When a programmer gets stranded on a distant island, he doesn’t just start collecting food and water. He starts working on robots, learning to solve his survival problems with his new mechanical buddies in State Machine.
In State Machine, players will have to reprogram the robots they find to make them smarter, stronger, and to make money. If the player does their job well, it will help them avoid the dangers of the apocalypse, and maybe also make them some mechanical buddies as well.
Through the player’s work, their camp, and soon a nation, can become self-reliant, keeping the player rich and comfortable. Still, developer Terry Cavanagh (Super Hexagon, VVVVVV) hints that the robots can learn other behaviors as well, wondering “…what else might they learn?” if they’re able to pick up on everything else the player teaches them. Whether this is good or bad, Cavanagh has not stated yet.
Players can expect to program themselves a robot society some time in 2017. Those who wish to keep up to date with State Machine’s developments can sign up for a newsletter on the game’s site.