Rise To Stardom - Chapter 202

Chapter 202: Stealing The Show
An epic orchestral piece, evocating a sense of grandeur and piracy, followed the cameras as it panned over a massively-spanning, vibrantly-beautiful archipelago.

An iridescent winged parrot, whom had also been the camera’s POV soared through the skies and past the archipelagos as the piece swelled, its eyes scanning the vast blue, Caribbean sea.

Then it soared downwards, its field of vision, settling on and following a majestic-looking, pirate ship.

Eventually, the parrot came to perch gently on the shoulder of the ship’s captain, the strong breeze ruffling his coat wildly as he gazed through his spyglass.

“Man the cannons, hoist the main sails! Bring me that horizon, ye scallywags! We’ve got a ship to send to Davy Jones, arrr!” the captain soon ordered his crew as an enemy ship, came into view!

–

The reception to those first few moments of in-game cinematics alone, had the audience in the auditorium screaming wildly as the cinematic smoothly transitioned to gameplay!

Even SpawnPoint Studio game devs, alongside many other devs from other big studios in the hall, couldn’t help but appreciate how cool the gameplay showcase had started off.

A pirate’s fantasy… very few things could beat that for gamers.

–

144FPS_or_Nothing: Yo! Check out the graphics!!! Hopefully it can run on my QTX3080 16GB, I9-9900K and 64GB Ram PC rig!

IWillCurseYou: @144FPS_or_Nothing; Shameless, showoff mf! Screw you! Your kind, is one of the most annoying existences to potato gamers around the world!

SailingThemHighSeas: On deck you scabrous dogs! Today, we sail the high seas!!!

Eyepatch Man: Give. Me. [A Pirate’s Odyssey]. NOWWWW!!!

–

The Black Tempest as she was called by the Pirate Captain, moved at full speed, cannons firing from her starboard as it engaged fiercely with the enemy ship.

After a few more seconds of naval combat, the player controlled Captain, soon gave orders to his crew to dock with and board the enemy ship.

As the controlled captain left the helm, he soon joined in with his crew in the battle against their enemies, his brandished cutlass and blunderbuss, eradicating any enemy in sight with stylish hack and slash combat.

–

“Definitely making a pre-order…” a teen cosplaying a pirate whom was seated just behind Griffin, audibly muttered in excitement, earning a slight nod of approval from the investor whom was already excited at the prospect of becoming richer.

Still, Griffin glanced over to watch as Carlos and the other SpawnPoint Studio employees simply watched on with relaxed smiles on their features, despite everyone else murmuring in excitement.

The former CEO, didn’t like that one bit.

–

The game’s naval combat was over and the controlled player, looted the enemy ship before jumping aboard his again as the Black Tempest made her way to the nearest island.

Upon travelling to and docking at the nearest port as the crew sang seas shanties, the Captain, soon met up with an important yet annoyingly eloquent NPC named Vic Sparrow to take up story mission.

“Ah~! Elysian Cove! The swayin’ palms, the breathtaking vistas, an’ the fair, fetchin’ maidens o’ its isle!” the NPC took in the sights of the beautiful island.

“Tempest Bearer, ye’ve arrived!” Vic soon turned around and gestured in the player’s direction.

–

ClowningAround: I haven’t even played the game and yet, I know I’m gonna like this Vic guy.

WishfulGamer: Please, let there be branching dialogues that actually have consequences this time.

30FPSGamer: Really hope this game plays as good as it looks. I can’t be having a budget rig, only to watch my game chug along at sub-30 fps on low settings.

–

Like that, the rest of the gameplay showcase of [A Pirate’s Odyssey] went on, with both the audience in the auditorium, and those livestreaming, treated to about ten more minutes of exciting, open-world gameplay.

And by the time the gameplay was over, the cheers in the auditorium was exceedingly loud to say the least… even higher than that of Zentendo’s game reveal.

A few seconds after, GameSoft’s Studio’s CEO, Hector, soon took the stage, giving more insight into the various things gamers could expect as they looked forward to its release date on August 5th.

To that, the gamers in the room, cheered even louder as the game was literally, three months away!

As for SpawnPoint Studio employees, they couldn’t help but have a change in their relaxed demeanor when they heard this, frowns instantly gracing their features.

Griffin on the other hand, definitely didn’t miss this as he felt somewhat relieved that his former studio was uncomfortable with whatever it was Hector had said.

‘Possibly, they’re planning to release their game in August too…’ he inwardly mused with a gloating stroke of his beardless chin.

‘That’d practically be suicide for them in sales though…’ Griffin smirked in amusement as he kept watching Hector talk about the pricing of the game and how it would only be coming to next gen consoles and PC–– the usual formalities, really.

In any case, having applauded the GameSoft CEO off the stage when he was done, most gamers in the auditorium, seemed to have believed that [A Pirate’s Odyssey] was the last showcase of the day, some already leaving their seats to head out.

The Pirate RPG Sim from the big studio, asides [The Legend of Xenon: Call of The Wind], had definitely stolen this year’s gameplay reveals.

Even the gamers viewing the livestream, had a similar thought process.

–

GachaAddict: Alright peeps, I’mma clock out. Will be purchasing that pirate game on day one but, for now, I gotta get back to no lifing Wuthering Impact.

Dunkey Speaks: Guess that’s it then. I have to say though, this year’s Games Con gameplay reveals were fun. See ya’ll next year.

Vergil’s Chair: A storm’s approaching. September, October, November and December’s mega packed with new, flagship releases. Can’t wait!

Gamer Girl: What a great year for gaming. So many fantastic games to look forward to. Should start saving in advance for [Animal Passing] next month though…

–

However, noticing that the gargantuan screen in the room dimmed once more, this time with an unfamiliar studio logo, literally spawning onto the screen, a few people in the hall, curiously tilted their heads.

As for Griffin, he leaned back into his chair with an unperturbed demeanor, wondering what exactly his former game studio had been up to as the gameplay showcase began.

–

From a bird’s eye view, multiple skyscrapers gleamed in the afternoon sun with a sense of scale and modernity for a few seconds.

Then the cameras cut to a white charter bus, coming to a halt on the beautifully rendered and visually artistic, New York City streets, filled to the brim with bustling, life-like pedestrians and various vehicles.

Exiting the bus were a slew of excited college students as they followed a middle-aged man who seemed to be their Professor, into a towering skyscraper they had halted before named, Horizon Tech.

And then, the last student in the bus stepped out with a tired yawn, his face yet to be shown.

He had a backpack slung over his shoulders and a cool yet curious-looking wristband, wrapped around his wrist as he caught up with his fellow peers.

–

The moment Griffin saw the high quality of the in-game cinematics, a slight frown, graced his features.

Sure it didn’t have the almost photorealistic graphics that [A Pirate’s Odyssey] had but still…

“It visually holds up…” he inwardly muttered to himself as he kept watching the college students and their Professor, take the elevator up the building.

–

TheBradRad: New IP?

Sucker Punch: Wow. This looks good… Not as good as [A Pirate’s Odyssey] of course but damn, I like the vibrant, life-like feel of it.

Wiz Lord: That dark-brown hair… that cool-looking wrist band… no, no, no… it can’t be…

–

As the in-game cinematic played, most in the auditorium, had their interest piqued, all of the gamers whom had previously wanted to head out, settling back into their seats.

–

“Elise Volt. Welcome to Horizon Tech. I’ll be your tour guide for today.” a young, pretty scientist in a sleek and well-tailored lab coat, introduced herself to the Professor and his college students.

The students too, responded in kind, albeit one name in particular, stood out to the lady when he was introduced.

“Nathan North. It is you! I read your thesis on; The Quantum Nexus: Bridging Nanobots and Human Cognitive Symbiosis. It’s an exciting read I must say!”

To that, the young man with messy, dark-brown hair, baby-blue eyes and dark circles under his eyelids was about to respond when the skyscraper suddenly began to rumble.

And then, turning their gazes sideways in curiosity as that was where the noise was coming from, they all watched as a technologically advanced pelican with jet-booster propulsors zoomed past, smacking into a nearby crane!

In literal seconds, a balanced beam that was firmly held in place by said crane, had its weight shifted as it swung in a wide arc, crashing straight into the skyscraper!

–

It had only been about two minutes into the gameplay showcase and yet, everyone in the auditorium couldn’t help but quiet down, already gripped by the heightened tension of the story.

Even the surge of livestream comments had lessened considerably as most, wondered what exactly was about to happen next.

Shit had gone from zero to a hundred real quick and judging by the amused smiles of Carlos and his colleagues, it was evident that they were happy with their decision to choose this exact section of the game for their gameplay reveal.

–

Colliding with a powerful, horizontal wide swing against the exact floor of the towering skyscraper they were in, Nathan bolted in Elise’s and his Professor’s direction to push them out of the way.

And although he had been successful, he himself, was unfortunately, smacked right off the skyscraper in the process!

As for his fellow disoriented colleagues, Professor and Elise, they soon realized what had happened and immediately, screamed his name in a mix of trepidation and saddened shock.

At the same time, the pedestrians and citizens below, screamed in a mix of distress, shock and disoriented fear as they watched the sudden and rapidly falling debris!

–

“What’s going to happen…” a teenage girl gamer who was so engrossed in the proceeding of things, muttered out loud, similarly mirroring everyone’s thoughts in the auditorium.

And soon, they got their answers.

–

Currently free-falling unconsciously at mid-air amidst debris of shattered glass, splintered wood and chunks of destroyed concrete, Nathan subconsciously heard a distant scream of his name.

And then he heard it clearly; the terrified shouts of his name, mixed with bloodcurdling screams and bellows and suddenly, his eyes flashed open with a deep inhale.

And no sooner had that happened, a virtual, hard-light-like construct, completely enveloped him from his wristband, all the way to his other extremities!

In an instant, the young man was suited up in his self-designed, adaptive exosuit, his grav boots emitting a wide area, zero-gravity pulse to slow down his fall and the surrounding, falling debris!

Watching as everything gently fell instead of violently crashing upon them, the citizens and pedestrians below, chanted his name with a mix of relieved awe!

Yet, with an immediate launch of his retractable grappling hook, Tech Wiz launched himself across the city, hot on the tail of the pelican!

At that exact moment, the in-game cinematic, effortlessly transitioned to gameplay as the hero, swung across the city with a mix of wall runs and his retractable hook for an increased sense of momentum as the powerful, heroic theme kicked in!

–

A resounding roar of super-charged excitement, immediately enveloped the hall as the little kid in every gamer, sprung to life!

At the same time, Kyle whom was actually playing the game backstage, had a massive grin on his features as he felt the joy of every gamer in the hall as they kept watching.

–

Wiz Lord: Let’s fucking go!!! It’s [Tech Wiz]!!! I can’t believe it!!!

Spooder Man: A new superhero videogame?!! Shut the fuck up and take my money!!!

Pro_noobs: This looks so fire! When was the last time we had a new IP, and a superhero game at that! It’s been years!

–

“Can’t lose the pelican. It’s my only lead!” Tech Wiz stated mid gameplay with urgency as he watched the Pelican, cut across the river as some jet skis, chased after it.

With another pull of his retractable hook, the hero launched himself forward, performed an acrobatic mid-air barrel roll, and then, landed on the surface of the water!

Not a single moment wasted, the player-controlled Tech Wiz, blitzed across the body of water, rapidly catching up to the jet skis as a few button prompts appeared for a stylish takedown.

–

At this point, a good percentage of gamers in the hall, had their mouths opened, wide agape!

–

Silver Surfer: YOU CAN RUN ON WATER?!!! I’M SOLD! I’M GODDAMN SOLD!

Cavillrine: First we get a pirate sim, now we get a superhero sim?! What a time to be alive!

GameLover: I don’t even know who Tech Wiz is but I don’t care! I’mma play the heck out of this game!

–

Having taken down most of the jet ski guys, Tech Wiz watched as one of the goons he was yet to take down atop another jet ski, fired a photon beam in the pelican’s direction, connecting with its wing and burning a hole through it.

In an instant, the aircraft nosedived and crashed into an empty bay area by the riverside with a big explosion.

Swiftly, Tech Wiz ran in that direction, arriving in time, just before the rest of the goons, finished off the driver of said pelican!

Combat ensued and with a combination of a stylized, mixed-martial art that used a free-flow combat system of satisfying combos and counters, Tech Wiz knocked out his assailants stone cold!

–

Multiple wows and murmurs of excitement, filled up the auditorium as everyone kept watching, same as the livestreamers who continuously kept spamming the comments section!

“I need to know the name of the studio that made this game…” one of Griffin’s fellow investors whom had originally had his attention elsewhere when the gameplay demo began but was now extremely invested, whispered to Griffin who simply nodded without replying.

There was a noticeable hint of discomfort in his gaze as he subconsciously swallowed his saliva and angled his gaze once again in Carlos and the SpawnPoint Studio employees’ direction.

‘How did they even make this…?’ the former CEO inwardly questioned in utter perplexity.

–

Employing a mix of environmental takedowns and stylish finishers, alongside the use of two gadgets; a digital cloak and his nanoswarm drones for mild tasing; Tech Wiz soon effortlessly swept through the bad guys, knocking each and every goon out, stone cold.

“Now to check who’s piloting the pelican…” he stated with a determined tone as he moved towards the crashed aircraft.

However, upon prying open the hatch, Tech Wiz’s visor widened when he saw no one seated inside… except for a countdown timer for the pelican itself to self-destruct in 3… 2… 1…

And just before the pelican did in fact explode with he and all the goons he had knocked out within vicinity, the cameras cut to an electrifying reveal of the game everyone had been watching;

[TECH WIZ]!

–

What followed after the gameplay ended and the screens faded to black, was pure chaos of frenzied excitement as the gamers in the hall, released deafening roars of exhilaration, mixed with a thunderous round of applause, whistles and cheers!

Yet, as if the surprise reveal of a new game hadn’t been enough, everyone watched as a bespectacled young man with voluminous raven hair and sapphire irises, walked onto the stage in calm strides.