"Welcome gamers to the world of Dragaria. A place of endless possibilities, with a long history to explore and a vast world ready for your actions to shape the future."
The narrator's voice fills the room as the screen shows sweeping cinematics of various biomes and massive fantasy creatures roaming the wilderness. All the seats are full as the gamers invited for the beta test watch with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
"The new cutting edge AI technology of Hammer Games Inc allows for full immersion and the most lifelike NPCs of any VR game on the market. It also creates personalized classes allowing every gamer to have their own unique skills and abilities to create the most optimal gaming experience. Dive into this world of..."
Jayce loses focus on the trailer as he glances down at his tablet with his starting character build that had been created for him after the intensive questionnaire and interviews with the game designers before coming to the game testing studio. His tablet indicated they'd assigned him to play as a Golem Crafter.
Jayce always preferred playing summoner classes that would allow him to create his own army, but summons often were only temporary. He wanted to craft his own soldiers that he could mold to his desires and could be upgraded over time, so he ultimately landed on golems. Lost in his thoughts about what he wanted to try crafting Jayce didn't realize the video had ended until the group around him started applauding. Putting his tablet back in his lap he joined in as the lead game developer took her place in front of the screen.
"Thank you all again for agreeing to be the first ones to try Fate ofDragaria, our team has worked years on this project and we are eager for any feedback you all have after playing. Please make your way to the attendant holding the sign for the room you were assigned to when you arrived. Please explore the world to your heart's content and I look forward to debriefing with you all when you're finished."
Jayce holds his tablet and ticket with the number one as he finds where he's supposed to go and makes his way over. Waiting already with the attendant is a thin 5'2 (1.57m) Asian girl with long black hair excitedly asking questions to the worker, who keeps asking her to hold any questions until we make it to the room with our pods. A tall broad shouldered dark skinned man stands a little off to the side reading his tablet, keeping to himself as we await the rest of the group. As a prominent VR shooter champion Jayce immediately recognizes him to be Zion Berk, known for having some of the best reflexes in the business.
Before Jayce works up the courage to introduce himself the five other people make their way over and the attendant asks everyone to follow as he leads the group of eight down a few hallways to the pod room. The Hammer Inc playtesting headquarters is filled with state of the art equipment and staffed with the lead developers from every corner of the world. The company had released the largest selling VR game 5 years ago and nothing since. People had been speculating that something big was underway and when 64 of the top known gamers from many genres had received a secretive invite, none had turned down the offer to come see what was in store for the future.
The pod room was floor to ceiling white with eight large pods big enough to comfortably lay down in with vital monitors attached. Jayce quickly found the monitor assigned to him.
Player Name: Jayce Weston
Character Name: Hugo Yuri
"We want to thank you all again for your participation in the Beta Test program. I do have some final instructions before you dive into the game. To create as immersive experience as possible there is no standard status screen included. To access the storage feature to put items away or take them out you just need the command word 'Storage'. To leave the game you just need to use the command phrase 'Return Home'. Please take your time exploring the world and your abilities, once you choose to end the beta test that will be all you will be able to experience until the game is officially released. With that being said please jump into the game and have fun." The attendant says as he moves to the control screen and powers up all of the pods for VR jump.
Jayce eagerly lays down and closes the pod door over him relaxing into the comfortable seat as he puts on the headset and closes his eyes to begin his journey. The weightless rush of his senses being pulled away from his body and directed to the computer that all new VR games takes over as he's suspended between the real and virtual worlds.
"We need heroes now more than ever... the fate of Dragaria rests in the hands of you and your companions... Please save us."
A powerful feminine voice seems to reverberate in the vast emptiness of the space between. There is no body to perceive the sensation or hear the words, but Jayce can feel it echoing in his soul. He is overwhelmed and confused by the words as he feels the weight of a body once again and opens his eyes in a new world.