My Thesis Project Online
Chapter 3
A Day in Hell
“Was Hell really created by God, and at what point in the first seven days did he find the time to add such a devious afterlife. I believe there may be issues with when it was actually needed, was it at the point Man and Woman first sinned that such a place was added? Strangely enough I would imagine it is a lot like the world we live in now. Am I too off the beaten track with this thought?”
- Bathroom wall 1972.
Genesis Online has been out for a while and the Reviews were mostly favorable. The moment I stepped into the World with my new avatar, I could see why. The buildings, the people, everything! It was for the lack of a better term Epic. I had no idea where that term came from, but standing here in this moment. It was the only word that came to mind.
*Deep Breath*
Staring got old after a while. Yeah not joking, I stood there mouth hanging open for nearly twenty minutes taking in the sight of the World there in front of me. All kinds of races, hair colors, outfits, buildings you never thought possible, and everywhere I looked, there was something you only saw on Television or the Net. All as real and interactive as real life.
I had to exit the capsule and confirm which one was the real World.
Once back inside Genesis World, I took a walk around to see the sights of the city they start you in. I waved off the tutorial window, thinking it wasn't needed.
Although the theme of the game was a fantasy setting, swords and magic and stuff. The town was for the most part, fitting. Most of the buildings were stone with wood or thatched roofing, and some tile. Yet, some of the buildings didn't seem to fit, they had modern or a real World look to them. I decided to ask about it.
“Player stores, a player bought the building and updated the look.” The less intimidating player in a robe answered my question. “Man, new players these days, don't they know anything?”
'Excuse me for having a family that never allowed me to use VR.' Feeling more ashamed than anything after that.
So, now what do I do?
“Hey you, move it!” Someone bumped me from the back with a large bag.
“Sorry!” as I jumped out of the way. Her voice was familiar but I couldn't place where from. I watched her enter the store and sell a bunch of things. Giving up on remembering where I knew her from. I headed to look for something to do.
People here sell things, buy things, run stores, and wear crazy outfits. I look at my clothes, the look was really plain compared to everyone else. I wasn't that worried about looks and my outfit. Still, it might be nice to see what clothes and the such cost here. You could say I was okay with my outfit as long as my shirt looked good on me. This one was certainly not of an acceptable quality or look. I recall a shop with clothes on that street over a block. Let's head there.
Yup, no money and nothing to trade. At least I got to look at what was there, prices ranging from 1 silver all the way to hundreds of gold coins. So with a few future purchases in mind, now, how do we earn money?
I could see a few players over the last few hours were selling things, making trades, running errands or quests as I had overheard. I knew most of the discussions on our campus were about chains of quests they were working on. That or combat techniques. So fighting was possible, should I try that?
Thinking it should be easy enough I head out to the areas outside of town.
You are dead! Would you like to revive in town?
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Not good at all, first thing that killed me, a gecko, a freaking Gieco gecko, the tiny thing beat me up and sent me to the revive point in town. Now what? I lost my shirt. That, and my pants are starting to look really tattered. No helping it, guess we try again.
You are dead! Revive in town?
You are dead! Revive?
Revive?
I sit down in front of the revive point. It looks a bit like a cross between a huge Catholic church from Europe and a Greek amphitheater. Round made out of a white marbled stone high columns in a circle. Large dome over the top with stained glass windows between the columns, artistic without appearing religious. Plus a space for a huge amount of people to arrive and not run into each other in a raised stage area. Currently I am sitting on those steps leading down to the seating area, pondering my next move.
“INFERNAL LIZARD!”
“You okay?” A females voice from behind me interrupts my thinking.
“Huh?”(Core)
“You okay there?” A young woman bent at the waist looking at me with a bit of concern on her face.
“Not sure.” I offer back.
“Let's sit over there,” she points to a side area of the seating part of the revival building.
“So, that's what happened. Okay do the tutorial and you'll be fine, good luck.” Her eye shining and happy that she could be of some help. She got up and turned to say goodbye.
“Um? I hit 'No' on that window.”(Core)
“And?”
“.”(Core)
“So what is the problem?”
“How do I do the tutorial?”(Core)
She thought for second, then started waving a hand around. “It's on the interface for new players, the tutorial button should still be there, even if you finished it.”
“I don't want to sound really stupid but I guess that can't be helped at this point, what interface for new players?”(Core)
“...” She just stared at me then burst out laughing. Grabbed my hand adjusted my fingers to a pointing then moved my hand in front of me, then I was shocked by all the information that showed up.
“Wow!” (Core)
“Anything you don't understand ask your VRAI.”
“Thank you, thank you, so much.”(Core)
“Yea, you can also get a new set of starter gear anytime, although you look fine without a shirt, NPC's might take offense to you being in your underwear. Good luck Core. See ya!” She waved and headed out the front of the amphitheater.
I waved as an after thought, a bit sad she had left, but there was the User Interface there now so I think I had a solution to my problems.
By the end of the tutorial I had a new iron dagger, a wooden sword and a few coins to get food with. Knowledge on the basics of fighting here and using skills, a quest to learn a new class skill and a letter of introduction to use on a crafting trainer of my choice. I was starting to feel a real world hunger so I decided to log out to eat something.
I sat on the counter in the kitchen eating my microwaved dinner. I thought about my experience so far. Those words at the end of the tutorial remaining in my mind.
Although there are a few things not allowed, out in the Game World many things are possible. Please enjoy the World of Genesis, we look forward to seeing the stories you create!
What do they mean by many things are possible. I recall people talking about building towns and making things, quests of extreme difficulty and interesting combat mechanics. There was also that bit in the news about a group doing a large event where they made a huge work of art and took photos then posted them on the net. Still, 'many things are possible', it was vague and held so much promise. So what should be my story be, the things I want to do and accomplish? So far in life, it was to get my degree then find a job, make my folks happy, find a girlfriend. Was there really so little to me? Here in the university, I should be living for education and the future. It cost a lot to get here: time, money, and effort. Now that one night had ruined everything and my future ruined, I was kind of freed from that old track and on a new one. Where will this all lead? And will I survive once my parents find out? I hung my head and went back to my room.
Welcome to Datawaves 4703 Space Saving Module. Please enjoy your experience.
Throwing you away now, user returned.
Entering home space.
End Chapter 3