1 BOOOOM!

The year 2025

New York City, a city full of the high building that touched the sky and a place where both rich and poor mingled. Every building housed a billboard that ran various ads and most of them played the ad of a single game Guns and Fantasy.

Humanity had come a long way after the birth of computer and everyone would agree that the computer ran most of their daily life and without them, it would be impossible for them to live or work. This was especially the case for gamers that made a career out of it.

The gaming industry had been growing since the launch of the first household computer and it never stopped and today the industry is worth at 500 billion and maybe more. That aside today was the anniversary of the game that took the world by storm 'Guns and Fantasy'. A game that many headlines since its release.

First was its price tag, a full 1000$ and not a single cent less and not to mention it was exclusive to their own VR headset. With various gears combined the game cost about 10,000$ but it also hyped up the game even more. Despite its full-year release it never went on sale or had its price fluctuate. While it received many criticisms during its release there were people who still purchased it and in just a month of its release the game was at the top in terms of revenue, popularity and had the highest number of viewers in various streaming sites.

It tore the records made by various games such as Fortnite, Pubg, Call of duty, Halo, etc. Released in the year 2024 the game with a high price tag was also a VR exclusive but it was also the reason why it was an instant hit. FantasyGames the new heavyweight in the gaming market had their own VR set and technology they provided far surpassed their competitors. But the thing that made the most difference was the omnidirectional treadmill that allowed free movement for the players.

It was the future of the gaming industry and things changed. The gaming industry had long been bored genres such as BR, MOBA, and other multiplayer games and it was time for the VR games to shine. And GAF(Guns and Fantasy) bought the old single player first person shooter campaign to the gamers. No online only shit, microtransactions or loot boxes. GAF was a purely single-player campaign with RPG elements in the mix while many wanted online multiplayer the game focused more on the story and its world building.

Of course multiplayer was also planned but since GAF focused on RPG and Worldbuilding the available technology was not able to handle the amounts of player it had even with many servers running. It wasn't the mobile game that people played while taking a shit and had its limitations. But that didn't let the gamers to play the game as it provided first-person experience and people were drawn into the vast world of GAF even those who couldn't afford the game got to experience it from their favorite streamers. In this day the popularity of the game was reflected on the number of viewers on various streaming sites and no doubt GAF was at the top of the list.

Inside a messy room, a skinny youth was breathing heavily as he moved a treadmill to a location and softly caressed it with his sweaty hands. The treadmill was old and had dents here and there but it was still functional. A scratched up logo writing "Fantasy Games" was on top of the treadmill written in black and golden color.

The youth almost cried as he looked at the treadmill. It was the omnidirectional treadmill that was used for the Guns and Fantasy game which cost about 4600$ something he never dreamed of owning and yet today was a fortunate day as he managed to get a good deal on online site that dealt with used goods. By paying only 20 percent of its original price the youth despite having the chance of falling into a scam still bought the treadmill and found out it was still functional.

But not his only problem was the game as he had already spent 920$ on the treadmill and he had to pay another 1000$ on the headset and another 1000$ on the game before he could play the game. Things like VR body suit and other accessories were not required but were recommended for the full experience of the game.

Seeing 2304$ remaining on his bank account the youth gave a helpless smile. He could afford the headset and the game but what about food, rent, and his other daily expenses. 'I'll just buy the headset for now and save up more so I can buy the game within a few months. I've already waited a full year what few months gonna do' The youth thought to himself as he ordered the Fantasy Games headset from online.

He watched the money he saved for months gone just like that but only gave a helpless smile. Being an orphan and having no social life gave him the freedom to use his money as he liked. The youth couldn't afford college fee so the works he could do was limited and he could only live by working in construction and any other hard labor. Rent, Tax and daily expenses cost him 70% of his income so a 10000$ game was out of his league but Guns and Glory wasn't the only game in the market.

The youth cleaned the treadmill and moved to his computer and started to surf the internet. A few hours of feminist, politics and other dramas in Utube the youth heard the doorbell ring. Like a rabbit, the youth jumped from his sit and arrived at the door. At the door was his new Fantasy Games headset. Signing off the delivery guy the youth entered the room with a big grin on his face. Unlike the treadmill the headset was new that costed a full grand.

The youth started to unbox as he took out a wireless headset and admired the design. Black and few green lighting marks going across the gear it was like a bike helmet with a green opaque glass that covered the eyes of the wearer and also guaranteed the safety of the player in case of falling down while playing. Two handheld consoles for various actions such as the trigger, action, and navigation of the game.

Since he didn't have the gaming suit he required the handheld console to track his hand movements. Body movement would be tracked by the movement of his legs on the treadmill. It wouldn't be as accurate as the gaming suit but it was better than nothing.

The youth got onto the treadmill and strapped in the belt that connected to the two bars of the treadmill. It would prevent himself from falling while all allowed him to run in any direction without going about of the treadmill as a belt could rotate at 360 degrees.

"Let's see if Fantasy Games had few free stuff in their store," The youth said as he put on the headgear and turned it on. "Start" The youth called and the screen started to load after few seconds it led to Fantasy Games store. It had many apps and game that not many people used as the headset already cost so much and those who bought it only used it to play GAF.

"Let's see the sale section" The youth moved his arms to navigate after reaching the sale section he was let gobsmacked. "Sa....Sa...Sale. GAF is on sale. Oh, my fuxking god. HEehhehe This must be my luckiest day ever since I came to this world" The youth started to laugh maniacally as clicked on the game.

"90% off on the most famous game to be ever created. Buy it now as the sale is only for limited time. Only one quota and the sale ends. Don't let this once in a lifetime opportunity sleep away" A mechanic voice sounded in the youth's ear as he excitedly clicked on the purchase button.

The youth ignore the voice and started the game after the download finished. "Guns and Fantasy" here I come. The game started but stopped at 99% which resulted in the youth biting his lips as he stared at the loading percentage with bloodshot eyes. "Come On MaFakAAAA"

"BOOOOOM" Outside of the people started at the sound coming from one of the rooms of the apartment. Fire escaped the windows as it raged outside the room as the crowd escaped to avoid the fire and heat and any other debris that came flying outside the apartment room. Inside laid a burnt body who held a horrified expression as he died without even getting to play the game he wished for.