With the rapid advances in computer technology, virtual reality was established. It was a field where game developers took advantage of the capability of computers to stimulate human brains through programming and coding; and then generate a virtual reality on the player's immersed subconscious.
"Today is a historic event for the gaming community! This is the day that the gaming world crossed the real world!"
Malakas na palakpakan ang sumagot sa masiglang pambungad ng host na nakatayo sa isang podium habang nasa likod nito ang isang hologram projection. Ipinapalabas sa hologram na 'yon ang trailer ng isang bagong labas na laro na talagang kinasasabikan ng komunidad ng mga manlalaro ng e-sports sa buong bansa.
"In this game, the gamer will experience the adventure! Damang-dama na ang paglalaro! Ikaw ang hero sa adventure na pipiliin mo! Please give me your warm round of applause for the first-ever virtual reality game, Undertaking!"
The game promised another level of user-friendliness. With the virtual reality technology, the players could execute their games as if they were part of it— in flesh.
"This innovation is all because of the genius behind the game, Mr. Nixon Cerafico!"
Sunod-sunod na flash ng camera ang sumalubong sa binatang pumalit sa host sa podium na kinatatayuan nito. Tumikhim siya at tuwid na tumayo. Taas-noo niyang hinarap ang media at maraming gamers na inabangan ang launching ng larong kaniyang ginawa.
Nixon Cerafico was the eighteen-year-old genius lad behind the virtual reality gaming in the country.
Inilagay ni Nixon ang kamay sa scanner na nasa gilid ng podium sa kaniyang harapan. Umilaw 'yon saka lumabas sa maliit na screen ang salitang 'activated'. Huminga nang malalim si Nixon nang masigurong naka-on na ang micro-chip na nakadikit sa podium at magsisilbi niyang mikropono.
Isang ngisi ang ibinigay niya bago nagsimula sa kaniyang talumpati, "Virtual gaming is a major innovation in the gaming world. This virtual game I created is called Undertaking. In Undertaking, players will generate temporal continuity from their unconscious minds. With this, the computer can stimulate the brain to send nerve pulses even though the players are unconscious after being injected with a very special liquid to shut down their consciousness."
Ilang tango at kunot ng noo ang naging sagot sa maiksing paliwanag ni Nixon kung paano nga ba gumagana ang Undertaking. Kung kaya't may inihandang mga flyers ang kaniyang developer team upang mas higit na maunawaan ito ng mga manlalaro at ng mga taong may interes sa bagong teknolohiya na 'to. Isa-isang ipinamahagi ang mga flyers sa madla habang itinuloy naman ni Nixon ang kaniyang talumpati.
"Since this is a virtual reality game, all of the events occuring inside the Undertaking will not manifest physically to the player. Pero habang nasa laro, mararamdaman ng manlalaro ang sakit, gutom, init o lamig. The player's senses will be stimulated to respond accordingly by the codes of the game. A more detailed explanation can be read on the flyers distributed to everyone."
A question was raised by Ms. Jenny Kim, from ABK Streaming Platform.
The robotic voice of the installed artificial intelligence in the conference room was heard. Automatically, a spotlight lit up and pointed at the woman in plain black blazer on the front row.
The woman under the spotlight named Jenny Kim smiled at Nixon before she placed her hand on the scanner beside the table in front of her, activating the micro-chip installed as microphone.
"Can you tell us what is the plot of Undertaking, Mr. Cerafico?"
Tumango naman si Nixon sa naging tanong sa kaniya bago itinuon ang tingin sa harapan.
A wicked grin spread on his lips, enjoying how every people in the conference was intrigued by his creation.
"The whole game is all about you— the warrior of Undertaking. The player has to reach the Dungeon Castle, defeat the Soul Eater— a dragon, and get the blue book to return to the Crescent Kingdom. The game is a test of strategy and proper execution. If the player succeeded, he can advance to the second phase as a Conqueror. If not, the player has to start again the level where he was currently at until he finishes all the levels for first phase." Nixon paused before he shrugged his shoulders. "There will be a total of ten levels per phase and a system update every end of a month."
Mainit na tinanggap ng buong bansa ang pagpasok ng Undertaking sa mundo ng e-sports. Tinangkilik ng mga bata at matatanda ang larong nilikha ni Nixon at ang kakaibang karanasan ng virtual reality gaming.
From then on, Nixon Cerafico— an eighteen-year-old genius computer programmer managed to climb to the top of the gaming industry. He built his name and his reputation.
He became a hero in the real world: The foundation of virtual reality gaming industry.
However, he didn't forsee the next turn of events.
Three years after the release of Undertaking, while the game was taking its highest peak, an unexpected mess occurred. Nixon found himself in the toughest situation in his career as a game developer and the game master of Undertaking.