Official Site:
"Wasteland Online Closed Beta Alpha 0.2 Update Announcement"
Major Update:
Closed beta player capacity increased to 30.New expansion, "Winter is Coming": The game will enter winter in 30 days, with temperatures dropping to -10°C within 60 days. Players who endure the harsh cold for an average of 4 hours daily online will receive the exclusive title "Winter Warrior." If players fail to withstand the challenge, servers will go offline until difficulty adjustments are finalized, then reopen for closed beta.
Optimizations:
Enhanced, realistic physics.A wider variety of mutated creatures.Increased freedom for players.Minor bug fixes.
The Player Manual has been updated to version 2.0; invited players are encouraged to review it.
Current Reservations: 113
Wow.
In just a moment, two more reservations came in.
Chu Guang sat in the vault's common area, watching the back-end of the official site with a curious thought.
"Where are these people coming from?"
The group isn't this lively…
Alternate accounts? No way. No one can make alt accounts on the Wasteland Online site. Changing IPs or disguises won't work; the reservation system links to people, not computers.
Chu Guang opened the forums and noticed familiar IDs, alongside some new faces.
Quit Smoking: "Where did all these people on the forum come from?!"
Kakarot from the Future: "Gaming group link? I found it through a friend."
Irena: "I came from a driving group. 😏"
Lost All the Good Names: "Lend me your phone, buddy."
A Bit of Nostalgia: "🍿"
Teng Teng: "Is this game legit?"
Great Demon King: "+1. Curious."
Quit Smoking: "Don't bother. If the people above are anything to go by, this isn't a 'legit' game. Trust me, don't sign up! It's a trap! 🤯"
Teng Teng: "≡w≡"
Great Demon King: "I'm out."
Chu Guang: …
What is Quit Smoking's deal???
The forum just started to gain popularity, and now they're driving people away before it even takes off. He might've scared off more than just one.
Chu Guang was speechless but didn't dwell on it. He wasn't one to hold grudges. After browsing, he soon understood why the forum was suddenly swarming with users. Someone had apparently shared screenshots from the Bull and Horse Club group chat and the official link in various gaming groups.
Thus, this game, with only an official site, some lore, and an expansive "pie in the sky," mysteriously went viral.
Most new users came from other gaming circles, with questions ranging from "What kind of game is this?" and "When will the beta start?" to the absurd "Can you strip your character?" and "Is it censored?" Actual game discussions? Barely any.
Chu Guang considered appointing a few moderators to help manage the forum.
Logging into his Penguin account, he opened the Bull and Horse Club game group, buzzing about the Alpha 0.2 update and the "Winter is Coming" expansion.
A game still in closed beta releasing an expansion?
Outrageous!
Trash Hunter Lv. 99: "Wait, so those without beta access will miss this?"
4 Who Don't Understand Love: "Ridiculous!"
Quit Smoking: "Someone tag the devs and beg them to add more players! I'd pay!"
Trash Hunter Lv. 99: "@Guang, someone called you the 'dev of doom.'"
Quit Smoking: "Screw you!" (Message retracted)
Chu Guang: …
This guy again.
Just as Chu Guang debated speaking up, he noticed a private message pop up from Coming Days.
Coming Days: "Brother Guang, you there? 😬"
Curious, Chu Guang replied.
Guang: "Just wrapped up. What's up?"
Coming Days: "I have a question that's been on my mind… that NPC called 'the Administrator'—are they played by a company staff member or an AI?"
Worried this might be a touchy question, he quickly added, "Just curious! If it's a company secret, forget I asked."
Guang: "No worries, it's no big secret. Besides, I'm just a humble planner, so I don't handle sensitive info."
Coming Days was thrilled and encouraged him to continue.
Guang thought for a moment, then typed.
Guang: "It's quite unique."
Unique!
So, the NPC isn't ordinary!
Sensing he'd hit a nerve, Coming Days excitedly typed.
Coming Days: "Could you elaborate?"
Guang: "It's the first-generation AI developed by our company."
Coming Days: "A fully autonomous AI?"
The concept was almost beyond him, but it sounded impressive. Sitting before his screen, Coming Days stared wide-eyed, hoping the "insider" would spill more.
And Guang didn't disappoint.
Guang: "Yes, fully autonomous AI! It has its personality, memory, thought processes, values, and motivations. That's why we've given it the authority to guide players in the game."
Naturally! This NPC was no ordinary construct!
Coming Days nearly dropped his phone in excitement, tapping frantically.
Coming Days: "I knew it! No wonder its decisions impact the test progress! I realized the game world feels incredibly lifelike! Even someone as critical as me can't spot a single bug! If there's one slight flaw, it's that there are too few NPCs. I suspected that rather than testing the game, you're testing the AI itself. Even the 'Winter is Coming' expansion in Alpha 0.2 is part of this. Am I right?"
Bullseye!
This was the conclusion Coming Days felt he had masterfully pieced together. In his mind, he alone had reached the highest level of understanding.
The mysterious creators of Wasteland Online, he reasoned, were covertly testing their "first-gen fully autonomous AI."
The silence that followed his message spoke volumes to him. A knowing grin spread across his face.
He'd cracked the code!
Guang: "You're insightful."
Guang: "It's as you said. The 'Winter is Coming' expansion is indeed a test for the AI, a necessary step toward the next phase of testing."
Deleting the carefully crafted cover story he'd been typing, Chu Guang smirked. Coming Days' theory sounded far more compelling. No exaggeration, the guy was brilliant.
Coming Days: "So, the storyline influences test progress, right?"
Guang: "Yes."
Coming Days: "And only the Administrator of Vault 404 can drive the plot, right?"
Guang: "Correct."
Coming Days: "Thanks! I won't spread this info; I'm great at keeping secrets. 😬"
Guang: "It's not exactly classified, so no need."
Coming Days: "No, I'll keep it safe. I'm known for reliability. 😬😬"
Chu Guang: …
So this is what "corporate-level comprehension" means?
You learn something every day.