An
Interactive
Sitcom about
Office Politics |
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"Dog
Eat Dog" is a black comedy about the world
of office politics. It's a chance to give your
boss a piece of your mind, slack off on the job,
hone your backstabbing skills and maybe even buy
that little tropical island you've been dreaming
of. As in real life, being a nice guy doesn't
always work, so why bother with the straight and
narrow?
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Claw
Your Way
To The Top...
or Slack Off
On The Job
Scott
Walker, Mail Room
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The game
begins with the first day at work for Julie Bloom/Joe
Sellars at Big Black Box Industries. Sales are
sagging, money's tight, tension is running high
among BBBI's twenty-four employees, and no one
can even tell you what a black box is. Despite
your four year degree, you start at the bottom of
the heap, nothing more than a glorified secretary.
There's nowhere to go but up or out, but do you
have what it takes to make it? Can you survive the
rumor mill, jealous co-workers, incompetent temps
and a bombing attempt by the director of human
resources to become BBBI's next CEO? Or will you
choose to raid talent from within and start your
own highly profitable company? Retire to a
mountaintop monastery and write self-help books?
Or maybe meet your soulmate and live out the rest
of your days on somebody else's salary?
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Test
and Torment
Your Personal Skills |
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Whichever way
you go, you'll encounter new-age moms, Scamway
sales reps, bitter ex-hippies, and over-the-hill
"budding geniuses." You'll discover
secret liaisons, cope with secretarial strikes,
mingle at retirement parties for a senior officer
who just won't go away, dodge toner spills, bring
kleptomaniacs to justice and maybe even uncover
the true identity of the mysterious CEO, Mr.
Richman.
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Artificial
Intelligence
And Emotion |
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Dog Eat Dog's
characters act and react like real people. Each
character is unique, with their own moods, tastes
and prejudices. They're unpredictable, emotional,
they talk behind your back, and they remember
what you say and do. A perfectly placed "flirt"
might score points with the boss, but watch out--next
time, you could be slapped with a sexual
harrassment complaint.
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A Mind
Game
That's Played
Fast And Loose |
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Gameplay in
Dog Eat Dog is centered around its interactive
conversations. The player decides how to respond
to a character by choosing from a collection of
five or six "emotional stance" buttons.
Choices include anything from "Kiss Up"
to "Snub," "Brag" to "Be
Humble," "Flirt," "Ignore,"
"Whine" or "Berate." Once a
choice is made, a corresponding line of dialogue
is delivered by the player's onscreen persona. An
AI engine then determines an appropriate response
for his conversational partner and the player has
a chance to respond again. This verbal sparring
allows players to manipulate and negotiate their
path toward whatever goal they choose.
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This simple,
click-button interface allows the player to play
fast and loose, making choices about what to say
and do on an intuitive level. Certain techniques
for handling people work, of course. Each
character has a different personality and agenda,
so it's important to learn which interpersonal
tactics will impress him or her. But no
conversation ever plays out exactly the way it
did before so players must rely on their
instincts to decide how to act in each situation.
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The software
engineers developed a proprietary AI game engine
called the CAE to build these uniquely
compelling interactions. Because the
conversations are the storyline as well as the
primary form of game play, the player is immersed
directly in the drama in a way which would not be
possible without this AI toolset.
Donna
Brujo, Your Boss
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A game
designed for both men and women to enjoy, "Dog
Eat Dog" is a natural both at work and at
home. The simple and effective graphical
presentation is appropriate for both the Web and
CD ROM presentation.
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Screen-savers
with beautifully-rendered graphics with a
workingman's theme have been designed to
complement the Dog Eat Dog experience. 
More Screen Savers:
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