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Developer Explains Clone/Transhumanist RPG

Posted by Soulskill on from the gamers-don't-like-words-that-big dept.

destinyland writes "How much would you use technology to change yourself if humanity faced extinction? In this interview, the two creators behind Eclipse Phase explain their bizarre role-playing game, which 'expands the transhuman conversation.' All the characters can be identical clones, and when you switch bodies, it affects your core characteristics while damaging your sanity. But its spookiest concept is close to reality today: the idea of universal surveillance in which 'everything is networked and equipped with sensors and all meshed together.'"

6 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. OK... by dangitman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd say that, at least initially, one of the things we wanted to do was attempt to engage with a lot of the issues that you see coming up on transhumanist websites, amongst transhumanist listserves, when transhumanists get together and discuss these things

    This game actually sounds neat, but in my experience "attempting to engage with a lot of the issues you see on transhumanist websites" is a lot like trying to hold a conversation with a 9/11 Truther or Intelligent Design proponent - I'd rather have root canal surgery.

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
    1. Re:OK... by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This game actually sounds neat, but in my experience "attempting to engage with a lot of the issues you see on transhumanist websites" is a lot like trying to hold a conversation with a 9/11 Truther or Intelligent Design proponent - I'd rather have root canal surgery.

      But by getting a root canal, you would be using science and technology to improve your physical characteristics and in a small way you'd be affirming that suffering tooth pain is unnecessary and undesirable. So basically you're transhuman if you do, transhuman if you don't. Or maybe that was just a convoluted way of saying "Less talk more transhumanism."

      Maybe you should have said "attempting to engage with a lot of the issues you see on transhumanist websites... I'd rather die a slow painful death from a tooth abscess."

      (Kidding, at least I started off that way, then I probably just overthought it.)

    2. Re:OK... by dangitman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      But by getting a root canal, you would be using science and technology to improve your physical characteristics and in a small way you'd be affirming that suffering tooth pain is unnecessary and undesirable.

      Which is specifically why I chose that example. Root canals work. I'm not going to argue the philosophy or politics of it, when I can just get it done.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  2. Re:Pic from TFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I was thinking more along the lines of the Omar from Deus Ex : Invisible War

  3. Re:What a pity.. by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't know why anyone would be disappointed to learn this. Pen and paper isn't worse, it's a different medium. It's a far richer medium, as well, with fewer restrictions on what can be done. If you want to have a social experiment, pen/paper or live-action are really a better experience for the participants than an mmorpg is.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  4. Re:What a pity.. by julesh · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't know why anyone would be disappointed to learn this. Pen and paper isn't worse, it's a different medium

    I think the point GP was trying to make is that there's no shortage of innovative and different pen & paper games, but an almost total dearth of them in the MMO market.