Gameplay
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Gameplay in the OA Metaverse can be described as exploration and adventuring in an ever expanding virtual universe.
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Mind uploading
Most videogames and VR worlds have revival and teleport features, central to the gameplay. Often these features are not explained, which makes it difficult to suspend disbelief. In the OA Metaverse, teleport and revival are explained by means of mind uploading technologies, which may well be developed in our own future.
Mind uploading technology is central to gameplay in the OA Metaverse. Mind uploading consists of making a copy of all information contained in the brain of a biological sophont and storing it on an appropriate support (mind file), in such a way to permit uploading and "running" the copy to a new biological, robotic or purely computational support.
A new biological body can be produced on demand with suitable technologies. Since body information can also be scanned and included in the mind file, the new body can be identical to the original one.
Mind uploading technology has been perfected in the Orion's Arm universe - one of the first references to uploading in OA timeline is "The Audubon Engenerator" - and many operational variants based on classical and quantum information theory are used.
"Since the early days of the Audubon Engenerator such long distance copying has become much more reliable and accurate, either using picotechnology and quantum information to 'teleport' unique instances of individuals from location to location at light speed or slower, or using classical information to make multiple emulations of sophont minds and bodies in several different locations at once".
In polities with a sufficiently high level of technology, citizens can purchase mind scanning, storage and uploading services. With certain limitations, such services are available in several "mind uploading stations" in the high tech areas.
Revival
Mind uploading technology permits extending indefinitely the lifespan of sophonts in the Orion's Arm universe: after the death of a sophont, the last copy can be uploaded to a new body. This is the basis of revival in the OA Metaverse.
It is important to note that players are responsible to purchase mind scanning, storage and uploading services. The most recent copy is used for revival. If a character dies without having ever received and stored a mind scan, (s)he cannot be revived and the player can only re-enter the OA Metaverse with a brand new character.
Legal identity is keyed to a unique mind signature, so all property is automatically kept on revival. This has severe complications if multiple copies are made, so technical and administrative safeguards against making multiple copies are in place.
Teleport
Mind uploading technology can also be used to "teleport" users from one mind uploading station to another: the user must purchase a mind and body scan in the first uploading station, its transmission to the second uploading station, and its restoration in the second station.
The original is destroyed after teleport.
Uploading stations in the same planet or habitat are linked by extremely fast communication networks. In principle, teleport technology could also work over interplanetary and even interstellar distances. In practice, using radiowaves for transmission would make the process to long and expensive.
Travel
Characters can walk or run short distances. Personal ground or airborne transportation vehicles can be purchased.
There are high speed bullet trains and airlines.
Teleport services between different mind uploading stations may be available for a fee.
Interplanetary travel is by spacecraft, and interstellar travel by wormhole.
Combat
It is important to stress that the OA Metaverse is not a combat centric game. Combat with other humans, sophonts and wildlife can be necessary on occasions. Players who choose to engage in combat activities must purchase weapons.
