[OOC: So, this is intended to be a recording of interviews that Leah did during the Christmas Party that took place earlier. Even if you didn't take part in that thread, you can still join in, if you think that your character would have attended, and if your character would agree to being recorded by a journalist. Feel free to respond to as many questions as you like! Depending on your answers, Leah could ask further questions later on.] ----------- The date is December 24, 2026. Just so that it's on record, could you repeat that you agree to this recording? ... Great, thank you. So my name is Leah Parker, and I'm an independent journalist. I'm intending to write an article about the VR game Terrasphere. I understand that you may not wish to reveal your true name, given the game's questionable legal state. But, in case some of your quotes or testimony are used in my article, how would you like to be addressed? Would you be all right with using your in-game name? ... All right. Good. So, how did you discover Terrasphere, and how long have you been playing? Did you hear about it in the news or elsewhere before you began playing? ... How has your in-game experience been? Some rather large-scale events have been taking place recently, including invasions and wars. Did you participate? How do you feel about those? ... Do you have any concerns about the game? The Department of Virtual Regulation and Safety has repeated their announcements regarding the game's lack of verification and the possible dangers about it. What do you think about that? ... Thank you for your time. You've been very helpful. Here's my business card, feel free to contact me if you have any concerns. It was good to speak with you, thank you again for your time.
Yep, that sounds right to me. Feels weird though, still. Hehe. -- I'm Kelly Richardson but... I guess for this particular scenario, just my in-game name of Solaria is fine. -- Well, it was around August when I first found out. I just moved out of my parent's place this year, and when I found myself with more time between my classes- I'm perfectly happy to admit being a college student on the record, by the by. Well... Anyway, I got an email at one point when I was testing out the VR equipment my roommate and I got as gifts from our folks when we first got our acceptance letters- I hadn't really had time to learn how it worked and whatnot until summer, so I just waited until I had time. That's when I got an email with the game client. It said not to talk about the game, but I did ask my roommate if she wanted to play- she had no interest and hadn't heard of it, but... Well, I'm a curious person by nature, so I had to give it a try. I hadn't heard about it either myself, to be honest, but I'd been looking for a good way to test out the equipment anyway and it seemed like perfect timing. I mean, I know I heard about the 'dangers' in the news, but some of my classes are about how deep dive technology can be helpful to health in some cases too. All in all I'm pretty glad I did, in the end. Er, sorry... That got longer than I meant it to be... Eheh. -- I was pretty amazed that in my first week there was a pretty big battle going on. I didn't fully know the lore- okay, I still don't feel I do. But, well... The race I'd chosen in game, the NPCs that had it, they were going through a great crisis. If it helps to make this make sense, I play what's called a 'Yladian' but... It's just an elf, really, to me. I'd joined just in time to help them deal with an exodus from their country that was far too dangerous to live in... and my first boss battle around then, too. I took part in other events too, mind you. The more I've played, the more I felt like it was important to take part, even more than when I started... Though to be fair, I'm often called a martyr. But in most cases, especially later ones... I was able to help both in combat and in helping heal people, whether from the same world as me or not... I take so much pride in that fact, I ended up buying myself a shop the moment I could- an alchemy shop that's more or less my version of a triag unit, to some extent, just on the outskirts of the player capital. -- I've heard some rumors here or there about people whose in game death consequences had some reaction to their real lives, but I haven't really noticed anything myself. I don't really see anything wrong with the game all in all. It seems perfectly safe to me- though I admit, my baby brother has been wanting to play it since this one time there was a commercial for it during one of his cartoons. I'm trying to make him wait until he's older, but that's just because... He's five, you know? I'm an adult, or nearly one. Generally, I'd like him to stay more active in the outside world. I'll be happy to play with him if he still wants to when he's a bit older. -- I'm sorry I don't have a business card or anything for you, but if you want to contact me... I can write my cell number down somewhere. I can't guess if you'd need anything else or not either, and at the least, it's been fun talking to you, you know~? I'm looking forward to see the results of all this!
I don't see any reason to avoid it. I'd feel more suspicious if I didn't bother with it. Besides, such a lovely lady deserves all the attention she requests and then some, don't you think? -- My name is Langdon Briar Harding, and I'm a physician. In all honesty, I see no real reason to avoid giving my name to the press in or outwise your article. Crikey, the game already was public by the time I found it anyhow. I'm not all mouth and no trousers, you know. In fact, I may very well prefer it if you use my real name instead. I may not be embarrassed to be a codger, but I don't want any gormless fools getting the wrong idea about my character... That said, there's no reason to hide it from a fellow player, in case we meet again. For you only- and this party, rather, I will admit to being 'Lady Briar'. A female's body, though small as mine may be in that world, is far more interesting. If I'm going to play a game, I'm going to be someone I'd be interested in, not my bloody self. If I'm just going to play myself, there's no point to playing a game. -- I hadn't been in the states more than a few days, a week or so at the most. I was watching the ol' idiot box to see if there was something newsworthy on in the wee hours of the morning because, quite honestly, I'm from bloody Britain and what you consider the wee hours was, at that time, merely a normal morning time to my mind. Jet lag is a knob, I tell you. Well, around three in the morning, there was some sort of commercial for the thing. I didn't know much of what it was, to be honest, but I've always liked games and it at least was obviously one of those. It was merely a day or so after that when I got the client while checking my email playing with a headset at work to learn the ins and outs. Sure, I'd heard there were concerns... But as a clinician, I'd know better the concerns with experience, wouldn't I? -- My experience in game thus fair, I would say. The war you mentiond was exciting for me, a good change from my day to day life... It's nice to be allowed to take my stress out on mongrels and nonsense for a change of pace. Crikey, it's a passion of it's own, the chaos of battle. -- I don't really understand the argy-bargy from the DVRS, but there is some truth, possibly, to the note to be cautious. If you haven't heard it before, death comes with a price, and the price you pay in the game sometimes lurks in your mind in this world when you leave for the day. Still... It's not enough to go to spare over. How in bloody hell are they planning to have the 'safety' designated if they don't let trials be done? There's still quite the restriction on Deep Dive Clinics. Far too much tosh and tape. At least by enjoying myself I can consider myself doing my duty to my hippocratic oath. I'm simply a human safety test, warts and all, in the end. -- You give me yours, I only naturally give you mine. And, if by some chance such a chance you are bored or need to knee things up, it would be my pleasure to spare some time with someone who know's their onions about these things so well. I could use all the information I can get to better my work pace anyhow- with, of course, your safety and that of those you speak to in mind. There won't be a need to worry about any kerfuffle with proper rights. Just a simple, friendly conversation. I'd treat you, of course. So... Just something to think about, young lady. May your remaining interviews be spawny, not full of hard cheese.
@Solaria Very interesting. I've experienced quite a fair bit of combat inside the game, myself. It can be quite harrowing- I've gotten kicked out of the game due to shock once. It's very amazing how pain is able to be simulated so precisely, isn't it? Is it the combat aspect that makes you leery about your brother trying it out, or something else about Terrasphere? ------- @Lady Briar I've only recently moved to the U.S. from London myself. Good to see a fellow countryman around. You hadn't heard of Terrasphere before coming to the U.S.? ... Ah. A doctor's perspective on Deep Dive Clinics would be interesting to hear, Dr. Harding. What restrictions do you feel are too excessive about them?
I don't think I've ever had that much trouble, but I'm also fairly good with pain tolerance. I take kendo offline, so I already felt pretty comfortable fighting with swords before I started. I think the thing that took the longest to get used to was the way it feels to use magic, for me. I'm used to mixing weird things together, and I've been taking kendo since I was a preteen, but... Magic? That's just... I don't know. It feels weird even four months later. As for my brother... He's only five. I don't want him playing *any* games. But I mean, it's also just that his reason for wanting to play is kind of... er... Well, I think he has a crush on Trinity. That's the main thing he talks about when he asks about playing, at least- 'the cute mascot girl'.
Well I'll be gobsmacked! I must say, I'm intrigued by the coincidence. Up until mid september I was still working at The Lister and helping on occasion at St. George's in Tooting. I'd be surprised if you noticed any of the other Hardings at those places, either. Hopefully you're naturally so beautifully healthy and have never needed our handiwork. -- Now mind you this is only a couple months of experience so far, but what makes me the most lurgy is how many of my colleagues don't even know the first thing about the technology. It's no wonder we get mountains of paperwork for a single patient. My first day on the job was shambolic. I have one colleague who was clearly telling porkies one after the other right out his arse. Bloody ponce. It was clear as I listened to him explaining to potential clients how the technolgy works that he didn't know one damned thing. It was things like that that really made it clear I needed to test it. Instead of current restrictions, what we need is better training for clinicians working in such an environment. I almost feel bad for the poor saps who've been snookered so far by untrained physicians. There's a lot of work that goes on in a clinic like that. I swear, that fellow thought that what kept the patient alive was the equipment itself! Now, I don't think there's anything bad about using Deep Dive as a medical option. It's better than simple life support for someone who's otherwise stuck as a near vegetable. However, you must remember that it's not life support itself. You may simulate eating, drinking, anything at all in the game world... But your needs in the game aren't the same as your needs in reality. Some things are easy enough to do in both at once- many people sleep while in the game just to fill their rest needs and their actual body's need for sleep. But water and food? No, those don't transfer into reality. I hope there are as many wise young ladies as yourself that play it and not just a bunch of bloody baffoons like some I've seen or heard of.
