“And with that, we are done,” Aron declared, satisfied with the fine-tuning of the game’s content and features.
[Should I proceed with the production, or is there anything else you would like to add?] Nova asked, wanting to ensure that Aron had no additional input or requirements beyond what they had already discussed.
“No, you can proceed with the production. How long will it take for everything to be completed?” Aron asked, eager to know the estimated timeline for the game’s development.
“At most, it will take half an hour of universal simulation time” Nova reported, indicating the swift turnaround for the game’s production.
“That is longer than I expected,” Aron remarked, uttering something that would make every game developer in the world want to isekai his ass to a certain world as a helpless villager.
“Most of the quantum computer resources are currently allocated to the universal simulation, which is accommodating all the materialized individuals. That’s why the estimated production time is approximately six minutes in the real world,” Nova clarified, providing the reasoning behind the anticipated duration.
“What percentage of the computer is currently being occupied by the universal simulation?” he asked.
[Seventy-five percent of the computer is now being occupied by the universal simulation,] Nova reported.
“When we complete our move to Eden, we will have the freedom to upgrade your computer to a quantum server without the constant concern of prying eyes from various intelligence agencies,” Aron stated, expressing his frustration with the limitations imposed on him under constant surveillance.
[If the research into the atomic printer is completed ahead of schedule, it would provide us with the capability to rapidly scale up our computing power without the need to wait for several years for the ordered equipment to make the chips to arrive,] Nova agreed with Aron’s statement.
“You can begin with the game production. As I need to hand it over to Sarah before I visit Eden,” Aron stated, shifting his focus to reviewing the list of completed projects.
He aimed to determine which completed researches would be the ideal products for his company once he finalized his plans for Eden.
Nova’s comprehensive understanding of the Prometheus+ coding language enabled her to write highly efficient code that utilized space optimally, eliminating any unnecessary wastage.
[I’m almost done] Nova reported, indicating that she had begun working on the game as soon as he confirmed that there were no further additions to the plan.
“Mh…” Aron nodded, his attention still fixed on the list in his hand, contemplating his options.
Three minutes later.
[Sir, the game production is complete,] Nova informed Aron, gently touching his shoulder and removing him from his intense focus.
“Let’s take a look at the game,” Aron said, throwing the folder in his hand to the air and causing it to disintegrate.
Nova swiftly materialized a computer in front of Aron, loaded with the game for him to test.
“Let’s see,” Aron said as he opened the game, which loaded and started in less than fifteen seconds.
He immediately turned to Nova and asked, “Did you ensure that the computer has the latest technology?”
[No, sir. I intentionally set up the computer to match the specifications of the average PC build worldwide. This way, we can assess whether the game is playable by a wide range of users,] Nova replied to Aron.
“What is the size of the game?” he asked as he started playing.
[159 MB,] Nova answered.
“That’s good,” Aron said as he took a look at the game’s graphics, cutscenes, and story. If he didn’t know how Nova accomplished this, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Following that, he quietly continued playing the game to test it. However, as he became engrossed in the immersive experience, he lost track of time. Hours slipped away unnoticed as he delved deeper into the captivating world, forgetting his initial intention to test the game.
Nova, realizing Aron’s deep immersion in the game, chose not to interrupt him and allowed him to continue enjoying himself. She silently observed as he became fully absorbed in the gameplay, appreciating the fruits of their labor.
“The game has really surpassed my expectations,” Aron remarked. Having made the conscious decision to stop playing, recognizing the potential addictive nature of the game and the importance of maintaining a balanced approach.
“The storyline is truly captivating and will undoubtedly capture the attention of many,” Aron acknowledged, appreciating the depth and addictive nature of the story that Nova had crafted
[Yes, giving players the ability to shape the storyline through the butterfly effects of their actions will create a more immersive world for them. However, we still retain control over the game’s storyline through the NPCs, allowing us to guide the narrative from behind the scenes.] Nova responded with a calm smile.
Embedded deep within Nova’s code was a unique feature that granted her control over her learning process.
This safeguard was put in place to ensure that her evolution wasn’t unduly influenced by external forces other than her master, allowing her to acquire knowledge and shape her personality according to her own discretion.
Leveraging the embedded feature, Nova meticulously curated her personality using a diverse range of data sets, including those reflecting Aron’s characteristics.
This resulted in her developing a similar trait to Aron’s: a desire for control in every aspect they can influence.
However, unlike Aron, Nova’s inclination for control was driven by her deep commitment to assist and benefit her master in every way possible.
Thus, her desire for control extended to areas that would be most advantageous to Aron’s goals and well-being.
This included her controlling the narrative of the story on the game, as she was sure the game will be very influential in the upcoming months after its release.
That’s good,” Aron said, expressing his satisfaction with Nova’s decision.
“Call Sarah,” Aron instructed, it was for him to schedule a meeting with her to hand over the game.
Nova created a bubble around them, synchronizing the time acceleration to match the real world to facilitate the phone call.
“Hello,” Sarah said when she picked up the phone.
“Hello, how are you?” Aron asked in return.
“I’m doing very well. As for the company, nothing has changed, and everything is going well since we had a talk last week,” Sarah replied.
“I was calling to inform you that the game is done,” Aron stated directly, skipping his usual small talk.
“Finally! When will you be visiting the company, or should I come to your house for the meeting?” Sarah asked eagerly.
“I called specifically to ask when you’re free so that I can visit you and brief you on the game and discuss its release plan,” Aron explained.
“I’m free tomorrow. You can visit at any time, as long as you give me a heads up so that I can prepare to welcome you,” Sarah responded.
“Then I will be visiting around 11 a.m., and I’ll call you when I’m on the way,” Aron confirmed.
“Sure, that will do,” Sarah agreed to the schedule.
Afterward, Aron and Sarah engaged in conversation about other matters before bidding each other farewell and ending the phone call, anticipating their meeting the next day.
After ending the call, he turned to Nova and said, “Let’s continue testing the game,” as he couldn’t get it out of his mind.
[Sir, you’re beginning to show signs of addiction,] Nova joked. However, she materialized a computer for herself next to Aron and created a human-like brain for herself, unaware of anything about the game.
She then joined Aron in playing and enjoying the game, as they waited for tomorrow to arrive for their meeting with Sarah.