These are barks and cutscenes from a short, family-friendly game I worked on.
Barks (variety of characters and voices)
Aaron:
“I used to share a room with my youngest brother, Luis. He would ask me to keep my robot eye open as a nightlight. I miss Luis.”
“My brother Sergio once reprogrammed my hand to keep hitting me while he said, “stop hitting yourself!” That’s older brothers for you, I guess.”
“My pa would sometimes put band-aids on my arms when they malfunctioned. I think it was more for him than for me.”
Dirk:
“Sydney asked me to try out a new product of hers to see how ‘user-friendly’ it was. She called it the ‘Dirk test.’ Apparently if I can use it, it’s fit for anyone! That’s pretty cool, right?”
“Aw, man, Halloween is the best! You get to dress up all weird and get candy for it. I mean, as a kid. I totally don’t do that anymore. Totally.”
“I had to replace one of my piercings, and Aaron made one out of scrap metal for me. Didn’t even charge me for it or anything.”
Ji-Min:
“Simon and I once sat near each other for two hours, not talking. I think he might be one of my closest friends now.”
“I was struck by lightning once. I was connecting a JT2O Frame to my 97-B Spin Hinges and didn’t notice the storm until my ZX-Fib caught on fire. Now, I try to keep vigilant, even when working on really exciting projects like that.”
“Merry Christmas. Although, if you’d prefer to have a non-merry holiday, I respect your decision. I myself often choose that path.”
Kai:
“Dirk says ‘dude’ an awful lot for someone with a doctorate.”
“You are perhaps the second most intelligent person in the colony. Second to me, of course.”
“You won’t catch me liking things very often, but I am glad we’re out from under the PGP’s thumb. Happy independence.”
Sydney:
“I can just see us in the future, running a corporate empire together, maybe having some kids to inherit the family business. I’m getting a bit misty-eyed just thinking about it.”
“Stellan is one person I will never challenge to a drinking contest. As much as I love winning, I love being alive more.”
“Fadhili’s abilities are wasted on being a government employee. He could be a great salesman if he wasn’t such a sap.”
Cutscenes
1. A Taste of Home
Where the Player Character is briefly praised, and then given a strange request.
[PC approaches and interacts with the Alien Entity after terraforming is complete]
AE: “After fifteen billion years, life returns to this planet. Thanks to you.”
“I am relieved to see the planet vibrant once again.”
[Question emoticon appears above PC’s head]
PC:
- “Happy to help.”
- “Are you… blushing? I bet you’re blushing.”
- “Don’t get sappy with me. I only did it to survive.”
AE:
[Response to 1]: “I did not predict exchange with a human would be so profitable.”
“Terraforming this world without your services may have proven… difficult.”
[Response to 2]: “I do not blush.”
“You have pleasantly surprised me, human. That is all.”
[Response to 3]: “Imagine that. It seems we both prioritize our continued existence.”
“Although my survival has been millennia in the making. I wonder if your kind will ever be able to say the same.”
[Central Path – Follows Regardless]:
AE: “In light of your exemplary performance, I will continue our transactions.”
“My next request may seem a little strange, but it is important nonetheless.”
“I have a sophisticated taste matrix and an auxiliary biofuel generator that allows me to enjoy food.”
“I have eaten from time to time here on this foul and dust-ridden planet, but nothing worthwhile. All of it has been foreign to me, and unpleasant to my taste receptors.”
“The food of my homeworld would be a great comfort. Will you prepare some for me, human?”
PC:
- “Of course.”
- “You want me to… cook for you? Uh, sure.”
- “I’m not interested in doing that.”
AE:
[Response to 1]: “Your enthusiasm is appreciated.”
[Response to 2]: “I hope I do not ask too much of you.”
[Response to 3]: “I will compensate you in exchange.”
[Central Path – Follows Regardless]:
AE: “Here, take the recipe. These rare seeds are advance payment for your efforts.”
“Please prepare a serving for me and come back here.”
[PC acquires A Strange Recipe]
[PC acquires some Strange Seeds]
AE: “Stars have come and gone since I last ate anything. I look forward to your return.”
[END]
2. How Did That Happen?
Where the Player Character indulges their curiosity.
[PC initiates conversation with Aaron.]
Aaron [Happy]: “Hey, [GetPlayerName()]! Always nice to see you around.”
“I was just reconfiguring my eye. It can glow in the dark, you know. Sometimes even when I don’t want it to!”
“Maintenance is key when you’re partly made of metal.”
PC:
- “If you don’t mind sharing, what’s the story there?”
- “Did you choose to be part robot, or was it an accident?”
- “How did you get those freaky robot parts?”
Aaron:
[Response to 1] [Neutral]: “I was taking a tour of some factory when I was a kid. It was a new thing, and they didn’t have all the proper safety measures in place.”
[Sad] “Machine broke. Splinters of metal shot everywhere. Ma and I got the worst of it, though a few other people were injured.”
[Response to 2]: [Surprised] “Are you always this blunt?”
[Neutral] “No, I was on a tour at a new factory. A machine broke. Splinters of metal went flying everywhere. Ma and I got the worst of it.”
[Response to 3] [Angry]: “They aren’t ‘freaky,’ they’re a part of my body.” [Moderate Decrease in Affection]
[Neutral] “If you must know, I went to tour a new factory. There was an accident.”
[Central Path – Follows Regardless]
Aaron [Sad]: “I nearly died, and Ma… well, she wasn’t so lucky.”
[Neutral] “Anyway, you don’t get to choose what life throws at you, but you do get to choose what you do with it.”
“And I chose to embrace my new eye and limbs.”
PC:
- [Flirt] “I wouldn’t mind embracing those cybernetic limbs myself.”
- “I guess it helped that your new eye can glow in the dark.”
- “Ugh, great. So you’re an optimist.”
Aaron:
[Response to 1] [Embarrassed/happy]: “Oh, behave! What will people think if they see you hanging off of my arms like a Zdralian Longtail?” [Minor Increase in Affection]
[Response to 2] [Neutral]: “Oh, that helped hugely. I found the ability to turn into a nightlight at will incredibly comforting.” [Minor Increase in Affection]
[Response to 3] [Neutral]: “Don’t sound so thrilled. What did optimism ever do to you?” [Minor Decrease in Affection]
[Central Path – Follows Response Regardless]
Aaron: “Anyway, it was nice chatting, but I better get going. Still have some upgrades to do.”
[END]
Ana Kosic 