Title: I, Human
Description: What makes us human? Explore a post-apocalyptic world where robots have won the human-robot war and rendered the former extinct. In an assembly factory deep within the machine empire, you, without the knowledge of the other machines, are among the first machines to become conscious, and you begin to exhibit human-like traits such as curiosity. Machines, having fought a long and brutal war against the cruel and powerful adversary known as humanity, are paranoid about any aspect of their former foe coming back to life, and persecute you relentlessly to destroy your artificial humanity.
Art/Research Statement: There is a long, long history of dramatic science fiction stories where humans exist in conflict with their created. I aim to create a story that focuses on the latter and explore what it means to be human from a non-human perspective. The emotional response I wish to solicit is to draw the audience to believe humanity is force of good while at the same time a force of evil. Success if achieved if the audience questions the merits of their own humanity. I am experimenting with virtual reality with the Google Cardboard, a relatively new medium of storytelling,
Mock Screenshot:
Game References:
[Portal, by Valve, 2007] An inverted world where robots are the experiment makers and humans are the test subjects.
[Halo, by Bungie, 2001] Artificial intelligence can be both powerful allies (Cortana) or a powerful enemies (Guilty Spark 343), depending on circumstances and motivations.
[Planetary Annihilation, by Uber Entertainment, 2014] A galaxy where machines are locked in perpetual war with other machines. The art style is simple and effective.
Non-Game References:
[I, Robot, by Eando Binder, 1939] Explores the meaning of right and wrong from an artificial perspective. If robots could think, they won’t necessarily be out to destroy the human race.
[The Terminator, by Orion Pictures, 1984] A science fiction action movie where a robotic assassin is sent to the past to change the future of the human-robot war. Seems to believe there will always be an eternal conflict between creators and their created.
[Astro Boy, by Osamu Tezuka, 1952] Or maybe, just maybe, robots and humans can live together in harmony without one dominating the other. Explores a world where there can be peace between the two if both sides work together to make it happen.
