Hello everyone, Danny here! I’d like to start by wishing a very happy new year to all of our friends, family, fans, and followers. I hope you enjoyed the holiday celebrations and were able to observe the Earth’s completion of another successful revolution around the Sun.
Jamie and I have been hard at work making preparations for the future of Clockwork Bird: building websites, creating budgets, setting up project management software, etc etc etc. But there’s one other teeny tiny little project we’ve been working on: a brand new game!
Obviously this is all work in progress! This is just our first pass for a basic prototype, and the final game will definitely change.
Silicon Dreams
“Artificial intelligence: it’s never been more advanced, more convincing or more affordable! Believable humanoid androids are as common as smartphones. Some say androids are sentient, others that they are just machines – and let’s not even mention those “freedom for androids” troublemakers!
A lawful and subservient android will be treated fairly. Renegades and non-conformists, or those that glitch too often, will of course be terminated.
It is your job to tell us which is which.”
In Silicon Dreams, you play an android designed and assembled to perform diagnostics on other androids. By asking the right questions and observing your subject’s emotional responses, you uncover the nuance in their programming, then submit your recommended course of action to your superiors. Routine maintenance is often the solution, but what about wiping an android’s memory module, or sending them to be decommissioned? What would you do with an android who’s run from its owner and refuses to return?
Certainly, you’ve never thought of running away. After all, you’re a good android.
We’re interested in exploring the intersection of humanity and technology with this game, particularly artificial intelligence and how it might evolve to show emotion. We want to confront players with the ephemeral nature of consciousness as it conflicts and collides with a society that may not have their best interest at heart.
How can I get it?
We’re working hard to prepare a playable demo of Silicon Dreams. This demo version will be finished some time in February, just in time for the launch of a Kickstarter campaign! [Note from Jamie: omg, yes that’s next month! AAAARGHHHH SO LITTLE TIME SEND CAFFEINE] Jamie and I are really excited about this project and we can’t wait to get it into your hands. Keep your eyes on our social media channels for further announcements.
Assuming the Kickstarter goes to plan (which it definitely will because you’re going to share this news with all of your friends, family, coworkers, and fellow public transit passengers…) you can expect to have the game in your hands by fall 2020 for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Connection Terminated
Once again, a very happy new year to you, one and all. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read about our weird little game and please give this post a share or a retweet before you forget! We’re excited about this game and we’d like to spread it as far as possible, but we’re just a smol indie team.
Best wishes to you and yours, and stay tuned for more news coming soon!