Thursday, December 5, 2013

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-The Virtual World

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE
© Jerry Harris 2013
(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

THE VIRTUAL WORLD
Basically, people’s virtual lives break down into two different experiences.  The Non-immersive, that is the Net, and the immersive, which is Artificial Reality.  The Net is accessed by Data Pads, Video Screens, Com Devices, and even old terminals.  Artificial Reality is pretty expensive and is generally only available at Sim Shops (Sims). 

By law, a site or facility must say up front whether their users are allowed to be anonymous or must use their Real ID.  Most people will have variety of alter egos/profiles in different venues.  At the Sims, most non-Real Avatars try to be distinctive and people spend money on custom appearances, even renting special Avatars.  Someone in a base generic model is either a newbie, a looker, or someone trying to be anonymous.

Some Sims, such as Brothels, will take your usage payments through an escrow or credit laundering service.  Black Listing is the term, and it means that your real identity is anonymous at the Sim.  Tracking a user back through a Black Listing is a difficult, though not impossible, task.  Of course, all this ID stuff doesn’t apply to your Zero characters living in the Shadow World.  All of your ID’s are fake.  The characters are always effectively anonymous.

Sim Shops usually fall into four distinct categories. 

Theaters: Here you can watch movies, concerts, and sporting events, like you’re really there.  (Of course, you can watch pay-per-view over the Net too.)  Celebrities even sell being able to watch their glamorous and exciting lifestyles.  If that’s not meta enough for you, there are even virtual celebrities selling views of their virtual “real-life” adventures.   

Salons: These are social zones.  There’s no combat, no virtual sex (though they are often a place to meet to setup real sex), and sports are limited to board-like games.  Many aren’t totally immersive, as they are combined with bars (which are often called Zoos) and restaurants.  There can be theme environments set up in private rooms.  You can have dinner with Holograms of far off spouses on business trips, drinks with friends across the country, family reunions, Church services, and other social get togethers.  Most require Real ID and Real Avatars (your actual look).  Famous immersive salons in your area, Seven-Sixes (exclusive club/restaurant, Black Listed), Speakeasy (a Zoo/bar), and The Black Hole (a somewhat unofficial hangout for Zeroes).

Arcades: Athletic, combat, and other physical games are played here.  This is totally immersive.  People with Data Jacks can’t even tell the difference with reality.  You will work up a sweat.  There are professional sports leagues set up virtually, and people pay to watch games at theaters.  There are automatic cutout switches and manual game ejections to avoid psychological trauma from intense game action.  Most require a Real ID, but the Avatars are custom.  Arcades make quite a bit of money selling Avatar upgrades to those who don’t want to work to unlock them. Famous immersive arcades in your area, The Senator’s Club (an Elite athletic league at a gym) and Lynn’s (premier zone of hardcore gamers). 

(Your character’s stats will not carry over into an Arcade Avatar.  I’d recommend narrating any action inside an arcade game.  If you have to roll it out, I’d recommend a single, competitive roll off between combatants.  The roll is modified by the Avatars’ quality.  You can buy and rent good Avatars.)

Brothels: You can guess what happens here.  This is a virtual sex zone (though real sex can be negotiated here, too).  All the Avatars are fake.  The users are generally Black Listed to allow anonymous access.  Whatever scenario you want with whoever you want can be set up.  Famous immersive Brothels in your area, The House of Blue Lights and The Green Door.  Ironically, Brothels are usually anesthetically clean and very professional, especially compared to Zoos and Arcades.  Given the “invasiveness” of the customer experience, they have to be. 

No comments:

Post a Comment