The Ultimate SOMA Discussion Thread

[plutomaniac]

In that case Kein is right. Someone from FG (Jens I think) had said at the time that these had nothing to do with SOMA and they were part of a project that someone else from FG was working on.

[Sampyli]

Do you think robots could be scary? What if there are robo-enemies in soma?

It would be pretty cool if an A.I. would try to create these 'robot minions' which would be just robots put together from random machine (and maybe human) parts.

I don't mind sci-fi horror, but I hope it doesn't turn out like Outlast, where it was more annoying than scary running from the "monsters".

What does that have to do with this? Outlast isn't exactly sci-fi ..

I can't help but think of 'Brave New World' when I hear the word 'soma.' In the book, it is a drug used to essentially brainwash people into conformity and remove much of what makes one human.
An unlikely connection as it is more likely to derive it's significance from what has already been stated, but it's interesting to think about.

That's very interesting. Thomas was talking about objects having consciousness (or something like that, correct me if I'm wrong), so maybe they're trying to move people's minds (or whatever, you probably get what I mean) into machines or something like that.

Really seems like a ''they found the machine in some derelict space station/settlement/ship and brought it aboard'' sort of thing.

Finding the machine in space sounds good, but maybe they just brought it back to Earth. Could get something cool out of the space ship idea, though: the machine takes control of the space ship, disables communication, etc.

I think why Reed freaks out when ~she~ moves on the screen is because the machine has never done that. It was able to create a Vivarium for simple non-living things (or when it does replicate/create a living thing it is dead/still (Why she falls off the chair)).
So when Reed sees ~herself~ move, that is new thing and she freaks out.

My thoughts of the evolution of this machine/idea is that it was simple at first but as they ~tuned~ it and let it ~learn~ it becomes more advanced in what it can do (also this is why it was not able to create itself in the image (or that once Reed saw it was able to replicate/create life she feared that it would/could replicate itself, a machine in a machine (what spurs of the whole What is reality theme).

It might not have been able (or it just hadn't done that before) to create a dead/unconscious person before either, because she's a bit surprised of that as well. They also might not have let the machine learn anything, maybe they didn't even fully know yet what it is/does/can do.

(Sorry for the long post, was 'out' for a day )

[Macgyverthehero]

I like the idea of underwater sequences. I bet it would be quite scary being underwater with diving gear while something scarier then a shark is swimming around and your just flowing slowly beneath the waves.

[Froge]

i finkz soma may have some reference to world new brave

[Cuyir]

@Sampyli:

I don't want it set in earth. At least not completely. They could tease the player of going back home to earth as a goal but I want the setting to be in some sort of space ship/station/some other planet settlement (seeing how people already debunked the underwater setting).

Being set in an area with loads of technology (like a ship or whatever) would give the Machine a lot of opportunities to toy around with the player. Not only that, but once the player realizes that the Machine knows and controls all, there wouldn't be a safe zone. Players would feel tense every single time they're playing the game. Knowing FG and their talents at crafting great atmosphere, this would make this game chokingly tense.

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@Chronofrog:

Yeah but Soma also means body

from TheFreeDictionary website

''1. The entire body of an organism, exclusive of the germ cells.
2. See cell body.
3. The body of an individual as contrasted with the mind or psyche''

Would fit with the whole cyborg pictures and sentient A.I motif.

[Diango12]

I'd like to see some of the walking sentry mecha type monsters. There is something seriously unnerving about a monolithic android/mech stalking you and that can literally rip your body into pieces. Apathetic, unfeeling, cold and brutal.

[Sampyli]

@Sampyli:
Being set in an area with loads of technology (like a ship or whatever) would give the Machine a lot of opportunities to toy around with the player. Not only that, but once the player realizes that the Machine knows and controls all, there wouldn't be a safe zone. Players would feel tense every single time they're playing the game. Knowing FG and their talents at crafting great atmosphere, this would make this game chokingly tense.

I was thinking of this as well. The machine takes control, shuts down communications, etc. Plus if it can imitate people like in the teaser it could impersonate a human in a video call or something like that.

Damn, so many ideas just from one video where almost nothing happens

[Lewk]

After all, this first artwork seems to be real.
But I don't think those monsters are scary - in contrary.

Good lord, it's been said FEW times by DIFFERENT people who work on FG that this concept artwork has NOTHING to do with SOMA (Next Frictional Game).

...really.

Jesus christ, Googolplex, you fucking retard.

Jesus christ, Googolplex, you fucking retard.

Your Civility Gland needs to effuse a good 30% more Friendlimonium.

OK.

Googolplex, while I respect your right to voice your opinion about anything you wish, and hope that it is upheld - what you just said was fucking retarded.

[Paddy™]

Jesus christ, Googolplex, you fucking retard.

Your Civility Gland needs to effuse a good 30% more Friendlimonium.

[Cuyir]

People are really rude with Goog and I'M the one that gets called a bad comedian

@Sampyli:

Yep! And when the next entry appears we'll have a ton of more theories being disproven, proven and a new ones entering the fray.

Talking of which...these uploads are taking their time.