Chapter 3: The Convention
The days leading up to the tech convention felt like an eternity. Adam couldn't stop thinking about the opportunity the AI had hinted at. A game development company looking for coders—this was it, the break he needed. He had to make the most of it.
He spent his free time after work—mostly cleaning arcade machines and keeping an eye on kids who liked to think the games were free—honing his coding skills. Even though he had a smartphone that didn't belong in 1990, he couldn't help but feel that the technology here was archaic. The internet was slower, clunkier, and far less interconnected than what he was used to, but it didn't stop him. Adam had an edge. A big one. He started drafting a new game idea—a basic concept that could evolve into something more. The idea of using new tech in a old world fascinated him.
He began sketching game mechanics on napkins at the arcade. The longer he thought about it, the clearer the possibilities became. By the time the convention rolled around, he had a rough prototype in his head—a game that could revolutionize this time period.
The night before the convention, he stood in front of his mirror, adjusting his clothes. A plain button-up shirt, slightly too big for him, and a pair of jeans that had seen better days. He didn't have much, but he had his skills and his ideas. That had to be enough.
His pager buzzed again, and he quickly checked the message.
"The convention is tomorrow. Prepare yourself, Adam. The tech world of 1990 is not what you think."
Adam read the message twice. He had no idea what to expect, but his gut told him it was more than just an event showcasing clunky computers and arcade games. Something bigger was at play, and he was about to dive into the middle of it.
The next morning, Adam made his way to the convention hall. The area around the building was filled with the hum of early 90s technology—old cars parked alongside bicycles, and the smell of hot dogs and pretzels filling the air. The crowd was buzzing with excitement, a mix of eager developers, journalists, and technology enthusiasts.
He passed by booths displaying computer monitors with large, blocky graphics, some of them showing games Adam had never heard of before. The contrast between his knowledge of future technology and the primitive nature of what was available now felt surreal.
Inside, the convention floor was a maze of booths showcasing the latest and greatest in computing—high-end PCs with floppy disk drives, early graphic cards, and even more arcades. Adam took it all in. He needed to find the right people, the right company.
After a few hours of wandering, he finally stumbled upon a booth tucked away in the back corner. The sign above it read "LunarSoft Games". It was a small company, nothing flashy, but there was something intriguing about the booth. The game demo running on the screen was nothing like the others. It was smoother, more dynamic. Something about it reminded Adam of the future. The way the characters moved. The colors.
He approached the booth cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest.
A woman behind the booth, probably in her late 30s, glanced up at him as he approached. She had short, dark hair and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that gave her a studious look. Her name tag read Sophie Meyer, Lead Developer.
"Hey there," she greeted, her voice calm and welcoming. "You here to try the demo?"
Adam glanced at the screen, where the game was playing out, an early version of a role-playing game with intricate landscapes and a combat system that seemed far beyond its time. "Yeah, I've never seen anything quite like this," he said, trying to sound casual. "It's... impressive. Who developed it?"
Sophie smiled. "Our team did. We're small but passionate. We're working on something big, though. A new game engine, one that could change everything. We're looking for fresh talent to help us bring it to life."
Adam's pulse quickened. Was this the opportunity he'd been waiting for? "I know a thing or two about coding. Actually, I've been working on my own project." He paused for a moment, then decided to take a risk. "Would you be interested in seeing it?"
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "You're a developer, huh? Sure, show me what you've got."
Adam felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders as he pulled out his pager and typed in a brief explanation of his game idea. It was just a concept right now, a few scribbled ideas on napkins. He didn't have much in terms of a prototype, but he had vision. He pressed send, and within seconds, the pager buzzed, and the AI's familiar voice rang in his ears.
"What are you thinking, Adam?" ChatGPT's voice echoed through his pager, loud enough that Sophie could hear. "You're trying to sell a rough idea. You need to impress her, not bore her. Keep it brief but impactful. Convince her that you can help change the industry."
Adam's mouth went dry. He took a deep breath. "What she said about changing everything—she's right. Games are stuck in the past, but the future... the future is interactive. I want to bring the real world into the game. Make players feel like they're living inside the game. Imagine... VR before VR, game mechanics that change based on your emotions and actions."
Sophie's eyes widened as she listened. "That's... bold." She paused, then glanced over at her booth. "You know, we're working on something similar. But I'm not sure we have the budget to do what you're suggesting."
Adam's brain was racing, the AI's voice in his ear guiding him. "That's where you're wrong. With my coding skills and your engine, we can make it happen. I just need the chance to prove it to you."
Sophie hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'm intrigued. Meet me tomorrow. I want to see more of what you can do. But don't get your hopes up too high. This could be a long shot."
Adam's heart skipped a beat. He had done it. He had made the first step toward changing everything.
As he left the booth, his pager buzzed again, this time with a cryptic message.
"Remember, Adam. The game is much bigger than you think. You're not the only one playing."
The words echoed in his mind as he headed back to the arcade. There was more to this world than met the eye, and he was just beginning to peel back the layers.
End of Chapter 3