amor-ex-machina/Notes/Brainstorming.md

Brainstorming

Premise ideas

Throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks

• Dating sim where the single object of affection (The computer? The program? The datacenter????) is nebulous and vague at the start, but becomes more defined as you go through the game.

  • Check out Slay The Princess for a similar thing: the princess's form in each loop changes depending on the choices you made in the previous run.
  • Maybe the object of affection starts out as a vague thing that touches files or pipes shit to stdout every now and again, but as you interact with her, she appears to you as a more specific entity.
  • This could work as a console-based thing, which works with our skill sets.

• Get really objectum with it: Dating sim where multiple objects of affection could be found throughout your life as a sysadmin.

  • e.g.:
    • Servers and network hardware in the datacenter where you work
    • Your phone in your pocket
    • Your work laptop you take home with you every day
    • The old desktop tower you find in the op shop
    • The vending machine in the lunch room.
    • The security cameras in the hallway
    • BAD-GIRL-TYPE MALICIOUS DEVICE DROPPED IN THE DATACENTRE BY AN UNKNOWN BAD ACTOR (i need her......)
    • etc.
  • Con: We'd need to find an artist, of course, as this would have to be a visual thing, I reckon
  • I also have never played a dating sim! Oops!

• "Visual" novel where you're having a back and forth with a hacker trying to infiltrate your network.

  • Enemies-to-lovers type shit.
  • Unfortunately, every time I try to flesh this idea out, I instead realise I'm just doing a Mr. Robot impression and cross my arms and get grumpy.