The Game (short story)
Community Rating
Description
I admit it; I’m a long-time gaming geek. When I started back in 1984, I played on a Compaq DeskPro outfitted with an 8 MHz 8086 CPU and an awesome monochrome display adapter. I said I was a geek, remember? During the golden age of computer gaming, otherwise known as the 1990s, each month brought quantum innovations, spurring a host of inventive game designs. For me, the pinnacle was reached with the invention of the MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game), and my wife and I became lost in the world ofEverquestfrom 1999 to 2001.
In the land of Norrath, we made many friends as we rose from a pair of pathetic magic users to guild legends, and I saw how the lines blurred betweenrealityand thevirtualworld. People speak of how computer games are a waste of time. But a great many good things grew out of those days. One of them was a fertile seed of an idea that I pondered well over a decade ago . . . and still do. This story is the result.
What people are saying about "The Game"
"An impressive and thought-provoking short story."-Mikelon Goodreads
"The Game" is a wonderful short story, asking profound questions about existence and the meaning of life. I really enjoyed and be glad to see more from Troth."-Gil Estelon Goodreads
"Great short story...different from much of Michael's writing (at least that I am familiar with). Definitely thought-provoking and chilling towards the end."-Gabe Erwinon Goodreads
". . . this one is just . . . brilliant! Do yourself a favor, everyone, and just read it."-Christomir Rackovon Goodreads.
Information
- Status
- Completed
- Year
- 2023
- Author
- MichaelJSullivan
Royal Road Stats
- Rating
- 4.9/ 5.0
- Followers
- 57
- Views
- 8,387
Chapters(5 total)
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Community Reviews(5)
- Kelsa7Royal Road★★★★★ 5.0As someone who spent years being a systems developer, I found this story to be believable and intriguing. Developers often become enamored of their work to the point of their work taking on a life of its own. This is just taking it to the next level; a level that was thought-provoking, as well as enjoyable. I would love to see this short story expanded to see where it takes you and what happens to the characters. I definitely want to know who’s at the door! Another great work by Michael!
- cairiRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Engaging short story exploring the "what if NPCs became sentient" trope. The main character and the NPC in question were instantly compelling and garnered my sympathy, and the story had me thinking hard about the whole idea of what constitutes sentience and what rights a new form of created sentient being should have.
- elravennegroRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Damn man, sometimes a story sinks its teeth into you. I was glued to my computer reading this and then it mercilessly ended. It truly makes you think after you read it,
but I honestly think it would have been a more impactful ending if we didn't have to stretch our suspension of disbelief during the final scene. The story went from Hard Sci-Fi to an abrupt Fantasy Sci-Fi.
Even with that small critique, this story is definitely worth your time. - MK bk-201Royal Road★★★★★ 4.5This was a pretty good short story about an NPC who suddenly becomes self-aware and if its actually considered "alive" in such case, along with a lot of philosophy about where do we come from and where do go, (where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?), the cliffhanger ending was such a move though.
- Strongarm_1Royal Road★★★★★ 4.5Has the horrible problem of being a GOOD short story. Gets me hooked on the story and then ends. I want more!!!!
This ending was particularly cruel.
I would ask you to consider writing a sequel, but I honestly don't know where you could really go with it. I could see it going either of two ways. Both would be interesting.