"Its just a game, get over it"
As a guy who loves playing rpg games, I have always heard that line from my friends whenever a player would overreact about something happening in the game.
Whether they were suddenly killed just before they landed the final strike on a hard boss,
Or when a teammate turns out to be a noob
Or even because of an annoying player.
Sure, I have heard this line a couple of times, with a few being said to me.
But, never had I actually taken this line seriously.
Well, that was until I played Sword art online
/
Chapter 1: logging in
November 6 2022
To most people, that was just an ordinary date A normal date with nothing much happening.
But, to those players who were eagerly waiting for the release of the Nerve gear's first VRMORPG, it was a day worth waiting for.
Since the release of the gaming console that allowed players to literarily "feel" the game by stimulating the 5 senses of the players mind known as "nerve gear", players have been waiting patiently for the first game's release.
"Good morning everyone!" a joyful female voice plays out on a certain radio station on the wed
"This is Game juice; bringing you the latest 'juice' about the gaming world and everything you need to know about it." A catchy tune followed, before she continued
"Good news to all those gamers out there: The latest innovation from otherworld technologies has just been released. The world's very first VRMMORPG, Sword art online, and the first game to be played on the Nerve gear. Only 10,000 copies have been sold. So, what are you waiting for? Go and get your copy of Sword art online, and we'll see you on the other side."
And with that, the broadcast ended.
And, just 3 hours after this was broadcasted, the game had been sold out.
Those who were lucky enough to receive a copy were eager to wait for the server's official start, at exactly 11:59 pm tonight.
Out of all those excited to get play their games, there is one who wasn't as happy.
Having his game stolen earlier this morning, he just sat there moping, looking on his Facebook news feed on all his friend's photos and statuses about buying the game.
*sigh*
Sulkily, he just kept scrolling down the news feed.
Most of his friends seemed to have gotten their hands on the game.
"if only my game didn't got stolen…I would have had my picture here, with the game console…" he said softly, before letting out another sigh.
Just then, a pop-up suddenly appeared on his messenger.
Pinkyprincess12: Hey, Nate, you there?
And, as if the dark clouds looming above his head suddenly faded, so did his sadness
He hesitated for a moment, before typing a reply
Darkushunter: yeah, I'm here.
Pinkyprincess12: Yay!
Darkushunter: let me guess. You've got yourself a copy of the game, huh?
Pinkyprincess12: yeah! Of course! What kind of gamer wouldn't get them a copy?
Darkushunter: uhm….me….
There was a sudden pause in the conversation after this. Probably around 5 seconds before she replied
Pinkyprincess12: oh….that's too bad.
Darkushunter: tell me about it
Pinkyprincess12: what happened!? Tell me EVERTTHING
Darkushunter: some bastard stole my cd as I came out of the store.
Pinkyprincess12: good
Darkushunter:: why would that be?
Pinkyprincess12: check under your pillow on you bed.
Nate looked a bit suspicious, glancing at his blue covered pillow lying on his bed to his right.
What does she mean?
He started to doubt a bit about his friend. Sure, he knows that she sometimes came over to play games with him, so she knows his house. But, its summer breaks? So how could she…
Pinkyprincess12: I ASKED YOUR MOM TO PUT IT THERE, ALRIGHT!? DON'T THINK I CAME OVER AND PUT IT THERE!? 0/0
And, as if she had read his mind, she replied
A small grin grew on his face.
Darkushunter: you did? How?
Pinkyprincess12: I would tell you, but it's already 11:56 pm. If you want to know, just meet me up online.
Darkushunter:wait! How am I supposed to know who you are there?
Pinkyprincess12: what kind of question is that!? I think you know me well enough to know it's me, even if I'm hidden by an avatar mask.
He just nods, obviously not understanding what she just meant.
Darkushunter: ah….i see
Pinkyprincess12: you didn't understand that, didn't you?
Darkushunter: nope
Pinkyprincess12: ok, one minute till game initiation. I gotta go calibrate my Nerve gear.
Darkushunter: ah, ok, I see
Pinkyprincess12: remember, under your pillow. Your copy is under it. Upload it to your Nerve gear, and then activate it by saying the activation command "link start!" Ok? Also, I'm sure you remember my pretty face well enough to know how I look like in the game. I'll be a fencer there. Hope to see you on the other side.
Darkushunter: yeah, you too
Pinkyprincess12 has logged off
Seeing this, Nate stood up, logged off his computer.
He opened closet, pulling out a black motor cycle helmet styled device: the brain gate
And, with hesitation, he held to the sides of his pillow. And, after a moment of hesitation, he raised his pillow.
Like the girl said, there it was.
Resting on the white mattress, in its white plastic cover, with its iconic cover photo, rested the game set.
On a large, playful font, the words "Sword art online"
"She was right, after all" I said to myself softly, picking up the game.
I savoured the moment for a while, but my gamer anticipation couldn't last any longer.
Quickly, I uploaded the game onto the Nerve gear, read the instructions….slightly
Placed the oversized helmet over his head, and lay down on his bed.
He looked through the display, showing only the time on the left side, and the charging side on the right. A light humming noise notified him that the machine was on standby.
Once he felt he was comfortable enough, he took a deep breath.
And, with a smile on his face, he opened his mouth, and uttered the words
"Link start!"
Those words I've uttered that day were the very thing that changed my life.
For on that day, was when I started to play
Sword art online
/