Metaphysical App: Difference between revisions

A '''Metaphysical App''' is a smartphone or PDA app -- which is to say, a specialized computer program -- that has a paranormal or supernatural function. By their very nature they're found in [[Urban Fantasy]] or "soft" [[Speculative Fiction]] settings where the tech base is ''at least'' advanced enough to support hand-held computing devices capable of running reasonably complex programs. The magic is in the ''program'', not the device it runs on.<ref>Otherwise you're just dealing with a conventionally enchanted hand-held item.</ref> There are settings where non-mobile computers or free-willed [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]]s can perform magic, [[Well, This Is Not That Trope|but in neither case could one classify them as "apps"]].

Exactly ''how'' such a program accomplishes its function is open to authorial [[Hand Wave|handwaving]]. They may be genuine [[Post-Modern Magik]], where technological means are being used to produce a magical effect. On the other hand, it may just be [[Clarke's Third Law]] in play, with an ultimately [[Magic From Technology|mundane reason for what just ''looks like'' magic]], however advanced it might be. Regardless, be careful that a [[Technopath]] doesn't get their hands on a phone or PDA that contains one of these.

*''[[Darwin's Game]]'' (as pictured above) gives each participant a Sigil, [[Superpower Lottery|powers randomly bestowed toon each user]]. The players participate for survival where they fight one another with their Sigil or weapons gained from the app can give out.

*''[[Ingress The Animation]]'' has Ingress, an app where two factions of the Enlightened and Resistance usesuse the oblivious public to battle each other for XM or '"eXotic Matter'(a" (matter from another dimension that can affect the human mind).

* ''[[Real Account]]'': (or Re"Real Account" is a social media program which consolidates all one's real-acaworld foractivities short)-- including financial and shopping -- wasinto a popularsingle socialall-purpose mediaapp. application untilHowever, for some users, it's much more -- dangerously so: it transports people's minds to a virtual space. Thewhere people arethey forced to play a death game where if theyou participantdie within followersthe diesgame, theyyou will-- also''and all your online followers'' -- die in the real world. And having ''no'' followers is a virtual death sentence.

* ''[[UQ Holder!]]'' is set in an era where magic and technology have advanced to the point that people can use a program to perform magic without the need of either training andor talent.

* [[Ratman]]'''' has the hero, Neo, who uses a smartphone-like device to transform into his [[Powered Armor]] as an app. He also has access to other apps that givesgive him different powers and equipment.