It was a warm spring morning that was overshadowed by the dark clouds that were making their way closer to the long line currently outside the local game shop waiting to buy the new headset for Fairune! This was the new VRMMORPG that has been all the rage for the last year, ever since the first advert detailing how immersive the experience is. It showcased how real everything looked and how interactive the NPC's in the world will be.
"Damn it looks like it's gonna rain and this line doesn't seem to be moving at all."
"Yeah and I forgot my umbrella. Shit!"
A pair of youths standing in line were groaning as they could see themselves getting soaked even before seeing the shop doors. The line really was quite long with at least 100 people in front of them, each one also worrying over the change in weather.
"Well we will just have to bear it, I'm not moving from my spot." The first youth said.
"Yeah, we've been waiting ages already what's a little rain" The second youth chimed.
Soon the line started moving, moving faster than expected. It seems the store anticipated this would happen and hired a few extra hands.
"Sweet it's finally moving, I can't wait to play this game" The first youths excitement seemed contagious as you could see the beeming looks and the faces of almost everyone in line. There was one odd person in the line that seemed to have a blank expression showing on their face as if playing the game had no meaning to them.
This of course was all a facade, this youth dressed in all black was probably more excited than anyone in the line, he clenched his fist tightly in his pocket and thought back to all the part time work he put in to be able to buy the game. Coming from an average family background in this day and age make it's harder to buy luxuries like a gaming headset, prices of things have skyrocketed to the point that an average family income can only cover living expenses, there would be nothing left for anything else. Even saving a small amount can be difficult, making people's lives rather dull and boring.
Liam watched as the line moved forward at a decent pace, he also forgot an umbrella so he was also worried for the rain. Lucky 10 minutes later it was his turn.
"Hi, I would like a Fairune! headset please." Liam was polite as he asked.
"Certainly. What colour would you like? We also have 2 different headsets available that allows different sync rates." The woman behind the counter smiled as showed 2 different headsets with the different immersive rates shown.
"I can only afford the 80% one for now. Can I get it in black? Thanks." Liam lamented a bit when he saw the prices especially considering the difference immersion rates can have on gameplay. The higher the rate the easier it is for a player to execute movement as there is a small delay from command to execution, this wouldn't affect normal PvE gameplay that much but the difference can be felt once PvP starts. Players with higher rates will naturally have better response times.
"OK that will be 5000WD please" The store clerk grabbed a box that says Fairune! in gold lettering with a picture of what looked like a headband with a visor.
"Here." Liam grabbed his card and swiped it on the reader and shed silent tears as his hard work for the year vanished. After he grabbed the box and walk out the store going back to the slight blank look on his face.
Liam walked from the store for 6 blocks before getting home, his parents weren't home as it was a Friday and they both had to work so Liam just went straight to his room and started unboxing the headset. The headset itself looked like a metallic headband, in fact it looked so plain you wouldn't think it was for a game if it wasn't for the shaded visor that was at the front.
'Hmm, looks kinda weird for a headset.' Liam thought as he examined the light metal object in his hands. 'Oh well as long as it let's me play, who cares. Hehe'
Liam started setting up the headset which was rather simple, in fact all he needed to do was wear it and turn it on, no wires were needed and it's battery life was almost infinite. Of course that's not true but the power source can last for up to 100 years according to the developer Sign Enterprises. It was supposedly a secret recipe they cooked up thanks to new minerals found on other planets. So Liam just lay down on his bed as it is the most comfortable and started up the headset.
[Welcome user to Fairune!]