Altered Reality
It’s Wednesday, and we all know what that means, don’t we? That’s right, Friday Fictioneers, the Friday writing challenge on a Wednesday! The photo we will be writing our 100-ish word stories about this week has been contributed by Melanie Greenwood and our host as always is Rochelle over at Addicted to Purple.
To read all the other stories for this week, click on the little blue frog below.
The window in this week’s photo looks tailor-made for someone to go flying through, don’t you think? 🙂
Copyright Melanie Greenwood
As head tester for ImmersiveTech Games, Jeff was hugely impressed by their latest virtual reality prototype. “Moving” into the simulated hotel room, he could sense the fear of his victims, feel their blood splatter his face as he pulled the trigger. He yelled with joy at the experience as a grenade exploded, blowing his avatar through the window onto the balcony.
“GAME OVER.”
His brain registered the simulated impact and shut down, believing he had died. Moments later, his body followed.
As his corpse was removed, a researcher made notes on his tablet.
Too realistic. Reduce bio-feedback.
Bribe coroner. Again.
Hire new tester.
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draliman on life 
Ali, Yes, I’d say that was a bit too realistic. It could be that company will save on retirement benefits though. Well written. 🙂 — Susan
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Thanks! True, a fair few employees won’t be collecting their pensions. I don’t know how much they’re spending in bribes to keep the coroner/ME in their pocket though.
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Now, there’s a situation to really consider when choosing a gaming system or other new technology. Hmmm.
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It’s okay, it’s still in the prototype stage! Don’t enter any gaming trials or hands-on focus groups though 🙂 Let the professionals take the hits!
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But, free games! Cool technology! Paid to play!
😀
(I am going with the PS4 it turns out, just waiting for Black Friday sales now…)
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No NAPR, think of the danger 😦
Yay on the PS4, we can be PS4 buddies 🙂
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I guess sometimes a job offer sounds too good to be true. And this was clearly one. Good one!!
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It looked great on paper 🙂 Thanks!
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I don’t think I’d play that game. 🙂
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I’m sure it was a lot of fun until he “blew up” 🙂
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How can I laugh at such a story of violent death?
And yet, I did. 🙂
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It was intended to be black humour. I had a bit of a giggle too!
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This is brilliant! And so much for that video game death just being a temporary inconvenience towards achieving the goal…
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It’s sort of permanent for poor Jeff. I can actually see this happening in the near-ish future…
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AWESOME!!!
Well done, creative, loved the twist and irony of it all! Amazing!!!
My fav so far – the snail brigade has officially taken 2nd place! 🙂
~ Andrea ❤
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I’m glad you enjoyed it! Maybe the snail brigade will have to fight back in a future story 🙂
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I like a guy who really throws himself into his work. 🙂 This is a really good idea. Well done.
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He certainly gave all for the cause. Glad you liked it!
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Hah! I loved that ending. Great story.
Claire
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I’m glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like the researcher has seen all this before.
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Definitely not volunteering as a beta tester for this one 😀
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A very wise move!
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Just right for Halloween. Errie but very good.
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Thanks! It is kind of scary, the thought of having something so realistic happen that it fools you into actually dying.
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great job again 🙂
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Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂
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Yikes! This is really well done. I could almost feel all that, too.
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I’m glad you wrote “almost” considering what happened to Jeff 🙂
Thanks!
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It’s not a bug….It’s a feature.
DJ
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Could well be! After all, the possibility of death adds a certain extra something 🙂
I’m sure that’s the company line, anyway.
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I bet that happens! Who killed the Kennedy’s?
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It must be quite time-consuming to keep having to cover up all TotalImmersion’s high-profile mishaps.
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Brilliant. I loved this one. I just wish they made less violent games–like ‘hide the monkey’ or something. Then I might sign up to be a tester too.
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“Hide the monkey” sounds much safer 🙂
Glad you liked it!
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Too realistic! Ha, I had to laugh at that. I guess one thing to consider as a tester is the mortality rates. Very inventive, Alistair!
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I’m guessing they didn’t mention possible death in the job ad! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Dear Ali,
From beginning to end, you have a virtual winner. Very clever.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I’m glad you liked it! I wanted to add a bit of a twist to the old “man goes flying through window” thing.
Ali
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Ali – Shalom – you did it again – a great spirit to win!
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Thanks, Mihrank! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Amazing. Love the pace of this – how it moves along like a rocket, then shudders to a close. I also like the idea of his body following his consciousness into death – what an intriguing thought. Most enjoyable.
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I like to change pace, and add in little twists! I’m glad you liked it, it’s amazing what the brain can convince the body of.
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Dear draliman, I bet their Workman’s Comp fees are out of this world! Very inventive and entertaining – really, really good! Nan 🙂
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Dear Nan, I have an awful suspicion they brush it under the carpet. “Unfortunate heart attack, never saw it coming” sort of thing!
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Ali
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Oh that’s great. Love the line ‘Bribe coroner. Again.’ – the again just says it all. Great descriptions and Jeff sounded like a nice guy – poor him. Great little story.
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Methinks this is not the first time this has happened 🙂 Poor Jeff indeed 😦
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Scary. Loved it.
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When fantasy meets reality with a bang…
I’m glad you liked it, thanks for reading!
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Wow! Just wow! Callous, callous manufacturer/researcher!
Your narrative style was gripping.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! It’s all about the money for that company, people are expendable.
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Is it bad that I laughed out loud when Jeff died?
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Nah, so did I 🙂
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