Defect: Break the Code

Defect is here. Another fun little one-page project.

We found ourselves quite inspired by the fight for a better future game jam. It’s not outrageous to say that in many places around the world right now, we’re not exactly on a desirable course for most people. AI flooding the creative industry, consuming insane amounts of power. Close-minded and bigoted individuals in power.  Economies gone haywire and people struggling just to make a living. I’ll leave it there because I think we all get it. It sucks.

So we made Defect.  Double entendre right? I think. A game about fighting for a change. There are so many voices that make themselves heard over social media, and while they may not be the majority opinion, it’s hard not to hear so many talk about what they hate about other people. That they despise others for individuality, or people who’s opinion differs, rather than simply respecting those choices and moving on with their life. It’s all rife with negativity and a lack of respect for others. Thankfully, many of us get along with each other with understanding positivity is simply more often drowned out by negativity. So Defect, as simple of a game as it is, is about being heard. Our differences being acknowledged and used for the good that they are, rather than seen as a problem.

But we wanted it to be a little more lighthearted than just people fighting for freedom. That might be too close to home. I’d recently rewatched the Robots movie, and Astro Boy a while before. So revolutionist robots were certainly something that came to mind. And who doesn’t love robots? Little adorable mechanical marvels. Not only that but how relevant. Social media- technology, AI- technology, Coding and programming that machines are expected to follow without error- pretty relevant to ideals of conformity and fitting in to your place in society. So robots seemed perfect.

As for mechanics, things were quite simple. We went with a D8 as the game dice as we felt it was an unusual choice in comparison to the common use of D6, 10, 20 and such in games that use a single die, making things a little more individual, you might say.

Characters receive a bonus for using their background/part of their personality as a justification for the actions they take. Showcasing and utilising their individuality and being rewarded for it. Your Defect is an artist? Then maybe you can snag a bonus to your roll when trying to graffiti a vehicle or building. Orator? Give a deep and meaningful speech to rally those around you to your cause or stir up a frenzy, maybe even talk down an aggressor.

Then when you’ve gathered all of these characters, with all their different strengths and weaknesses and talents, together they can work to make a change, and that’s where the rallying and Spark Up mechanics come in.

And then it’s all ready to go. So we wish you all the best with your future, don’t forget to love yourself for who you are, differences and all and have a lovely day.