The Game (The Game is Life)

by Terry Schott

  “Walk me out?” Angelica asked sweetly.

  Zack nodded eagerly.

  They didn’t say much on the way to the elevator, just exchanged vague pleasantries. As the elevator arrived, Angelica said “You grab the next one, stud. I’m going somewhere you can’t follow.”

  Zack was sure her answer meant more than she was saying, but he just nodded. “Can I ask you one question, Angelica?”

  She looked at him searchingly, then nodded.

  “Any advice for me?” he asked with a grin.

  She grabbed him in a close hug and held him for a brief moment. It felt strong, protective, and Zack loved it.

  As she was letting him go she softly whispered in his ear, “My advice is this, Zack. Don’t try for first place. Do everything you possibly can to finish as low in the standings as possible.”

  Chapter 11

  When the Game first went live we had to call the imaginary world something. We ended up choosing a unique, never-before-used name in order to effectively track it as popularity grew among both viewers and players. “Earth” is actually an acronym. It stands for Educational Avatar Reality Training Habitat, a clever, albeit nerdy, description of our intention for the virtual schoolyard we created for our children. This was our third attempt at making a world in which the kids would thrive and grow. Initial attempts were too fantastic; the students ended up learning no more than they did with traditional entertainment-style video games. We feel very fortunate that the students responded so well to Earth. It is an exact reflection of the real world, which allows graduates to bring their considerable ‘Lives' experience and use it to better our reality when they graduate. Of course, there are things the players can do inside the Game that are impossible in real life, but not many of them figure that out.

  Interview excerpt from “What is the Game and how will it affect our lives”

  Brandon Strayne interviewed by Melissa W.

  Six days after the Angelica Interview, Zack arrived at the facility to prepare for entry into the Game for the last time. Zack was both excited and sad today; it would be his final journey into a world that had become his home and training ground for most of his life. It would also be his last chance to increase his fortune — or maybe lose it all, depending on how the play turned out.

  Zack checked in with the secretary on the ground floor, went to the elevator and pressed the button marked B12, the 12th floor below ground. Exiting the elevator, he strode down the long white hall towards his preparation room, where attendants would wire him for interfacing with Earth’s mainframe computer, as well as inserting a myriad of tubes all over his body to feed him nutrients and remove waste for the next few weeks. Entering the Game wasn’t glamourous. It was a medical procedure where they put you into a controlled coma for the duration of your virtual life. The brain was sedated to the correct wave level, then your consciousness entered the computer system and you were born into your avatar. Zack remembered so many years ago when he was just a new player with no significant ranking. Then he had joined the masses of players and laid in a large room with rows and rows of sanitary silver tables, each linking a player to Earth. As a player gained rank, their level of privacy increased. Zack, a top 1,000 ranked player, was given a luxurious room with four full-time nurses and two doctors to monitor his health and well-being. It was good to be at the top of the heap.

  Brandon entered the room as they were finishing up with the wire and tube connections. Zack sat comfortably in his chair, watching the hype and fanfare on the video feeds. He smiled confidently as Brandon came in.

  “Well, my boy. Are you rested and prepared for this last glorious adventure?” Brandon asked.

  “I’ve never been more ready in my life.” Zack said. “Everyone’s in place?”

  “Kyle and Marcie are solidly in the Game, and everything went perfectly in that area. They are married and expecting the happy birth of their first child in very short order. Your two best friends in this life are your parents in your upcoming play.”

  “And they are receiving the benefits of their spent credits?”

  Brandon sipped a glass of water and sat down opposite Zack. He waved his hand dismissively, and the doctors and nurses left the room. “They are indeed. You will be born to successful, educated parents who have very specific ideas about how to raise a child. You’ll have all the perks and breaks that rich kids in Canada have access to, which are many. The other players are in place as well, we have over 546 who will interact with you in your life, both positively and negatively, to steer you in the direction we have chosen for you to end up.”

  Zack whistled. “I’m still amazed you were able to involve so many others to help me. Each player spending their credits to help me in the Game has saved me so much money. It should actually enable me to achieve our goal, if all goes according to plan. I didn’t think you could get so many on board.”

  “It wasn’t too difficult. Many of them only needed to spend a few thousand extra credits to get what we wanted, and if we succeed, each of them will become very wealthy in credits for having been a part of it. A teacher here, a girlfriend who dates you for only a month there, a salesman who sells you a car once when you’re 30, a man who robs you when you’re 40. All so simple, and fairly inexpensive to buy for each player.”

  “Well, I still think that the number of players involved is incredible.” Zack said. “How many of them actually need to succeed with their roles?”

  “Only a few hundred,” Brandon said. “The others are there for backup. And they spent the credits so that if one succeeds, the others will not repeat the actions.”

  “So I won’t get robbed five times when I’m 40? I’m glad.” Zack said.

  “You might get robbed twenty times when you’re 40,” Brandon chuckled. “But one of those robberies will be done correctly, and no more will follow after that.”

  “Then here’s hoping the first one gets it right.”

  “All kidding aside, Zack, this is by far the most elaborate play I’ve ever helped orchestrate. That’s saying a lot, because I’ve been involved in many.”

  “I’m nervous,” Zack admitted. “Despite so many others joining to help me, I’ve spent everything on this one. I hope you’re right, Brandon. I hope what we want to do is possible.”

  “It’s possible. We just have to get your avatar to believe it’s possible. We do that, and you retire number one.”

  “I wish you had let me see Alex,” Zack said. He’d been so happy and surprised to hear that she was going to get another chance to play the game. His life had come to a horrible low point when she had failed out. He’d searched for her for weeks, but wasn’t able to find her. Brandon had assured him she was fine and in one of the best public schools, but losing her had been hard. If Zack had found her, he would have proposed marriage. They had fallen deeply in love, and the rules allowed player spouses to avoid having to attend old-style school. It would have cost Zach most of his credits, and it was rare for one player to save another in such a manner. But Zach had loved Alex fiercely; it had crushed him when all of Brandon’s best efforts to find her had turned up nothing.

  “There wasn’t enough time, you know that. After this play we’ll make sure you see her immediately,” Brandon assured him.

  Zack nodded fiercely. “When does she go in? Will she be close to me at all on Earth?”

  Brandon shrugged. “I’m not sure what she can afford or when she goes in. You can ask her all about it when you retire. I’m sure she’ll play conservatively to build as many credits as she can before she has to retire later this year.”

  “It’s strange that she was awarded this free play, don’t you think? I hate to ask this, Brandon, but you didn’t pull strings to get her back in, did you?”

  Brandon shook his head negatively. “You know I would have done that long ago if such a thing were possible, my boy. But I can’t affect the Game like that. It’s too secure.”

  “Yeah. I guess. But look at…”

&
nbsp; Brandon hissed sharply, motioning for Zack to be silent. They both knew there were eyes and ears on them right now. Zack bowed his head quickly in apology. Brandon stood up. It was time for Zack to get into the Game.

  Zack stood up as well, and the two hugged briefly. “Good luck, Zack. Tradition allows you to keep your first name on your last play in the Game at no cost to you in credits. I look forward to watching Zack on Earth solidly capture the first place position for Zack in real life.”

  “The name doesn’t fit the goal. I’ve always had good luck with firsts, so I’ll be using a name I’ve never had before — Trew Radfield.”

  “I like it,” Brandon said. “Give ‘em hell, Zack. I’ll see you in a few weeks and I promise to give you a victory tour that no one will forget.”

  Zack nodded enthusiastically and lay down on his cushioned table.

  Less than ten minutes later, Zack was in a deep coma.

  Trew Radfield was heading from the light towards his young avatar.

  Earth would never be the same.

  Chapter 12

  We modelled the Game world after our own planet, Tygon. Our goal was to make Earth an exact reflection of Tygon, and we succeeded perfectly. The sheer volume of operations required to simulate an identical virtual existence to our authentic one called for a powerful supercomputer to be designed. We named this supercomputer Mainframe. Mainframe was responsible for everything, minor and major, in the creation and maintenance of Earth. It took us years to program fully. Even now, we daily employ Game Masters and an army of technicians to keep it functioning optimally. Something curious happened very soon after the Game began. Players inside the Game somehow seemed to recognize the influence and presence of the Mainframe. Although not able to see Mainframe, they began to sense its influence. Earth citizens called it ‘God’ and worshiped it in many different ways, depending on their specific cultures. At first we were concerned that this would interfere with the Gamers’ experiences, but the religions and activities centred around ‘God’ have provided us with fantastic story lines, technological developments, and learning opportunities. Without ‘God’ I’m certain the Game wouldn’t be as popular to watch and play as it is today.

  Excerpt from “Religion in the Game”

  Alex received very little fanfare during the time leading up to her Game entry. Lilith had said to expect a storm of reporters and interview requests, but none came. Despite the news feeds, fan sites buzzing with speculation and ideas about what Alex being awarded a free play meant, she spent a very quiet few weeks leading up to the day of her entry.

  Lilith had been curious, so she started to personally contact people to initiate interviews on Alex’s behalf.

  “Someone very powerful is blocking us,” she said.

  “Why would they do that?” Alex asked.

  “I don’t know, but it’s true,” Lilith said. “The last three inquiries I made face to face conveyed the message very clearly. They all looked sick at the idea of not interviewing you, but even more frightened at the possibility of actually sitting down to talk. This is a terrible shame. We could have generated so much interest! I assured them you wouldn’t talk about where you’ve been. I suggested we mention the possibility of you spending credits to be with Zack in the Game. I tried enticing them in every way possible, kiddo, but no one will come near you.”

  Alex shrugged. “Thanks for trying, Lilith, but I don’t think it matters anyway. I’m glad I don’t have to speak to anyone, I don’t know if I could be silent about what I’ve seen. My fan base doesn’t seem to have been hurt by the lack of attention, though. It might have even helped. Have you seen my numbers today?”

  Lilith nodded excitedly, picking up a tablet to scan recent figures. Alex was right; her popularity was skyrocketing. “Maybe you’re right, Alex. The only search term more popular than your name is Zack’s.”

  “When’s he going in?” Alex tried to pretend that she didn’t care, but she did. She’d hoped to hear from him when she came back into the spotlight, but she hadn’t. Not even a whisper. Her brain told her that was fine and she should wish him well in his play, but her heart was broken by the continued rejection. She thought they had been special together, but apparently she was the only one who felt that way.

  “He went in two days ago,” Lilith said. “Are you not watching the feeds at all?”

  His avatar will be slightly older than mine, she thought to herself. Shaking her head to get Zack out of her mind, she answered Lilith’s question. “I’ve had no time to watch feeds about Zack. I had to spend my credits all by myself for this play. The Mainframe invited me back in, but it didn’t provide a wealth of money to spend on playing.”

  Lilith smiled in sympathy. “Trust in the God, my girl.”

  Alex chuckled at the reference. People were starting to proclaim that Tygon had its own God, similar but more powerful than Earth’s. Intelligent people had agreed decades ago that no such creature existed, but despite that, the phrase was growing more popular with Game fans everywhere. “I guess I should trust in the God of Earth, at least. I have no idea why it raised me so high in the Game, then kicked me out so horribly. Now it invites me back in? None of it makes sense.”

  “Don’t start believing the Mainframe had anything to do with your fate, Alex.” Lilith said. “You know the Mainframe is just a computer that creates and maintains a virtual universe. It’s not an intelligent, self-aware creature. It’s no different than this computer console in front of me; it just has a much larger memory and processing speed.”

  “Mainframe has an AI chip, too, Lilith,” Alex said.

  “Yes, but that technology is still very limited and simple. A small amount of artificial intelligence to allow it to process its tasks quicker. That’s it, Alex. No one has made a significant advance in AI technology.”

  “Brandon Strayne might have,” Alex argued. “He made virtual reality seem simple. Maybe he’s succeeded with artificial intelligence as well.”

  “It’s illegal to even try,” Lilith said. “Now let’s stop wasting precious time on a silly topic. Are you ready to play? You go in tomorrow. How did you decide to spend your credits?”

  Alex knew how much guilt Lilith felt from advising her on the last play, so this time, Alex had told everyone that she would assume sole responsibility for how her credits were spent. It was a challenge, though.

  “Are you sure you want to know?” Alex asked. “You might not like what I’ve done.”

  “Nonsense, Alex. I support your strategy, whatever it is.”

  “Okay, then.” Alex handed Lilith the computer tablet with her selections listed on it. “Tell me what you think.”

  Lilith looked at the tablet, then back to Alex. “Where’s the rest? I can’t get it to scroll to the next page.”

  “That’s it. There is no next page.”

  Lilith closed her eyes slowly. Taking deep breaths she remained silent for a full thirty seconds. “I already told you, Alex. If you fail out of the Game again I can’t protect you like last time.”

  “I understand.” Alex said. “I’m not asking you to. This strategy will work.”

  “Well, I don’t understand it. Please explain it to me.”

  “I have limited credits, so I spent a long time looking at all the power ups and scenarios and interactions that I could purchase. I saw a couple of mistakes in the price lists.”

  “What mistakes?” Lilith asked.

  “A few of the more expensive choices were very, very cheap on my price list. I looked them up on the world system, and sure enough, they were high end purchases, but for some reason they were very inexpensive for me to purchase.”

  “Strange…”Lilith said.

  “Or a sign,” Alex said. “So I spent my credits on them. All of my credits. Before you say anything, you know how many credits I was given. There was no way to be conservative and hope for another play if this one fails. My free play is exactly that, it seems. One free play. So I’ve kept it simple. I’ve spent all
my credits in very limited areas.”

  “List them off for me, please,” Lilith requested.

  Alex ticked them off on her fingers. “Health, Longevity, Focus.”

  “Health and longevity I understand. I can’t believe the Mainframe will give you what you purchased,” Lilith said. “Focus is an elite and expensive attribute. Only the very wealthy Gamers can buy it, and when they do, it’s often a wasted purchase because their avatars never seem to use it well.”

  “I’ve studied that. I think it’s because they purchase Focus, yet try to use it on too many things in their lives.”

  “Focusing on too many things destroys Focus. Now that you mention it, I think you’re right. Describing it like that makes it seem silly, as if they are clearly not using Focus the correct way at all.”

  “Well, I spent a lot on Focus, Lilith, and I’m going to focus on just one thing when I’m playing.”

  “What’s that?” Lilith asked.

  Alex smiled slyly. “That it’s all a game.”

  Lilith laughed. “There’s no way that will ever work. Even if it does, what can that get you?”

  “I don’t know. But I had a long time to look at my career as a gamer, and I keep having one overwhelming thought. I think I’m a prodigy.”

  In the old days of public school, students would often gravitate towards certain subjects. Some would be better at math, others at science, others at art, and so forth. Over time, this would lead to students learning more about their favourite subjects, and they would go on to study or work in the fields of their interests.

  The same was true of the Game. Players would live incarnations and score higher in certain areas of play. On their next plays, they might focus more on their favourite aspects or ‘subjects,’ which would result in them earning even more credits and higher standing. In some cases, the most focused and very best players would be able to earn Prodigy status over time. A famous player named Owen Brahlie was a popular example. Owen soon realized that he excelled at music and decided to focus on this area of the Game. Each time he played a new incarnation, He spent a large amount of his available credits in musical talent for his avatars. Each time he played, his new avatar would become more talented in music earlier in its life. Eventually, Owen had enough credits to purchase Prodigy status. On one of his final plays, his avatar was a person named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As Mozart, Owen manifested his talents at the tender age of six, and went on to change the course of musical history on Earth. His play as Mozart earned Owen enough credits to retire from the Game as a very wealthy individual, and he continued to bring his ‘lives’ of experience to his career on Tygon. Everyone in the world could sing you at least a dozen Owen Brahlie musical hits. Some players today still named their avatars after Owen, as an homage to their hero. His daughter was a popular player on the scene today who chose singing on Earth as her focus.