About 5 years ago, one idea for the series came to my mind, about two friends who, in a strange way, fall into the game worlds, in each of which its own history unfolds. Reflecting on this concept, from time to time, and faced with various sources of inspiration, such as the “first player to prepare” or, many well -known here, the animated series “Wes and Flynn”, I slightly transformed the initial idea. So, the series, due to technical and financial capabilities, became a book, friends, according to personal and scenario preferences, became brothers, and a “strange image” of movement to the game worlds was replaced by a high-tech VR device. Here I am finishing a boring background and moving to the point.
A brief synopsis, so that you could understand whether you want to spend time reading a passage of a book:
The main characters are two brothers, the youngest – Maxim, who is fond of video games and, in general, embodies a rather stereotypical image of a hypera, the elder brother – Dima, is rather the stereotype of her son’s son, a successful businessman, with a beauty wife and a bunch of cool, extreme hobbies. The brothers have good relations, despite the differences, and the eldest, being very rich, is not rarely pleased the youngest with steep game gifts. One of which is an unusual VR device from an unfamiliar company. Having connected to him, they for a moment fall into an overly good simulation of reality, after which they lose consciousness. Having woke up, they understand that they got into some huge, closed camp, where they hold a considerable number of gamers from around the world, forcing daily, to spend many hours in super-realistic and, moreover, quite dangerous virtual reality. The main characters begin to gradually understand what is happening and look for a way to escape from the camp.
I decided to preserve the serial structure where each immersion in the game universe will be a separate story intersecting with events and \ or characters from the corresponding game, but will also develop a through plot that explains the origin of the VR device, the essence and reasons for creating the camp itself and the abduction of a large number of gamers. Below, under the spoiler, I will describe a little more details of the plot. In the crazy plans that come to my head (mainly at 2 a.m., when to get up at 6 a.m., of course) there was still an idea to organize a collective spelling of stories, so that anyone could come up with their “character” who got into the camp and, accordingly, write their own, small (or large) story that takes place with it in any gaming universe. The idea still lives in my head, but perhaps it is still far from its organization and implementation.
Here is a text directly copied from my notebook with notes and slightly edited, so there are pieces of working moments. I left them for completeness.
The founder of the entire Kaniseli is a scientist (I have not yet come up with a name) (Elon Musk from the world of neurobiology), he has really cool ideas (the main thing is to use the human brain during sleep, for a certain work. Using an average of 8 hours of sleep per day, multiplied by 8 billion people, will increase the calculation factor many times. According to the type of programs using a small resource of a regular home computer, but installed on millions of devices, which gives huge computing power. And the human brain, as you know, is millions of times more powerful than any supercomputer). When he conducted experiments on animals, some percentage of experimentalists went crazy, and he was forbidden to conduct experiments in public. A quote from the dialogue – “these damn moralists, human rights defenders who stand in the way of science and development, because of them they were removed from work, but they did not take into account that the presence of a huge amount of money, in banana republics, allow me to do, practically anything”. Scientist is the founder of one of the largest companies in the world. Research is conducted in Cuba.
Why gamers and games? In the course of many studies, the scientist realized that the brain of gamers was more prepared for immersion in virtual reality, and the simulation of gaming scenes gives more data for research. Basically, little-known gaming streamers and YouTube blogers are abducted, it is easier to find them, and their audience is not so big as to begin to sound the alarm, with a missing. Another way to search for gamers is the fake company Salamandra, which sells for relatively little money, a very cool VR shit, its advertising is introduced based on the history of search in browser and so on (generally targeted advertising).
Immersion is similar to a conscious dream. VR The device stimulates certain areas of the brain and can even cause simplified images, but the rest of the brain generates itself, based on existing visual experience. A certain percentage of people goes crazy and loses its connection with reality (one of the problems that the scientist tries to solve), during a long testing. All stories from the media about the dangers of video games are complete nonsense, but smoke without fire is unprecedented. Video games are the only form of media that can drag out a person too much. All subjects who went crazy during the tests had some small psychological injuries and deviations that are mainly from childhood (this line is still being worked out).
Blok about why I posted this, not even having finished even to some logical point in the narrative.
Everything is simple here – I want to know the opinion of people from the outside. Suddenly the majority write that the concept itself is not interesting, secondary (I myself thought about it) and stupid. I am not going to fall into depression and cry in a corner, from such words, but it would be useful to realize that I am engaged in unpromising plot to move on to other ideas. However, to judge you, Write your opinion in the comments.
Actually to the one who interested it 🙂
The name of the book – Gamesurfers. This is a working name, I am still considering it 🙂
At least editors, I apologize in advance.
Here is a link to Google a document, if someone is more convenient for someone:
Here the passage itself:
Prologue
The usual, summer day. The sun was almost hidden beyond the horizon and a light, cool breeze saved from the heat. I went home from work on my usual route. So familiar that my legs carried me themselves, on autopilot. I did not pay attention to what is happening around, completely immersed in my thoughts. From this semblance of trance, I was brought out by someone’s scream from the side:
– Hey brother! Hear, there is a smoke?!
The question was approaching me – a tracksuit, black shoes, a cap, a impudent and smug grin, in his hands he threw the rosary. Typical stereotype. So corresponding to the standard image that there was even a feeling of playfulness, as if there was a camera somewhere around the corner and I accidentally got to shooting a cheap, Russian series or stupid pranks. Two, no less typical “brother” sitting on the courts nearby, stood up, with a smile about something.
– Soryan, I do temple-nile.co.uk not smoke.- I tried to answer in the most calm and relaxed voice, although my heart has already begun to gain an alarming pace.
– Cho, athlete? Or e -sportsman? He Ha Ha!!
His sings came closer and began to get together together. Yes, I was thin and slightly pale, in addition, I was wearing a T -shirt with the Grand Theft Auto 5 logo. Even “clear boys” know that this is a video game, and it seems he believed that he came up with a brilliant joke. I tried to continue my way home, but Gopnik did not stop and blocked my way.
– Hear, wait, but there is a little thing? Throw the brothers on the sigi!
– Be sure to win as soon as the championship. – I answered, grinned wryly and stepped forward.
I understood that I was only exacerbating my position, but that was my character, which also began to engage in my chest, fear was very sharply replaced by irritation and growing anger.
– Sysh, and who are you, Schaub so baza? Boys, yes he, the campaign, finally does not respect us!
The first blow came from behind. I didn’t even notice how one of them went behind me. He hit the back of his head, his head instantly burst. I staggered forward and caught a blow in the ear, from their main starter. At that moment, rage finally woke up in me. Time seemed to slow down, I remembered all the fighting wings in which I played – Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Street Fighter, Injustice, my eyes covered the veil of anger, as if someone else controlled, I swung and ..
I was lying on the ground. The whole body pierced pain, as if a truck had just knocked me down. They threw me to the ground and just kicked me. Yes, I struck several blows before that, but I am not a professional boxer, not a hero of a Hollywood action movie and even more so, not a character of the game. My blows, even if they were strong, will not disable the enemy, not to mention the fact that there were three.
Gradually I got to my feet and slowly wandered towards the house. I checked my pockets – yes, they took the phone and money, the amount was small – I don’t give a damn, but the mobile phone is sorry, not the top iPhone, of course, but a good, not cheap smartphone. Okay, at least they left the keys to the apartment.
Having reached home, I first went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Damn, I looked like a uruck from the lord of the rings. Almost the whole face was swollen, in places turned blue and yellowed. It was a terrible sight. I washed myself as I could, since even the slightest touch to my face was surrendered by an acute pain.
When I went to the kitchen, I ran out to meet the only roommate, in my small one -room apartment – a cat.
– Yes, Korvo, your owner leaked the rink like Nubyara. – I answered my pet with a sigh, to his questioning look.
Having fed the cat, I sat down at the desktop. Habitual and expensive place. Included his, almost top -end, gaming computer, put the mouse cursor to the label of the recently installed game and measured. I did not want to play – my head was buzzing, besides, the hivery of detached thoughts swarmed in it. I removed my hand from the mouse, leaned back in an armchair and closed my eyes.
I can not be called physically weak, a couple of years ago I even actively visited the hall, and I don’t know how to fight. In the end, I live in a not the most prosperous and calm area – I had it and give it in the face and I myself received it not the first time. However, I have always been a non -conflict person and, more importantly – insecure. Perhaps this is the main reason that I live alone, I go to shit work and almost have no friends in real life. Unlike virtual. Yes, video games are my passion and saving raft in this ocean of a crazy, modern life. How nice, every time immerse yourself in a new, marvelous world of some fresh toy. Pull away from all worldly worries and boring routine. There are people who consider video games drugs to a small degree, I even agree with them. Yes, it is worth admitting – I’m 24, my name is Maxim, and I am a poster! In my thoughts there was a hall and people sitting around me, like on the circles of anonymous alcoholics or drug addicts. I smiled slightly with this scene and almost at the same moment plunged into sleep.
– What a garbage happened to you?! – My older brother led me out of a dream.
Dimon often came to me on the weekend. Chat, ask like me, and million -once turn about my enthusiasm for video games. This time, when he, out of habit, opened the door with his key, and went inside, not the most pleasant picture appeared in front of him – when I turned off, I slept in a chair until the morning – my face was just as swollen and yellowish, and from the corner of my mouth, on a dirty blood t -shirt, and saliva was lowered.
– What, the fighting club decided to open? Just don’t say that you also have a split personality! Lord, there is no living place on the face!
– You haven’t seen their faces yet! – With difficulty, I squeezed a smile out of myself.
Just three years older, but Dima was my complete opposite. Tall, strong, self -confident, successful. He had a gorgeous, highly paid job, beauty wife, cool car and extreme hobbies – parachute jumps, base jamping, mountaineering and much more. A sort of James Bond, just not working for special services. I think it is not worth saying that I was madly envious of my brother.
– And what, you cut them with acute sarcasm, or threw with pathos phrases from this drawing? Lord, you almost never leave the house, as you managed? – My brother never missed a chance to pin me for my hobby, even now ..
– I don’t play Dota
– It doesn’t matter, go change clothes and let’s process your face, you have a first -aid kit?
– So you arrived for some reason or, as usual, to fasten your younger brother? – I put on clean clothes, simultaneously looking for any medicines in the cupboards.
– Firstly, I wanted to make sure that you had not yet thrown out the skates behind the monitor, and secondly, there is the reason for my arrival and, believe me, you will be very surprised. Judging by such a long hopping, you do not have any first -aid kit, so I go down to the car, I will take everything you need and, at the same time, a secret gift for you.
Dima smiled and left the apartment before I could say anything. We often teased and openly swearing each other, often bringing everything to a fight. From the side it seemed that we hate each other, but in reality everything was the other way around. Despite the difference in hobbies and life, Dimon and I were not only brothers, but also good friends.
About ten minutes passed and the door of my apartment opened again – Dima dragged along a clearly difficult, cubic box, about a meter per meter, completely black with the only, embossed, slightly silver inscription – Salamandra Corp. He put the box in the center of the room and looked at me with a wide smile, frozen in bewilderment.
– What is this?
– And you have a paralysis of the hands? Set and see! – Dima continued to smile stupidly.
Without hesitation for a long time, I ran to the kitchen to take a knife and set about such a pleasant activity as unpacking something new and also unexpected. Removing the top layer of protective cardboard and foam, I slightly numb. At the top of the box, on an impromptu, half -soft stand, sheathed with thin velvet, there were helmets that remotely resembling a VR device from HTC or Sony.
– This is a little strange. – I said in a half.
My older brother is not a poor person, occasionally he gave me gifts, including PlayStation, Xbox and even an expensive gaming computer, which I could not earn at the current state of affairs, therefore the gaming orientation of his new gift did not bother me. Although Dima did not support my hobby, he brought all kinds of gaming topics. I was rather surprised that neither Salamandra Corporation, nor about their helmets of virtual reality, I did not hear anything, although I am interested in this topic and regularly follow the novelties in the field of iron and devices.
I continued to unpack my new gift. The device was very different from everything that I knew. The voluminous, weighty, black, metal cube, which occupied most of the space in the box – it was located at the very bottom, was the basis of the device and, obviously, it was all “iron” in it. On the front surface of this very strange, system unit, a silver, embossed logo flaunted – the same as on the box. Unusually thick, hard, long and non -removable cables diverged from the cube, three for each helmet, of which, in turn, there were two. Another thin cable came out of the back of the case and ended with an ordinary, European plug for a socket, in other words – with a fork. More strange than an overly large and heavy case, the helmets themselves were. The first thing that caused bewilderment was the absence in the front of any hints of screens, in fact, the helmet simply covered the whole face and most of the head. Also, there was no hint of any headphones. But inside the helmet, in the part that should fit to the head, there were a huge number of small, round inserts, according to the sensation made of metal.
– I have doubts that it works, there are no screens right there.
– So, instead of doubt, put this crap in the outlet and let’s try it, I have to leave in an hour. – Dimon, hastily threw aside the cardboard box with other tinsel and almost solemnly put the weighty design of the mysterious VR device in the center of the room.
– Maybe we will first read the instructions? – I said, smiling slightly.
– Yes, you are kidding me, they drove!
I stuck the power cable into the outlet, pressed the only button and the device quietly faded, staining the thin line at the bottom of the case first in yellow, and after a couple of seconds in green, probably signaling the readiness. We, with my brother, almost synchronously picked up helmets. Dimon looked at me with a degree of uncertainty for me, after which, with a sharp movement, put a helmet on his head. I hesitated another second and followed my brother.
I completely plunged into darkness and at that moment a thought occurred to me, which I instantly blurted out:
– But there is no.
My head began to tingle significantly, as if it was carried through it with a thousand bare wires with a slight force of current. There was a feeling that darkness became thicker than the previous.
– . controllers!
Having finished the phrase, I fell out of darkness, as if opened my eyes, although they were definitely open all this time. As far as my gaze was enough, a dark purple surface extended in front of me, absolutely even, like the surface of the water with an ideal calm. The sky, as if completely absent, was a light, even barely glowing fog instead of it at the top. I looked around. Except my brother, who was also dumbfounded around, around there was absolutely nothing.
– Objects 427 and 428 connected, sir!
– Great, slow down the cycle and send the transportation group. And start scanning, I want data on both objects to be ready before their arrival.
– The group is already on the way, sir. I start scanning.
– Both male objects are brothers, I remember correctly?
– That’s right, sir. Scanning is still in the process, but I can already say that the 427th has very strong cognitive abilities.
– Higher than the object 211?
– No, unfortunately not, on average at the same level, but there are jumps exceeding the limit of object 211.
– Well, this is already good, we will show more attention to him in the research process.
– Based on the records, the object 427 received light physical damage, yesterday it was beaten near the house. I doubt that this influenced his cognitive functions, but examination of the doctor is desirable.
– Okay, upon arrival, send him to the medical sector.
– This is fine? – Dimon carefully pressed his foot in several places in front of him, as if checking if the mysterious purple surface would fail.
– It’s fumming like far from normality – my voice trembled noticeably – first I see you, well, in the sense of right you, not a computer model, and I see my hands and body … well. Really your own. Sensations, completely different, I feel the whole body as if I am here, in this strange, endless desert, and not in my apartment. We can move with the whole body, although I do not remember any controllers or sensors of the movement of the following set. And the worst thing is that my voice fell into a panic scream when I made typical movements with my hands near my head – I can’t take off my helmet!
– And what should we do? – Dima’s voice sounded surprisingly calm.
– Yes, I, fucking, have no idea! – Fear, anger and surprise were seething in me.
– Calm down, – Dima looked into my eyes. – There is a way out of any situation, right? This is, in any case, a computer, piece of iron. So now we ..
Everything was covered by darkness. In the blink of an eye, the world seemed to cease to exist. There was no purple wasteland, no Dima, only darkness. It lasted only a second, after which bright white light hit the eye, and a muffled, illegible noise in his ears. I often blinked and squinted, gradually I got used to the light and was able to see the vague outlines of people, in white robes, some kind of hospital equipment and a lamp directed right at me, which was a source of bright, white light. I tried to bring my hand to my eyes to cover them from the light, but at that moment a wave of panic surged over me – I was connected. Hands, legs and body were pulled by leather belts, I began to twitch and scream hysterically, forgetting about logic and sound reasoning. Several people came to me, I felt a painful injection and, very quickly, plunged into darkness again.
– I woke up at last. – The first thing I heard when I opened my eyes again was my brother’s words.
I was lying in a small bed, but this time I was no longer connected. Having stood up, I looked around – a small room, well -lit, without windows and with a single door. Dima was sitting on the second bunk, near the right wall.
– Where we are? – I did not really expect to hear the answer, but other thoughts simply did not go into my head.
– I have no idea, I was off, like you, when they threw me here. I was already knocking on the door, screaming, swearing, threatened, but in response only silence.
– What the hell is going on? Where did you dug up this damn viar altogether?
– I stumbled upon advertising on the Internet and simply ordered, nothing unusual or criminal, even the price was very profitable, it seemed to me a great gift.
– Oh, yes, go to the ass, nothing was said about the abduction of people in the advertisement!
We fell silent and the room was filled with oppressive silence. The uncertainty and absolute misunderstanding of what was happening, crushed on the head, causing physical pain, and the stomach was spinning from excitement. I felt that at any moment I could moan, and there was not even a bucket in the room. This little inconvenience seemed so insignificant, against the backdrop of the falling problems, which even caused a nervous laughter.
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