Notes on the Seaman game manual
Sega Seaman manual, Vivarium inc. 1999-2000 (subheadings are from the original text)
It is well known that as part of its genetic labeling, Seaman passes knowledge on to subsequent human generations orally. Furthermore, Seaman is said to have had a strong influence on the progression of ancient civilization, but the details of exactly how this was done are not yet fully understood.
The petting relationship between the human player and the Seaman is implied here to be in some way mutual. Seaman's growth as a metaphor for human evolution from fish to mammal to biped is turned around, as Seaman is seen as a key participant in humanity's subsequent growth from prehistorical to ancient civilisation.
Before starting a game
Once you begin raising Seaman, you are expected to assume complete responsibility for the care and upbringing of a living, breathing creature. So, before you begin with the initial set-up procedure, you are strongly recommended to double check with yourself that you are mentally prepared to assume this important responsibility.
The player is encouraged to relate to this game differently to how they would most others, and to see themself differently.
Consider this VMU to be both the Seaman and its habitat, and handle it with appropriate care.
This reflexive attitude to play is underscored in how the player is asked to relate to the physical hardware. A ritualistic set of procedures is being set up in order to change the context of play.
Creating a Seaman habitat
Once you have confirmed that the VMU to which you will create the Seaman habitat is firmly inserted into Expansion Socket 1 and the Microphone into Expansion Socket 2 (refer to the diag ram on p 4), you are just about ready. At this point you are advised to pause, relax and release any tension you may be feeling.
After preparing the scene, the player is instructed to prepare their body and mind for the experience.
Mental preparation
The most fundamental requirement for successfully raising Seaman is daily care and maintenance.
Checking in is the most essential part of this game.
Just as with a daily exercise program, it is important that you participate each and every day without fail. This concept is a prerequisite for being a guardian to Seaman.
Checking in is not just about Seaman, but about facilitating a change in the player. Comparing it to exercise suggests that by caring for Seaman, the player is caring for themself.
You will be witness to the drama of life over an extended period of time. Therefore, do not expect an experience similar to any other games, in which clearly defined events happen each time you play.The drama of life is ambiguous. "Drama" here again relates in some way to ritual, as the complexities of social life are made into a spectacle.
As with life itself, change only occurs over time and even then, slowly.There is a distancing implied here between life and the game, resisting the temptation to go all-out and say that Seaman is a form of life and instead making it clear that Seaman is a metaphor for life.
Seaman’s development will accelerate when in good humor. The only way to ensure Seaman is kept in good humor is to take adequate care of it daily, without fail, while constantly providing loving affection.
Explicit request for affection and signalling the importance of having a mental model of how Seaman might feel in response to your action or inaction. This is about affective labour.
Although raising Seaman does require a bit of perseverance, it is a bit like writing in a diary; something you need to persist in doing on a daily basis. By doing so, you will find yourself experiencing a grand drama, the likes of which have yet been rendered possible by even the most realistic of computer or console games.
The use of Seaman as a tool for personal development is made even more explicit here. Additionally, the comparison with "realistic" games is telling of a different kind of authenticity being aimed at here -- instead of photorealism, emotional authenticity.
For those of you with time to spare, one highly recommended and interesting method for enjoying your time with Seaman is to darken the lights to your room and simply vegetate while watching your Seaman go about daily life. Similar to a typical aquarium, Seaman will provide completely different and ever-changing scenery for your television set. And for as long as Seaman lives, the show will go on.There are a number of reversals at work here. First of all, Seaman is the one who has a "daily life" here, while the human player is merely "vegetat[ing]", suggesting that the animacy hierarchy has been upturned. And then, the care relationship has also reversed, whereby now is it Seaman who is making the human's habitat more pleasant.
How to interact with Seaman
Note: Do not attempt to tap, flick or tickle other household pets, wild or other animals outside of the Seaman Kit. Seaman is a very special creature that will respond to such stimuli. However, other animals NOT in the Seaman Kit have been known to become far more agg ressive when administered such contact, and it is not advised.Attempt here to highlight a disconnect between the rules of engagement for animals, and the actions with the magic circle of the "Seaman kit".
Caring for your Seaman
Granted, the system used to operate this habitat requires far more work than would a fully automated digital habitat system, but let us not forget the benefits that this analog style system provides. Perhaps such work will be useful in teaching you a concept that is often forgotten in this fully automated society we live in, mainly that the first step towards conveying true affection for another is through constant attention and care.A rare example of game text making explicit the didactic and dynamic purposes of manual modes of engagement that could conceivably have been automated. This is something to think about whenever you have to manually craft items or harvest crops or collect loot.
Starting over with Seaman
Note that it is unnecessary for you to arrange to have Seaman’s corpse disposed of. Do, however, mourn your loss and express your grief in whatever manner you deem appropriate.Perhaps it would have been worth noting that burying your VMU could cause damage to the ecosystem.
Living in harmony with Seaman
If Seaman is in a bad mood, it will elect to discontinue conversing with you. Whether the cause of this mood swing is inadvertent or intentional on your part is of no relevance. The following situations have been noted to cause a deterioration of Seaman mood:I find the silent treatment an interesting way of responding to abuse from players. An alternative would have been to program in forms of retaliation, but this would very likely have led to alternative modes of play whereby players deliberately try to escalate conflict. Refusal to communicate at all simply makes it a ludic dead-end. We can think of this in terms of affect theory as well, whereby if Seaman was cruel in return it would validate the player in some way, whereas simply refusing to respond can trigger shame.
- If you are violent towards or speak rudely to Seaman
- If you constantly use strange or foreign terms that Seaman does not understand
- If you willfully and consistently repeat the same types of words over and over
- ...
Seaman is a living creature.The distancing from before has been broken here, bringing Seaman into the realm of the living in order to talk about how to treat him appropriately.
Advice
You are free to enjoy Seaman in whatever manner you find appropriate. However, if you endeavor to successfully raise and assist in Seaman’s evolution, there are a few points you must take into consideration.Making clear that players may choose to not care for Seaman, but supporting positive behaviour with guidance and information.
...there is a strong relationship between knowledge acquisition and Seaman’s growth processThis suggests a link between cognitive and physical development, which is important when thinking about the scale of a virtual pet in relation to agency and relative states of animacy. To make this virtual pet more sentient you must help it to grow physically, and vice versa.
...you are encouraged to make the most of this kit and hone your custodial abilities.The skill developed here is about caring for another being.
Well, if you are certain you are ready, shall we bear witness to the unconventional world that is Seaman?Seaman is both a being and a world.
Final notes and pointers
Seaman is an honest and decent living creature who will ask you numerous questions. Please answer as truthfully as possible and never, ever lie.Again, when calling for respectful behaviour, Seaman becomes a living being.
You will find it advantageous to provide the patience that Seaman is lacking to ensure productive communication is achieved.Here there is a call for affective labour again, more explicitly asking the player to manage their own emotions in order to evoke the desired affect in Seaman.
Seaman will ask you numerous questions and obtain a considerable amount of personal information from you, however there is no risk of this information being leaked to an outside source nor will your confidentiality be breached, provided that you maintain sufficient care and management of your memory card.The player is caring for their own information and self-knowledge.
...be sure not to forget the name you have given Seaman, because you will be the only one who knows it.The player is caring for Seaman's information and self-knowledge.
The sanctity of life
Your role as the caregiver of an animal does not entitle you to end the creature’s lifeThis is in contrast to the material reality of being able to erase the VMU. Yet even when doing so, the player was asked to pay their respects to the lost life of Seaman.
Please remember that humans have been responsible for the senseless obliteration of numerous life forms on this planetDesire to teach players to live in "harmony" with living beings.
If you are interested in the protection and preservation of wildlife, please visit the following website to learn how you can make a difference : h t t p : / / w w w. p a n d a . o rg /I have mixed feelings about this use of game learning. How do we make sense of the continuity between play and voluntary labour in these kind of connections?