If you have played through the Demo of Ctrl Alt Deal, you get a glimpse of the world building that has gone into creating the game. In our Dev Blogs, we’re going to have a section set aside to help introduce our readers to the lore of the world in which Ctrl Alt Deal lives in, written by our Interactive Director, Amber.
Founders Hubert Gifford and Jiffrey Cain met in engineering college and became good friends while working on a project to “build a better mousetrap.” The Rube Goldberg-esque machine they came up with was completely ineffective at catching mice, but the central mechanism proved to be an exceptional paperclip.
After patenting their paperclip design, Gifford and Cain launched their company “GifJif” and its flagship product to an enormously positive reception. The current development of the digital age, complete with virtual desktops and AR meeting spaces, had led to a “retro rebellion” where people romanticized a simpler time of overwrought bureaucracy and redundant practices. Paperclips fit neatly into the cultural zeitgeist. A twisted bit of metal used to hold stacks of physical papers together? How quaint!
The company did well on its reputation for retro excellence for a while, but its true opportunity came during the Norwegian-Australian wars of the 2050s. The radically unpredictable conflict created a zinc shortage, and GifJif quickly pivoted. They ceased paperclip production and separated their steel reserves into base elements. Their new role as a major zinc provider allowed them to acquire several tech and engineering companies, and Paperclip International was born.
For the next fifty years, the company prospered. It acquired more divisions, more specialities, and more money. It holds a position as one of the top three largest companies in the world, next to retail giant Yellow Inc. and tech innovator Figgy.
Six years ago, Paperclip International went through a major upheaval when both its founders left the picture. Hubert Gifford died in a tragic boating accident, and Jiffrey Cain—diagnosed with a terminal illness—had his body placed in cryostasis. Gifford’s daughter, Veronica, inherited the majority share in the company and now serves as CEO.
While Veronica has complete control in most matters, the company bylaws require that for operations over a certain value she must get a sign-off from Cain. His frozen body can be thawed for short times to make business decisions and cast votes.
Some analysts believe the cryonics division will catapult Paperclip International into a new age and ensconce it as the number one company in the world. Others believe it’s the experimental space exploration track that will become the company’s legacy.
Almost no one mentions a small, oft-overlooked project in the artificial intelligence division, code named SCOUT…