Jalopy, however, currently has bigger problems in terms of immersion than simply a somewhat audience limiting core mechanic. I was stuck holding that engine block while Uncle danced in circles for all eternity. One of a number of game breaking tutorial bugs I ran into. For those people, I’m afraid immersion in this game will be impossible. After all, driving simulators and survival RPGs simply aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Not everyone will find this mechanic enjoyable. His role is to help you find that ‘quality’, that immersion, in your experience with Jalopy. He also educates the player on the world around you through dialog as you continue your journey. In this way, you can see something of a layman’s Pirsig in the character of Uncle, as he teaches you how build and maintain your Laika 601 Deluxe and eases you into the flow of this gameplay mechanic. You must be actively involved with your vehicle.” Uncle, your guide and mentor on your journey through the Eastern Bloc, says something along these lines after you make your first repair, “Good mechanical work is like good relationship work, it’s all about time, effort, and care. The core of the game, though, remains the time and care you put into your Laika 601 Deluxe to keep you going on your journey through the Eastern Bloc. Eventually, you get to customize your car with new and better parts and do side stuff like build a stock portfolio in the emerging capitalist economy. Jalopy is incredibly realistic when it comes to the car itself, the flow of repair and maintenance is exactly how it flows with a real vehicle.
You do the same ritual for the tires and door. You pull the latch, lift the bonnet, place the Engine Block, Fuel Tank, Carburetor, and Battery until you have a unified whole and an understanding on how to maintain it. You start the game by building your car and putting the engine together piece by piece. Jalopy is at its core a car driving and maintenance simulator, with procedurally generated survival RPG flairs.