Click. Click. The sound of my mouse faitly originates in my heaven of filth. A concrete floor invisible for the stacks of various empty frozen lunches mixed with unclean clothes and numerous manga collections. At the center of the piles of trash is where you'll find me staring into a black screen that shuffles through a few developers and publishers. Before it finally gives way to a field of grass shifting in the breeze complimented by the bare blue sky. Atop the grass stands a simple girl wearing a chest plate made of iron, with a simple blue skirt, and a shining longsword. Sitting center of the screen in large letters is the title "Fantasy Fighting" followed by the start option.
My favorite game, the one I've been playing for 7 years since it's release. Instead of playing with friends, completing homework, going to college, or getting a job, I played this game every day all day. I played it for more than 10,000 hours, and have been dubbed by my friends as "Chronically shut-in". Although it's been out for 7 years, the player base is still strong, and the game hasn't lost popularity since another big hit "Hell Flyers" came out around 3 years ago.
This game has one major factor to it's success, the world building. From the skills necessary to farm, to identifying various insects, the game has them all giving it a realistic but still fantastical feel. To it's lore that runs so deep into the world, it is rumoured that only 10% of it has been discovered. It's like another world entirely. Complete with high level Ai, it's no wonder it has kept it's popularity.
With a sigh, I stand up and make for the door, dodging the garbage. Today is the last day I have to get a job before my parents kick me out of their basement. I'm actually surprised it took them so long to get fed up with me.
Stepping outside for the first time in these 7 years, I am blinded by the bright sun. Fortunately just ahead of me is my destination, a 7-11 right across the street. With a quick jaunt across the open road, I reach the front of the general store.
"No, why would I hire you?" The man asked.
For good reason he was not happy with my application. I had just asked if I could work 3 hours every week. That's all the time I have spare, the rest is for gaming only. It would be too much to work any longer.
"Why not? I thought you were hiring." I replied.
"I'm hiring not giving a chore to a child." He said directly to my 24 year old face.
"Whatever, I'll just go somewhere else then."
"Thanks! That will help me against my competition." He laughed as I left the store.
That went perfectly in my opinion. Now I just need to convince my parents that I tried. Then I might get another year or two. As I wondered these thoughts I crossed the road back to my house to deliver the news to my parents. Before I got to the door a man in his 40's walked up to me with a knife.
"Hey there bud. You don't happen to have some change on you by chance?" Said the robber.
"Do I look like I have anything? I just got rejected from the store back there."
"You can't play that way. You have to have something. You can't live on nothing, now cough it up." He shoved the knife towards me.
"You can't be serious. I have nothing." I turned from him and headed straight for my door. It's not like he can get away with attacking me at my own home.
The world pitched sideways for a moment. My side felt burning hot, and I landed just in front of my door. My side grew hotter and felt wet, but I couldn't look around. My body felt heavy and wouldn't listen to me.
So this is how it goes? A shut-in for life. I guess it was good, I just wish I could've seen the next update for Fantasy Fighting. It was supposed to come out next week. Not that it matters now. I thought before my body grew cold and my consciousness slipped away.