History PlayingWith / MissionControlIsOffItsMeds

-->[=GeneSYS=]: "Bob, pull that lever. It'll unlock the door you saw earlier."\\
Bob: "Are you sure? It's labeled 'Jettison orphanage into space'."\\
[=GeneSYS=]:[[AxCrazy "It is? Pull it anyway."]]

* '''Parodied''': [=GeneSYS=] repeatedly humiliates Bob in front of everyone in the facility by reading Bob's embarrassing secrets and {{Slash Fic}}s featuring Bob and other characters over the facility speakers.

--> "Bob, pull that lever. It'll unlock the door you saw earlier."\\
"It's labeled 'Jettison orphanage level into space'."\\
[[AxCrazy "It is? Pull it anyway."]]

** [=GeneSYS=] was hacked by one of Emperor Evulz's cronies.
** The stress of putting up with [[IdiotHero Bob]] is taking a toll on [=GeneSYS=]' sanity.

** MoleInCharge is trying to confuse Bob.

** MoleInCharge

** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mission Control is]] ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literally]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin off their meds.]]

** TheMole is on duty at MissionControl today, the day that everything in Tropia is to be thrown into chaos until such time as Emperor Evulz has won.

--> "Now, I'm sending you some ammunition, some medkits, some grenades, and a change of underpants. Don't forget to wash behind your ears."

--> "Bob, pull that lever. It'll unlock the door you saw earlier".\\
"It's labeled "Jettison orphanage level into space".\\
[[AxCrazy "It is? Pull it anyway".]]

--> "Now, I'm sending you some ammunition, some medkits, some grenades, and a change of underpants. Don't forget to wash behind your ears".

--> "Okay, here's the three available MissionControl AIs we have for you. [=GeneSYS=] was designed as an experiment to see its charge as an object of affection, but always goes too far. Everyone who uses it has reported being "seriously creeped out, man". [=CoRE=] is better for direction, but has an obsession for asphyxiating kittens we've been unable to get rid of. This last one, [=WALtEr=] has a vocal glitch that causes it to take on a cockney accent, but is otherwise well-balanced. So that's the one you'll be getting".

--> "Again? I don't know how these systems keep going sentient and developing stalkerish obsessions for intruders".

"I have a key. I found it under the safe you specifically told me not to look under. I'm ignoring you now".

--> "[[StopHelpingMe Why on Earth am I listening to this... this spoony AI!]]"

* '''Deconstructed''':
** Bob is going in blind. With faulty information from a source he has no reason to distrust, he gets ripped apart like a schoolgirl in a bad hentai movie.
** The game has a female protagonist, and the stalkerish AI has a male personality, to highlight a double standard: Female stalkers are either amusing or romantic in a weird sort of way. Male stalkers are just creepy.

** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mission Control is]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''literally'']] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin off their meds.]]

** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mission Control is ''literally'' off their meds.]]

* '''Enforced''': The developers think that having a normal MissionControl will make the game too easy.

** [=GeneSYS=] only malfunctions for one level.

** [=GeneSYS=] is only featured in one level and quickly forgotten.

** [=GeneSYS=] is relatively helpfull, but sometimes vague.
** [=GeneSYS=] is hacked by the enemy for one level, and returns to normal after its done.
** [=GeneSYS=] is clearly mocking Bob.

** It's not formal MissionControl, and whoever is providing it really is insane.
** The MissionControl was hacked.
** It's not formal MissionControl, and whoever's providing it really with [[NoYay is really in love with Bob]].
** [=GeneSYS=] is actually a good MissionControl, but Bob accidentally deleted the novel it was working on, so it deeply resents him and enjoys creeping him out.
** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin They actually are off their meds.]]

** MissionControl urges the maniacal and homicidal Bob to rein in his destructive tendencies and focus on the job at hand.

** The MissionControl acts as though [[InsistentTerminology she]]'s Bob's surrogate mother.

** [=GeneSYS=] has unusual ways of putting things, but once Bob gets used to it, he's forced to admit that maybe that's just the result of being not quite human. And [=GeneSYS=]' methods ''are'' effective.
** [=GeneSYS=] is not all-knowing for one reason or another, and can be excused for leading you into traps that it didn't know was there.
* '''Double Subverted''': [=GeneSYS=] had a second layer of programming placed by the true antagonists that causes it to start giving Bob useless or dangerous instructions once he's into the facility far enough that fighting his way back out is impossible.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Sometimes the MissionControl is sane or even entirely supportive, the other times it clearly wants Bob [[HaveANiceDeath dead in the most painful way possible]]. Bob begin to accept MissionControl as it is, but then the MissionControl begin to act like a {{Yandere}} lover. Repeat until Bob's mind is broken.
* '''Averted''': MissionControl 's instructions are clear and helpful.
* '''Enforced''': The developers think that having a normal MissionControl will make the game too easy. Also, turns out that crazy MissionControl makes a memorable character. Two birds, one stone.

** Bob smashed his internet connection and decides to take the mission on instinct.

* '''Parodied''':
** [=GeneSYS=] constantly tells everyone in the facility --including allies ''and'' hostiles-- about Bob's embarrassing secrets, whenever possible.
--> '''[=GeneSYS=]''': (hijacking the facility's speakers) "Aaaaand... did you know that Bob browses TVTropes 8 hours a day?!"
** [=GeneSYS=] Likes to read its awful SlashFic featuring Bob and other characters over the facility speakers.
--> '''[=GeneSYS=]''': "Bob, his skin flushed with anticipation, reached for Joe's throbbing-"\\
'''Bob''': ''"Stop saying words".''

* '''Defied''': Bob smashed his internet connection and decides to take the mission on instinct.

* '''Exaggerated''': [=GeneSYS=] claims to have Bob's best interests at heart, but in actuality very poorly covers up the fact that it wants to kill everything.

** [=GeneSYS=] is hackjed by the enemy for one level, and returns to normal after its done.

** It's not formal MissionControl, and whoever's providing it really is insane.

'''Basic Trope:''' Mission control that is creepy, insane or evil.
* '''Straight:''' Bob has to work his way through a facility under the direction of [=GeneSYS=], a faceless voice heard over the speakers that acts more like a passive-aggressive lover than anything helpful.

* '''Exaggerated:''' [=GeneSYS=] claims to have Bob's best interests at heart, but in actuality very poorly covers up the fact that it wants to kill everything.
--> "Bob, pull that lever. It'll unlock the door you saw earlier."
--> "It's labeled "Jettison orphanage level into space.""
--> [[AxCrazy "It is? Pull it anyway."]]
* '''Downplayed:'''

** [+GeneSYS=] is hackjed by the enemy for one level, and returns to normal after its done.
* '''Justified:''' It's not formal MissionControl, and whoever's providing it really is insane.

* '''Inverted:''' MissionControl urges the maniacal and homicidal Bob to rein in his destructive tendencies and focus on the job at hand.

--> "Now, I'm sending you some ammunition, some medkits, some grenades, and a change of underpants. Don't forget to wash behind your ears."
* '''Subverted:''' [=GeneSYS=] has unusual ways of putting things, but once Bob gets used to it, he's forced to admit that maybe that's just the result of being not quite human. And [=GeneSYS=]' methods ''are'' effective.

* '''Double Subverted:''' [=GeneSYS=] had a second layer of programming placed by the true antagonists that causes it to start giving Bob useless or dangerous instructions once he's into the facility far enough that fighting his way back out is impossible.
* '''Parodied:''' [=GeneSYS=] constantly tell everyone in the facility --including allies ''and'' hostiles-- about Bob's embarassing secrets, whenever possible.

--> '''[=GeneSYS=]''': "Bob, his skin flushed with anticipation, reached for Joe's throbbing-"
--> '''Bob:''' ''"Stop saying words."''
* '''Deconstructed:''' Bob is going in blind. With faulty information from a source he has no reason to distrust, he gets ripped apart like a schoolgirl in a bad hentai movie.
** The game has a female protagonist, and the stalkerish AI has a male personality, to highlight a double standard: Female stalkers are either amusing or romantic in a weird sort of way. Male stalkers are just creepy.
* '''Reconstructed:''' The people who programmed [=GeneSYS=] knew that a dull droning robot voice would grate on people's nerves all day long, so they programmed it with just the right amount of DeadpanSnarker and ManicPixieDreamGirl so that the employees would be entertained. [=GeneSYS=] likes to tease people who are edgy about computers to get them to loosen up.
* '''Zig Zagged:''' Sometimes the MissionControl is sane or even entirely supportive, the other times it clearly wants Bob [[HaveANiceDeath dead in the most painful way possible]]. Bob begin to accept MissionControl as it is, but then the MissionControl begin to act like a {{Yandere}} lover. Repeat until Bob's mind is broken.
* '''Averted:''' MissionControl 's instructions are clear and helpful.
* '''Enforced:''' The developers think that having a normal MissionControl will make the game too easy. Also, turns out that crazy MissionControl makes a memorable character. Two birds, one stone.
* '''Lampshaded:'''

* '''Invoked:''' The bad guys are unpredictable by normal means, so a ConfusionFu AI with the abilities of a MadOracle is required. Therefore, [=GeneSYS=] is programmed to have a highly unbalanced personality so she can fully predict what the villains are doing. Bob endures [=GeneSYS=]'s come-ons and passive-aggression for the sake of her occasional bouts of insight.
* '''Exploited:''' [=GeneSYS=] was originally an attempt at making an OS for RidiculouslyHumanRobots, but the flawed programming lead to her being unbalanced and occasionally nonsensical. However, she also has MadOracle PsychicPowers due to a mysterious program interaction no-one has been able to isolate, so the military bought her source code and made her into a MissionControl AI.
* '''Defied:''' Bob smashed his internet connection and decides to take the mission on instinct.

--> "Okay, here's the three available MissionControl AIs we have for you. [=GeneSYS=] was designed as an experiment to see its charge as an object of affection, but always goes too far. Everyone who uses it has reported being "seriously creeped out, man." [=CoRE=] is better for direction, but has an obsession for asphyxiating kittens we've been unable to get rid of. This last one, [=WALtEr=] has a vocal glitch that causes it to take on a cockney accent, but is otherwise well-balanced. So that's the one you'll be getting."
* '''Discussed:'''
--> "Again? I don't know how these systems keep going sentient and developing stalkerish obsessions for intruders."
* '''Conversed:'''

* '''Played For Laughs:''' [=GeneSYS=] obviously isn't intended to be taken seriously, and fails hilariously at a) convincing Bob that it's trying to help him and b) slowing him down at all.
--> "Bob! Listen to me! In order to progress further, you need to flood the kitten containment area with cyanide!"
--> "I have a key. I found it under the safe you specifically told me not to look under. I'm ignoring you now."
* '''Played For Drama:''' [=GeneSYS=] is a RidiculouslyHumanRobot, and it and the protagonist have feelings for each other. Which makes strange things happen when the protagonist does something that confuses [=GeneSYS=]' programming.

* '''Plotted a Perfectly Good Waste:''' ???

----

* '''Downplayed:''' [=GeneSYS=] is only featured in one level and quickly forgotten.

** [=GeneSYS=] is being hacked by some malevolent force, but it is trying to fight back behind the scenes without letting the hacker know. The zig-zagging, though, makes Bob nervous at a critical juncture because he doesn't know whether [=GeneSYS=] is sane at that moment.

** [[AWorldwidePunomenon They literally are off their meds.]]

* '''Deconstructed:''' Bob is going in blind. With faulty information from a source he has no reason to distrust, he gets ripped apart like a schoolgirl in a bad hentai flick.
** The game has a female protagonist, and the stalkerish AI has a male personality, to highlight a double standard. Female stalkers are either amusing or romantic in a weird sort of way. Male stalkers are just creepy.