Well...

Computer program characters. by zdimensia on 2014-06-26 17:02:00 UTC Reply

I was thinking about bringing two non-Sues out of Sugar Rush, but in-universe they acknowledge that they're just code. I think the same would apply to Reboot since there is no "outside" that they can point to. I think Tron is the same kettle of fish that only Users could live outside the computer?

Would they dissolve like holodeck characters? Would they turn into storage media with their program on it? Would they just be real like any other video game OC who doesn't know what they are?

Digital agents... by SeaTurtle on 2014-06-27 04:31:00 UTC Reply

...I have to admit that I haven't seen Wreck-it Ralph, so if I say anything that doesn't fit the nature of these characters, just ignore it.

I'd like to evoke the geth from the Mass Effect video game franchise. Geth are essentially self-aware computer programs that are uploaded into servers or mobile platforms for various purposes. Like the characters you described, geth are "just code" as well and can't exist like we do in the Real World; they are confined to computers.

You could find a way to isolate the characters' data, save it somewhere, and later release them in a HQ computer-- or even in a robot body if DoSAT is given the materials and motivation to build it. You just gotta watch out for the computer's battery life.
Well, don't forget... by Herr Wozzeck on 2014-06-27 01:13:00 UTC Reply

...that in the canon itself, at least some of the characters are aware of the fact that they're code. It was the concept at the heart of why Ralph destroyed Vanellope's car upon King Candy saying "glitches can't exit the game", remember?

At any rate, though, I'm with AdmiralSakai on his particular solutions, though I don't know what would work for Wreck-It Ralph. One thing I can think of is to actually have the character inhabit a specialized arcade cabinet developed by DoSAT that can plug into the wall, and then their partner can plug a mobile gaming console or something like that into the wall so that the WIR characters can sort of tag along for missions, and then take the shenanigans from there. (After all, Ralph was able to get into two games with vastly superior graphics via walking through the outlets, right?) It's just a possibility, though, so take it with a grain of salt.

Was going to put them in infrastructure anyway by zdimensia on 2014-06-27 15:47:00 UTC Reply

There's the sorting room, department of finance, archives. They could be tasked with making sure HQ's computer systems are running smoothly. Maybe they can help DoSAT analyze new equipment from the inside, or program the holographic trainer.

I was thinking that if we treat them like intelligent computer programs, they wouldn't go into word-worlds. Or maybe it would only be into computer-aware worlds. Or perhaps there are agents who wouldn't mind an intelligent device instead of a fictionary to banter with. There is Greg http://ppc.wikia.com/wiki/Gloria_Kindheart

One thing. by Huinesoron on 2014-06-27 16:07:00 UTC Reply

If you send anyone into HQ's computer network, they might meet someone they're not expecting.

hS

Ah, I was under the impression that it was dead. by zdimensia on 2014-06-27 17:37:00 UTC Reply

I've got more reading to do. Or I could just let those two die with the fic and hope someone else wrestles with this problem first. (What do you do with someone who thinks he's nice!King Candy and Penellope's kid sister?)

What is dead can never die. by Phobos on 2014-06-27 18:46:00 UTC Reply

But rises again, with better programming.

The Ghost in the Machine is too clever to be dead for long.

-Phobos

I understood that reference. (nm) by eatpraylove on 2014-06-28 14:51:00 UTC Reply

And... by Phobos on 2014-06-30 15:45:00 UTC Reply

-Phobos

Well... by AdmiralSakai on 2014-06-27 01:22:00 UTC Reply

If they can get into power supplies as a part of their nature then they can get into all SORTS of devices, and probably become highly overpowered, so I for one would restrict their natural traversal abilities to things native to the WiW continuum and have all others be initially incompatible. Then DoSAT build or supply other WiW-compatible devices with whatever capabilities and limitations you as an author see fit to produce.

Back and forth. by AdmiralSakai on 2014-06-26 21:11:00 UTC Reply

I was initially going to go with the last because I couldn't imagine how knowing or not knowing you were digital would change that fact, but actually it matters quite a lot- video games are not, internally, related to computers in any way, so Azeroth is just as "real" as Middle Earth.

Therefore, I think whatever rules apply in-universe would apply here- if they can't enter the physical world in any way in canon, they cannot do so in Headquarters either...

BUT this can easily be changed for authorial convenience- running them through the laser from Tron or a Star Trek mobile hologram emitter could make them tangible.

(O.o) by TwisTed_R3V3NG3 on 2014-06-27 02:48:00 UTC Reply

That's GENIUS! You'd have to be careful who exactly gets through, though. For example, do you think ANY of the agents would be able to deal with something like a Big Daddy, or maybe Bowser? I think an MHE would be a helluva lot safer than the Tron laser.