with your parents. You storm out the house shouting that you?re never coming back. A few hours go by.
a) I stop feeling angry and go home.
b) I?ll ask a friend if I can stay at their place until I?ve worked things out with my folks.
c) I?ll hitch a ride over the hills and far away. I?m never going back.

56. You?re playing tennis with a friend, who says that the match point he/she just served was in. You reckon it was obviously out.
a) I don?t give in.
b) I let it go.
c) I suggest a replay.

57. You ask your parents if you can have a dog. They say they?ll get you one if you take it for walks. Six months later:
a) I walk the dog, even though I often don?t feel like it.
b) The dog hardly ever gets taken out.
c) My parents are stuck with walking the dog.

58. You?re working on an essay for school for which you need information about legislation. How will you go about getting the information you need?
a) Try the library.
b) Phone up local council offices until I find someone who knows the subject.
c) I?ll skip the project.

59. You?ve finished your middle-level schooling. Are you going to try to get into high school?
a) Maybe I?ll try for some further education.
b) I?ll try to.
c) I don?t intend to

60. You want to get to the top in the sport you do, and you?ve been accepted by a training programme. You?ve been working hard before but now the coach says that you need to double your input.
a) It?s too much effort.
b) Just what I want - I?m ready and willing!
c) I?ll give it a try, but I?ll stop if I don?t feel good about it.

61. You and some friends have a band and want to put out a record. You?ve put together some good pieces and everything goes well until the record company pulls out of the deal.
a) We?ll produce the record ourselves.
b) We?ll carry on playing in any case.
c) The band will break up.

62. You?re on a month-long rail trip, and you end up in London. Your money has been stolen, but you?ve still got the ticket, your passport and a bit of cash. What now?
a) The holiday?s been ruined. I?m going home.
b) So it goes. I wonder if I can get some money sent from home.
c) I?ve got to get some money, maybe by washing dishes. This?ll be a neat story to tell my mates.

63. You and some friends take the ferry to Stockholm. What will you do there?
a) Go around town and check out the shops.
b) Go and see something interesting.
c) Stay on the boat and continue partying.

64. Your friend asks you to go along with something which you feel is wrong. What do you do?
a) Think of some excuse so I can duck out.
b) Say that I don?t like the idea and I?m not taking part.
c) I?ll go along. My friends will think I?m against them if I don?t.

65. You and your friends are coming away from school one day when some gang comes after you and starts to pick an argument.
a) We?ll fight them
b) With any luck we can settle things with a bit of humour
c) Let?s get out of here!

66. You?re travelling by train and arrive in a large town. The information office is shut, the station will be closed in the early hours, and you should find somewhere to stay overnight. What do you do?
a) Wait at the station. There are other people waiting there too, so I?ll do what they do.
b) Go into town and look for somewhere cheap to stay.
c) Catch the next night train and get some sleep on that.

67. You?re doing badly at school, and your form teacher wants to talk things over with you. What do you think?
a) It?s none of the teacher?s business.
b) We?ll be able to discuss some different options.
c) Teachers are always on my back.

68. You get a summer job and earn some money. At the end of the summer:
a) I?ll get something special with what I?ve saved.
b) I?ll hold on to my savings and add to them.
c) I haven?t saved anything - I spent it all.

69. You?ve started earning a bit extra doing telephone polls. The first ten people you call slam the phone down.
a) I try to think what I?m doing wrong and change my apporach.
b) I can?t stand this. This is clearly not my thing.
c) That?s it for today. I?ll try again tomorrow.

TRANSITION ANIMATION: to adulthood
Young characters are sitting and thinking of the future. Each one tells about their dreams that are shown in a thought bubble.

Situations of young adults 70 ? 125
70. How much TV do you generally watch each day?
a) More than three hours, easily.
b) About 1-3 hours.
c) Certainly less.

71. You read an article which knocks the idea of wonder methods for improving your condition or losing weight, and instead stresses the importance of your regular routine. What do you reckon?
a) The whole subject is pretty stupid.
b) I?m not ?going-for-walks?-type.
c) Little by little each day. Suits me.

72. You often go out partying, and there?s usually plenty of booze flowing. How much do you usually drink?
a) Generally for as long as the booze and company lasts.
b) I drink very little, if at all.
c) A bit - I don?t usually get drunk.

73. What sort of sport do you like doing?
a) Rough, tough and fast.
b) Fairly slow-paced, though it can be something more demanding.
c) I don?t do any.

74. What sort of diet do you have?
a) Whatever.
b) Fairly varied.
c) Probably not very healthy.

75. You meet someone really interesting at a party. At the end of the evening he/she asks you to go to bed with him/her. You don?t have any condoms. What?s your reply?
a) Have you got any condoms?
b) Yeah, let?s go to bed!
c) When I know you better.

76. You?re tired and want to lie around watching TV all evening. Your partner reminds you that you promised to go out together for a long walk. What do you say?
a) No way.
b) Oh no, I?d forgotten. But let?s go.
c) Some other time. I?m tired.

77. You?re going to buy a car. What sort of things are you looking for?
a) Speed and smart looks.
b) Safety.
c) Practicality.

78. You?ve hurt your back and will have to spend the next week going around almost bent double. But you?ve a lot to do and can?t afford to rest. What do you do?
a) Grit my teeth and suffer in silence.
b) See a doctor.
c) Take things a bit easier and wait for the problem to pass.

79. You?re going to spend the evening watching the late movie or reading a good book. What will you have with you to eat?
a) Chocolate or something else sweet.
b) Nothing.
c) Crisps or something else salty.

80. You?re staying with friends, and the night before you were partying until late. In the morning you have to catch the bus home. One of your friends offers to give you a lift to the bus stop.
a) I?ll ask him/her to use the alcohol test first.
b) I?ll accept the ride.
c) I?ll walk. It?s only a few kilometers.

81. You?re away on a course and have the option of eating out in one of the following places. Which do you choose?
a) Vegetarian restaurant.
b) Burger bar.
c) Regular cafe.

82. You?re going on holiday to Greece. What?s likely to go wrong?
a) My skin will peel from too much sun.
b) I?ll get liver damage from too much booze.
c) I?ll do my legs in from too much walking.

83. You and your friends are traveling in two cars. It?s a bright summer evening, the road is good and you?re enjoying the drive. Suddenly, your friends overtake you and try to get you to race. What will you do?
a) Step on it and start racing.
b) Hope they have a good trip - I?m not going any faster.
c) Blow the car horn and flash the headlights.

84. Many shop foods carry product descriptions. Do you take any notice of them when your shopping?
a) I sometimes check them
b) I never bother with them.
c) Yes, quite often.

85. You?ve been to the doctor and and find out that your liver count has increased. What do you do?
a) I?m surprised and decide to drink less alcohol.
b) I half suspected this. Maybe I should do something about it.
c) I hardly ever drink. I should have some more tests done.

86. You?re skipper on a boat trip. As you approach open sea you see dark clouds on the horizon. The people with you have no experience of handling boats. What do you do?
a) Continue the trip, but not right out to sea.
b) Head for the nearest harbour.
c) Press on. It?s rare that such weather turns bad.

87. You and some others are about to drive over to a friend?s place in another town. It suddenly starts snowing, and your car still has ordinary tyres on it. What do you think about going?
a) I?m still going.
b) I?ll call it off.
c) Let the others decide.

88. You?ve been feeling depressed recently for no special reason, and a friend says he/she?s worried about you. How do you respond?
a) I don?t want to talk about it with anyone.
b) OK, let?s talk about it.
c) I don?t want to discuss it with my friend, but I?ll get professional help.

89. You?ve moved to a new area where you don?t know anyone. The evenings are pretty dull. What do you do?
a) Go for walks and do something around the house.
b) Go down the pub.
c) I can?t usually think of anything to do.

90. How do you spend your free time?
a) Mainly on my own, by choice.
b) Mainly on my own, because I don?t have any friends.
c) Usually with a friend or friends.

91. You?re having your house/flat done up and you?ve got to deal with a million different things at once.
a) I can?t get anything properly done.
b) I try to organise things in order of importance.
c) I no longer know what to do or when.

92. Your child has a bad dose of flu and you can?t leave him/her alone at home. Your partner is away and you?ve important business to get done.
a) Why does this always happen to me?
b) I?ll get someone to look after my child for a few hours.
c) I?m in a bad mood all day.

93. You?re a student. You?re going to have a new member of the family, which is a bit unexpected. Your friend says that your carefree days are now over. You reply:
a) Maybe, but it?s worth it.
b) How come? Having a child doesn?t mean everything else stops.
c) Sad but true.

94. You?re taking your driving test. Near the end you make a bad mistake. The instructor hits the brakes. What do you say?
a) Hey, what?ve I done wrong?
b) You not going to fail me just because of this?
c) When can I take the test again?

95. You?ve torn a ligament in your knee and the doctor tells you to take a long period of sick leave. How do you take this advice?
a) As well as I can.
b) I can?t stand hanging about in one place all the time.
c) I go to work because others will only mess things up there if I don?t.

96. Your partner has been having an affair. It?s come as a total shock to you. Your partner says that he/she wants you to stay together. What do you reckon?
a) I won?t leave him/her, but there?ll be a price to pay for this.
b) I refuse to even talk about it. We?re finished.
c) I feel hurt but will try to work things out.

97. You get into an argument with a friend. He /she flys into a rage and starts being abusive. What do you do?
a) Reply with more of the same.
b) Try to keep cool.
c) Walk off.

98. You?ve won 3 million on the lottery. What will you do?
a) At least I?ll never have to work again.
b) Go on holiday and buy a house - something like that.
c) Invest the money profitably.

99. The local open college has been sending out its autumn course programme. On offer is everything from physical activities to building and language courses. What do you reckon?
a) I?m not taking any.
b) I?ll choose something.
c) I never keep up with them.

100. You?re out cycling with a friend when a car cuts in front nearly knocking you both into the ditch. Your friend sees the driver later and goes after him/her. What do you do?
a) Look for something for my friend to hit the driver with.
b) Try to calm things down.
c) Keep out of it.

101. You win a holiday to Mauritius. The package includes the flight and hotel expenses, but you have to make your own programme. What do you reckon?
a) It?s not for me.
b) There?ll be masses to do.
c) I can always hang out on the beach by the hotel, if I can?t think of anything else to do.

102. For a long time your partner has wanted a child. So do you, but not yet.
a) We never stop arguing about it.
b) I avoid discussing it altogether.
c) I try to get him/her to understand my take on the issue.

103. There are plans to set up a shelter for problem kids in your area. Opponents of the scheme ask you to sign their petition. What do you do?
a) I don?t sign. The shelter is needed.
b) I sign. There?s no need for a shelter round here.
c) I?m not keen about the scheme, but I don?t intend to sign the petition.

104. You?re at your younger sister?s wedding. Looking at the smiling couple, you think to yourself:
a) Those smiles won?t last long.
b) I hope their love will last.
c) They?re a great match.

105. You?ve a lively and active three-year old child. What do you do when he/she breaks a valuable vase.
a) Sigh.
b) Yell.
c) Smack him/her.

106. An interesting looking man/woman has been giving you the eye for quite a while. You meet him/her at the store one day. What do you do.
a) Stay in close range and hope that he/she comes to say hello.
b) Go and say hi to him/her.
c) Take cover behind the Corn Flakes and keep watch.

107. You?ve got your exam results and now want to find a steady job. What?s most important:
a) That the work is interesting.
b) That there are nice people to work with.
c) That the pay is alright.

108. You?ve been hiking for several days. As you use up your food, your rucksack gets lighter but what do you do with the empty tins?
a) Take them back with me.
b) Bury them.
c) Chuck them anywhere.

109. Your best friend moved to live in another part of the country. The train journey there is long and dull. You visited your friend in the summer, and in the autumn he/she asks you to come again.
a) Here we go again.
b) This is getting to be a drag.
c) I can?t now. What about at the beginning of next year?

110. You?re in the queue at the hot dog stand. Someone jumps the line in front of you. He/she is roughly the same size as you. How do you respond?
a) Tell him/her angrily to get to the back.
b) Tell him/her firmly that I was first.
c) Mutter to myself.

111. You borrow quite a lot of money from a friend. You agreed that you?ll pay it back after a week, but you can?t. What do you do?
a) Ask for more time to get the money together.
b) Avoid meeting my friend.
c) I pay when I can.

112. You and your partner have two young children. You pack the car and set off to visit their grandmother. Half way into the journey the kids start quarreling. What do you do?
a) Tell them that if they don?t stop, I?ll stop the car and leave them in the middle of nowhere.
b) Stop the car and let them both off to run a lap round the nearest field.
c) Start going on at your partner about why she/he doesn?t help to control the kids.

113. You and your friend often go out together. You gradually realise that he/she drinks too much.
a) That?s his/her affair.
b) Talk to him/her about it.
c) I won?t say anything, but I won?t go out with him/her any more.

114. You?ve got a job you?ve been after in another county, but nothing will get your partner to move there. What do you do?
a) Keep up the pressure until he/she agrees to move.
b) Rent a room near to work and go home at weekends.
c) I won?t take up the new job if it strains things at home.

115. Your friend asks if you?ll babysit one night. The kid screams non stop all evening. When your friend asks you to babysit again you
a) say no. I couldn?t take another night like the last.
b) go along. Maybe it?ll be alright this time.
c) Think of an excuse.

116. A friend asks you to join him/her in a financial venture that looks tempting. When you both go to the bank to sign the necessary paperwork you realise that you don?t understand all the terms of the deal. What do you do?
a) I sign the documents anyway.
b) I?ll keep asking until I understand, even though it makes everyone feel uneasy.
c) I think I?m being conned. I walk out.

117. You?re a graduate and have been looking for work for already over a year, but with no luck.
a) I?ll carry on looking.
b) I?ll try to get more qualifications.
c) Stuff work, I don?t care.

118. You?ve been saving for a house for years, and now you?ve got a loan and can move in to your new home. How do you feel?
a) Satisfied despite being in debt.
b) Unsure if this was a wise move?
c) If things get too tough, we can always sell the place.

119. You?ve got a place to study the field you?d set your sights on. But the job prospects in that area are continually getting worse. What do you reckon?
a) It?s my field, come what may.
b) Maybe I should switch subjects.
c) I?ll start getting additional skills which?ll help when looking for work.

120. You?ve taken an important course, and you reckon that the final exam went well. You?re astonished when the grade you get is really low. What do you do?
a) Grumble about it to the others and wait until I can re-take the exam.
b) Go and have a talk with the teacher.
c) Demand a higher grade even through legal channels.

121. Your friend is always late. It?s started to get on your nerves, and you?ve said so a few times. When once again you?re stuck outdoors waiting you decide that:
a) Next time I?ll turn up late myself. Then he/she?ll know how it feels.
b) From now on we?re only going to meet at the cafe. At least it?d be warm and I could read a bit while waiting.
c) That?s it. I?m not going to arrange to meet him/her anymore.

122. You?re building yourself a summer cottage and ask for a few friends to come and help out. They enjoy themselves, but it looks like the work you?d hoped would get finished will be left undone. What do you do?
a) Start to get them organised.
b) Work like hell myself so the others will do the same.
c) Sit around chatting with them. There?ll be time to do the job later.

123. Your friends are getting married, and they ask you to arrange transport for them.
a) I?ll make a good job of this.
b) I don?t know what to do.
c) Why always me?

124. You?ve just had a child - a pretty demanding and noisy bundle. You?ve been up for many nights and feel wiped out. And now the baby starts crying again.
a) I?ll see if I can get some help from a friend or relation.
b) I?ve got to get through this. I?m not going to ask for help.
c) I?ll take the baby along to the health centre?s sleep nursery.

125. You?re hiking with a friend in Lapland. You end up on very rocky ground, and tomorrow?s stretch looks even harder. There is an easier route to take but it would take an extra day to cover. What do you say?
a) Let?s push on, we?ll be OK.
b) Let?s take the safe way. It?s not worth taking pointless risks.
c) You could have checked the way more thoroughly beforehand.



TRANSITION ANIMATION: mature middle-age. The letter box bangs and the slightly stiffer mascot picks a letter up off the floor containing a health questionnaire.

Health test for 40-year olds: Dear XX, You have just turned 40. We are making a survey and kindly ask you to
answer the following questions.

1. Family: A. I'm married/living with someone. B. I'm separated/divorced and now live alone. C. I live alone.

2. You consider your health to be: A. Quite good. B. Average. C. Quite poor.

3. Exercise: A. I get quite a lot of exercise B. I get some exercise. C. I get only a little exercise.

4. Smoking: A. I've quit smoking. B. I smoke. C. I have never really been a smoker.

5. Use of alcohol: A. I drink sometimes, but not very much. B. I drink often and/or a lot at one session. C. I drink very little or not at all.

6. My diet is: A. Quite healthy. B. Healthy enough. C. Probably unhealthy.

7. For you the feeling of loneliness is: A. Rare. B. Occasional. C. Common.


Situations of mature adulthood 126 - 163
126. You?re having a medical check up and the doctor asks what your previous cholestoral count and blood pressure were. You answer
a) How should I know.
b) They were high.
c) They were pretty good.

127. You don?t do much sports apart from a regular stint every Wednesday. This week there?s a film on TV you want to watch, and what?s more your friend calls and invites you out. What will you do?
a) Stick with my routine.
b) Go out with my friend.
c) Watch the film.

128. One morning you feel a tightness and pain in your chest that lasts several hours.
a) I suspect heart problems. I?ll see a doctor straight away.
b) I?ll wait until it passes, and then see.
c) It?s nothing. I?ve always been healthy.

129. You?re an experienced driver. You?re in a hurry when suddenly all the traffic lights turn red.
a) I won?t drive through a red light.
b) Sometimes when you?re in a hurry you break the traffic regulations.
c) It?s OK to drive on if the lights have only just changed.

130. You?ve just ordered a meal in a cafe and before long it is brought to you. You usually:
a) Add salt without tasting the food.
b) Taste the food first. Most times you have to add salt.
c) Taste the food first. I don?t usually add salt.

131. You notice that you?ve gradually acquired a sizeable spare tyre to your waistline.
a) I go on a crash diet now and then to put things right.
b) I?ve been gradually trying to lighten my diet and take more exercise.
c) I don?t do anything.

132. You?ve moved to a fourth floor flat. How do you usually come and go.
a) I use the lift.
b) I use the stairs.
c) I use the stairs in one direction.

133. You?ve noticed certain worrying symptoms in your condition and your doctor strongly recommends that you change your life style.
a) I?ll start to change things.
b) Doctors don?t know anything.
c) I?ll carry on as before.

134. You?ve started to get aches and pains here and there, and feel that your health is deteriorating.
a) It?s a part of ageing, it doesn?t bother me much.
b) It?s just downhill from now on.
c) Even if I have to be more careful, there is still plenty to do.

135. You?re out skiing with a friend when you come across large animal tracks in the snow. ?A wolf,? your friend exclaims in terror. You reply:
a) It?s probably just the neighbour?s dog.
b) Let?s get out of here!
c) Hey, did you bring a camera along?

136. There is new technology at work which you find hard to get to grips with. You?ve started waking up in the nights, and you?re tired in the day. You?re stressed by all the undone work you?ve got.
a) I?m too old to learn new stuff.
b) I?ll try to cope by doing more overtime.
c) I?ll learn, but at my own pace.

137. You?ve having all kinds of problems. The doctor says that you?re suffering from mild depression and suggests that you go on sick leave for a while.
a) Because of depression? People?ll think I?m nuts.
b) It?s what I need.
c) I think I can make it without taking sick leave.

138. The last of the children is leaving home and now the house seems very quiet.
a) It?s the beginning of the end.
b) How nice and peaceful.
c) New things ahead.

139. You go along to a class reunion. You?re all reminiscing about the past and talking about what has happened to each of you. You feel:
a) All the others have had far better luck than me.
b) There?ve been all sorts of ups and downs, for me as well as the others.
c) It seems I?ve done alright in life.

140. You?re in a rush at work. In addition to your present tasks you?ve been offered the chance to take part in an interesting experiment. You wouldn?t really have the time, and yet you?d like to do it.
a) I?ll do it and do more overtime.
b) I?ll do it and take it little easier with the other work.
c) I?ll turn down the offer, because there just isn?t enough time.

141. Five years ago you lost your job. Since then you?ve only had one short-term job. Everywhere, younger applicants are preferred.
a) I try to adapt to the situation and think of something else to do in life.
b) I feel bitter and angry.
c) I?ve got to find a job. I?ll carry on applying.

142. You?ve been sleeping badly lately, and you don?t feel like doing anything much. You can?t be bothered to see people and you?re often tired and irritable.
a) So what?
b) I?ll see a doctor and discuss the problem.
c) I?ll try to get about and meet people, even if I have to force myself.

143. You?re out for a walk and come across a girl crying in the woods; she?s lost. While you?re helping her back, you say that
a) you should think before going off into the woods.
b) hey, you?ll be alright.
c) stop snivelling.

144. You?re in a situation where you have to eat at a table full of total strangers. In your view it?s:
a) No problem. It?s easy to get talking to people.
b) Uncomfortable. I can?t think of anything to say.
c) OK, but someone else can keep the conversation going.

145. You?ll soon be 50. How will you mark the occasion?
a) In the company of a few friends.
b) I won?t celebrate.
c) With a big party with lots of people.

146. You?re queuing for a train ticket. Someone comes up to the counter saying that his/her train is just about to leave and asks if he/she can jump the queue. You?re also in a hurry.
a) Let him/her go ahead, he/she?s in more of a hurry.
b) Let him/her queue like everyone else.
c) I don?t want to let him/her go in front, but I wouldn?t normally say so.

147. Your mum?s memory has been getting worse for some time, and now she can hardly even remember your name. You think that:
a) I must visit her more often.
b) I don?t feel like coming round here anymore.
c) Why isn?t she in a home?

148. You suddenly realise that you haven?t met any friends for ages. You think to yourself:
a) Why doesn?t anyone ever call or come round?
b) I?ll get in touch with people soon, otherwise I?ll lose contact with them altogether.
c) I can?t really be bothered to meet people any more.

149. You?ve been nominated to chair a community group handling a controversial issue. How are you going to start the first meeting?
a) Make my own suggestion for solution as precisely as possible.
b) Give people time to chat and get aquainted with each other.
c) Get people to put forward all possible and impossible ideas for tackling the issue.

150. You?re away with friends for a holiday in the sun, but most of the group want to hang out on the beach. You find it boring, and suggest going hiking in the mountains. The others aren?t interested. What do you do?
a) Go off alone.
b) Feel pissed off and stay in my room.
c) Try to think of something else to tempt them.

151. You haven?t seen your friends for a while, but ten they ask you to go hiking with them in the woods. You feel a bit listless. You say:
a) OK, let?s go.
b) I can?t be bothered - anyway it?s wet out there - you go yourselves.
c) I don?t feel like it now, but why don?t you come round here instead?

152. Things are changing at work, and you?ve got to learn new tasks which look really difficult. What do you reckon?
a) I can?t lean new stuff, I wan?t something different.
b) I?ll just have to get on with it.
c) There?s nothing wrong about learning something new.

153. You?ve been fired from work after 10 years service with the firm. Six months later you still haven?t found a new job. What will you do?
a) Join some suitable retraining scheme or course.
b) Start focusing more on home and my interests.
c) Feel bitter and go around complaining about how I was treated by the firm.

154. Your 76-year old dad dies after a sudden illness. The last time you saw him you ended up arguing. You didn?t manage to go to see him in hospital.
a) I feel guilty, and now it?s too late to make up.
b) Dad would know that the row wasn?t serious, even though we didn?t get to talk things over.
c) Typical that he went and did this to me.

155. Your doctor says that you?re seriously ill, but that you have a good chance to pull through. How do you take it?
a) After getting over the initial shock I decide to fight it.
b) I can?t help worrying.
c) I try not to think about the whole thing.

156. You?re guaranteed a loan for a friend. But his/her life has run into trouble and you?ve been stuck with the repayment. It?s taken up most of your savings.
a) I?ll never forgive this friend for what?s happened.
b) I?m really annoyed. I?m never going to back a loan for anyone again.
c) It?s a bad situation. On the other hand, its not easy for my friend either.

157. You?re good at your job, and in your view the new boss is making some serious mistakes. You say so, but your boss is too proud to change his/her mind.
a) I?m going to say what I think of him/her.
b) Well, I only work here.
c) I?ll stick to my point of view and try to influence things in other ways.

158. At a party the son of one of your relatives starts talking about a subject you know more about. He get?s on your nerves, especially as what he?s talking is complete crap. What do you say?
a) Mmm - could I have another slice of cake?
b) Where did you learn that, from some comic strip?
c) Er, let me explain something....

159. You think that your Godson spends too much time indoors. You try to get him to come with you to the beach. He agrees to, but on the way starts insisting that you go to the circus instead.
a) Nope, we?re going to the beach.
b) Good idea. I haven?t been to one for ages.
c) If you don?t stop whining, we?re going back home.

160. You?re fed up with being criticised by a friend for everything you do. When he/she again starts putting you down:
a) I say as calmly as I can that this sort of criticism gets on my nerves.
b) I just let it all go in one ear and out the other, as always.
c) Go ballistic.

161. You?ve heard that one of the neighbours has been complaining about the terrible racket coming from your place. You reckon that it must be because of the repairs being done to your bathroom. What do yo?
a) Nothing.
b) Rebuke the neighbour for talking about the problem behind my back and not to me straight.
c) Tell the neighbour about the repairs and apologise for the racket.

162. Your going round a town you?ve never visited before, and in a park you come across a checkered grid, like a chess board. On the grid are a few stones. You think:
a) Someone has swiped the chess pieces.
b) What sort of game is this?
c) Not a bad piece of art.

163. You?re hanging around on the beach watching the windsurfers. Time goes by, and you think:
a) They?re pretty talented.
b) Haven?t they got anything better to do?
c) I wonder if I could learn that.

TRANSITION ANIMATION: retirement
The mascot, his hair slightly grey, climbs puffing up the stairs to an office where there is a queue for a counter where it reads ?pension enquiries?

Situations of a retired person 164 - 195
164. You?ve had an operation and you?re told that you?ll be asked to come in for a checkup after 2-3 months. Six months go by and you still haven?t received any notification.
a) As long as I feel alright, I?ll let it be.
b) I?ll call the hospital.
c) I?m going to write a letter about it to the newspaper.

165. You?ve had trouble sleeping for quite a while. What do you do?
a) Go to the doctor and ask for some sleeping pills.
b) Try to find some other ways of getting to sleep.
c) Start watching late night movies.

166. You notice that the mole on your stomach has started to get darker and much bigger. What do you do?
a) I seek professional advice.
b) Wait and see.
c) I?m not going to get in a panic about a little mole.

167. The post to your summer cottage is delivered to the box across the lake. How do you usually fetch it?
a) I usually row across.
b) I generally drive round by the shore to get it.
c) Depends how I feel.

168. You?re walking to your friend?s house, which you can reach by two different routes. The one along the shore is more beautiful but it?s longer and there?s a lot more climbing to do. Which route do you take?
a) Usually the scenic one.
b) The easier one if I feel lazy.
c) Usually the easy way.

169. Your partner died suddenly of a heart attack. Six months go by and
a) I?m still devastated by what?s happened.
b) life must go on.
c) I?ve tried to find new things in life.

170. Your older sister lives alone in a house with no neighbours nearby. You?d like her to move to the centre of town, but she doesn?t want to.
a) I?ll keep trying to get her to move, even though it leads to arguments.
b) I?ll try to go round to see her more often, and also get her a mobile phone.
c) It?s her business.

171. You slip and break your leg. You have to use a wheelchair for a while.
a) How am I going to get through this?
b) Now I can catch up with all that reading I?ve wanted to do.
c) I?d get some shoes that grip better.

172. You?re driving your car when another vehicle cuts in front causing you to swerve. It was a near thing. Your friend says that he/she made a will after experiencing a similar near miss.
a) I?d also better get my papers in order.
b) That other driver?ll need to make a will when I get hold of him/her.
c) Don?t tempt fate!

173. You attend a hand crafts course, at the end of which everyone has to do a practice piece of work. What sort do you choose?
a) Something I definitely know.
b) The hardest possible.
c) Something quite demanding.

174. You?re invited to a meeting where some researcher is going to talk about ageing.
a) Everyone knows about getting old. Who needs a researcher?
b) There?s probably something to get out of it.
c) I?m not bothered about the talk, but I?ll meet some friends there.

175. The doctor recommends that you give up driving.
a) ****! Why are they on my back?
b) It?s what I expected. I?d better get a bike.
c) That?s a relief - now I?ve a good reason to stop.

176. You?re stuck at the station with an hour to wait. The cafe is closed and you sit on a bench.
a) There?s plenty to watch around here for an hour.
b) Dismal. And there?s some weird people around here.
c) Why the hell can?t they keep any sort of cafe open!

177. You get an invitation to your cousin?s 70th birthday party. Most of the family will be there.
a) I?ll go along, although relatives can be hell sometimes.
b) I?d be happy to go. We usually have a pretty good time.
c) I?ve no intention of going.

178. Your friend has moved to a cottage in the country. The way there is awkward. Before, you used to meet each other often. Now:
a) We still meet often. It keeps me on the move.
b) We meet much less.
c) We hardly ever meet - why did he/she have to move to the middle of nowhere?

179. Your daughter-in-law has a go at you for spoiling your grandchildren by giving them so many sweets.
a) Rubbish - its every grandparent?s right.
b) I feel hurt.
c) It?s up to my daughter-in-law to decide how her kids should be brought up.

180. Someone you know who long ago moved abroad calls you and says he/she will drop by to see you when on holiday.
a) I don?t feel like meeting at all.
b) Great, I?ll ask a few others to come along as well.
c) Why not - we can catch up on old times.

181. The younger ones in the family want to build themselves a summer place. There?s an old, dilapidated timber sauna on the land. You?d prefer to pull it down, but they want to renovate it. What do you say?
a) It?s just a shack - it?s pointless.
b) Go ahead, if you really want to.
c) What difference does it make what I say? You anyway don?t listen.

182. You drop in at your God-daughter?s birthday party. The young ones are discussing the future. You find what they say hard to understand. You think to yourself:
a) Just wait till life comes along and puts a stop to all that fantasising.
b) This is what it probably sounded like to adults when I was young.
c) Are they on drugs?

183. You?re on the beach, where a bunch of kids are avidly throwing bread to the birds. You watch for a while and
a) all this shrieking puts me in a bad mood.
b) it?s nice to see kids having such fun.
c) Damn birds spread salmonella!

184. You and some friends have signed up to a group trip to London, but they cancel at the last minute. What do you say?
a) You?ve messed up my trip.
b) London may be off, but let?s go somewhere else instead.
c) I think I?ll go alone. You always meet up with someone nice on these trips.

185. You?ve just retired.
a) Now I can do all the things I?ve never had time to do.
b) I?m sometimes bored.
c) I feel lost and nothing really interests me.

186. You take part in a club, which you enjoy. Then you?re asked to help run the organisation.
a) I?ll take on the job.
b) I don?t know how to.
c) I can?t be bothered.

187. You?d like to carry on living at home, but there are some things you can?t cope with any more. Your children think you ought to go into an old people?s home.
a) I?ll do what I want. It doesn?t matter if some things are left undone.
b) I?ll go along with what they suggest. I don?t want to make my kids angry.
c) I?ll be alright at home, I?ll just arrange for some home help.

188. Your daughter would like you to look after her two children for a week. Your son?s children have just spent several days with you.
a) I simply can?t take them just now.
b) Of course I?ll take them, even if it?s tiring.
c) I can take them for a couple of days, but she?ll have to make some other arrangement for the rest of the week.

189. You sometimes go to eat at the local cafe. The meals are fairly rich and greasy. You think they?re:
a) Good - like the food at home.
b) Good - as I don?t often eat this sort of food.
c) Too heavy - I prefer lighter food.

190. You see an ad for a good concert.
a) I?ll definitely get tickets to that.
b) I doubt I?ll go.
c) I?ll go if someone else gets the tickets.

191. You?ve got yourself a new musical instrument and start practicing. It?s difficult. What do you do?
a) Practice diligently every day.
b) Give it up.
c) Practice when I feel like it.

192. You receive a letter from the pension authorities that you can?t understand even after reading it for the third time.
a) I chuck it in the bin. They?ll be in touch again if there?s something I?m meant to do.
b) I carry on reading it until I can make sense of it.
c) I call the officials to ask what it is all about.

193. Your friends call you unexpectedly to say that there?s a really interesting and inexpensive offer of a trip abroad. The departure date is just a few days away.
a) I like being at home, I don?t think I?ll go.
b) I won?t at such short notice.
c) Definitely I?ll go.

194. You?re invited to visit people who are far richer than you. You look around their house and think:
a) This is unfair. I wish I had all this.
b) How interesting.
c) How utterly tasteless!

195. You know what flowers you want, but the flower seller doesn?t have them. He tries to get you to buy some others. What happens?
a) I end up buying the wrong ones, and I?m annoyed.
b) I buy the ones the ones I?m offered, but it?s OK. The seller was pretty good.
c) I carry on looking around other flower sellers.


LAST ANIMATION: The mascot drops to the ground dead.

Text screen: You've completed Lifegame by this round. You've guided Timo through life from cradle to grave, and now it's time to look at the final evaluation. Lifegame does not set out to give a total life picture in all its complexity. The evaluation is therefore more of an indication of a trend than an analysis
of your actual health status.

The possibilities and limits in life are influenced by our health in many ways. The results take into account the key areas of health. Inherited characteristics and environment affect them all, but a person's own behaviour is also crucial. On the basis of the choices you've made Timo was rated according to different health aspects like this:

Final evaluation: four screens with a meter below each one

Physical health describes your bodily welfare and performance. Most important is the matter of routine, everyday life: did you exercise, what you ate, did you smoke. The other important factor is risk taking ?
whether it has to do with driving in traffic, dealing with sexual relationships or hiking in the great outdoors.

Psychological health concerns your mental balance and ability to deal with adversity. Work, interests, taking part in things and taking care of yourself and others all affect your mental endurance. Here too it is often a matter of the day?to?day choices you make, the repetition of which may upset or strengthen your psychological balance.

Social health describes your relations with others ? family, neighbours, friends and colleagues. Sharing and doing things together protect your health. Friendship doesn't develop and endure of its own accord; you build it by trust, respect and selflessness.

Your general capacity to cope in life covers the ability to look after things, get hold of information, comprehend things, learn new things and adapt to different situations. Some see only barriers and censure in their environment; others see possibilities also. Expectations can help you cope in life; how healthy you consider you to be indicates your future health.


The evaluation can be printed out.

FINAL ANIMATION: Epeli flutters towards the stars and pops out of the picture.

Production credits