System Protocols
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Social Synchronization & Temporal Dilation
Engineered for high-latency social environments—from intense house parties to the soul-crushing boredom of the DMV. PassTime serves a dual function: it is a competitive party protocol for clusters of up to 7 "Spuds," and a psychological time-dilator for the waiting agent. By locking your neural focus onto the thermodynamic loop, the app compresses perceived wait times in doctor's offices or government queues. Turn a 45-minute wait into a white-knuckle fight for survival, or sync up with friends nearby to see who cracks under the pressure first. No internet required—just pure proximity tension.
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The Rhizome Mesh Network
Forget the internet. PassTime creates an ad-hoc local mesh network (The Rhizome) using Bluetooth, BLE, and Ultrasonic audio to link devices in the immediate vicinity. Up to 7 players can join a single high-bandwidth cluster. If the lobby is full, new connections automatically transition to a passive "Spectator Mode," allowing you to monitor the game state via radio sniffing without taking a slot in the roster.
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Thermodynamic Physics Engine
This isn't just passing a token. The "Potato" is a simulation governed by thermal laws. Every successful transfer increases the "Session Heat." As Heat rises, the fuse burns faster, the screen shake intensifies, and the haptic heartbeat accelerates. Your device isn't just a controller; it's a Geiger counter for digital stress. Manage your transfers carefully—holding the potato generates points, but holding it too long results in a thermal runaway event.
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Risk/Reward Scoring & Penalties
Victory favors the brave, not just the fast. You earn points by holding the potato as the fuse ticks down—the closer to detonation, the higher the point multiplier. But be precise: spamming the screen when you don't hold the potato triggers a "Tap Penalty," deducting score and locking your inputs. Use "Shouts" (Taunts and Encouragements) to disrupt your opponents' focus or signal alliances across the mesh.
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Critical Mass: The Nuclear Win
Survival isn't the only way to win. If the group manages to keep the potato in play until the Session Heat reaches Critical Mass (10.0x), the physics engine inverts. The next player to catch the potato triggers a "Nuclear Win," instantly awarding massive bonus points and detonating every other player in the mesh. Will you play it safe, or push the heat to the limit?