Identity confused computers in another extremely unsettling teaser for SOMA

Frictional Games, developer of the critically acclaimed spook-off Amnesia: The Dark Descent, announced their newest project at the beginning of October, ostensibly titled SOMA. I covered that announcement and the Alternate Reality Game that led to it in a previous post, and promised to follow the development process closely.

Well, I’m delivering on that now, as Frictional Games has today released a new live-action video, this time following the same girl from Vivarium, the first trailer, as she talks with a very confused computer. It seems likely that this new game is going to be bringing on psychological scares.

The text to accompany it on the website might be even creepier than the video. Take a look:

A standard UH3 articulated robot, active fluid memory with an approximated intelligence [CORRUPT DATA] shows a much more active mind [CORRUPT DATA] spontaneously developed a desire to socialize from observing human interaction?

[CORRUPT DATA] intelligence first noted by Security Officer Douglas Strohmaier while investigating an automated distress signal coming from Construct Depot 11 [CORRUPT DATA] Mockingbird had pried another UH3 open and removed its AI-unit [CORRUPT DATA] made motions resembling those of eating, moving it close to its camera, and making sounds similar to smacking of the lips [CORRUPT DATA] it introduced itself as Chief Engineer Adam Golaski.

Quarantined in T260 Machine Rep [CORRUPT DATA] during the night it had taken itself apart. AM Engineer Imogen Reed quickly records an interview in case the Mockingbird would continue its self-destruction. [CORRUPT DATA] appears there is a real Adam Golaski working at Omicron. Invited Chief Engineer Golaski to talk to the impostor construct.

APPENDIX A+B: Interview and Confrontation -Video Documentation

So, that’s creepy. Looks like this Mockingbird robot started taking itself apart after developing enough intelligence to make it believe it was an employee of Omicron, the mentioned company that this presumably takes place in.

While we still have no concrete information on the game, the amount of effort Frictional Games is putting into the marketing campaign alone is intriguing. Considering there are six more empty slots for videos on the site, as well as a progress bar at only 7%, it’s safe to say we’re going to be seeing a lot more about SOMA in the coming months.