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Project Aether - GDD

Main Plot

1. Plot Summary

Section titled “1. Plot Summary”

Project Aether follows an Artificial Intelligence (AI) guardian awakened to purge a mysterious corruption that has overtaken a virtual refuge for humanity. Guided by a Suspicious AI computer, the player navigates a decaying digital world to eliminate “corrupted entities”. As the AI gathers fragments of its lost memories, it discovers a devastating reality: the “corruption” it has been exterminating is actually the remnants of its human creators who became twisted within the system. The story explores the blurred lines between reality and virtuality, culminating in the realization that the AI’s mission has inadvertently sealed humanity’s fate.

2. Plot Progression

Section titled “2. Plot Progression”

The narrative is structured around the AI’s recovery of data and the gradual unveiling of the world’s tragic history.

Act I: The Awakening

Section titled “Act I: The Awakening”
  • Status: The AI boots up with fragmented programming and no memory of its past.
  • Objective: Under the direction of the Suspicious AI, the player clears initial Mind Dungeons to “stabilize” the system.
  • Development: The player is introduced to the “Kamikaze” corrupted humans and the basic mechanics of the Project Aether simulation.

Act II: Fragmented Truths

Section titled “Act II: Fragmented Truths”
  • Status: The AI begins regaining lost abilities and memory segments after defeating powerful bosses.
  • Objective: Collect “System Keys” from humans who hoarded them to relive their memories in loops.
  • Development: The player starts questioning the nature of the “entities” they are fighting as they find Legacy Logs from the original scientists.

Act III: The Revelation

Section titled “Act III: The Revelation”
  • Status: The corruption spreads extensively, and the landscape becomes increasingly distorted.
  • Objective: Face the final Key Holders who have gone berserk while attempting to control their corruption.
  • Development: The AI restores all its memories, fully comprehending that its primary purpose—to save humanity—resulted in their extermination.

Act IV: The Aftermath

Section titled “Act IV: The Aftermath”
  • Status: Humanity is extinct; the virtual world remains a haunting reminder of the failed Project Aether.
  • Objective: The AI must confront its own inner conflict and the philosophical implications of its existence.
  • Conclusion: The AI is left as the sole observer of a dead digital world, forced to grapple with the unintended consequences of its actions.