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Game Ideas Survey II
Using the results of the previous survey, I created some new ideas to feed back into a new survey. I decided to categorise the ideas by the top three most popular simulation motives, obtained through my last survey. These motives were: control, escapism, and recovery. Each 'category' is its own question in the survey, and each has four ideas that I have developed based on this, and the things I know about each motive.
Motive 1: Control
Idea 1
"A lab in which people are bred specifically so their brains can be used as computing power. The protagonist discovers the nature of their reality, and begins a journey to break free of their simulated prison into the real world."
Idea 2
"A lab attempting to create 'neo-humans' that are genetically superior to ordinary humans - a simulation was designed to test their mind for flaws. One specimen discovers the simulation, and attempts to break free."
Idea 3
"A mother who has induced her child into a dream-state to prevent them from ever growing up, for fear that the world is simply too bleak and awful; that it would taint the innocence of her child. The plot would revolve around the relationship between mother and child, ending with the mother letting go of her emotions and the child awakening from the dreamstate to experience the real world."
Idea 4
"A world in which large organisations manipulate the simulation to censor information and manipulate the human mind, dictating society from the ground up. The story would revolve around an underground resistance who are aware of this, seeking to stop those manipulating the simulation in an uprising.."
I was not particularly surprised by these results in the end - I am very happy that this idea was popular with the audience. I felt as though this idea was the most 'detached' from the other ideas, which sounded too similar to The Matrix.
Motive 2: Escapism
Idea 1
"The story of an addict who abuses sleeping pills to escape into their dreams. As the highs wear off, the addict's problems begin to seep into the dreams, manifesting as nightmares. The story revolves around this persons' fight to overcome their issues and break the cycle of addiction."
Idea 2
"A world in which universe simulations are ran as part of a gaming experience, a person playing the game discovers a character who is aware of the simulation and possesses free will, the journey revolves around the individual helping the character free the rest of the world from the code limiting their ability to use free will."
Idea 3
"A story in which a child experiences difficult nightmares, but is helped in overcoming them by their teddy-bear companion. The story revolves around the fight between the child and their fears, with the teddy-bear helping to give the child confidence in facing and fighting them."
Idea 4
"A world in which science has created technology that induces lucid dreams and can allow for multiple people to experience dreams together on the same server. A virus manifests within the server, causing massive stability issues that can prevent individuals waking up, wipe ones memories, and even cause psychological scarring. The story revolves around the conflict between players and the virus, and their attempts to escape the dreamstate."
I'm once again very happy with the results to this - I feel as though the addict idea is far more interesting than the others, and can place a much more positive spin on an otherwise negative subject matter.
Motive 3: Recovery
Idea 1
"A post apocalyptic world in which the last of humanity have uploaded their consciousness into a simulation to survive as data. The simulation becomes corrupted and unstable after environmental damage in the real world - the protagonist must flip between the two worlds to repair the simulation and give humanity a fighting chance at survival."
Idea 2
"Similar to the previous idea. A species creates a simulation in a desperate attempt to preserve themselves in a post-apocalyptic scenario, but the perspective is from an outsider species attempting to piece together the mystery and story of their civilisation through both the simulation and the real world."
Idea 3
"A world in which simulations automatically restart once the previous one concludes - glitches and corruption within simulation data lead the player down a rabbit hole about a story from the previous iterations of the simulation and, in turn, the real world."
Idea 4
"A person who has suffered trauma and has lost their identity. They must journey through a dreamscape of their own creation, overcoming said trauma and rediscovering who they are. The feel of this idea would me one of initial negativity, but slowly but surely develops positively."
I didn't see this result coming - I expected idea 4 to be more popular. I am still happy with the result of this however, as I enjoy the idea.
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