<@Dreol> [Micah Intro Session] <@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 you see mass of people 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 related?] <@Dreol> [In any case, the registration line is a long 3 hour wait. By the time you get through it is about 11 AM. 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 F.E.A.R. tournament which will take place at 2 PM. The competition will be a standard 16 person deathmatch.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] * Micah mutters on his breath, he hated the long lines, the stupid paper work, and worse of all the damn cosplayers. He'd shrug a bit just on edge from the stupid wait and head through looking over the different stalls. Not looking at the knicknacks or crap, but seeing if anything interesting is coming out soon. <@Dreol> [Well judging from his interests and the trend of the video game industry to push out a new FPS every 2 hours, Yes! There are a few new things coming out of interest. Most notably a new Halo game called Halo 3: ODST, and a remake of the original Doom. There is also an add insisting that Duke Nukem Forever WILL in fact come out, someday, maybe.] * Micah browses through the normal stuff for a bit and then hit the food stand to eat before his game. <@Dreol> [The food stands are their usual bit of overpriced and undertasty nonsense and it's also another line, though not nearly as long as the cheap, decent food across the street. There is a selection of hotdogs, nachos, pizza, and soft pretzels.] * Micah just grabs some hotdogs not really caring and plops down someplace to eat and watch the people for a bit. <@Dreol> [Most of the people around are all also eating lunch. There is one person there though, who seems to recognize you. He's guy in his early twenties and he tilts his head a bit as you sit down before heading over. "Hey, You're Micah Black right? I competed against you at Shutocon-" He stops as the monitors sorrounding you suddenly switch from the Ubercon logo to an actual broadcast] <@Dreol> [The broadcast reveals 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> [After the broadcast the guy continues. "Yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Weird what happened to Gerard, huh? Did you see anything while we were there?"] * Micah shrugs. "Nah, not really, gave me an opening, but don't know anything about the dude. Missing two cons is strange and bad though. On the plus side he's not competition." <@Dreol> [The guy nods. "Yeah, I guess so... I hope it doesn't happen again though. Fuck, maybe someone is out to rub out favorites for betting odds or something. That's pretty creepy to think about."] <@Dreol> [Micah, by the way, is the odds on favorite at Ubercon for the F.E.A.R. tournament.] * Micah laughs. "Rigging gaming cons for vegas? Damn. Come on, they don't give a shit. Now if it was some jaded ex lover who hated all gamers or right wing nutto that thinks he's saving us by killing us. That I could buy." <@Dreol> [Shrug. "Well, hopefully I'm wrong. So you in the Halo tournament here as well?"] If I can squeeze it in. Doing fear first and formost. <@Dreol> [The guy nods. "Well hopefully I'll do better this year, good luck though." He gets up and heads out of the room. The time, by the way is inching on and it's about 1:00 now.] * Micah finishes his food and heads to where the tournement will be to make sure he's there and to check out the competition. <@Dreol> [You arrive at the arena which has the a statue of the standard creepy little FEAR girl outside the entrance as well as several other competitors, some of them are cosplaying is characters from the game, or other games. Inside can be heard shocked screams and gasps and it looks very dark. The competitors are not allowed inside yet.] * Micah just stands around waiting, the cosplayers won't win, so he focuses on the others to see if he recognizes them and any of their tatics. <@Dreol> [There's a couple of guys who you recognize. One of them goes by the handle Br34kn3ksp33d for maximum 1337. And another goes by KillerOwnz. Neither of them have any specific tactics, however one little kid in the corner, probably 14. You know he's the biggest competition. He goes by the name Fr34kyFrank, but everyone just calls him FF, and he is known for sneaking up and meleeing his opponents with almost uncanny stealth. Good idea to keep your back to the wall with this kid around.] <@Dreol> to the wall with this kid around.] * Micah streches and plans his game, make sure the newbs make easy targets for every one else, keep himself out of easy harms way, and plink off the real threats to lower their count. Don't go for the easy kills unless they are in front of him. <@Dreol> [A guy comes out of the dark arena with an "Uberstaff" badge. "Alright folks, it's time to head in. Goodluck." And with that the other competitors head inside the dark arena.] * Micah shrugs and heads in, this shouldn't be too hard. <@Dreol> [Once inside the arena it becomes clear why the gasps of terror were coming from the audience. The arena is very dark, with seats arranged around it for the spectators. Ghostly images are being projected on the floors and walls, but they stop soon after the competitors enter and the 16 gaming stations in the center turn on, revealing the F.E.A.R. 2 Logo] * Micah grins, his adrenaline starting to go. This was going to be fun. <@Dreol> [As soon as everyone is at a station, the same staffer walks into the center of the room and shouts. "Begin!" The game kicks into action and the competition is on.] <@Dreol> [Your competition starts out with a bang! Literally. Like you turn the corner and then BANG you killed someone. And then another, and another. Before you know it you are leading the competition with 12 frags. You keep your back to the wall to avoid FF, but unfortunately your competition isn't as smart and he is making easy work of them and climbing up to your frag count.] * Micah keeps his plan in mind and starts hunting FF. <@Dreol> [You find him! And manage to stop his rampage with a shotgun shell to the back of his head. Just as you get to 15 frags out of the target 50, the game seems to pause. No, not the game, the whole world, and then it melts away leaving you in complete blackness.] * Micah blinks and looks around. "What the shit?" <@Dreol> [Soon a faint light seems to brighten the universe again and you find yourself standing on a stone floor, which is floating in the middle of nothingness.] <@Dreol> [Session End]