Obsolete Friends

I think it was really interesting that the creator chose a video game specifically to be Lucia's escape medium. But just like the game said, it allows you to be a different character, to not be you for a moment. Not to mention, a game is probably one of the most interactive forms of fiction as well. And in OF, the game lets you play as Luna, the Moon Guardian, who's role is to be a good friend by helping others and to make the world a better place. Things that would certainly make players feel good about themselves.

The game is pretty much built around it too. Your main task is to help out your friends with their problems. The game makes multiple mentions of how gifting can help strengthen bonds and friendships, and there's no deduction for gifting your friends the wrong item, they'll just give you a hint on who it's actually for. Hell, there are even NPCs that give you advice on how to help most of the characters. The game is specifically built to ensure you, the player, can act as a good friend to these characters, and ensure that you never get punished for any mistakes. While not a perfect comparison, it reminds me of how wikis and guides are available so that players are able to befriend their favorite characters ASAP, as well as avoiding the risk of negative interactions. It creates this fantasy that relationships are as easy to maintain, but that's because players have access to all the resources to secure it. But when Zoey comes into the picture, that fantasy falls apart.

Suddenly, players are confronted with a character with a genuine issue that can't be solved by a simple gift or reply, and one many people may experience. Zoey is a call back to reality, where difficult conflicts happen that requires people to reflect upon themselves to solve. If you remember the forum segments, I can't help but feel like this is why many of the users got upset at Zoey's inclusion. Many players enjoy games as a form of escapism from a difficult world, and now they're upset that they can't live in that perfect fantasy world where everyone gets along anymore.

It's clear that Lucia sees herself in Zoey. Players complain about Zoey due to how difficult she is to deal with, how much of an awful person she is to her friends. To the players, they are being reminded of a person who could exist in their life, but to Lucia, she is reminded that she is said person. So she tried to erase Zoey from the game, because she doesn't want to be confronted by a reflection of herself. She wants to live in the perfect world that other players want as well, and that involves completely removing Zoey's existence altogether.

However, she can't. Zoey comes back. The other characters remember her and go along with the intended story, and her lashing out still took place. No matter how much Lucia tries, she will always be reminded that those moments with Zoey will take place, and must take place for the narrative to progress. Lucia is reminded that the parts of her that she hates, as well as her past actions, can't just be removed so easily from existence. Zoey exists. Lucia exists. They are people with complicated issues, that might cause conflicts and harm others in the process. And yet, they still deserve to exist.

Should the other characters act like nothing happened? That they weren't genuinely hurt? No, they are as much as a person (narrative-wise) as Lucia and Zoey. They also deserve to be treated well and to be helped with their issues. The thing is, Zoey's friends want to help each other, they want to repair their friendship, and they all aim to work towards that goal in the end. That's the clear difference between Zoey and Lucia. Zoey still has their friends, Lucia doesn't, but that doesn't mean it should the end of the world for her.

It's true that some people won't forgive Lucia for her past behavior and actions, but that shouldn't be what defines her either. Lucia deserves to get help for her struggles, and she does deserve a better life. However, she can't get any of that by acting like nothing happened. That the pain, both hers and her friends', didn't exist. And that game, Observing Friends, was her wake up call to that. What was supposed to be a form of escape from her reality ended up being the thing that helped her confront it.