Oakland, California

Ten years ago

Dustin Draper gazed out of his custom loft overlooking the bay. Enjoying a beer, completing the remaining lines of code, and watching the brilliant sunset were some of his favorite things to do. The hardware specifications for the VR headset that he had created far exceeded the competition. His hardware team was on the verge of perfecting the new, more powerful and lighter version.

We got the original Blindspot device down to 701 grams. Once we launch this updated version, it will blow away the competition at 314 grams. For the first time, I’m done before the engineers, and it is tight, using a fraction of the required memory.

Dustin’s phone chirped. He was annoyed at the intrusion.

Why didn’t I turn this off—Molly, that’s why.

The display read: the unknown gamer.

Who the hell is that? If I added this guy to my contact list, it’s probably safe to answer.

“Hello, Dusty,” a man with a heavy South American accent said.

“Sal?”

“Yes, it’s me. I was just thinking about you the other day. Of all my students, you were the brightest. I think you and Fosco were the only students to work in the biz.”

“It’s been at least three years since I saw you last. You still teaching?”

“Nah! I quit about a year after you graduated. I’m forming a new gaming start-up and need some state-of-the-art tech to run it, so you were on my short list.”

“You have a new game in development?”

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“Not yet, it’s all in my head right now, but I would like to work with you to help coax it out.”

“Game design is not my thing. I’m more of a hardware guy.”

“I know better. Your class project had game design and hardware elements. That’s why I gave you the extra credit. I know you have the head for it.”

Yeah, but I didn’t tell you that I fucking hated it. I do better at bringing stuff to life.

“I suffered through your class and leaned heavily on my class material to get that rudimentary game even working.”

“Yes, but you did it with style and grace. I’ve seen a lot of up-and-coming game designers, and you are a natural.”

“That may be, but I don’t enjoy game design; I’d rather build electronics to integrate into the game. Why are you suddenly so interested in my work?”

“Your games are incredible. They were barely announced and people already preordered them. And the test servers for the technical preview are always at capacity.”

“To be clear, they prepaid for the hardware I designed. The game is not the main product. I want to help people who have lost the ability to live a normal life. My hardware has the potential to do that and so much more.”

“That is why we should work together. With your hardware expertise and my game design knowledge, we can lead a world-class team. Imagine all the people we can help by developing the perfect escape from their meaningless lives,” Sal said.

“How can you say that? My goal is to give people purpose. I’ve helped people who have never walked or who have lost limbs. I created the game to help them use their new prosthetics. I’m not interested in creating any full-immersive experience for—gamers.”

“My apologies, Dustin. I had no idea that you were so passionate.”

“I’m not against gaming, I…just want to help people. Not exploit them for some giant gaming company.”

“How is your funding these days?”

“I’ve had some investors pull out, but most share my vison. Creating life-changing technology doesn’t happen overnight.”

“I totally agree, but I don’t see the problem of giving people a high-quality game. And what about the people who can’t afford real prosthetics? Don’t they deserve to benefit from your technology, too?”

I never thought of it that way. If I can give someone the ability to do things an able-bodied person could do, that might also have some value.

“I’m open to learning more about the start-up. But I want full control of my hardware.”

“Excellent, why don’t we discuss it further over lunch?”

“Okay. But I’m not agreeing to anything until I know that people’s lives will actually be changed for the better.”

“Of course, I see this as a win-win for the both of us. We’re just going to make a boatload of money in the process.”

Dustin cringed. He wasn’t interested in the money, but his research grants were coming to an end and he couldn’t help anyone if he didn’t have funding.