Joshua leans on the balcony's railing outside of his apartment and sighing from time to time. After transmigrated, he didn't know what he is going to do next. As a shut-in person, to suddenly be transmigrated from mediocre life would be a happy occasion.
But, there is not even a bit trace of happiness that could be seen on his face. Because he felt out of place in this world. Although there is a geographical, historical, and political difference from his previous world, it is not that much. But in terms of technological advancement, this world technological advancement is two or three generations ahead of his previous world.
Especially in the consumer electronic sector. Because computing processors evolved too quickly, new technology at that time quickly became obsolete. Take the game industry, for example, Mixed Reality Technology is very mature right now. Although PC, Game Console, and Handheld gaming still mainstream, but many people use MR games as an industry benchmark. Although currently technological advancement in this world reaching a bottleneck, it is unknown what the future lies.
It's also because MR cabin targeted high-end consumers. When someday MR cabin could be made cheaper, then it is certain that PC, Console, and Handheld user will be migrated to MR. This quick processor advancement also made pc, console, and handheld game library not as abundant as Joshua's previous world. What surprised Joshua the most is this world culture the same until 1990. After 1990, this world history deviated because the information revolution happened.
After the Soviet Union fell, Allied Army quickly takes over the world and unite all continents. Currently, there is no president or world leader. The most authoritative figure in this world is the 7 elders. The 7 elders are elected from each continent of Earth Alliance. Although the world currently in harmony on the surface, there is still an occasional power struggle underneath the surface. That is why, so far, there is not a leading figure that could lead all continents.
This unification also made human living standards all over the world increased. Although there is still a wealth gap among people, people salary is standardized across the world. People's buying power in this world is far beyond Joshua's previous world. A normal pc game in this world is priced at 120 Alliance Credit. It must be noted that 1 Alliance Credit same as 1 USD, but they still felt 120 Alliance Credit is cheap. A school janitor could make 100.000 Alliance Credit annually. Of course, living cost is also three to five times more expensive than Joshua's previous world. But, the game price is just two times more expensive than his previous world. Maybe it's also because R&D cost in this world is considerably cheaper.
But that what made Joshua felt lost. He felt this world is not exciting enough. There are no people using magic and stuff or fantastic beast and flying dragon. At least, transmigrate him to a medieval world so he can conquer the world with his modern knowledge! But no, he essentially transmigrated to the same life. Even the apartment, his name, his face, and his family situation are the same.
Before transmigrated into this world, being a single dog and just graduated from a mediocre university with a mediocre result, Joshua's quickly baptized by the cruelty of the world. 1 month, after submitting his resume to every company in the capital city, he didn't receive any call from any company. He was stressed by the pressure of society and from his parents. Joshua ran away from home, rent an apartment, and shut himself inside his apartment. After many weeks of excessive gaming, he died inside his apartment.
The same event happened in this world's Joshua. He died in the same way and at the same time. After transmigrated, Joshua woke up and didn't notice anything wrong. Although he was puzzled by many unknown games installed on his laptop, he still thinks that maybe he unconsciously download many obscure games and still gaming happily. Until a few days later when he tried to order takeout food, he realizes he can't find his favorite app on his phone. Driven by an empty fridge, Joshua reluctantly gets out of his apartment and what greeted him is an unknown world.
After a short investigation, he realized that he has been transmigrated to a new world. He learned that he currently lived in Star City, he saw many unrecognized brands, many unrecognized stores, and then he realized that he couldn't recognize the brand of his phone. When he got home, he spent his day gathering information from the web. After digesting the truth, he leans on the balcony's railing and thinking about what to do next.
"Right, in some novel I read, usually the MC got some power. Do I get some kind of power?" Joshua murmured as he inspects himself. As soon as Joshua thought about that, a ding sound was heard inside his head.
Ding!
Boss of Game Industry System Initializing...
Welcome, host!
"Yes!" Joshua shouted on top of his lung because of the sudden windfall. He got the most mainstream power of the novel universe, a system! Although he didn't know what is Boss of Game Industry System's do, at least, he got a system now!
"System, do I get something like a beginner's gift?" Joshua asked excitedly.
Ding!
Host successfully Initialized the System.
Received 1x Mall Point, 1x Memory Serum
A window is shown in front of Joshua's eyes.
(Host Info)
Name: Joshua von Karma
Level: F Tier Video Game Designer, F Tier Game System Designer
Ability: None
Fanatic : 0 person
Positive Emotion : 0 point
Negative Emotion : 0 point
Mall Point: 1
Inventory: 1x Memory Serum
"Hey, I got a beginner gift?!" Joshua was surprised. He didn't think that the system gave him a beginner gift! It is known by many readers that, not all system is benevolent, especially system in the novel these days. He just casually asked, and the system gave him something! What a conscience system!
"Open the mall!" Joshua thought instantly. Although the system gave him 1 Mall Point, what if that the price inside the mall is above 1 point?
(Mall)
Level 1 game design book (1 point)
Level 1 system design book (1 point)
Memory Serum (10 points)
Locked (E Tier to unlock)
Locked (E Tier to unlock)
.....
Joshua breathes in relief. Although he only saw 3 things that can be bought with his current level, 2 of them he could afford. He also relieved that the system has a mall function, not a lottery function. He knew that with his mediocre luck, he won't get anything amazing. With system mall, he could farm point even it takes time!
He quickly adjusted his mind. Now he had a goal, essentially this system will help him become the big boss of the game industry! This thought excited him because as a shut-in person, the game is inseparable from his life. Although he didn't transmigrate to a fantasy world, he will create one in this world!
When he wants to get inside his apartment and plan his next step, he noticed something in the corner of his eyes. Joshua saw a large advertisement posted on the big billboard across the street. A competition to design a game held by the Crimson Company. Crimson company is one of the biggest companies in the game industry, specialized in the handheld system. Joshua quickly takes out his phone and search for the competition information on the web. He quickly found the company's official social media. He found two announcements, one is a competition for Crimson Company's partner Game Studio, and one is for public competition.
"Greetings, Crimson Fans!
For our 10th company anniversary celebration, besides the main competition for our partner Game Studio, we also held a competition for the public to make a game for our very first game handheld, Crimson Go!
Competition Rule :
The game submitted must be from an unknown game studio and unknown game designer without a reputation. 100 selected games will be exhibited inside the special competition corner at Crimson Company's 10th-anniversary venue. Every attendee will receive 1 token at the entrance and use the token to vote for their favorite game exhibited. The most voted game will receive a special prize from us, to become our partner studio!
Competition Rewards :
1st place: 100,000 Alliance Credit + Game Studio partnering opportunity
2nd place: 50,000 Alliance Credit + Game placement inside our store for 1 month
3rd place: 25,000 Alliance Credit + Game placement inside our store for 1 week
Deadline submission is on 30th November."
Joshua looked at the date on his phone, 25th October. So he has 35 days left. After looking at the announcement, he quickly gets to work and researches the Crimson Go handheld system. He then ordered the Crimson Go online with some well-known game of the system. Joshua verified the purchase and found out that he had around 25,000 Alliance Credit left.
Looking at the specification online, Crimson Go is a 32-bit game, which surprised Joshua. It is known that Nintendo, a company that specialized in the handheld system, their very first popular Handheld game is a 4-bit Game & Watch. And Crimson Company's very first popular Handheld already equipped with a 32-bit processor. Maybe because this world processor is evolved quickly, so the very first popular handheld game is a 32-bit system, and at that time no one bothers to make a 4-bit game system.
Joshua also knew from the picture that although the form factor of Crimson Go is the same as Game Boy Advance in his previous world, its body is slimmer and got a better LCD display. It is also equipped with first-generation wifi, which is a surprise for Joshua. Also, because so many gamers still play with their Crimson Go because of their childhood nostalgia, Crimson Company still keeps so many servers running for some popular Crimson Go game. Even, Crimson Company usually made one or two small games each year for Crimson Go.