Synthia (BlueSlime)

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Max looks thoughtful for a moment. "Ah, if you've completed a scenario, than you can either continue to create a story in that world, or you can start up a new world, though in that case you would have new stats." He says.

"As for a metaplot, the development team is currently working on placing metaplots into the worlds, so that players will have a goal to work towards. I think they're starting the first testing tomorrow, actually. Since the way we do updates affects previous games, a persistent plot would be generated for your world." He finishes. "Does that make sense?" He actually finishes.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"So you'll patch a plot into individual games? Sounds like a lot of work, though I suppose your AI program does a lot of the heavy lifting, no?" Synthia smiled.

"I won't hold you up any more, Max. I'll just come in tomorrow and see what you mean."

Synthia left the testing facility, jotting down notes that she could remember while she walked to her car. When she got home later that night she wrote down, experience for experience, what she could recall of her virtual adventure.

She dreamed of her virtual self, an adventurer-turned-mother and wife. A nice house, a nice husband, a good sex life. Seemed sad though to think that that particular character's adventuring days were over. Or were they?

The thought of beginning completely anew in a different scenario was less appealing the more she thought of it. Why shouldn't her first character continue on? After all, Max had said they were tweaking the game's story generating engine. Maybe she should give it a chance with her original character.

****

The next day, Synthia got an early breakfast and taking with her her notes and a voice recorder, she arrived at the testing facility just as it was opening. She was eager to start.

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Heading to Max's office, Synthia manages to catch him just as he's setting up for the day, logging onto his computer.

"Ah, welcome back" He says, waving her in as his door is open. "Ah, let's see, what were we discussing last night? I'm afraid I've forgotten where we were in the conversation..."

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"We'd been discussing the updates concerning persistent plots. I was hoping that they'd be ready to implement into my own scenario. I know I got an ending, but the program did say that the scenario could be returned to. I thought it might be nice to continue with the same character. Though I could really do either. Whatever helps you guys test the system."

She clasped her hands together in front of her and waited, smiling. She wondered if she seemed too overeager, and what way Max might take that. She sort of liked the old man, since he was amazingly professional.

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Max nods his head for a moment. "Ah, yes." He says. "Well, we'd prefer our testers to do what they think is best, though I guess at this moment loading your old game would likely be best." He starts. "As that way it tests adding a persistent plot to a game already there. And we've tended to find that players can quickly grow attached to a character they play as, so we try to keep characters available for play for as long as we can, barring a game over."

"Anyways" He starts again. "I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but imagine that the first scenario is something along the lines of the first episode or maybe season of an ongoing show. As long as the character is still there, we feel that the story should be able to be continued." He nods. "If that makes any sense?"

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"Yes, of course it makes sense," Synthia took out her pen and jotted down Max's quote. "You don't mind if I quote you? I'm don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I'm planning a student article about this at the local university. I think getting a developer's take with a tester's viewpoint would make for interesting reading. It's actually great that I managed to get the AI dev as my game adviser."

She capped her pen. "I'm happy to continue with my old character, sure. Is the update prepared? Can I go in now, or will I have to wait a bit?"

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"Not at all, feel free. Though I do ask you try not to reveal anything that might get some odd looks, if you don't mind." He chuckles a little. "If you want to get in touch with some of the other developers, I can probably set up meetings with them too, if you wish. Ah, anyways. Yes, the update was applied this morning, you should be able to start any time you wish."

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"I'm a tasteful reporter, and I think the university readers are more interested in your AI capabilities than what they're specifically used for," Synthia replied with a wink. "I'll be careful though."

She nodded when Max told her everything was ready and she made her way down to the EGG room, running through the usual starting procedures to get underway.

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Max stayed quiet at her wink, only quickly saying. "Thanks for understanding, please enjoy your time testing." As he returned to his work.

Synthia stepped into the egg as it loaded up.

EGG Main Menu
Load Saved World
New Game
Options

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Synthia quickly looked over the options screen before choosing to load her game. (Are there any new settings or features?)

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

A pop up. "New setting: Roughness. Set/Skip?"

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"Hmmm..." Synthia set the roughness level to 4. "It was getting easier, and I don't mind a little roughness. Better than being too soft."

She pressed the Load Saved Game button, and let her vision go dark, then fade slowly inwards to the game world.

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

The world fades into view, as Synthia is waking up from her bed, held close by Gerald. She gets up, finding herself in a long flowing fairly modest nightgown. She yawns as she looks outside the window, the world coming into view. She remembers the wonderful life she is leading in this town. Her husband Gerald and their son.

Gerald wakes up a little while later and looks at her staring out the window. "Oh? You're up early again, aren't you?" He says.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Synthia regards her figure, happy to see that despite a few minor changes to her bosom, she seems to have recovered nicely from her pregnancy. Her stomach is flat, and shows the signs of exercise. She blushes as she knows Gerald's sexual appetites played a large part in keeping her fit.

"Yeah, you know I like the sunrise," she said over her shoulder. "Oh, I suppose I'd better go check on Bryndan. You get dressed honey and we'll have breakfast soon."

Then she went out of the bedroom door and down corridor to where her son slept. He was a healthy boy, stocky like his dad but with his mother's eyes and hair color. She smiled down at him from where he lay, still sound asleep.

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Watching Bryndan wake up makes Synthia quite happy, it was one thing I watch him grow up through the epilogue, but it's quite different actually playing again now. He hops out of bed to give his mother a hug before she brings him downstairs for breakfast.

Gerald is already downstairs, yawning as he sits at the dining table. He goes off to answer loud knocking on the door as Synthia starts breakfast.
----
Gerald returned a while later, a look of shock on his face as he sat down, looking like he was trying to figure something out.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"What's the matter?" Synthia said, eying her husband curiously as she sets Bryndan's breakfast in front of him before taking a seat herself.

"Who was that at the door?"

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

Gerald sort of snaps out of his look. "Oh, just a messenger." he starts, not quite sure what to say. "Apparently there's been a large monster build up to the far east. And there are reports that the monsters are on some sort of war path..."

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"War path?" Synthia said hesitantly. "Have they done something like this before? And where exactly is this war path heading?"

She instinctively grabbed a napkin and, turning to Bryndan, she saw that the boy had managed to smear his face with food. She used the napkin to wipe his face clean, much to the boy's chagrin, before turning back to Gerald with a searching look on her face.

"You'd better just tell me what you're thinking. I'll get it out of you one way or another."

 

[the64bitbot]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"No, they haven't ever really done anything like this." Gerald shakes his head.

He gives a sigh as he finally says. "It's likely the war path will be coming right by here." He gives another sigh. "I really don't know what I'm thinking now."

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Synthia (BlueSlime)

"Well, you should be thinking about us," she said and put her hand on his forearm. "A war zone is no place for a family to live. How far off did the messenger say these monsters are? And what forces if any do we have to put up against them?"