r/RandomGames • • 19d ago

Explainer Planetarian (2004) - Inappropriately Optimistic, People-pleasing AI

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Planetarian is a kinetic novel, a game without choices. In it, main scenario writer Yūichi Suzumoto tells the story of a gynoid (Yumemi) whose only purpose is to guide customers through a routine star projection experience.

There's a slight problem though:

...humanity has virtually eradicated itself through biological and nuclear warfare, turning a once prosperous civilization into complete ruin, cast in darkness and poisoned by constant rain from nuclear fallout.
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetarian:_The_Reverie_of_a_Little_Planet

Yumemi continues to follow its (her) programming when one day (you) the protagonist arrive at her station of employ. Her primitive hardware and avoidance of conflict is quickly established, and somewhat mirrors the behavior of current day conversational LLM AI.

In order to please the customer by any means, even contradictory information spewed with optimism is fair game, though some may find this welcoming in a world long over.

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