Chapter 103 Two Changing Worlds (1)
Virtual Reality Arcadia. Popularly, it was recognized as a game-like form, but scholars who studied numerous human sociology throughout their lives had a different perspective on it.
[game? If you can only see that virtual reality, which completely embodies all the senses, no different from reality, as entertainment or entertainment, that would be like a frog in a well.] [Rather, to the management of Arcadia… No, that
is This must be a question I would like to ask the three companies that have developed unacceptable technologies. To think that they have created a technology that can completely change the life of mankind and only use it as a game machine. What the hell are you thinking?]
Another world.
Can the virtual reality that has developed to a level indistinguishable from reality that is not crude AR or VR, which is heterogeneous and has clear limits, still be regarded as virtual? A statement by a prominent sociology professor on this subject has made headlines.
[The conquest and struggle against nature that has been going on since the beginning of mankind will finally come to an end. Why spend an astronomical amount of resources and time to build tall buildings and gigantic structures? It just needs to be implemented in virtual reality.]
His prediction that mankind’s endless pioneering spirit will now disappear. It was a remark by a prominent old professor who could not be ignored in the sociology world, not just the general public, so the influence was extraordinary, but people were skeptical of his prediction.
“no way. However, reality is reality and virtuality is virtuality.”
“Who’s content with pieces of data that don’t exist in real life?”
“Isn’t that going too far? Even so, what kind of fuss are you talking about with just one game?”
Ordinary people just laughed. However, those who had insight into its huge potential through Arcadia were seriously discussing related topics in secret.
“Chairman, I think you should put on hold the construction of a large theme park that we decided to promote this time.”
Misney, a multinational conglomerate that owns dozens of super-large theme parks around the world. At the opinion of canceling the super-large project that they were trying to start there, Alex, the chairman of Mizuni, asked with a puzzled expression.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Haven’t you already selected a site for construction and completed discussions with the government of the country in question?”
Now, sooner or later, the government will announce the approval of the construction of the theme park, so we are waiting for the first shovel to open. It was difficult for Alex to accept that statement as it was a very large project that he had been working on for almost a year.
“Is there any reason why I should make that decision? The contract to purchase the land has already been completed, but if we stop now, we will lose hundreds of millions of dollars no matter how small it is.”
The expression of Alex, the chairman of Mizuni, was as cold as ice when he asked about it because he was already in a situation where he had to endure astronomical losses. The executive conference room fell into silence in an instant. However, even in such a situation, the presenter, who was in charge of the project, spoke without hesitation.
“That’s right. As the project manager, it is my final judgment that stopping the project even if I lose money right now will prevent more losses in the long run.”
His answer made me feel as if he would never give up even if he was fired right away. Perhaps feeling his sincerity, Alex calmed down for a moment before speaking in a calm voice.
“Let’s just listen. Why did you come up with such an opinion at this meeting attended by executives including me? If it’s for reasons you don’t understand, you’ll have to leave the office with your resignation letter on my desk.”
“thank you. Then I will explain why. First of all, it is because we have an opponent that we can never compete with.”
“Impossible to compete… opponent?”
Alex puts on a puzzled expression when he hears that he has an opponent he can’t compete with. That’s also because he couldn’t imagine that there was an opponent that Mizuni, which dominates most of the world’s entertainment and media markets, could not compete with.
“yes. According to the information we recently received, it is clear that Arcadia will cause huge losses in the future if this project goes ahead.”
“If it’s Arcadia… you mean the recently popular virtual reality?”
“That’s right. First, let’s watch the video we recently obtained.”
A presenter plays a video to Alex and the executives who tilt their heads as if they can’t understand. The eyes of those who were still watching the video widened as if they were going to pop out as if they had made a promise.
“This is… what is it?”
A video less than 3 minutes. However, the scenes from the video were enough to shock Alex and all of Mizni’s executives.
“This is a special terrain called Fantastic Island, which was unveiled at a recent event held by the Korean branch of Arcadia Co., Ltd.”
Fantastic Island, which started at the suggestion of President Lee Mi-yeon and was developed as a map for events by the Korean branch of Arcadia Co., Ltd. Alex and the executives unknowingly exclaimed as they watched the people enjoying themselves with happy smiles and the panoramic view reflected.
“I can’t believe it… It’s really fantastic itself…”
A huge island that could accommodate tens of thousands… no, hundreds of thousands of people. The greenery of nature that makes you feel at ease just by looking at it, and the beach that shines like an emerald. The place, full of food and overflowing with things to see, was so enchanting that just looking at it made me want to run and enjoy a vacation.
“What is that?”
A huge bird flying in the sky. And people screaming in pleasure at the dizzying aerobatic flight that flies through the sky on it and glides across the sea surface. Seeing this, Alex jumped up from his seat in excitement and shouted.
“Oh you mean that? It’s a monster called a griffon… It’s an activity where you ride it and fly around.”
“Holy shit…..”
Alex spat out a curse close to moaning after hearing the explanation. After watching the video, he could understand why the general manager of the project insisted on stopping the construction of this super-large theme park.
“No matter how much money you put into it, it wouldn’t make sense to compete with something like that… I can see why you’re putting the project on hold.”
“Thank you for your understanding. In addition to this, I have a suggestion for the president and all the executives here.”
Alex has an expression that makes him look as if he has aged for decades. The presenter spoke directly to him with a confident face.
“To bring the island we just saw into reality requires at least tens of billions of dollars, which is what we estimated, and the cost of maintaining it is also in the billions. Of course, there are things that cannot be implemented no matter how hard you try. In other words, it is a literal Fantastic Island that cannot exist in reality.”
A huge scale theme park that is expected to cost tens of trillions of won in construction alone and trillions of won in maintenance alone. It was a level that even Mizuni couldn’t handle, and no company dared to even attempt it without getting shot in the head.
“But can you believe that this perfect theme park is just a map made for one event?”
“What?”
Alex couldn’t keep his mouth shut as if he was shocked by the words. In fact, the report in front of him was from Arcadia Co., Ltd.
“This is the data received from an official inquiry to Arcadia’s US branch. The material clearly states that ‘Fantastic Island is a terrain specially created for the event called ‘Jukchang Daejeon’, which was individually conducted by the Korean branch, and there is no plan to provide it on the continent in charge of the American branch.’”
At those words, Chairman Alex hurriedly read the report in front of him, almost sticking his nose in it. He asked with an expression of disbelief even after reading related documents several times.
“Wait a minute….. So that ridiculous fantasy island is just an event that was released for a certain period of time? It’s not that the company’s life and death were on the line, it’s just that one branch made it on its own…?”
“That’s right. And everything was provided for free.”
“FXXX!”
Alex unknowingly spat out a harsh curse at the fact that what might cut off the lifelines of numerous theme parks, including their own, was nothing but consumer content to them. Then, a tremendous sense of fear gripped him and the conference hall.
“Wait a minute… does that mean it’s an easy, cost-free affair for Arcadia to build a theme park like that and offer it to people?”
“That’s right. Strictly speaking, this fantasy island is just an illusion that is just data.”
If Arcadia Co., Ltd. wants, it can strangle Mizuni and shove a huge and bulky taffy into it. Faced with that, Alex spat out a self-deprecating self-talk.
“I want to get rid of virtual reality itself.”
It’s been a year since virtual reality was revealed to the world. It’s been less than a year since Arcadia started the service, but it was growing and rooting among people at a frightening speed. A situation that has already grown to an irreversible level. So the presenter said.
“Even now, we formally request that the company mobilize all of its capabilities to promote a cooperative project with Arcadia Co., Ltd. to realize a theme park using virtual reality. Even if it is not before the technology transfer, we have to persuade them by any means to develop a permanent theme park using the characters our company has and build a system to service it.”
His claim to pursue a super-large cooperation project with Arcadia Co., Ltd. as a company-wide response at the risk of the company’s life and death. It was an idea that went beyond innovation and was even destructive, but none of the company’s executives, including Chairman Alex, objected to his opinion.
“If not… our Mizuni will be on the path to downfall.”
They knew it because they were talented enough to occupy the executive position of Mizuni, the best company in the entertainment industry that encompasses the world. The words of the presenter, who makes a very ominous prophecy, are not at all absurd or exaggerated, but an insight into what will happen in the near future with a cold face to the point where bones hurt.
* * *
While such discussions were taking place, Arcadia’s Korean branch development team was busy cleaning up the poop, shedding tears of blood today.
“Kheuheu…. No, the elves and dwarves area is a project to be completed next year.”
“It did. But what? When has work ever gone according to plan? It’s a rapidly changing world day by day, wouldn’t it be right here?”
Although the world has already been completed as a whole, the content development team still needs to provide convenience and enjoyment for users in order to maintain the characteristics of the game. However, they worked overtime every day for the sudden pouring of emergency development work, and were weaving until the last drop.
“Can’t we just get off work on time today? Anyway, no users have access to it right now, so it’s only about a day…”
“What are you talking about? it’s crazy? Then you don’t know what will happen? Then, if the main scenario explodes that we didn’t intend, do you think only we are X? All departments become X!”
“Keuheheheug…. I see…”
“Think carefully! Do you want to end up like a scenario development team that is blown away and reorganized into something like a crisis management response team and go around cleaning up all the shit? You know there’s no such thing as leaving work on time there, right? 24-hour standby, 24-hour standby!”
A cry from the head of the content development team with tenacity and determination that no more unpredictable situation could be created. At that cry, the development team was busy cleaning up the poop piled up with tears today.
The protagonists who created the Fantastic Island that the president of Mizuni made his mouth drool on. These duck-like talents, who would be hired without hesitation even if given an annual salary of tens of billions of won, were still suffering from being flogged by the development team leader today.
Because of an ordinary 20-year-old college student who is scratching the floor and watching TV without knowing anything.
