The story is cut short. You are left, it would seem, surviving with your daughter, the last two humans on the planet. But the choices are only just beginning. Do you give yourself every possible chance to save the species? Do you "shut up and multiply"?
I didn't catch the meaning of the grandparent until I read your comment, then I re-read it and the implication hit me in the face. Thank you for making me realize that it was supposed to be cringe inducing.
How long do you really think they're going to survive if 'every living cell on the planet died' is even 90% accurate?
It depends I think on the nature of the cure or antidote. Is it a substance that has to be replicated and continually administered or is it a vaccine?
The Earth is a really big place and I think if the father has an IQ of about 140+ (seem probable considering the team he was a part of) and the daughter is somewhere about 130+ he could probably be able to eventually teach his daughter everything he knows in his own field.
A few decades living off supplies seems like plenty of time for them to find a way to splice up resistance into a simple photosynthesis capable organism. Worst case scenario they can structure everything around making sure the technology behind replicating more of the substance is completely understood and simplified as much as possible to keep the few crops alive.
Genetically speaking I think we can find a easy way around father daughter incest, some sperm banks are presumably still intact. However the real problem is with the daughter giving birth to enough children to have a viable population. Also keeping those children in line without them going wild will be hard with a adult who is severely traumatised and the young mother who will have a very great dependency on him (all social interaction ever until the children grow somewhat).
I'm trying to figure out what is better, earlier pregnancies (17+ ish) for a larger and more variable starting population of the world's last animals? Or more years studying medicine in hopes of minimizing the odds of the daughter dying in childbirth?
Sexuality would be very explosive in such a tiny community of half siblings, a aligning old grandfather and a somewhat confused and out of place mother (who is possibly fixated on the grandfather sexually, a major side order of frustration, as well as emotionally). Perhaps it would be wisest to make the first generation all female in order to maximize reproductive potential? Perhaps using drugs that kill the libido should become a fixture for the society until there are at least a few settlements of perhaps a dozen people each with the full know how of replicating the antidote to keep sexual issues on a hold for a few generations?
Assuming that sperm banks are more well-stocked than egg banks, making the first generation all female would have the additional benefit of allowing you to reintroduce more diversity into the population, so the third generation only has 1/4 of your daughter's genes.
Hard to say but I'd guess a rather long time. There earth is a big place and there wouldn't be much else around to consume or otherwise destroy the reserves of the necessities of life.
But without wanting to distract with too many technical qualifications I was actually working on the assumption from elsewhere in this thread that the trees turned out ok.
Saved everyone on the third day.
(Just kidding; I got the best available ending, thought I'd lost, and found only by checking online that it was the best available one.)
I sort of feel like there is enough time in the day to spend time with my family, sleep with hot co-workers and help save the world. I suspect the key is not creating a cure for cancer which kills all living things, in the first place. Work smart, not hard, people!
ETA: And the dude spends half his day in commute! Lesson: work from home or get a place in the city. :-)
I strongly recommend playing the game before you read the comments. I ended up getting the ending ronnoch got because it was fairly obvious how to get it from what it was.
I was vaguely bothered that John kept going back home. Sleep in the lab!
From a few of the reviews, half of which are 10/10… (SPOILERS warning)
For those of you crying about no replay button, just stop. Maybe go think long and hard about the one life you have and the choices you make every day.
I played this through when it was published 2 days ago and it still haunts my mind. What if I had done something different? What could have happened?
I personally kept going to work, because I felt like I was still able to do something about the crisis. That feeling of "I can stop this" and only having one shot at making it work
Makes you think.
all i did was go to the park, hoping someone else found the cure. not so surprisingly i died :P
This game really pulled my heart out… I kept thinking "It's the end of the world, and it's MY FAULT".
I teared up when Molly said she didn't feel so good, because I knew she was next to die.
Finally, the words came on screen declaring "You had one chance" I sat, staring, motionless for several seconds at the screen
I've failed humanity. To think, I thought I had another chance...more time, to explore all other endings, but no....it's too late now. I had one chance to save them. ONE CHANCE, to make a difference...and I blew it. It's my fault. All mine. If only I could just get one last chance to change things for the better...
Ouch.
I can't think of a videogame that has made me think and reflect on myself and my life as this one.
I have never witnessed a flash so immersive and touching.
This is the kind of thing that makes you reflect on what's really important in life... Having only one chance(literally) to save everyone is the kind of thing that really makes you think... I really couldn't find any words to describe what I felt
I have never cried so hard in my entire life… This was a powerful, motivational game.
i've never ever played a flash game which has given me the compulsion to cry. such a strong message without even finishing right. i felt genuine connection to the character, as though it really was my morality at question. and the fact that there is no replay value makes that all the more poignant.
This game taught me something about myself that I will never, never forget
Wow. Maybe there's something to be learned from this game about how to motivate people re existential risks?
I've played that :) It's cool & does have a chilling effect. If I still thought nuclear war was the most terrible thing likely to happen (oh, such innocent times) if would probably have affected me lots.
So what's the common theme? Looks like we need eerie background music, low budget, basic/retro graphics, end of the world theme, player responsible for billions of deaths... :-o
PS. Roger Ebert is prepared to believe that "video games can be elegant, subtle, sophisticated, challenging, and visually wonderful". I think he should taboo "art".
Alas, I destroyed the world because I misunderstood what the space bar did on the first day... :(
If you liked this game, then you should try Every Day The Same Dream. It's really really good.
SPOILER ALERT
.
.
. One Chance seems to be a blatant ripoff of EDTSD (apologies to all concerned if it's the other way around), but rather misses the point. EDTSD doesn't distract from the real point about banality and despair (already commented) with a plot about the end of the world. The graphics and music are also way better and more atmospheric. I would pay for a copy of the EDTSD music.
The author says...
It was definitely the biggest inspiration I used. Suspiciously so. I mean, I certainly didn’t set out thinking: “Right, I like that game. I’ll take it”. It just stuck with me. There’s a line between paying homage, or being inspired by and while I tried to sneakily tip toe across it, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest for being called a rip off. That being said, the games are completely different. Not only in look or in tone, but at the core. ‘Every Day…’ is about the monotony of life and work, while ‘Once Chance’ is about a bearded doctor trying to save his family. I guess the morning routine of people going to work is just a good way to identify with people.
Just played EDTSD, and had a much lower opinion of it than One Chance.
rot13: Cerggl zhpu rirel ryrzrag V unir na bcvavba nobhg jnf fhcrevbe va Bar Punapr. Gur cybg bs "lbhe gvzr vf ehaavat bhg, jung qb lbh qb jvgu fpnepr erfbheprf, naq guvf vf erny sbe lbh orpnhfr bs gur zrgntnzr" vf n ybg zber nccrnyvat gb zr guna gur cybg bs "lbh'er n pbecbengr qebar jubfr yvsr vf hapunatvat hagvy lbh xvyy lbhefrys." Gur zhfvp va BP jnf n ybg zber rzbgvbanyyl nssrpgvat (rfcrpvnyyl jura vg punatrq). Juvyr gur tencuvpf bs RQGFQ jrer funecre, V'ir tbg n ybg zber nssvavgl gb gur byq-fpubby tencuvpf guna funec synfu tencuvpf. Ohg rira orlbaq zl ovnf/cersrerapr, gur tencuvpf va BP pbzzhavpngrq n ybg zber, or vg nccyrf ba gur tebhaq be gur tenlvat bs crbcyr be oevtug erq. Cerggl zhpu gur bayl cneg bs RQGFQ gung nssrpgrq zr ivfhnyyl jnf gur jnyx gb lbhe phovpyr, jurer vg rkcnaqrq bhg gjvpr.
Wbua'f qrpvfvba gb fgbc jrnevat uvf pbng fgehpx zr n ybg zber guna "Uz, V unir sbhe fgrcf yrsg, jung unccraf vs V tb gb jbex anxrq?"
Zl vagrecergngvba bs "Rirel qnl gur fnzr qernz" jnf gung rirel qnl rkprcg sbe gur ynfg qnl jnf n qernz, naq gur ynfg qnl jnf ernyvgl. Naq gung gur thl jub lbh frr whzc ng gur raq vfa'g lbh, vg'f gur ynfg bs gur bgure rzcyblrrf, naq rirelbar ryfr va gur pbzcnal unq nyernql whzcrq, nf n erfhyg bs rvgure gur pbzcnal snvyvat (lbh fnj gur tencu?), be gurve bja fgerff, be obgu. Naq gung gur ernfba jul lbh'er abg whzcvat nybat jvgu gurz vf orpnhfr lbh unq guvf frevrf bs qernzf va juvpu lbh rkcyberq nyy bs gur cbffvoyr bcgvbaf, vapyhqvat fhvpvqr, naq orpnzr cflpubybtvpnyyl pncnoyr bs abg whzcvat.
Nf sbe "Bar Punapr", V tbg gur orfg raqvat, ohg nffhzrq gung vg jnf gur frpbaq-jbefg raqvat bhg bs n cbffvoyr guerr, hagvy V ernq gur YJ pbzzragf. V gubhtug gung gur tnzr jnf enaqbzyl chavfuvat zr sbe tbvat gb gur ebbs ba gur frpbaq qnl vafgrnq bs tbvat qverpgyl gb gur yno. V nyfb fhfcrpgrq gung zl cebterff ng gur yno zvtug unir orra fybjrq qbja nf n erfhyg bs orvat oheag bhg, naq gung V fubhyq unir gnxra ng yrnfg bar bs gur bccbeghavgvrf gb gnxr gvzr bss sebz jbex, gb nibvq oheavat bhg. Naq vg jnf naablvat gung gur tnzr qvqa'g fubj nal qrgnvyf nobhg jung jrag ba va gur yno.
I would like your interpretation of EDTSD, except it doesn't explain gur nofrapr bs lbhe jvsr be gur ryringbe ynql nsgre lbh whzc. V'z cerggl fher vg'f abg n cbfvgvir raqvat.
I realize that this is kinda stretching the limits of plausibility, but maybe...
obgu lbhe jvsr naq gur ryringbe ynql jrer arire erny va gur svefg cynpr. V zrna, vg znxrf frafr gung gur ryringbe ynql vfa'g erny, fvapr fur unf 4gu-jnyy-oernxvat xabjyrqtr, ohg vs gur thl'f jvsr vf vzntvanel, gura gung zrnaf ur'f ernyyl penml, naq qrfcrengryl arrqrq gurfr qernzf gb fanc uvz bhg bs gur penmvarff. Gur ynpx bs pnef ba gur svany qnl pbhyq or rkcynvarq ol gur bgure pnef nyfb orvat vzntvanel, be ol gur thl orvat fb yngr gung qnl gung ur pbzcyrgryl zvffrq ehfu ubhe. Npghnyyl, guvf pbhyq rkcynva gur nofrapr bs uvf jvsr gbb, znlor ur jnf fb yngr gung qnl gung uvf jvsr naq gur ryringbe ynql jrer nyernql fbzrcynpr ryfr.
13: V nterr gung 'Bar Punapr' jnf zber rzbgvbanyyl pbzcryyvat naq vg unq n zrffntr V'z unccl gb frr orpnhfr vg frrzf zber yvxryl gb tvir crbcyr n "srry" sbe K-evfxf. Ba gur bgure unaq, gur zrffntr sryg xvaq bs jrveq orpnhfr vg frrzrq gb fnl "Tb gb jbex erthyneyl rira vs lbh'er abg trggvat nal cbfvgvir srrqonpx sbe vg ng nyy orpnhfr vg zvtug fnir gur jbeyq bhg bs gur oyhr jvgu ab uvagf sebz gur jbex VGFRYS gung gung'f tbvat gb unccra" juvpu frrzrq yvxr n jrveq zrffntr... hagvy V sbhaq bhg nobhg 'Rirel Qnl' whfg abj gung'f vgf pyrneyl ersrerapvat naq znlor shapgvba gb pevgvdhr.
Va 'Rirel Qnl' (gnxra gb or fgnaqvat nybar orpnhfr vg'f gur svefg tnzr) gur zrffntr (vtabevat gur fhvpvqr) nccrnef gb or "Lbh pna frrx bhg zrnavatshy rkcrevraprf va nal pbagrkg, rira vs gur pbagrkg frrzf gbgnyyl fbhy pehfuvat ng svefg tynapr." Gung'f npghnyyl n zrffntr V ernyyl yvxr! Ohg gura gur fhvpvqr ng gur raq... htu. Naq gura lbh jnxr hc NALJNL naq gur jbeyq vf rzcgl naq lbh trg gb jnyx nebhaq n gbgnyyl rzcgl jbexcynpr (anxrq vs lbh jnag) hagvy lbh tb hc gb gur ebbs naq frr lbhefrys whzc bss. V'z fgvyy fpengpuvat zl urnq bire gung bar. Fhvpvqr tbbq? Fhvpvqr onq?
Va n pbhcyr cynprf V gubhtug znlor vg jnf shapgvbavat ba n ernyvfgvp gvzrfpnyr fb V jnvgrq sbe 4 zvahgrf sbe gur genssvp fvtany gb punatr naq yrg zr pebff gur fgerrg. Vg qvqa'g jbex sbe gur fvtany ohg vg qvq jbex sbe gur yrns. V'z nyzbfg jbaqrevat vs lbh cynlrq gur tnzr sbe 2000 qnlf jbhyq lbh trg cebzbgrq be fbzrguvat? Jbhyq xvqf fubj hc? Gung jbhyq or xvaq bs njrfbzr, vg vg jbexrq gung jnl, ohg V qba'g jnag gb fcraq gur gvzr gb grfg gur gurbel.
Isn't a critical flaw in the game that the player has no reason to believe there is a countdown until the world ends?
Yeah. Realisticly, you've "lost" before the game even starts when you decide to release the virus without knowing whether it kills non-cancer cells. I guess John could have had some doubts about it (enough to keep working instead of going out to party) but in that case he was stupid not to have brought it up before.
I lost.
I played it with the intention of winning, but I gave in to my emotions on the penultimate day. My wife was already dead, it was "two days until every cell on Earth is dead", and if I went to work I might never have time for my daughter again. This wasn't a rational decision, and in retrospect I regret it, but given another chance I wouldn't change it. I'm pretty sure I would do that in real life too - or I would if I hadn't already had a Flash game explain the consequences to me.
Apparently I am well-intentioned but too emotional. Potentially useful information.
<Three Worlds Collide spoilers>
Sver pnzr gb Uhltraf.
Gur fgne rehcgrq.
Fgenaqrq fuvcf, svyyrq jvgu puvyqera qbbzrq ol n frpbaq'f ynfg qrynl, fgvyy zvyyrq nebhaq gur sbezre Rnegu genafvg cbvag. Gbb znal qbbzrq fuvcf, sne gbb znal qbbzrq fuvcf. Gurl fubhyq unir yrsg n zvahgr rneyl, whfg gb or fher; ohg gur grzcgngvba gb ybnq va gung bar ynfg puvyq zhfg unir orra veerfvfgnoyr. Gb qb gur jnez naq shmml guvat whfg guvf bar gvzr, vafgrnq bs orvat pbyq naq pnyphyngvat. Lbh pbhyqa'g oynzr gurz, pbhyq lbh…?
Lrf, npghnyyl, lbh pbhyq.
And now I know what those characters might feel like.
A rational intelligence would have acted otherwise, but I'm not one, and it's good to be reminded of that.
I did even worse. It was probably good for me to be reminded of that.
I hope I never have to know what those characters feel like.
I played this game previously, and I also thought about LessWrong as I played it, namely in the context of AI FOOM. In a very real sense we only get once chance with it. If we get it wrong we'll have to "live" with the consequences forever. This drastically amplifies the importance of every single decision that we make.
Yes - it was a good reminder of what real life is like, as opposed to re-loading a save.
I very much enjoyed the understated style, and the banality of despair.
(Spoilers)
The ending doesn't make much sense, sitting there with my daughter on the park bench. Do I somehow know that there aren't any other survivors? That would be quite the good fortune for the two of us to hang on the longest. Is it impossible for me to make a third dose of the drug? I didn't work all week just to let everyone in the world besides me and a little girl die, dammit.
I was somewhat surprised there was no angry mob to lynch the scientist, I have a feeling that considering how low security the protagonist's office and home was, there would be at least a few people who would try and kill him. Especially considering his fame (cure for cancer, appearing on TV to announce the end of the world with the president of the US).
There was a riot on the third day, but you just drive through. Presumably people after that are either too depressed to riot, too dead, or know better than to distract you while you're busy saving the world.
There's a path where (spoilers):
N sbezre pbyyrnthr gevrf gb xvyy lbh jvgu n xavsr. Vs lbh znantr gb oybpx, gur pbyyrtr ehaf njnl naq lbh erghea ubzr gb svaq gung ur unf xvyyrq lbhe jvsr naq qnhtugre, jub lbh ohel. Vs lbh qba'g oybpx, ur xvyyf lbh naq gur tnzr raqf gurer.
It appears I saved myself and my daughter, but everybody else died. Reading the reviews by NG, it sounds like this is the best possible outcome in the game?
Is the point to get us to think about our priorities?
Same here, but I suspect there's a better outcome where you don't go up to the roof and witness the suicide, and therefore get to spend one extra day in the lab.
I doubt there are many players who deliberately skip work.
I tried that the second time around - the lab is locked that day, and it skips right to the next one after the cutscene.
(It's possible to try again by right-clicking on the game, selecting 'settings', setting it so that the game isn't allowed to store any data on your machine, and then reloading the page.)
According to the creator of the game, the majority of players die, along with the rest of the world.
I'm not sure (and I haven't seen clarifying remarks from the creator), but it seems likely that not everyone else died. Notice the trees in the park are green again.
I'm not sure how you would not reach the best ending. I mean, I was tempted to go enjoy a day with the hot coworker out of amorous contrariness but I restrained myself.
Other people value closure/dying well, I'm guessing. I heard many commenters say that they went to the park on the last day.
According to the creator of the game, the majority of players die, along with the rest of the world.
I'm not sure (and I haven't seen clarifying remarks from the creator), but it seems likely that not everyone else died. Notice the trees in the park are green again.
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/555181
It needn't take more than 10 minutes to play, though it might if you nail-bite about your choices. I'm curious about the LW response, although I might be underwhelmed by lack of interest.