One thing I have always been interested in is the concept of zero-player games. I find it fascinating to think of this small virtual world that can run on its own, and we just peer in like visitors from another dimension.

I’m thinking about how those things would work. At the end of the day I feel it would boil down to a bunch of numbers in a spread sheet that are effected by events the NPC undertakes.

There should be two types of events: those the NPC can control, and those they can’t.

My current plan is to come up with a basic simulation. Really limit the number of things down the NPC can do and places they can go so I don’t get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things.

Attributes

Emotions

  • Happiness
  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Boredom

State of being

  • Tired
  • Hungry
  • Temperature
  • Bathroom needs

Locations

  • House
    • Bedroom
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Toilet
    • Backyard

Overview