Playbots: In the Beginning... again

Directions

Writing Guidelines for the "Playbots: In the Beginning, Again" Short story series. Created by Thomas Dunville

PREMISE.
This is an idea that was first generated from a work I painted called "Tin Woodsman" I thought it wood be neat to make an android take on a masculine and dangerous job while at the same time testing out my starting skills with an airbrush. Once finished, it inspired me to try other approaches to the android theme and as they came into existance... I wanted to explain the world they would live in. "They wouldn't be robots" I remarked, because they would have far too expansive a personality to lack a soul or backgound to drive their efforts. Would they work as slaves? Not in a society shaped from it's current views... except in "slaving to the All-Mighty Dollar" ; indeed money should play an important part of their "rebirth". A story... a saga was taking shape.
After deciding stories should be written, what angle should I use? Based around A character? Action-adventure? Crisis-dealing situations in every story? Dealing with dicrimination or alienation from the rest of humanity? I thought elements of all could apply but the focus of the stories should be on the refinement of the human condition. Unlike the ALIEN NATION TV series where alien refugees tried to integrate themselves into the "Human Dream", Playbots WERE human, still consider themselves so and strive to work out the rough spots in their new lives. Our society has taken thousands of years to develop with some aspects slower than others. Imagine the about-face of jumping into a brand new, year-1 society! A Playbot can go from being a celebrity, to 3rd class to even heretic abomination in just 10 minutes! Take practically anything you do in one day, look at it through this criteria and you've got yourself a story. So the stories must revolve around what they do and how they cope with day-to-day things; to answer these questions and light the way to more questions.

MY PART IN THIS.
Admission of Guilt: I am no writer. But I can be a good storyteller. This project had the potential to be quite collossal, and I wanted different perspectives and talents to make it shine. And I'm far too busy to really write many of my ideas to make just one book! Example: It's been 5 years from painting the works and creating the concept, to writing the guidelines. My plan is to give you many salient details, facts and anchor-points for the story references. I will also write 3 or so short stories for your viewing and possible inspiration. As you come up with a story concept, give me a basic outline of what it is so I can answer any plot or tech questions. I will also act as coordinator if there is another writer on the same wavelength ("Gee, 2 comet impact stories in the same year?)
Like any parent, I am protective of my offspring. I am open and all-for adding things to this story universe, but control and consent rests with me. Using already-existing characters and inventing new body features is fine by me. But don't be upset when I turn-down a story that has the world attacked by aliens who turn the Playbots into rambo-clones. Don't throw it away either, I also want to put out a "Playbots: Factory Rejects" book too!

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT.
Once enough stories are chosen, we go a publisher shoppin! I plan on consulting with friends and aqquaintences I have made over the years: Authors, Writers, Sellers, Publishers, Editors, Distributors, Agents, etc. At the bare minimum this will be published for internet... but I want much more. Every contributing author will have full credit for their pieces (always good to earn further publication chances and recognition), and we will have worked out a system of shares for any net profit that develops after printing, ads, agent fees, etc. That's where much of my consulting will give me insight. The best you should be ready for is having your story with your name on it printed in a book. A book you and friends can buy, sign and be proud of. Being the first book, don't think about any money... it will probably be an insult to us all, we're rookies. But good stories sell books, and publishers love series... There is the potential.

Background Information.

2004:

The McNulty Bill gets pressured into law barring creditors from exacting payment from a deceased debtor's relatives. More consumers use credit to rent homes and furnishings, lease vehicles, travel, buy comsumables or depreciating computer equipment... leaving little to be recouped. The phrase "You can't take it with you" is slowly becoming "They can't take it FROM you". The major credit and lending companies are caught in a vise between less profit coming in, and reluctance to limit their supply of customers.

Dr. Desmond Kodi is a private researcher in the field of Biocircuitry design. He develops a process of reproducing brainwave pattern through implanting a chip into the brain. It won't just map the brain, once removed it can duplicate the proccesses like the brain does. The chip can code the same input... store the thoughts. Store enough thoughts and the chip will behave like the person the input originated from. When the chip is installed in the properly programmed computer housing, it responds and thinks like a Doppleganger of the person.

The news leaks out, especially after the discovery of his testing on animals... and humans. He remains tight-lipped on the proccess out of fear that his work could be considered an issue of National Security or the military application for Smart Weaponry. Kodi dies unexpectedly of a heart attack; He never installed the chip in his brain.

2005:

Sensing an amazing opportunity to regain the lost investment in the credit industry, A corporate Head named James Prophet oversees the seizure and legal collection of the late Kodi's equipment and research; Kodi left no will and had no family surviving. The research reveals that Kodi's intention was to allow great minds and leaders to escape death by saving their thoughts. They could speak to the future generations in their own words, rather than let historians interpret meaning and motivation. But Prophet saw greater potential... less limited to the world, more beneficial to his business.

After several months of fact checking, closed-door meetings and bean counting Prophet unleashed his "concept" on the board in a private, no notes-allowed session.
" Gentlemen it is no secret that we are slowly being forced out of business. Today the average customer manages a debt of $6,400 at an interest rate avg. of 14.25 percent. In twenty years the debt amount will triple, our aging customers will be unable to maintain earnings and the interest rate will become pointless. Consumer spending habits and death thwart recovery of our capital investments. Projection models say we will take-in less than 70% of CURRENT profits!
Thanks to medical science we can extend life at great cost, but it's hardly the productive life to suit the needs of our business. It increases the debt, not the return. We need a way to reverse the trend, while it's still survivable. We must not be afraid to take new measures, or push the boundaries that may fall toward us in this goal. If you are truly ready for a solution... I have found one.

My base objectives were:
*Recap lost income
*Increase consumer usage/profit intake and potential
*Increase market share over competitors

The board has been quite lenient in my secrecy concerning the Kodi aquisition. I now offer my thanks and the fruits of the labors of many experts, from many fields. I call it the "Second Chance Package" Customers who are with large, managed debt, meet certain critria and agree to the terms will have the Kodi chip installed. It will create a "hard copy" version of their mind and personality. This is where I ask you to bear with me til I conclude. Arrangements will be made regarding the cusomer's future employment, living conditions and additinal billing charges for the upcoming services rendered by us.
Upon the customer's death the chip is removed to be inserted into an Android body, design and options previously decided. The customer then continues to earn and pay off the debts, live productively and continue to be a loyal customer... for centuries to come. The details work, the technology is ready today; we can reasonably guarantee an additional life expectancy of 200 years. And the technology will only get better. There is also the added benefit of having a product that the wealthiest of clients will want to purchase. By maintaining the rights, methods and the chip details we shall control what no other competitor can offer."