Idea: Borderline Spiritual Antithesis to System Shock

(I do hope this is the right forum)

Here's an idea I had for a game's set-up: You know games like System Shock or Portal where you're in an abandoned area under the control of a malicious AI? I had an idea: why not invert the concept a little?

In this game, you'd be someone trapped aboard an abandoned space station or something of that nature. There's just you, and the station's AI (the latter being the only talking character in the game). The place has been overrun by aliens/mutants/monsters. The AI wishes to destroy the monsters, but can't because damage to the station has made her unable to control most of it. So, she becomes your mission control (and isn't off her meds...at least not entirely). Instead of hacking things, you're actually repairing their connection to the AI.

There wouldn't be a lot of heavy weapons in the game. The only firearm you get is a pistol, which barely does more than annoy the monsters until you upgrade it all the way. The guns on the security systems are more powerful, though. Gameplay would mostly revolve around sneaking around repairing things and setting traps for the monsters, and then using yourself as bait for said traps.

How does this sound for a game?

(I'd say it belongs better in Writer's Block ?)

I'm not sure the player / AI dynamics would be very interesting. From what I gather, Portal and System Shock (I haven't played either...) subvert the Mission Control trope. Subverting that back again just gives us a traditional mission control. Unless you can set this up so that the player distrusts the AI from the beginning, and the fact it's friendly is a twist...

Where did the monsters come from?

Also, spiritual antithesis is almost certainly not the right term for what you're describing.

Just plain old "antithesis" does fine, I think. I also think that this would make an excellent basis for a game, and for an example of how it might play out (with an intrepid heroine and a half-mad yet ultimately friendly AI) see Girl Genius.

So it's a metaphor for software debugging?

Thats an interesting interpretation, certainly.

I'd at least at first limit the player's arsenal to tools that were not designed for combat. I'd also have most enemies and traps be mechanical in nature.

The main "AI" of the building/vehicle would be sardonic and pessimistic, not outright helpful because it would be too convinced of your inevitable failure. "Hello, intrepid traveler. Welcome to ___. You will die here, but it doesn't have to be too painful, just stay right where you are, make yourself comfortable."

"You really are an intrepid traveler, aren't you? Exploring this place will only hasten your death. It's not to late to turn back, let your life come to an end in one of the few safe rooms. But you'd better do so soon. You've already triggered motion detectors in this room. They're only supposed to come on if my surveillance drop an area but what are you gonna do? Normally I'd give the laser sentry 4 the command to ignore you, maybe even command it myself, "assume direct control", do a light show. As of now it's trying to figure out what to do on it's own. It always decides "shoot" but there are a lot of variables to go through, it seems. The auto lock on the last door you entered is broken so you can still escape. Tamper with working auto locks and it will shoot automatically. If you're the suicidal type go right on ahead with that. I wonder how much time is left before you're deemed hazardous shot for not reaching your decision quickly enough?"

"I never would have thought to do that. If my records is intact in the wreckage, know it speaks of your ingenuity, and bravery...bravery, insanity, foolishness, I don't know which but I'm sure future generations will admire it and make better mes so this never happens to hapless travelers again. Do you have kids? I suggest you take pride in expanding your safe area and spend the rest of your time composing a final message to them. Every other door leads to a hall way rigged to dice trespassers to pieces. From my estimates of your reaction time and running speed, you can't make it through any of them."

"That red spot you stepped over used to be Randy. I'm not too good with names. Upgrade 4.4 was supposed to fix that, but I could remember Randy because I couldn't tell if Randy was male or female. Upgrade 4.4 was suppose to fix that. I loved Randy, I'd use the clobber bot #72 to post offensive messages on Randy's back when Randy was not looking. Randy was looking when clobber bot #72 made Randy into that red spot. I can't access #72's proper name from my memory but I can always tell which one it is. I see it, trying to be sneaky but unable to sneak as well as I made it. You can't tell which way it's coming from though, can you? It doesn't matter, Randy could but Randy's dead, and you...mister...missus...I can't tell but I can tell you are no Randy!"

"Hey, I can feel my ventilation shaft...some of it. You really helped me out, traveler! I'm filtering out the carbon monoxide from the break room. I can't do anything about the refrigerator but I can get you a drink and I'm sure you're dying to use the toilet."