=== OPENING #PlayerControlUntil: OpeningVideoDone, JumpToPath: OPENING.FIRST_PRACTICE + [Once the Bandocracy intro video is over...] -> FIRST_PRACTICE = FIRST_PRACTICE #Environment: PracticeSpace #AddChar: Vez, Pose: instrument_holding #AddChar: Skyler, Pose: instrument_holding #AddChar: Micah, Pose: instrument_holding #AddChar: Fern, Pose: instrument_holding #AddChar: Akai, Pose: instrument_holding //We haven't talked about poses with Art yet, so I just called this one "instrument_holding" to signify that they're still holding their instruments but not playing anymore. VEZ: Wow. We nailed "Bandocracy" on our first try! + SKYLER: I nail everything on the first try. VEZ: Don't start, Skyler. To be fair, Vez should've known Skyler couldn't resist turning that into a double entendre. Though if Skyler truly wants a second chance with Vez, maybe she should change her tactics. //HJ: I'm using action lines as the Omniscient Narrator's voice. I tried using thought bubbles to communicate personal character info, like we did in the multiplayer version, but it felt clunky. So I tried this! ~ know_skyler_wants_second_chance = true //HJ: Also added this to establish that Vez and Skyler have a romantic past that Skyler is interested in rekindling. But because this is in a choice, I'm using a variable to track whether the player knows this. If the player chose Fern's line instead, I'll establish Skyler's intentions later in the script. + FERN: Best first jam session I've ever heard! VEZ: Isn't this your very first band? FERN: (blushes) Yeah, but it's still THE BEST! - //NOTE: The player making choices for all characters and choosing WHO talks (rather than WHAT the PC says) is different for a Bloom game, and we don't have UI for this. But I do think it's neat and was one of the funnest things about that other game we played. MICAH: I haven't played that song since I was in school. FERN: You were in school when it came out? What was it like to LIVE HISTORY?! MICAH: Woah, woah. "Bandocracy" is 50 years old. I meant I learned it in music class. FERN: Oh, right! Sorry. MICAH: All good. I'll probably forget about this anyway. Because old. SO old. FERN: (laughs) FERN: But, do you think the PolSci Punks knew their song would change the world? + SKYLER: When you're THAT good? Yes! VEZ: But you can't know a song will be a hit. MICAH: Truth. The Punks delivered a message, but it was up to people to listen. FERN: And they did! MICAH: For once. Despite, you know, being people. + VEZ: Probably. It was a call to action. MICAH: People could've ignored it. Wouldn't have been the first time. Or last. + MICAH: Nah. Change is too hard. - SKYLER: No faith in people power, huh Micah? MICAH: Nope. I've seen too much. VEZ: Or not enough. I don't disagree that humankind's in a bit of a slump right now... VEZ: But I want this band to change that! FERN: Me too! Let's change the world! VEZ: I think I know who the band's cheerleader is! MICAH: Fine. Let's give it our all, so when it's all for nothing, it won't be our fault. SKYLER: Wow. I think I know who the band's black cloud is. SKYLER: Good thing you've all got me - the shooting star! MICAH: Your star already fell, Skyler. FERN: What's he-- OH! Skyler and the Politicats, my favourite band! FERN: I mean, until everyone found out you were posers. SKYLER: I may have fallen, but at least I'm not a burn out like Micah! VEZ: Can we NOT break up the band before we even pick a name? SKYLER: I'm not breaking up the band. That's a YOU thing. {know_skyler_wants_second_chance:Yikes! That will NOT earn Skyler a second chance with Vez!} VEZ: No, I left. While we were still Fern's favourite band. + FERN: You did the right thing, Vez! FERN: I wanted to tell you, but didn't want to make things awkward with my first band. + FERN: You still are my favourite band! FERN: I ship you guys so much! - An awkward silence ensues. MICAH: Right. So no breaking up before we give this band a shot. SKYLER: Yeah, well, this band is my comeback. I won't waste it. FERN: Yay! Go team! VEZ: Okay then, what should our band name be? #PlaySFX: Akai_attention // ^^a loud look-over-here drum sting AKAI: AKAI AND THE MEATSACKS! + FERN: Did the drum machine just... talk?! AKAI: HE! He talked. + SKYLER: Who programmed the drumbot to talk? AKAI: Not a drumbot! VEZ: It's a "personality" model. AKAI: HE! He is a "personality" model. + MICAH: Meatsacks? Touché, Akai. AKAI: SUCK IT, MICAH. MICAH: Missed you too, buddy. SKYLER: You've played with this drumbot before? AKAI: Not a drumbot! SKYLER: Ha! It's full of zest! AKAI: HE! He is full of zest! MICAH: Yep. Zestiest session drummer I've ever worked with. - AKAI: NOW MAKE SOME NOISE, MEATSACKS! #PlaySFX: Akai_drumsmash AKAI: Sorry. My "energetic drummer" personality program can be a bit loud. #PlaySFX: Akai_angry //like one of R2D2's angry squawks? Something to indicate his emotion. Could be useful. AKAI: Know that I hate it more than you will. FERN: You don't like your own personality? AKAI: It isn't my personality. It's the one a human dev decided I should have. AKAI: And no, I don't like it. SKYLER: But energy on drums is a good thing. AKAI: Just you wait... VEZ: So, Akai made his suggestion for a band name. Are we going with that? Or something else? #PlayerControlUntil: BandNameEntered, JumpToPath: OPENING.BAND_NAME + [Type in a band name.] ~ band_name = "More Zest" //temp name for playthroughs -> BAND_NAME = BAND_NAME AKAI: WE ARE "{band_name}"! + FERN: That's a great name! AKAI: I disagree. FERN: But you sounded so excited! AKAI: Again, that excitement is not me, it's the "energetic drummer" program. FERN: Oh. Right. + MICAH: It'll do. AKAI: WOOO! My feelings exactly! - SKYLER: So, what's our first show, Vez? Is this a Fearless Leader situation? You book the gigs? MICAH: Oh, no. We don't have a manager, do we? VEZ: No, we manage together. We play what we want, where we want. VEZ: Well... where we can. And what, ideally, reflects a local zeitgeist-- // i am not sure people will know what a zeitgeist is. Maybe either a joke to explain, or an easier word. //HJ: I'm going to argue that we leave it in, because not knowing this word doesn't affect the player's ability to follow the story. What I mean is, this isn't a turning point or the punch line of a joke, so the player isn't missing anything. Therefore, it's okay if they don't know the definition of zeitgeist. Also, having a large vocabulary is part of Vez's character - as the band's lyricist, that's their thing. #PlaySFX: akai_interrupt //MK: ^^cymbal crash or something. AKAI: LET'S WRECK SHIT! AKAI: (sighs) What I meant to say is that humans put venue listings and all their stupid feelings online. AKAI: Check your Playlist app. #PlayerControlUntil: OpenPlaylist, JumpToPath: PLAYLIST + [PLAYLIST] -> PLAYLIST