309 Bootlegger
In a certain Asian country, a vendor peddling pirated CD video games was surrounded by a group of eager young people.
"Boss, do you have video games for KS1?" Jeff, a young man perusing the video game case at the vendor, inquired of the bootlegger.
"You've come to the right place, sir. Our vendor sells affordable KS1 video games that are not only cheap but also 100% working!" The bootlegger smiled, assuring not just Jeff but also the other youths eyeing the video games at his stall, along with those browsing CD video games.
"Really? A few weeks ago, I bought KS1 video games from another vendor who claimed the same thing, but they didn't work at all. They just kept loading and never worked," Jeff recounted his disappointing experience to the bootlegger.
Other young people browsing for video games were silently listening, sharing similar experiences. Many had opted for pirated video games for TSX Fusion, having learned not to trust KS1 video games. Some considered testing just one CD video game for KS1 to check its functionality.
Anticipating such skepticism, the bootlegger smiled and said, "Haha, I expected someone to respond that way. As proof, I brought a TV and my KS1 here to demonstrate that the video games at our vendor work."
The young people around the vendor were surprised. Only then did they notice a TV in the booth with the bootlegger, connected to a KS1.
"We can test KS1 video games?" Jeff and the others perusing the video games in the vendor were taken aback.
"That's correct. This way, we can provide evidence that our affordable KS1 video games are functional," the bootlegger said with a smile.
After absorbing all the information, a group of young men promptly handed over video games from the vendor, urging the bootlegger to test them.
"Can you try this video game for me, boss?"
"Boss, please give this video game a try, and I'll buy it!"
"Boss, what about this video game?"
Jeff also wanted the bootlegger to test the video game he was interested in.
The bootlegger examined the video games the group presented, noticing they were the latest releases by KiShin: "Metal Gear Solid I" and "Silent Hill." These two games had gained significant popularity in the country recently, promoted on various TV programs and endorsed by a famous celebrity known for their appreciation of KS1 video games. Consequently, both young and older generations began showing interest in KS1 video games.
"Alright, I'll test these video games, and I'll remove the CD from the video game case you provided as proof that I'm not deceiving any of you," the bootlegger assured with a smile. This way, he aimed to dispel any suspicion that he might substitute a working, original KS1 video game CD to trick customers into buying non-functional copies.
Upon hearing the bootlegger's assurances, the young people breathed a sigh of relief. Under their watchful eyes, the bootlegger carefully extracted the CD from the video game case they had personally provided.
Having removed the video game CD from its case, the bootlegger proceeded to insert it into the KS1 CD slot. On the television screen, the distinctive logos of KS1 and KiShin appeared, followed by the introductory animation of "Metal Gear Solid I."
Witnessing the pirated CD video games in action, the crowd felt a surge of excitement, realizing they could acquire affordable video games for KS1.
Simultaneously, they attentively observed, hopeful that the pirated video game would continue to function beyond the introductory animation. Having experienced issues with other vendors where the games either remained stuck loading or played only an animated intro story, they quietly scrutinized the television, much like Jeff and others who had previously purchased pirated video games.
Following the video game's animated story introduction, the moment of truth arrived as the bootlegger took control of the KS1 controller. The young people were not disappointed; the in-game character moved seamlessly, and the bootlegger played for a solid 10 minutes. The crowd surrounding the vendor became convinced that these pirated video games were indeed legitimate and functional.
"I'll take these two KS1 video games, please."
"I'll grab this one."
"Count me in too, boss..."
"I'll go for this one and that one too..."
The bootlegger wore a wide grin as he accepted payments, carefully placing the pirated video game CD cases in plastic and handing them over.
When it came to Jeff's turn, as the bootlegger packaged his purchased pirated video game CDs, Jeff inquired, "Boss, what if mine doesn't work, unlike the ones you tested?"
The others shared the same concern, exchanging glances with the bootlegger.
With a reassuring smile, the bootlegger replied, "If the video games you purchased don't work, you can return to this place. I'll personally test them, and if they're not functioning, you can replace them with other video games from this vendor."
Jeff was somewhat surprised but not entirely, considering it was a common practice in his country to replace non-functional items purchased from vendors. For instance, pirated CD films could be tested on the spot with a DVD player. Jeff nodded and said, "Alright..."
Excitedly heading home with the pirated video games in hand, Jeff, a student with limited funds, couldn't afford many original video games for 32-bit consoles. He occasionally bought one original video game but preferred exploring the pirated video games vendor for more options.
Most of his purchases were from TSX Fusion since the majority of pirated video games were compatible with that console. While Jeff's family wasn't affluent, they weren't impoverished either. His father managed to gift Jeff and his younger brother TSX Fusion and KS1 consoles, but the family owned only a few original video games. The TSX Fusion library thrived with pirated games, whereas the KS1 collection remained limited due to the high cost of originals.
Despite favoring TSX Fusion in his gaming sessions, Jeff secretly longed to play more on KS1. Memories of his elementary days, playing frequently on KES, lingered in his mind.
