Virtuoarchaeology
Virtuoarchaeology is a scientific field dedicated to the study of ancient virtual reality worlds and simulations. Among the associated activities include the study of their source code to decrypting and decompiling them to make them compatible with modern VR worlds - either through porting or through emulation.
Overview
Early VR worlds were much more simplistic and self-contained. These sorts of worlds are the easiest to restore as the older vertex-based geometry can be converted into the more modern atomic-based rendering with the aid of AI virtualization. However, some worlds with source code that was generated with AI are far less predictable and sometimes very dangerous. Runaway procedural algorithms can pose a threat to the greater VR network due to the possibility of viruses and file corruption. As such, highly trained experts are sent into these worlds to stabilize these algorithms.
A related, but distinct field is known as virtuobiology, or the study of life forms that were generated in virtual reality. The two fields heavily overlap as virtuobiological life forms (or VR life forms) are often discovered in the excavation of VR worlds. As such, the handling of older VR worlds must be done with care to minimize the risk of harming any sentient life that may have found a home within these worlds.
Organizations
Archaeology Guild
The Archaeology Guild is the leading practitioner of virtuoarchaeology. With the fall of the Federation of Stellar Systems, the Archaeology Guild has taken up the mantle of providing virtuoarchaeology licenses and digsite permits. Extensive academic preparation is required to become certified due to the inherent dangers of the field.
The megacorporation Virtuoso has made numerous attempts to forcefully buy the Archaeology Guild to secure dominance over any future archeological discoveries, though they have met resistance by the PHIA Phorce.
Setting |
Timeline • Singularity War • Sundew Framework • Virtual Wars |
Factions and Polities |
PHIA Phorce • Virtuoso • Federation of Stellar Systems • Virtuoso • Sundew Foundation • Dreaming Kingdoms • Awakened • Flying Castle • Virtual Police Department • Gem Guild • Archaeology Guild • Hackers • Vtuber • VR Mutants • Bandits • Valerian Empire • Insurgency • Wow Signals • Red Crusaders Clan • Hands of Midas • Somnium Roleplay Group |
Physical Worlds |
Yeddo • Torus • Torus Cryptomines • Talu 4 • Merin • Animus Prime •Salvaxes • Carbonia • Rajada • Multo • Earth • Mars • Fractal |
Virtual Worlds |
Tevaris • Memory Palace • The Boomtowns • Virtual Zoo • Olympia • Atlantis • The Underworld • Grave Garden • Animus • Oraulan • Games Arena |