Good idea re: Z-Factor. Actually, 'Mu Factor' might work, speaking of Greek letters.
Regards 'the same name', I'm employing a bit of handwaving. There are important plot-related reasons $LONE_GENIUS_AND_BACKERS wanted to revive the game itself without filing off names, and Dantech Corporate may have been willing to cut them a break, unlike the real world NCSoft's recalcitrance with City of Heroes. (in the latter case, there's at least one fan-based revival being attempted, 'City of Titans')
Regards 'too soon'-- the Ecoclysm happens in the 2030s (an echo of the Great Depression) and the initial launch of 'The Mu Factor' happens in the 2060s, with the reboot attempt happening in the 2070s. So, a generation of distance as you suggest.
Re: authoritarianism versus 'free thinkers'-- in the story I don't plan to clearly identify them as $GOOD_LEADER or $BAD_LEADER. Both should be charismatic, sympathetic, but shadowy and powerful individuals with their own agendas that will not be entirely clear even to their most trusted lieutenants. I think it's interesting to imagine what Professor Xavier would be/do if he were the one having to run a 'back alleys' operation and what Magneto would do if he were secretly running things for his convenience. Though, once again, I haven't settled on who or what these leaders will be.
Re: 'AI running the game decides to run a revolution scenario in the real world'-- the focus ought to be on the game and what happens in it, and what players do in the real world that reflects back on the game. I'm not planning a stereotypical 'AI run amok' scenario.
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Regards 'the same name', I'm employing a bit of handwaving. There are important plot-related reasons $LONE_GENIUS_AND_BACKERS wanted to revive the game itself without filing off names, and Dantech Corporate may have been willing to cut them a break, unlike the real world NCSoft's recalcitrance with City of Heroes. (in the latter case, there's at least one fan-based revival being attempted, 'City of Titans')
Regards 'too soon'-- the Ecoclysm happens in the 2030s (an echo of the Great Depression) and the initial launch of 'The Mu Factor' happens in the 2060s, with the reboot attempt happening in the 2070s. So, a generation of distance as you suggest.
Re: authoritarianism versus 'free thinkers'-- in the story I don't plan to clearly identify them as $GOOD_LEADER or $BAD_LEADER. Both should be charismatic, sympathetic, but shadowy and powerful individuals with their own agendas that will not be entirely clear even to their most trusted lieutenants. I think it's interesting to imagine what Professor Xavier would be/do if he were the one having to run a 'back alleys' operation and what Magneto would do if he were secretly running things for his convenience. Though, once again, I haven't settled on who or what these leaders will be.
Re: 'AI running the game decides to run a revolution scenario in the real world'-- the focus ought to be on the game and what happens in it, and what players do in the real world that reflects back on the game. I'm not planning a stereotypical 'AI run amok' scenario.