worldbent: (to closing doors)
的場静司 | Matoba Seiji ([personal profile] worldbent) wrote in [community profile] virality2023-07-23 07:00 pm

@0koto

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tablescraps: (pic#16701952)

mithrun closes eyes

[personal profile] tablescraps 2023-09-11 11:09 am (UTC)(link)
( 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.