A New World of Possibilities

Although I don't particularly like novels, the idea of living an adventure similar to the ones I've read about excites me to no end.

When I clicked "Yes" to activate the system and waited impatiently for validation, I was surprised by a loading process that appeared:

~System Installation: 1%... 2%... 4%...~

"There's really a download going on in my head right now—" I exclaimed before a throbbing pain shot through my head, as if icy water coursed through my veins with every beat of my heart. The pain was so intense that I slumped back in my chair and passed out.

After losing consciousness for the entire day, I opened my eyes in total darkness, accompanied by a new headache. "I really hope there's ibuprofen in this world if this keeps up..." I muttered, cursing the headache. When I got up to take a drink of water, I noticed that nothing had changed. "Then why the headaches?" I wondered aloud.

However, the black interface appeared once again in front of my eyes with a message:

~Dimension Developer System Initialization! Welcome, Arthur. Would you like to begin the tutorial?~

Excited by this new opportunity, I answered impatiently, "Yes, start the tutorial!"

A female voice suddenly spoke directly into my head, startling me.

~Thank you for accepting the system. My name is Mel, and my goal is to help you create dimensions that can be linked to the FullDive technology of this world. This will allow for total immersion and realistic interaction with these dimensions, which you will be the creator of,~ she continued.

~Conceptualization is done on a computer using a file called Developer of Dimension. This file is visible and selectable only by you on any computer. If someone else looks at the screen while you're in the application, they'll see you coding on software known to the world.~

~You can create absolutely anything: the laws of physics, geography, ecology, and culture of any dimension. You are limited only by your imagination. Think of it as writing a prompt for an AI to do the heavy lifting. You can also send your thoughts to the system to be translated into code, making it easier to detail characters, animals, and other elements.~

I was blown away by what the system had to offer. It also showed me some less impressive things, such as navigating the menus, creating tools, setting parameters, customizing details, and the immersion and testing phase.

Oddly enough, I didn't need a FullDive headset to play, as the system had a simulation and immersion mode. As we neared the end of the tutorial, the tutor asked me a question:

~Do you want to get the starter pack for beginners?~

I immediately agreed, wondering what it might contain, and my desk suddenly began to shake as if I were facing a mini-earthquake. As I quickly stepped back, my laptop disappeared in a bright blue light, only for golden lights to appear above and below my desk, transforming it into a state-of-the-art screen and tower, with a keyboard and mouse of the same quality.

"This is crazy..." I muttered, stunned by the spectacle. I was looking at my brand-new, black desktop computer with a membrane keyboard, just the way I like it, along with a mouse and an equally gorgeous 27-inch screen.

I was drooling over the design of the equipment when the system called out to me again.

~Finally, you'll find a "Store" tab, which is locked until you complete the system goals. The store allows you to purchase skills using system points earned by completing missions.~

"Can I have superpowers?" I exclaimed, stunned by what the system had just said. On second thought, it's true that I don't seem to be living in the safest of worlds...

~If you have any questions about the system, I'll be happy to answer them. Sincerely,~ Mel concluded.

"Thank you very much," I said, still stunned by everything that had happened.

Staring at my new state-of-the-art setup, dozens of game ideas popped into my head, mostly classic single-player games that were no longer being made when I died.

"I wonder if it's possible to make multiplayer games," I thought. Then it hit me: "I'd be surprised if the monsters let the humans set up the infrastructure to run cables outside," I thought amusedly.

Now, let's think about this. I have all the material to make a game, but how am I going to market it? Maybe with Steam? If I let the algorithm do the work, it might take a lot longer than if I went through an influencer.

Speaking of influencers, how much would I have to pay them? I wondered as I made myself a cup of coffee. Because yes, they have coffee here. I don't know how, but that's fine by me...

'I don't have that much money,' I thought as I looked at my bank balance, which showed a few hundred credits that I had managed to access on the computer using my fingerprint... "Does YouTube exist in this wor—" I was interrupted by a thought that popped into my head.

Streamers! It could work, I'm sure! All I have to do is find a streamer with hundreds of viewers, and if I make a good trailer, he or she will want to preview my game," I exclaimed, excited by the idea.

I used to watch a lot of streamers in my old world before going to bed, and it might be fun to be on this side of things this time.

I quickly searched to see if Twitch existed, feeling a bit dubious about how one could communicate with other cities outside, but I eventually discovered that the Internet was much more advanced than I had thought.

The current top streamer had about 11,000 live viewers, and considering that the city of Arboris had a total population of almost 200,000, this seemed impossible considering all the viewers on other channels. Thinking back to my earlier concern, maybe multiplayer gaming is a possibility...

Anyway, the marketing problem is solved. I think with a few hundred dollars I can promote my game, then by word of mouth with the quality, it should work. 'Now let's think about what game I want to create and what brand name I should choose. I think I can borrow the name of an old brand from my old world,' I thought as I finished my coffee.

Hungry, I muttered, "It's late afternoon, and I don't have much in the fridge." Making it my mission to get some food, I quickly checked my computer for a grocery store and luckily found one right next door. I grabbed my keys and headed out to get something to eat, thinking along the way.

"I need a game that will make an impression on people, especially for an independent studio," I thought. After careful consideration, I knew what game I wanted to make: "The Last of Us."