Read Online The Sensory Deception by Ransom Stephens - Free Book Online
Authors: Ransom Stephens
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to the biometrics, low-voltage electrodes will be integrated into the jumpsuit to give the sensation of muscle contraction. With the other senses overwhelmed, the smallest emulation of muscle twitching should suffice.”
Chopper stopped and sat down.
Gloria looked both relieved and surprised. She advanced the projector to an image of the schedule. “That’s it.”
The bald man clapped as she took her seat. Farley caught her eye and nodded. She released a covert sigh.
McKay thumbed through the business plan for a minute, found the budget page, and pressed on the spine so the document would stay open. He steepled his fingers over it. Farley recognized the tactical silence. Finally, McKay said, “From fairy tales and minstrels spreading gossip around a campfire to books, movies, TV, video on demand, and video games, the next step in entertainment is virtual reality. There have been a lot of starts and stops, but since video games have become more interactive with Wii and Kinect, I think the market is ready.
“However,” he said, “we fund businesses, not ecological concerns. Strike one: you’re academics. Strike two: you haven’t had a real-world job in over a decade, since…” He flipped to the front of the document, to the résumés. “Since you spent a summer at a cannery in Alaska.” He stared down at Farley for a few seconds and added, “But I don’t see a strike three. Gloria thinks you have something. I think it remains to be seen, but the patents the three of you are accumulating impress me.”
McKay motioned to the sharp-looking woman, who said, “Your audience is too small. Now, this isn’t a criticism; it’s advice we deliver at this table every day: You need to think bigger.” She opened the business plan to pictures captured from the bird and polar bear VR prototypes. “Too much
National Geographic
, not enough Disney. See what I mean? You own intellectual property that can disrupt an industry, but your road map lacks the killer application.”
Farley could feel the “I told you so” from Gloria. She’d ranted this point to death. He said, “Experiencing nature at its most wild is the greatest story possible.”
“But not the most profitable.” The golfer leaned to the side, still carrying himself like the wise stag offering advice to the young buck. “I want you to rework your business plan to include more mainstream topics. Study the top-selling movies and video games. A full-blown sports VR would be a huge release: NFL, NASCAR, hockey, Navy SEALS—you could license James Bond.”
Farley looked around the table. Bupin was still marking up his copy of the business plan. Ringo had perked up. Farley didn’t need to look at Chopper. Farley exhaled and leaned forward, sending a message only Chopper would understand. It might annoy Gloria and would certainly offend the partners, but nothing is born without making a mess.
Chopper said, “Or pornography.” It was a challenge, not a question.
The VCs twisted their heads at him, except for Bupin, who glanced up and then returned to the document.
Flames blasted from Gloria’s eyes, directed at Farley, not Chopper.
Farley slid his copy of the business plan off the table and under his arm. Then he pushed his chair away from the table and rose. At six and a half feet tall, even from across the room, he towered over Joel McKay. Next to him, Ringo stood, too. Chopper didn’t move.
Bupin looked up.
Farley said, “Gloria worked very hard to devise a profitable plan under the constraints that I laid out. This is a nature experience. We have to agree on that, or we can’t continue.”
“This could be a huge opportunity. You’re showing a lack of business acumen.” McKay sighed. “But we’re here, and we have the conference room booked for the whole hour. Let’s work through what you have. We can talk about spin-offs later.”
“Thank you,” Farley said, tipping his head in a slight bow to McKay. He pulled his chair back to the
Chopper stopped and sat down.
Gloria looked both relieved and surprised. She advanced the projector to an image of the schedule. “That’s it.”
The bald man clapped as she took her seat. Farley caught her eye and nodded. She released a covert sigh.
McKay thumbed through the business plan for a minute, found the budget page, and pressed on the spine so the document would stay open. He steepled his fingers over it. Farley recognized the tactical silence. Finally, McKay said, “From fairy tales and minstrels spreading gossip around a campfire to books, movies, TV, video on demand, and video games, the next step in entertainment is virtual reality. There have been a lot of starts and stops, but since video games have become more interactive with Wii and Kinect, I think the market is ready.
“However,” he said, “we fund businesses, not ecological concerns. Strike one: you’re academics. Strike two: you haven’t had a real-world job in over a decade, since…” He flipped to the front of the document, to the résumés. “Since you spent a summer at a cannery in Alaska.” He stared down at Farley for a few seconds and added, “But I don’t see a strike three. Gloria thinks you have something. I think it remains to be seen, but the patents the three of you are accumulating impress me.”
McKay motioned to the sharp-looking woman, who said, “Your audience is too small. Now, this isn’t a criticism; it’s advice we deliver at this table every day: You need to think bigger.” She opened the business plan to pictures captured from the bird and polar bear VR prototypes. “Too much
National Geographic
, not enough Disney. See what I mean? You own intellectual property that can disrupt an industry, but your road map lacks the killer application.”
Farley could feel the “I told you so” from Gloria. She’d ranted this point to death. He said, “Experiencing nature at its most wild is the greatest story possible.”
“But not the most profitable.” The golfer leaned to the side, still carrying himself like the wise stag offering advice to the young buck. “I want you to rework your business plan to include more mainstream topics. Study the top-selling movies and video games. A full-blown sports VR would be a huge release: NFL, NASCAR, hockey, Navy SEALS—you could license James Bond.”
Farley looked around the table. Bupin was still marking up his copy of the business plan. Ringo had perked up. Farley didn’t need to look at Chopper. Farley exhaled and leaned forward, sending a message only Chopper would understand. It might annoy Gloria and would certainly offend the partners, but nothing is born without making a mess.
Chopper said, “Or pornography.” It was a challenge, not a question.
The VCs twisted their heads at him, except for Bupin, who glanced up and then returned to the document.
Flames blasted from Gloria’s eyes, directed at Farley, not Chopper.
Farley slid his copy of the business plan off the table and under his arm. Then he pushed his chair away from the table and rose. At six and a half feet tall, even from across the room, he towered over Joel McKay. Next to him, Ringo stood, too. Chopper didn’t move.
Bupin looked up.
Farley said, “Gloria worked very hard to devise a profitable plan under the constraints that I laid out. This is a nature experience. We have to agree on that, or we can’t continue.”
“This could be a huge opportunity. You’re showing a lack of business acumen.” McKay sighed. “But we’re here, and we have the conference room booked for the whole hour. Let’s work through what you have. We can talk about spin-offs later.”
“Thank you,” Farley said, tipping his head in a slight bow to McKay. He pulled his chair back to the
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