Nearer to the launch date, more was the mayhem.

Half of the time, the students were discussing about the game. Remaining half, watched news, feeds and more, all related to the game.

Someone with lots of free time did research and found that all of the students in Norton Institute had either purchased or rented a pod. And lots of factions sprung up automatically. No need knew where they would end up inside the game but they were ready to follow their leaders to the top. Those with deep pockets accepted many of them as members of their virtual workshop. Asher Beaumont had lots of competition but he still prevailed and got third place. The top two - sigh! One was doing Ph.D and the other was a true beauty. Beauty trumps money and power, especially in young horny adults. Not that they were bad. In fact, Asher was clutz compared to fifth place guy but Asher had plenty of money to spare. His brother had given him the job of advertising their family's intentions, which he was doing beautifully.

Leroy did not join any factions. He was not that gun ho about games. Even when he watched edited videos and livestreaming of games, he didn't feel the adrenaline pump. He was a salted fish through and through. It didn't matter. No one ever asked his faction affiliation. All assumed that he would join Asher's group. But Asher, who had spent three years with Leroy would not join any factions or workshop. This deadbeat was either working, snoozing or running between the classes, trying to cram as much studies as possible with college time. He had never divulged why he wanted money so desperately and Asher was sensitive enough to not ask.

The hype towards game was nearly turning into mass hysteria. But after few cases of people getting into fights in the gaming pods showrooms for not having stock and their subsequent arrest, the matter cooled somewhat. The gaming company and Wave communications came up with innovative ideas to pacify people along with usual trope. The unveiled experience centers for those who had pre-ordered, paid in full but not received the pods yet. Lucky few members in this large pool of customers would have first hand experience of the game, barring the beta testers.

Now this was a huge reversal. Those whom already bought and installed the pod, started crying. As next part of advertising strategy, wave communications disclosed new method of promotion. Few lucky people would be selected among those use their communication system in any way in any of the events involving the game. These chosen few can actually access the tutorial island earlier than others.

Now what does that mean? Those with pod, few hours of experience. With the pod, a long period of experience. Every beta tester had emphasized on not skipping tutorial island before entering game proper. But the time spent there can be as less than a day to week or so, based on how fast you learn and integrate. And all know the fact that it is easier to make a name early in the game. How to make name? Be faster, finish your quests, kill monsters, level up, do anything first time faster than others and your name shall be in the Glory list. Those with the pods laughed like lunatics at this unexpected windfall and tried to be one of the lucky ones. Few guilds had already created their own pages in Wave and openly recruited those who got these early access. Few just wanted details, exclusive or otherwise in exchange for cash.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The gaming nerds turned into cliches. Few turned into bedside analyst, few became predictors. Few daredevil rich wallets turned into betting. Each day, game would release a new detail and a whole day would be spent on it to glean the details.

The rumours were right. There was no direct pay to win scenario within the game. All interactions with NPC was through game coins. Having said that, there was a cheat code too. Each person could load ten million credits before entering the game which would be converted to game coins. But the price was steep. It said so, boldly on the credit loading page. As this was money within player before starting the game proper, the conversion rate was a bit extreme. 100 credits amounted to a single copper coin. Ripping off boldly. Still, the guilds pooled whatever money they had, they begged and borrowed to ensure many of their loyal members paid the maximum money.

Another way to rip off the money from guilds and alike was a party spawning within the same village or town. You want to play with your buddy? Pay extra to get code. Both of you used codes and be born in same novice point. You are part of adventure team or workshop. You work better with your comrades. No worries, pay extra for each buddy you want to tag along and you can pull upto twenty buddies with you.

Another day. A new way to swallow money from players. Preload extra cash to have better introduction items. Pay even more to get better starter kit. Pay premium subscription plan concurrently to get gift crate with every subscription bill. Different tier of subscription and period, different levels of gift crates. Subscription plans started with basic noob plan which provided zero crates to topmost tier which gave best option. The game site did not explain what can be expected within the gift crates but common assumption was potions and consumables. Better the tier, better the grade of consumable. The subscription period had great importance too. From daily subscription for those who played once a while to weekly, quarterly and monthly subscription to those who would play daily.

The guilds and companies behind they were becoming mad. The gaming company should have unveiled all these matters together. They would have picked and chosen methods feasible for them. This piece meal matter of disclosing details meant they had to keep on speeding on daily basis. Yes, this was another perverse way of how game behaved. It did not allow for wait and watch scenario at all. Each day money spending option would be unveiled and it would close after twenty four hours and then the new scheme would be unveiled.

Alan Beaumont and other businessmen who were scratching their heads welcomed this move though. Guilds borrowed money from these people, each time using guild shares or future of guild as collateral.

Though there were high risk high return investments and many of these money seekers were supposingly new to the game, they still had lots of following. There was still a chance that they would many name and fame, along with money, within the game.

The most recent update made guilds stand up and dance jubilantly. Finally, they received good news. But was it though?