Autonomy and Death + Get a Signed Paralives Postcard 📩

Hi! 💌

Alex here to share a first look at our character autonomy and a first way to die in the game! 

Before we get started, don’t forget to upgrade your current pledge tier to Hero or Legend before June 1st 2023 if you would like to receive an exclusive postcard signed by the whole Paralives team! ✨

We can’t reveal the new artwork that will be featured but here’s what the two previous postcard illustrations looked like:

December 2022 artwork featuring Eli and Sebastian getting ready for the holidays. Made by the talented Mario Miravalles.

June 2022 artwork featuring a great summer garden party. Also made by Mario Miravalles.

Also, don’t forget to check if your address is up to date on your Patreon profile to make sure that you will receive the postcard!

Parafolk Autonomy

In Paralives, your characters will be able to decide to perform some interactions on their own. This is what we call the autonomy system. Here are a few examples of what it can handle:

• 💼 A Parafolk will automatically add Go to work to their interaction queue when their work day is about to start.
• 🚽 Use toilet will be performed autonomously if your character really needs to go to the bathroom. The same goes for the other needs.
• 🎹 Your Parafolks will be able to find an activity to occupy their time if they don’t have anything to do. This could be watching TV or reading a book, for instance.
• 🍎 A character will automatically die if their hunger need is too critical or if other dramatic events happen. Dying is not an interaction that players can trigger by themselves in the game but we use our autonomy system to trigger this interaction based on specific conditions.
• ➕ There are more use cases not listed here!

Players will have the ability to turn off the autonomy in the options menu, if they prefer to control every single interaction their Parafolks do. However, some things will autonomously happen, no matter what, like for instance, your character dying of hunger if you locked them in an empty room between four walls… 😈

The Autonomy in Action

Roger and Kim are in separate living spaces and we are going to let the autonomy do its job to see what happens.

Nice chair you got there Roger, but how are you gonna feed yourself?

Ok now let’s delete Roger’s door.

I’m sorry Roger, this is necessary. For, ummm… science.

After a while, they are both becoming very hungry.

These Paras don’t look well…

Luckily, the character autonomy system kicks in and both Parafolks attempt to find a fridge so they can get something to eat.

Nothing like having a first bite after being hungry for so long!

Since the door was removed and there is no fridge in Roger’s room, the autonomy system is unable to do anything for him.

Roger is still looking hungry.

After many many more long hours, the inevitable is about to happen. The autonomy system declares that it’s time for Roger to go.

You will be remembered, Roger ❤️💐

We’re eager to build upon this first version of our autonomy system to do more and more! Parafolks could automatically clean the house or highly skilled musicians could decide to play music in their spare time, for instance. Adding more deaths to the game is also something I’m really looking forward to ✨

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to fulfill your primary (and less primary) needs!

Alex

Edit - August 17, 2023: This post is now public, feel free to share it!