Gamers' Rebellion Read Online Free PDF Page A

traits and purpose and the ability to develop a distinct personality.’
    A series of images floated around Zyra. Tark and her on various adventures – fighting dragons, stealing money and striving to reach Designers Paradise. The two of them choosing their Suburbia avatars. Tina and John in Suburbia.
    ‘Designers Burrows and Hayes introduced the Suburbia environment.’ Robert’s voice washed over the images like a documentary narration. ‘It was the first additional environment. Hundreds more have since been added.’
    The images continued. Vistas of many varied landscapes and cityscapes and bizarre places that defied description. And then Tina and John at workstations, programming. Tina and John in lab coats, watching others do programming. Tina and John in meetings with people in suits. Tina and John talking with another man in a lab coat.
    Zyra looked closely at the man. He was tall, with brown curly hair and handsome features. There was a hint of grey at his temples, and the beginning of wrinkles at the corners of his blue eyes. He looked sad.
    ‘That’s you,’ whispered Zyra.
    ‘Yes,’ Robert confirmed. ‘That’s me. Forty-two years ago. I was fifty, although I think I looked pretty good for my age. Tina and John were Designers by this stage. Had been for a while. Designers Burrows and Hayes. My best students. My closest collaborators. My greatest rivals.’
    The memories of Tina and Robert began to argue.
    ‘That was the day that everything changed,’ said Robert. ‘That was the day my focus shifted from creation to … I don’t know … self-delusion.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ asked Zyra.
    ‘Listen to them,’ said Robert.
    Zyra walked closer to the image from the past.
    ‘You can’t just abandon the project.’ Designer Burrows waved her arms about in frustration. ‘You’ve put too much into this.’
    ‘As have we,’ added Designer Hayes.
    ‘I’m not abandoning it,’ said Robert. ‘I’m simply changing the focus. A virtual playground for disabled people.’
    ‘There are so many other potential uses,’ said Designer Hayes.
    ‘Recent revelations have focused my attention on to this one,’ said Robert.
    ‘We can’t just stop all our other lines of research.’ Designer Burrows was red in the face.
    ‘I’m no longer interested in those,’ said Robert. He continued quickly as Designers Burrows and Hayes opened their mouth to protest. ‘You can proceed with them, if you wish. Do what you like. I will not stop you.’
    Designers Burrows and Hayes exchanged meaningful glances.
    ‘I figured that you would be happier without my interference anyway,’ added Robert.
    Zyra watched everything blur, pixelate and reform.
    It was the same three people having a similar conversation. As with the previous scene, their location was unclear. The main difference was that Robert was in a wheelchair – not the sophisticated technology-laden one he currently occupied, but something a little more ordinary.
    ‘You’re stagnant,’ said Designer Hayes.
    ‘I’m happy,’ countered Robert.
    ‘Are you?’ asked Designer Burrows. ‘Really? You’re happy enough in the Game, playing as a child. But that’s all you’re doing – playing. You’re not living. What you should be aiming for is a complete transference of your consciousness from the physical environment to the virtual.’
    ‘We can do it,’ said Designer Hayes. ‘If you stop playing and start working, we could achieve this. Imagine – leaving your crippled, physical self behind completely.’
    ‘Freedom from the physical world,’ added Designer Burrows.
    ‘What do I do with this freedom once I have it?’ asked Robert.
    Zyra’s eyes widened. ‘That’s what Bobby said. In the Game.’ She looked at the present Robert as his past self blurred and pixelated. ‘You’re Bobby? The Ultimate Gamer? How?’
    Robert exhaled loudly. ‘Just watch.’
    The pixels reformed into another similar scene. Robert’s wheelchair was now closer to