Even if it does, what can that get you?”
“I don’t know. But I had a long time to look at my career as a gamer, and I keep having one overwhelming thought. I think I’m a prodigy.”
In the old days of public school, students would often gravitate towards certain subjects. Some would be better at math, others at science, others at art, and so forth. Over time, this would lead to students learning more about their favourite subjects, and they would go on to study or work in the fields of their interests.
The same was true of the Game. Players would live incarnations and score higher in certain areas of play. On their next plays, they might focus more on their favourite aspects or ‘subjects,’ which would result in them earning even more credits and higher standing. In some cases, the most focused and very best players would be able to earn Prodigy status over time. A famous player named Owen Brahlie was a popular example. Owen soon realized that he excelled at music and decided to focus on this area of the Game. Each time he played a new incarnation, He spent a large amount of his available credits in musical talent for his avatars. Each time he played, his new avatar would become more talented in music earlier in its life. Eventually, Owen had enough credits to purchase Prodigy status. On one of his final plays, his avatar was a person named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As Mozart, Owen manifested his talents at the tender age of six, and went on to change the course of musical history on Earth. His play as Mozart earned Owen enough credits to retire from the Game as a very wealthy individual, and he continued to bring his ‘lives’ of experience to his career on Tygon. Everyone in the world could sing you at least a dozen Owen Brahlie musical hits. Some players today still named their avatars after Owen, as an homage to their hero. His daughter was a popular player on the scene today who chose singing on Earth as her focus.
“What are you a prodigy in?” Lilith asked. “You’ve never shown any aptitude for the arts, or math, or science?”
“I know. I think I’m a prodigy at the Game itself. Risking it all and winning. I believe my skills are at playing games… and winning against all odds.”
Lilith snorted. “Sorry to disagree, kiddo, but you didn’t exactly win on your last play.”
“One time I lost,” Alex agreed, “But, Lilith, you have to admit, I used to play very aggressively. I would spend more credits than you ever recommended. I recall coming out of a play and you telling me how lucky I was that I wasn’t ruined. My rise in the standings wasn’t overnight, but I didn’t buy my way to the top or have a one-time stroke of luck. I played well each and every time.”
“Very true,” Lilith admitted.
“And I don’t think I really lost on my last play.” Alex said. “I think the Mainframe is an intelligent being, and took me out of the Game on purpose.”
“Even if that was true, why would it do something like that?” Lilith asked.
“Well, I go back to Earth tomorrow,” Alex answered. “If it is true, I’m sure we’re going to find out.”
Chapter 13
What is the allure of the Game and why do so many of us watch it? The simple answer is that the Game fulfills our desires for entertainment and fantasy. Want to gamble? Pick an event in the Game and place your bet. There’s nothing that you can’t bet on inside the Game. Want to watch true love bloom? Once again, you can find it in the Game. You can experience anything in the Game, better than movies from the old days. If you want to watch a spy actually become a spy and follow her/his adventures, just put in the correct search term and the Game video feed system will find you a list of spies in action. If you have enough money, you can do more than watch; you can experience it firsthand. Quite simply, we watch the Game for the same reason we don’t allow people over the age of 18
“I don’t know. But I had a long time to look at my career as a gamer, and I keep having one overwhelming thought. I think I’m a prodigy.”
In the old days of public school, students would often gravitate towards certain subjects. Some would be better at math, others at science, others at art, and so forth. Over time, this would lead to students learning more about their favourite subjects, and they would go on to study or work in the fields of their interests.
The same was true of the Game. Players would live incarnations and score higher in certain areas of play. On their next plays, they might focus more on their favourite aspects or ‘subjects,’ which would result in them earning even more credits and higher standing. In some cases, the most focused and very best players would be able to earn Prodigy status over time. A famous player named Owen Brahlie was a popular example. Owen soon realized that he excelled at music and decided to focus on this area of the Game. Each time he played a new incarnation, He spent a large amount of his available credits in musical talent for his avatars. Each time he played, his new avatar would become more talented in music earlier in its life. Eventually, Owen had enough credits to purchase Prodigy status. On one of his final plays, his avatar was a person named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As Mozart, Owen manifested his talents at the tender age of six, and went on to change the course of musical history on Earth. His play as Mozart earned Owen enough credits to retire from the Game as a very wealthy individual, and he continued to bring his ‘lives’ of experience to his career on Tygon. Everyone in the world could sing you at least a dozen Owen Brahlie musical hits. Some players today still named their avatars after Owen, as an homage to their hero. His daughter was a popular player on the scene today who chose singing on Earth as her focus.
“What are you a prodigy in?” Lilith asked. “You’ve never shown any aptitude for the arts, or math, or science?”
“I know. I think I’m a prodigy at the Game itself. Risking it all and winning. I believe my skills are at playing games… and winning against all odds.”
Lilith snorted. “Sorry to disagree, kiddo, but you didn’t exactly win on your last play.”
“One time I lost,” Alex agreed, “But, Lilith, you have to admit, I used to play very aggressively. I would spend more credits than you ever recommended. I recall coming out of a play and you telling me how lucky I was that I wasn’t ruined. My rise in the standings wasn’t overnight, but I didn’t buy my way to the top or have a one-time stroke of luck. I played well each and every time.”
“Very true,” Lilith admitted.
“And I don’t think I really lost on my last play.” Alex said. “I think the Mainframe is an intelligent being, and took me out of the Game on purpose.”
“Even if that was true, why would it do something like that?” Lilith asked.
“Well, I go back to Earth tomorrow,” Alex answered. “If it is true, I’m sure we’re going to find out.”
Chapter 13
What is the allure of the Game and why do so many of us watch it? The simple answer is that the Game fulfills our desires for entertainment and fantasy. Want to gamble? Pick an event in the Game and place your bet. There’s nothing that you can’t bet on inside the Game. Want to watch true love bloom? Once again, you can find it in the Game. You can experience anything in the Game, better than movies from the old days. If you want to watch a spy actually become a spy and follow her/his adventures, just put in the correct search term and the Game video feed system will find you a list of spies in action. If you have enough money, you can do more than watch; you can experience it firsthand. Quite simply, we watch the Game for the same reason we don’t allow people over the age of 18
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