Yes, I also noticed Zelkova's admission, during that kerfuffle. That is something that I have been wondering for some time; however, I did question Hien-san a little bit about that recently. He has claimed to me that there are other human administrators in the game of which he is the leader- Zelkova aside- but when I asked when we might see them, he demurred to give any other specifics. I do question whether that was a truthful reply, given we have seen no other CC Corp presence publicly within the game.
That said, it is clear that Zelkova differs from the other NPC's in the game in terms of intelligence and ability. It bears questioning, I think, why only some AI present in the game seem capable of that level of depth. A limitation on programming/processing power? Or might it be a mitigation of some risk that was found in earlier testing?
I'm sure there was a lot of experimentation done with these AI programs before we have gotten to the point we are at now. As you say, perhaps what we are brushing up against are remnants of that.
The hall of mirrors is an interesting one. I haven't participated in that part of the carnival simply due to a lack of interest, but it presents an even more significant danger than even "dv" being capable of scraping basic information to present to us directly, if it can be presented without any direct interaction and to other players as well.
My. Does that mean you saw something from Hien-san? I don't suppose you'll tell me what you saw? Haha. [unless........?]
[This next part: give him a week or two and Matoba will be able to comment on it more directly. But, for now:]
I have suspected this since you first told me about the "love" effect. There doesn't seem to be a particular way to guard ourselves against these effects either, other than to simply not partake of various aspects of the game.
By the way, on that note- be wary of the drinks in the guild halls.
Re: Physical effects.
It's good to know at least that some of these mysteries are intended parts of the game, hm? Even if I'm no help when it comes to German. By the way, do you have any thoughts on the bits of plot we've been shown so far? It's quite the mystery, isn't it? Some sort of ancient evil being released over time. I wonder when we will see the first boss appear.
I haven't yet suffered any physical effects offline as a result of an area exploration, but it's concerning that they seem to be testing these new special area releases on us that consistently have some ill side effects. Ought to be wary of testing these going forward, hm? I wonder who is really doing the testing here.
But in any case, don't forget. This game is all in our imagination. That's the magic of immersive reality, don't you think?
By the way, regarding Hien-san.
It's to my interests to learn just what exactly someone like him is really doing here, playing babysitter to a bunch of 堅気. Surely you have noticed as well? A man like that isn't something like a mere software engineer.
But I was able to get something like a hint.
Well, I have no intentions of being cozy with that man, given what I've come to suspect of him. So you don't really have to worry about anything like that. In fact, I'm willing to tell you certain things about him, if you are willing to share the same with me.
I don't have any intentions of damaging my good relationship with you, Mithrun-san. I'd appreciate a little respect in return, you know?
[That said: threaten him again, and see what happens.]
[(Don't worry, a few days after these messages are sent, things will be a liiiiiittle different. But Matoba is nothing if not a professional; business comes before pleasure.)]
Edited (I knew half this tag was going to break closes eyes) 2023-08-26 22:21 (UTC)
( Mithrun's response doesn't come immediately to reflect my poor inbox management; it does, however, come within a punctual time frame - Mithrun's pretty efficient at running Areas at this point. )
I paused to investigate a keyword that I discovered recently. This is jumping forward in the order, but I thought it was interesting: "Daydream" in the third position. It seems glitched; a goblin appeared, recited glitched dialogue, and stated it would execute a "buff." Presumably, it intended to apply an effect of some kind, but I realized I was affected by headache and chills. I logged off to check for this email and I'm currently still experiencing these physical symptoms. It reminds me of the effects of the Special Areas, such as the migraines Hector reported.
If there is a link here, I do wonder if the effects encountered in special areas (coma, migraines, etc) are the result of glitches - or consequent of something else occurring - rather than the objective. The "objective" for these unnatural glitches seems to be an invasion of personal privacy (the armor, the mirrors) or an alteration in thoughts or behavior (confession, belligerence). It's possible that the effect that was executed was an especially large one, if it produced such large consequence, like coma.
Regardless, I'll update you on the duration/intensity on my condition if there's notable change.
I do question whether that was a truthful reply, given we have seen no other CC Corp presence publicly within the game.
I thought it was odd that Hien was visible among users when I first met him. He doesn't seem to like interaction, either. I wondered if he didn't have the option to just be invisible. If there are other administrators, they must not be visible; if administrators don't have the power to alter their avatar's visibility... then I'm inclined to wonder, also. I explore Root Towns thoroughly, and I haven't seen anyone I'd identify as an administrator, unless they're somehow hidden among NPCs.
That Zelkova's the only apparently "intelligent" non-human individual in this game is unusual, though, I agree. ( Boy, will this new Root Town be news! ) It's possible he may be a functional prototype and they're working on adding more like him with time.
I do think it's risky to create a self-aware, generative computer program. Maybe it's all science fiction, but... Zelkova currently seems to have an amenable personality, but he seems able to grow and change. He says he desires peace, but he says he'll ultimately support the wishes of the playerbase, even if unpleasant. He's a positive element so long as time allows, but he can always grow worse. And for a machine to reign freely in a game users connect to with their brains, and can be affected by, physically and mentally... It doesn't seem safe. It's possible Zelkova is the first iteration of a friendly AI they could create.
Currently, Zelkova is severely limited in his capability - he's claimed several times he can't override certain permission restrictions. But if an AI were to bypass those restrictions, as this glitched individual may have already, and if an AI were not exactly benevolent to its users, then...
Circling back to Hien, I wonder if there's something necessary about his visible approach. Maybe he needs to be on the ground to observe certain elements, like Zelkova. It's still strange to me, though, especially if there's supposed to be more of him.
I'll make note of the tip regarding guild drinks.
I don't suppose you'll tell me what you saw?
He was firm that I wouldn't share it. It was definitely a threat. If you're curious, I'll consider it for a price. It wouldn't be cheap. We can talk about it later, if you're not sure now.
By the way, do you have any thoughts on the bits of plot we've been shown so far?
I'm not very good with fiction, but I read through forum posts. The intended parts of the game aren't as interesting as the unintended parts. ( Ouch, Mithrun. ) But I guess my understanding is that the "Cursed Wave/Wave" is a malevolent entity, and, like the four horsemen, it's heralded by those who would aid its coming (the Shadow of Death, the Mirage of Deceit, and the third whose "power" allows it to infect - if "heavens" is taken as the sky, or, more generally, the world - everything; it's possible the last line in the four-line verse is also an individual - a prophet of some kind?).
I'm not sure about the "Twlight dragon." If the shadowed man came to the church looking for it, where there was supposedly a statue of a goddess, it may be a good thing. Maybe he wanted to use it to defeat the Wave entity.
My perspective is that if this is a storyline they're building toward, it's possible that the complexity of the assets (AIs/NPCs, enemies, dungeons, quests, etc) built toward this purpose are what have allowed so many blind spots for glitches.
That is, however, assuming that CC Corp isn't interested in the glitches themselves, and that these are not glitches at all; it's possible CC Corp is studying them - and their affects on its players - closely.
Lastly. I won't question your motives or your actions so long as we remain productive. If you weren't capable, I don't think you'd be where you are. I will speak frank with you, but if you don't like it, you're welcome to try to shut me up. I prefer action to words, anyway.
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laughing w/ salad at these last paragraphs, this is fine
Yes, I also noticed Zelkova's admission, during that kerfuffle. That is something that I have been wondering for some time; however, I did question Hien-san a little bit about that recently. He has claimed to me that there are other human administrators in the game of which he is the leader- Zelkova aside- but when I asked when we might see them, he demurred to give any other specifics. I do question whether that was a truthful reply, given we have seen no other CC Corp presence publicly within the game.
That said, it is clear that Zelkova differs from the other NPC's in the game in terms of intelligence and ability. It bears questioning, I think, why only some AI present in the game seem capable of that level of depth. A limitation on programming/processing power? Or might it be a mitigation of some risk that was found in earlier testing?
I'm sure there was a lot of experimentation done with these AI programs before we have gotten to the point we are at now. As you say, perhaps what we are brushing up against are remnants of that.
The hall of mirrors is an interesting one. I haven't participated in that part of the carnival simply due to a lack of interest, but it presents an even more significant danger than even "dv" being capable of scraping basic information to present to us directly, if it can be presented without any direct interaction and to other players as well.
My. Does that mean you saw something from Hien-san? I don't suppose you'll tell me what you saw? Haha. [unless........?]
[This next part: give him a week or two and Matoba will be able to comment on it more directly. But, for now:]
I have suspected this since you first told me about the "love" effect. There doesn't seem to be a particular way to guard ourselves against these effects either, other than to simply not partake of various aspects of the game.
By the way, on that note- be wary of the drinks in the guild halls.
Re: Physical effects.
It's good to know at least that some of these mysteries are intended parts of the game, hm? Even if I'm no help when it comes to German. By the way, do you have any thoughts on the bits of plot we've been shown so far? It's quite the mystery, isn't it? Some sort of ancient evil being released over time. I wonder when we will see the first boss appear.
I haven't yet suffered any physical effects offline as a result of an area exploration, but it's concerning that they seem to be testing these new special area releases on us that consistently have some ill side effects. Ought to be wary of testing these going forward, hm? I wonder who is really doing the testing here.
But in any case, don't forget. This game is all in our imagination.
That's the magic of immersive reality, don't you think?
By the way, regarding Hien-san.
It's to my interests to learn just what exactly someone like him is really doing here, playing babysitter to a bunch of 堅気. Surely you have noticed as well? A man like that isn't something like a mere software engineer.
But I was able to get something like a hint.
Well, I have no intentions of being cozy with that man, given what I've come to suspect of him. So you don't really have to worry about anything like that. In fact, I'm willing to tell you certain things about him, if you are willing to share the same with me.
I don't have any intentions of damaging my good relationship with you, Mithrun-san. I'd appreciate a little respect in return, you know?
[That said: threaten him again, and see what happens.]
[(Don't worry, a few days after these messages are sent, things will be a liiiiiittle different. But Matoba is nothing if not a professional; business comes before pleasure.)]
mithrun closes eyes
to reflect my poor inbox management; it does, however, come within a punctual time frame - Mithrun's pretty efficient at running Areas at this point. )I paused to investigate a keyword that I discovered recently. This is jumping forward in the order, but I thought it was interesting: "Daydream" in the third position. It seems glitched; a goblin appeared, recited glitched dialogue, and stated it would execute a "buff." Presumably, it intended to apply an effect of some kind, but I realized I was affected by headache and chills. I logged off to check for this email and I'm currently still experiencing these physical symptoms. It reminds me of the effects of the Special Areas, such as the migraines Hector reported.
If there is a link here, I do wonder if the effects encountered in special areas (coma, migraines, etc) are the result of glitches - or consequent of something else occurring - rather than the objective. The "objective" for these unnatural glitches seems to be an invasion of personal privacy (the armor, the mirrors) or an alteration in thoughts or behavior (confession, belligerence). It's possible that the effect that was executed was an especially large one, if it produced such large consequence, like coma.
Regardless, I'll update you on the duration/intensity on my condition if there's notable change.
I do question whether that was a truthful reply, given we have seen no other CC Corp presence publicly within the game.
I thought it was odd that Hien was visible among users when I first met him. He doesn't seem to like interaction, either. I wondered if he didn't have the option to just be invisible. If there are other administrators, they must not be visible; if administrators don't have the power to alter their avatar's visibility... then I'm inclined to wonder, also. I explore Root Towns thoroughly, and I haven't seen anyone I'd identify as an administrator, unless they're somehow hidden among NPCs.
That Zelkova's the only apparently "intelligent" non-human individual in this game is unusual, though, I agree. ( Boy, will this new Root Town be news! ) It's possible he may be a functional prototype and they're working on adding more like him with time.
I do think it's risky to create a self-aware, generative computer program. Maybe it's all science fiction, but... Zelkova currently seems to have an amenable personality, but he seems able to grow and change. He says he desires peace, but he says he'll ultimately support the wishes of the playerbase, even if unpleasant. He's a positive element so long as time allows, but he can always grow worse. And for a machine to reign freely in a game users connect to with their brains, and can be affected by, physically and mentally... It doesn't seem safe. It's possible Zelkova is the first iteration of a friendly AI they could create.
Currently, Zelkova is severely limited in his capability - he's claimed several times he can't override certain permission restrictions. But if an AI were to bypass those restrictions, as this glitched individual may have already, and if an AI were not exactly benevolent to its users, then...
Circling back to Hien, I wonder if there's something necessary about his visible approach. Maybe he needs to be on the ground to observe certain elements, like Zelkova. It's still strange to me, though, especially if there's supposed to be more of him.
I'll make note of the tip regarding guild drinks.
I don't suppose you'll tell me what you saw?
He was firm that I wouldn't share it. It was definitely a threat. If you're curious, I'll consider it for a price. It wouldn't be cheap. We can talk about it later, if you're not sure now.
By the way, do you have any thoughts on the bits of plot we've been shown so far?
I'm not very good with fiction, but I read through forum posts. The intended parts of the game aren't as interesting as the unintended parts. ( Ouch, Mithrun. ) But I guess my understanding is that the "Cursed Wave/Wave" is a malevolent entity, and, like the four horsemen, it's heralded by those who would aid its coming (the Shadow of Death, the Mirage of Deceit, and the third whose "power" allows it to infect - if "heavens" is taken as the sky, or, more generally, the world - everything; it's possible the last line in the four-line verse is also an individual - a prophet of some kind?).
I'm not sure about the "Twlight dragon." If the shadowed man came to the church looking for it, where there was supposedly a statue of a goddess, it may be a good thing. Maybe he wanted to use it to defeat the Wave entity.
My perspective is that if this is a storyline they're building toward, it's possible that the complexity of the assets (AIs/NPCs, enemies, dungeons, quests, etc) built toward this purpose are what have allowed so many blind spots for glitches.
That is, however, assuming that CC Corp isn't interested in the glitches themselves, and that these are not glitches at all; it's possible CC Corp is studying them - and their affects on its players - closely.
Lastly. I won't question your motives or your actions so long as we remain productive. If you weren't capable, I don't think you'd be where you are. I will speak frank with you, but if you don't like it, you're welcome to try to shut me up. I prefer action to words, anyway.