7 VirtuNet Disconnec (1/2)

Eric was frustrated. He'd been to every major retailer in town and heard the same story. VirtuNet game connectors and preorders for Fate were all sold out. There'd been a huge demand for the game even before the announcement of the Fate Championship Series. But the massive prizes for the tournament, combined with the game's appeal and the relative cheapness of the system meant that there'd been a massive rush to buy VirtuNet connectors the day of the announcement. As a result, for the last week he'd been hitting up retailers everywhere; he'd even persuaded his mother to drive him to the next city over in an attempt to purchase one there, only to be met with the same story. VirtuNet connectors were sold out everywhere.

”Am I really going to be unable to buy a VirtuNet connector?” Eric despaired. It wasn't as if he was alone in his plight. Across the net, there were thousands of people lamenting their inability to purchase the connector. Even Hurricane seemed surprised by the popularity of the game, having released an announcement stating that they'd put in an order for three times the number of connectors from their manufacturer, but it would take another week for them to be available in stores. Four days after Fate released.

To Eric, this was unacceptable. The difference four days could make at an MMO's release was huge. Four days was the difference between being a frontrunner, who could monopolize resources and push around other players, and being a middle of the pack player who got bullied by higher level players. Even if Fate was a different experience, being four days behind was not a prospect Eric relished, especially since Jun would never let him live it down if he was the weakest member on the team.

With a sigh, Eric looked at the number on the screen and dialed it into his Smartwatch. Hearing the soft ring, he crossed his fingers and began to pray.

”Hello?” Came a voice from the other end.

”Hi. I was wondering if you had any VirtuNet connectors in stock”, Eric asked.

”Sorry, we're all sold out. We'll be getting some more in next week though.” The employee responded.

”Ah okay, thanks anyways”, Eric replied as he hung up.

”F***!” He swore, hitting the wall with his fist.

”Eric?” It was at this moment that his Mother's voice drifted up the stairs. ”Can you come downstairs, honey? We have something to talk to you about”.

Eric groaned. His parents had been asking him almost daily about his plans for university. He still didn't even have an acceptance letter from any of his serious choices, although he was sure one was coming. Mostly sure at least.

His mother sat opposite his father, more diminutive than his father, with graying hair and a kind face. Eric sincerely hoped that his mother would be supportive in his choice. Otherwise this was going to be a very long day.

”Yes? I was kind of busy you know”, he started, trying to avoid looking at the envelope or his parents, a task made difficult by the lack of any other points of interest in the room. Despite this Eric made a herculean effort to seem interested in the dust on the windowsill beside him as he spoke.

”A letter came. For you.” His father stated matter-of-factly. As if it was just any other letter. If Eric hadn't seen the envelope, he might have even assumed it was a birthday letter, as his birthday was in two days.

”Oh?” Eric replied carefully.

His father pushed the letter on the table towards him, ”It's right there, why don't you open it?”

With trembling hands, Eric reached out to pick up the letter. While this was the University he wanted to go to, he had not applied to a program his parents would approve of. A fact he had been avoiding by telling himself that maybe he would just be rejected.

Opening the letter, Eric read the contents to himself. As expected he had been accepted to a major in Game Design with a minor in Economics. He would start in the fall and the room he had requested had been reserved. Putting the letter down, he tried to smile at his parents.

”It looks like I've been accepted. I start in the fall.”

”Oh Eric! That's great news!”

”For what program?” His father interjected. Cutting his mother off mid-sentence.

”A Major in Game Design and a Minor in Economics, it's an honours program”, Eric replied, doing his best to make the program sound as prestigious as possible. It wasn't a lie - the program was actually one of the highest rated game design programs in the country, and the University's Business Faculty which the Economics minor was a part of was held in equal esteem. He just hoped his slightly more oldschool father would see it that way.

”Game design?” His father asked, furrowing his brow. ”You applied for game design? I thought you told us you were going to apply for something that would give you a future”.