2022, humanity has finally...
.
.
.
.
...created a completely virtual environment
~~~~~
The VRMMORPG Sword Art Online specifically created for the NerveGear, the first Full Dive tool on the market. I stare at the empty cover of the game, the actual game already put into the Hardware.
Sunday, the 6th November 2022. Today, at approximately 13:00 o'clock, the servers of Sword Art Online would go online for the public, announcing the official beginning of Sword Art Online. I already prepared everything, hoping to be able to go online the second the server goes online. 10.000 copies were sold in total. In other words, everyone who has the game would either have to be a hardcore junkie or incredibly lucky. I would put myself in the first category. The curtains protect me from the awful thing called sun, the AC cooling the hot air.
The NerveGear had only boring puzzle games, none of them showing and using the full potential of the Hardware so I ignored it for the longest time. Still, once Sword Art Online was first announced, and with it the new game genre of a VRMMORPG, I knew I had to play it. Sadly, I was not able to play in the Beta though I guess I should be grateful to be able to play this game anyway. An entire virtual world, that mixed with an MMORPG? A dream of every gamer. And I hold it in my hands. The game which will undoubtedly never be forgotten as one of the greatest moments in gaming, no, in history in general!
I stare at the clock, something I have done quite often in the last hour. It's time! Immediately, I put on the NerveGear. Just one more minute. With a small grin, I lie down.
12.59
12.59
12.59
12.59
13.00
My grin widens.
"Link start!
Immediately, I lose my senses, the world outside, reality and me being disconnected. A progress done to ensure a complete virtual experience. Putting in a username and a password, I am sent to the Character Creation screen/place. 9500 people have already logged in leaving me baffled. Though I guess I should have expected as much. Without much care I pick a default character, deciding to create a better one on a later date. Playing the game right now is my top priority.
Welcome to Sword Art Online !
One step. I take a step forward. Reluctantly. And then I find myself exactly where I wanted to be. In Sword Art Online, in Aincrad. In the Town of Beginnings.
I grin slightly, making the people around me take a step back. My smile is not really welcoming looking. People told me that it looks evil, like a cackling witch. Slowly my smile disappears, my eyes wandering around to see the scenery. The fresh air, the taste of greenery and pastry. The cool air, hitting my skin. This is Sword Art Online. I still couldn't believe it. I just stared at my surroundings in awe, not believing that I am actually here. Though after a few seconds of admiration the gamer side of mine takes over.
My top priority is to first, get an understanding of the basics of this game. I guess skipping the tutorial wasn't the smartest move...
After that, I take a look around. It's better to have a general understanding of this town and the whereabouts of different shops. Checking quests is important as well. They are the foundation of MMORPGs after all.
First of all, I look at my menu. It took me some attempts to open it, considering I've never actually used the NerveGear before. "So that's how the menu is organized, huh?", I mutter to myself quietly, frowning after seeing that I don't have any weapon equipped. How unusual. Yet again, there are no classes either, I suppose.
In normal MMORPGs you chose a class, either when creating a character or somewhere at the start of the game. After that, you receive a weapon which is compatible with your class. This means you have a starting balance already making it easy for beginners. Regardless, I should get a weapon first and foremost.
But still, the menu will take some time to get used to. I don't know if I should call it bad game design but it certainly isn't good either.
The next thing I check is my quests and to my surprise, I have currently not accepted one yet.
"Huh~. Normally you would have a main quest right of the bat. Kayaba Akihiko really wanted to try something new...", I again, mutter to myself.
Every MMORPG follows a loose main story told through main quests but this is not the case for SAO as it appears.
How interesting.
It doesn't take long until I find a street with various shops. I look at the different things on display while walking through the street, thinking about what weapon I should choose.
Suddenly, someone bumps into me from behind, making me fall on my face. Great.
One point for you ground but next time, I will be victorious.
"Oh god, I am sorry! I was...kinda too...excited...", I hear a masculine voice.
I continue staring at the ground in shock. I am after all, socially awkward. Maybe the guy would just ignore me if I say nothing?
"Are you lagging or something?", the voice of doom asks me.
Of course, he wouldn't. Since when would I be lucky?
With trembling hands, I begin to look up, my eyes twitching. Don't talk to me. Don't talk to me. Don't talk to me. "Are you alright?", the boy in front of me asks. Crap.
I stare at the boy thinking carefully what to say. The boy has black hair and black eyes. Nothing too special.
Finally, I got an idea of how to respond to the boy's question.
"Y-Yes...", I stutter quietly, my voice luckily not cracking which it has a habit to do.
My sudden speech seems to startle the boy. "A-Ah, I see...", he answers nervously.
And this is one of the reasons why I do not talk to others. Though I must say, playing a MMORPG doesn't necessarily help my case either.
He scratches his cheek while glancing at me before he shows me a (kind of forced) smile and holds his hand out. I just stare at his hand in confusion. Am I supposed to do something? The boy seems to notice my confusion and chuckles, now looking more relaxed.
"Stand up. You don't want to sit on the ground all day, right?", he asks me with a smile. Finally, I notice that I was sitting on the ground the whole time, looking at the boy who is already standing.
I feel myself blushing and quickly stand up, not taking his hand. How foolish of me. Why can't I do something without making a fool of myself?
The boy looks at me nervously. "Sooooo...you're okay?", he asks me after some seconds of silence.
Awkward.
This conversation is just plain awkward.
"Y-Yeah...", I answer. We stare at each other for some more seconds not really knowing what to do. "W-Well then...I'll be taking...my leave...", the boy says and hesitantly starts to run away.
I stare at his leaving form for a while.
So this game doesn't have the usual name above the head kind of thing? SAO is really different from normal MMORPGs.
I look around. I should get myself a weapon.
And with that, I brought the first dagger I could see.
Now, where is the field?
.
.
.
"Finally", I groan. Finally, I found the gate to reach the outer fields! This took forever. Why can't they afford maps in towns? Just why? The sun is already going down. I open my menu to look at the time. 17:29.
God, it's this late already and all I did was walk aimlessly through the town. What a productive way to spend your day.
There's no way I can spend my time grinding now. This sucks. If it wouldn't come to my social awkwardness I could have asked someone after the way. I sigh. And it's my first day even. I wanted to try out the fighting mechanics as well today. Guess that won't happen.
(I really should have played the tutorial).
Suddenly I hear a loud bell. Surprised, I jump slightly. Why would the bell ring now out of all times? I mean at 18.00 I would have understood it. But now? A pile of blue light surrounds me suddenly. What is that? Wait could it be-? But without any sort of announcement?! What is the meaning of this Argus?!
"A forced teleportation?!"
----------------
So, I decided to split the episodes into two parts. Later, by the huge time skips, I may write extra chapters between them. Please comment since I am a person who loses motivation quickly.
[Edited]
[Now with a picture.]