Options

Options is the second of two games we offer for players age 13 and older. The other is Crossroads: New Decisions. Although players can benefit from playing either game alone, we recommend beginning with New Decisions. Players who completed the first game will find all their objects purchased still in their virtual home and all their remaining cash carried over. The games do follow a logical order, with a budget made in New Decisions and then in Options, finding and keeping a job to cover expenses.

Crossroads: Options covers the following topics:

1. Dating Violence (Healthy and Dysfunctional Relationships)
2. Avoiding Drug Use
3. Finding a Job (Financial Literacy)
4. Identifying unacceptable situations (Safety Plans)
5. Positive Self-Talk (Healthy and Dysfunctional Relationships)
6. Emotional Abuse
7. Anxiety and Locus of Control (Assessment)
8. Keeping a Job (Financial Literacy)

See below for a brief video and summary of each module.

Available Data

Registered programs can access data for users. In New Decisions, this includes individual items and total scores for two scales measuring anxiety and locus of control.

Dating violence

This module identifies signs of an abusive relationship and encourages bystanders to get involved. At the end of the scenario, the game play is an escape room where the player solves clues to exit the house.

Avoiding Drug Use

This module addresses appropriate responses when invited to situations where excessive alcohol or drug use may occur. Consequences of functional and dysfunctional decisions are also shown. Game play after the scenario has the player running to get to work on time, avoiding obstacles on the way.

Finding a Job

This module discusses selecting and applying for a job that pays sufficient to meet your monthly budget. The Crossroads: New Decisions game covers an introduction to creating a budget.

Safety plans

This module addresses identifying situations that are acceptable, need improvement or unacceptable. Game play at the end has the player leaving the situation to find a new home, avoiding bad choices on the way.

Positive Self-Talk

Often, an obstacle to leaving an unhealthy relationship is that the abuser has convinced his or her partner of their own inherent lack of value. In this “text messaging” scenario, the player is reminded of their own helpfulness, honesty and generosity. Game play involves searching for lost items to help friends, family members and community.

Emotional Abuse

Abusers aren’t always physical and they aren’t always male. This module presents a controlling relationship that is, well, out of control. Game play requires solving a puzzle lock to retrieve a phone that the character’s girlfriend has stolen and locked in a drawer.

Anxiety and Locus of Control

Assessment is part of the job of any counselor and yet the best way to start off a relationship probably isn’t with pushing a pile of papers in front of a person.

Keeping a Job

Part of keeping a job is realizing that you need to do the dirty work, sometimes literally, and follow company procedures. In this module, players are presented with a couple of work place challenges, such as agreeing to clean out cages and put their phone away. The game ends with catching hamsters and walking dogs.

Now that you’ve read about Crossroads: OPTIONS, I’m sure you’re dying to know where to get it.