<@Dreol> [You have come to New York to compete at Ubercon! The largest multi- genre video game competition in the world. You flew in last night so that you could arrive early on Friday and as you approach the convention center a mass of people are all gathered outside some of them are cosplaying as various video game characters, or anime characters, or just in creepy goth outfits, because somehow that's all related?] <@Dreol> [In any case, the registration line is a long 3 hour wait by the time you get through it is about 10 AM, but once you get inside you are assaulted with a barrage of lights and sounds from all around. Stalls are set up where new games are being shown ala E3 or TGS, there is a section where dealers are selling rare games, or plushies or anything video game related that people might want.] <@Dreol> [most of the floor, however, is taken up by countless huge competition stations being set up.] <@Dreol> [You, as a competitor, are scheduled to participate in the Metroid tournament which will take place at 2 PM. The idea is that Nintendo is going to reveal a new metroid game and you will have to compete for fastest time to run through it.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] (AT least there aren't furries. Oh god, I just said it. ;_;) * Katsuo first goes to check out the dealers. Never know when you find the diamonds of the industry in the rough. <@Dreol> [The dealer's room looks sort of like someone took your own shop and made it hugelulz, so to speak. There all lots of import games, and products. You find various things of interest, including some vintage NES games of some of your old favorites, Metroid, Mario, and the like, and an old Atari copy of Space Invaders. On the more obscure side you find a plushy of Samus in a swimsuit from some place that makes custom plushies.] * Katsuo checks the metroid plushies out, and picks up a metroid hat. Skreeee! He also gets a business card from the place that makes custom plushies, for later reference.\ * Katsuo then goes to check out the competetion. Very very important. Know competetors to know how to beat them. <@Dreol> [As you walk out of the dealer's room a young woman with a microphone that says G4 on it and a camera behind her runs up to you. "Mr. Yamamoto! Can we talk to you for a moment?"] * Katsuo turns to the woman, smiles and bows, then offers his hand for a handshake. "Oh, ah, yes! What you like to talk about?" <@Dreol> [Elaine straightens her hair and looks at the camera. "I'm Elaine Rogers for G4TV. We're here with Katsuo Yamamoto one of the favorites to win the Metroid competition this year at Ubercon." She then turns to you "Mr. Yamamoto, how do you feel about this year's competition. It's a brand new game so no one will have the advantage as far as knowledge of the layout goes. But you have, perhaps, more experience than anybody here in playing <@Dreol> ] Experience good. I know lots of Metroid, but experience not all. To win also need skill to do alternate paths and little luck. Luck very important. You know what I saying? <@Dreol> [Elaine nods and smiles. "Yes, of course. So do you have any tips for the kids out there who are aspiring professional gamers?"] Practice! Practice important. But practice not everything. Know game from front to back, do research. Always try new things. And never forget little things. Seconds may become minutes later, and that very big. <@Dreol> [Elaine smiles. "Excellent. I'm sure they appreciate the advice. And finally our last question. If you could be any video game character who would you like to be?"] That tough question. I like lots of characters. But be character is tough. <@Dreol> [Elaine nods and shakes his hand. "Well thank you for giving us your time." She turns to the camera again. "This is Elaine for G4TV let's see if we can find some other competitors to talk to." And she wanders off. <@Dreol> ] * Katsuo shakes Elaine's hand. "Thank you for interview. Give me something to think about." <@Dreol> [You notice that the several TV monitors that, until this point, had been displaying just the Ubercon logo now turns on to reveal two men in a press box] <@Dreol> [The one on the left, the monitor claims his name is Alex, has stiffly parted dark hair, is thin and has glasses. The one on the right looks like he just got out of a J-rock concert or is trying to cosplay someone from Kindgom Hearts II. His hair is combed back in huge spikes, his name is Jason.] <@Dreol> "Welcome to Ubercon 2009, I'm Alex Thompson." <@Dreol> "And I'm Jason Moore. It's been a big year in competitive gaming and this is going to be a very exciting competition, some newcomers this year look very promising." <@Dreol> "Yes, but a lot of returning competitors here as well. I saw Gregory Stevens, last year's winner of the Soul Calibur tournament and asked him if he thought he would be able to defend his title. He said that he would certainly try but every year the gaming community gets more skilled and he wishes his competitors luck." <@Dreol> "What a great guy, I love Greg. Anyway, there are a few competitors you won't be seeing this year. Richard Williams has been the victim of an unfortunate deli-slicer injury and cannot compete in the Dynasty Warriors tournament this year." <@Dreol> "Right, and Nate Walsh was banned from Ubercon last year after getting in a heated argument and punching a judge who ruled that his pokemon were illegally obtained." <@Dreol> "Gerard Peterson, the current Halo champion disappeared a month ago during the competition at Shutocon and hasn't been heard from since. <@Dreol> "And finally Renee Fielding who is last years winner of the Final Fantasy competition with her amazing 3 hour run through the supposed 6 hour demo of Final Fantasy XIII that Squarenix presented us, has said that she is quitting competitive gaming to take up a career in game design." <@Dreol> "Maybe she'll be here next year as a developer." <@Dreol> "We can hope. In any case a very exciting year." <@Dreol> [The TV fades out to just displaying the Ubercon logo.] <@Dreol> [You also notice it is getting close to your competition time. It is now 1 PM.] * Katsuo heads to scope out the competetion! Very very important, but someone may talk to him. * Katsuo also looks over at other gamers, if there are any people doing such things around at the time. <@Dreol> [The dome where the competition is held is shaped like Samus' helmet. You are not allowed in until the competition starts but many of the other competitors are also standing around outside the dome. All of them are younger than you, and a few of them actually seem to know who you are and mumble to each other as you come in. One is a young boy of maybe 12 and is playing a DS while he waits.] <@Dreol> [There are other competitions going on that you are welcome to watch while you wait. You are just required to be back at the Metroid one by 1:50.] * Katsuo checks the time on his wristwatch, noting it, then checks out the current competetions. <@Dreol> [The closest one is the Devil May Cry competition. There are spectator seats all around a series of monitors where the ten competitors are playing. All around the area are giant viewing montiors for each player's screen so that the audience can see what's going on. It looks like this is actually a score competition, whoever ends the game with the highest point total wins the competition. It's a relatively close race at this stage, but their slot is only half way through.] * Katsuo will open up discussion with any of the other competitors if they aren't obviously put-off by the idea, opening with a typical english/rish statement. <@Dreol> [A group of guys come over to greet you and one shakes your hand. "Hello, Mr. Yamamoto. We're big fans of yours. Now that I know you're here I'm just hoping for second place."] * Katsuo shakes his hand. "I flattered. You play Metroid good, yes? You always have chance at new game." <@Dreol> [He nods. "I guess that's true. But, man, I didn't know the competition would be so rough this year. I'm excited to see what the new game is like."] Me too. Miyamoto always make fun games. Very many games over the years. <@Dreol> [Off in the distance from the DMC competition there's a ton of cheering and one of the monitors displays two competitors approaching SSS combo, but one just falls short and gets SS.] <@Dreol> [And speaking of the new Metroid game. A man emerges from the dome with a Nintendo logo on his shirt and an "Uberstaff" badge. "Alright guys, we're ready for you to get set up. Good luck to you all."] <@Dreol> [The other competitors begin to enter the helmet, and the guy you were talking to smiles. "Good luck, Mr. Yamamoto. See you inside." He heads in.] * Katsuo bows and shakes his hand. "Good luck to you!" * Katsuo heads in. <@Dreol> [Inside the dome there is a giant sign above the series of playing stations that says "Metroid Omega" as you approach one of the stations you are given a wiimote and nunchuck by one of the female attendants who then wanders off to the side. The screen is turned on to reveal you already in game but paused. The seats are packed around the dome and everyone is cheering. Several can be heard cheering specifically for you.] * Katsuo waves to the crowd, then takes the wiimote and gets ready to play. <@Dreol> [The Nintendo rep who let you in walks to the center of the room with a microphone in his hand and says. "Begin!" And the game becomes unpaused. It's Metroid Prime-esque and you appear to be on some sort of planet covered in acid. Your mission is to get through the next three planets before the other competitors.] <@Dreol> [You find yourself quickly picking up on the layout of the level, from the cheers it seems you're a great deal ahead of your competitors, and one of the spectators even shouts "Hey! Yamamoto found the morph ball!" As you, in fact, find the morph ball and proceed to use it to quickly navigate through the level. The distance that Samus jumps is a bit different from what you're used to as is the rate of fire but you seem to get used to i <@Dreol> it quickly.] <@Dreol> [The storyline from what you can gather is that this is supposedly Samus' last mission. It takes place several years ahead in the storyline and involves her wanting to tie up any loose ends.] <@Dreol> [Just as you defeat the boss of the second planet and are about to proceed to the last one about one planet ahead of the other players everything suddenly freezes.] <@Dreol> [The whole world around you seems to stop and then then melt away into blackness.] * Katsuo looks around. "Hello? Hello! Who turn off lights?" <@Dreol> [Soon a small light fades in and you find yourself on a stone platform in, what appears to be, the middle of no where.] <@Dreol> [Session End.]