Virtual Technology Changes the Future

"True virtual technology, 100% realism!"

"Want to become a hero? Want to travel to another world? Want to do whatever you please? Come to Warcraft III!"

"Our childhood dream—a virtual game that once existed only in movies and novels—has arrived!"

"This is the best of times, and the worst of times. We have witnessed the greatest miracle in thirty years, and we have also ushered in the greatest challenge. What are you waiting for? Don’t let your children lose at the starting line of the virtual world!"

"Insider news: Azeroth Social Network Company has partnered with more than seventy countries around the world. Virtual technology was already applied to the military two months ago. China was the first to introduce it into education, with virtual teaching set to be fully implemented within five to ten years. More flexible teaching methods, greater emphasis on practical experience, and more focus on teaching itself rather than test scores… This is humanity’s future."

"Official news: Azeroth Social Network Company is building a complete, grand virtual world—a universe called ‘Azeroth.’ Warcraft III is only a very small part of it, merely the beginning."

"What are you waiting for!"

After ruthlessly pouring in a hundred million dollars, Warcraft III advertisements blanketed the world overnight.

The entire world was filled with promotions for the virtual game.

From the internet to television, from phones to tablets, from the Shanghai Financial Center to New York Times Square, from Badaling Hutong in BJ to the Champs-Élysées in Paris—wherever there were people, there were promotions, discussions, and popularization efforts for the virtual world.

The advertisements were of unprecedented quality. The incomparably realistic clips were practically miraculous. From strands of hair fluttering in the wind to the light in someone’s eyes, every pixel surpassed even the finest movie special effects.

The worldbuilding was so complete it was unbelievable, as though it were not fictional at all but a real world. Every named hero and every footman had a complete storyline and CG short film, moving people to tears.

It drew countless eyes.

Though he had been mentally prepared, Old Wang was still startled.

Warcraft III was far more popular than he had imagined!

Every young person had played games and dreamed of playing a virtual game.

VR games had appeared years ago, but both the immersion and the realism had been too poor. People lost interest after trying them once and had no desire to play a second time.

But Warcraft III was different.

It was a virtual game in the truest sense. Many of its scenes had been downloaded directly from Old Wang’s memories, and every character came from his memories, identical to the characters that truly existed in World of Warcraft:

The Lich, cold from head to toe and speaking in a gloomy voice; the Demon Hunter with an eyepatch and twin blades; the Archmage riding a white horse; the Mountain King descending like a god…

Everything came from World of Warcraft.

Because it was real, it offered an unimaginable level of immersion.

"It was terrifying! That priest girl died right in front of me, staring at me with her eyes wide open. I think this is going to leave a shadow on me for the rest of my life!"

"Strange, why do I feel like I can really cast spells? Could Warcraft III actually be a real world? Biu, biubiubiu!"

"This sucks. Why censor it? I want to see blood spraying everywhere, I want to see poison gas erupting, I want to… Stop it, I’m not mentally ill! You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Patient No. 5, I’m CJ7!"

"Everything’s great, except there are too few headsets."

"It’s completely free for the first month, but reservations only. Each reservation only gives you one hour, and you can’t reserve again until the next day… What can you even do in one hour? That’s not even enough for foreplay. I’m not even wet yet!"

"Bro, you really are wet… Holy shit, that reeks. Did the ghouls and Crypt Fiends scare you so badly you pissed yourself?"

Walking through the lobby of the Shanghai Virtual Experience Center, Old Wang was delighted as he watched the strange expressions on the visitors’ faces and listened to their screams and teasing.

The twenty-first century was the age of talent, the age of information, the age of artificial intelligence, and even more so, the age of virtual technology.

The yet-to-arrive 5G would change the world and connect everything, but compared to virtual technology, it was nothing more than child’s play.

This was a very good beginning.

What could a truly virtual world accomplish?

Ready Player One had given an excellent answer.

From social interaction to education, from military applications to experiments, from science to culture, within ten years at the latest, there would not be a single thing or person in the world unrelated to virtual technology. The world would ultimately be changed because of it.

In his life before last, true high-immersion virtual technology had never been introduced, and Old Wang had always regretted it.

Though he had seen this technology in his previous life, he had been constantly fighting and never had a moment of peace. That had been another regret.

In this life, he had finally made up for it.

So…

Old Wang said softly, "Skye, we can begin the next step."

Ten minutes later, an announcement appeared on Azeroth Social Network Company’s official website:

Preorders were now open, as follows:

10% realism VR headset, priced at $1,000, limited to 1 million units;

50% realism VR headset, priced at $10,000, limited to 100,000 units;

100% realism VR headset, priced at $100,000, limited to 10,000 units;

VR sensory suit, featuring all-around bioelectric stimulation. The sensations of the virtual world would be brought to the user’s body, allowing them to experience every pleasure. A benefit for newcomers, priced at $200,000, limited to 3,000 sets;

VR sensory chair, built upon the sensory suit and headset with the addition of the most advanced massage functions. Even after being immersed in the virtual world for an entire day and night, users would not feel the slightest fatigue. Priced at $500,000, limited to 1,000 units;

VR sensory pod, equipped with life-support and biological recuperation systems. Users could stay in the virtual world twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, tear off the Pretender’s Mask, and release their truer selves in an unfamiliar environment. Priced at $1 million, limited to 100 units;

VR cars…

VR standard rooms…

Virtual Experience Center lobby, 100% realism VR headset, $10 per hour;

Virtual Experience Center lobby, VR sensory suit, $100 per hour;

Virtual Experience Center private booth, five connected seats, VR experience chairs…

Virtual Experience Center private rooms…

At the end of the long preorder list was the membership system:

Azeroth Social Network Company membership was divided into seven tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Legendary, Demigod, and Titan.

Spend $100 to become a Bronze Member and receive a 5% discount;

Spend $1,000 to become a Silver Member and receive a 10% discount;

Spend $100 million to become a Titan Member and receive a 50% discount.

The announcement immediately drew a wave of curses.

It was too expensive.

Even the cheapest headset cost over a thousand dollars, and an hour cost ten dollars—many times more expensive than an internet café.

For most ordinary people, it really was unaffordable.

At the same time, the official website’s preorder channel was nearly overwhelmed.

There were seven billion people in the world.

A thousand dollars was not a small amount, but even if only one out of every hundred people was willing to buy one, that would still be seventy million people… With only one million units available, demand far exceeded supply. Anyone could do that math.

Even the expensive VR sensory pod only cost one million dollars. To truly wealthy people, that was merely the price of a watch and meant nothing at all. Some bought ten at once, only because purchases were limited to ten…

Less than an hour later, the preorder channel closed.

Those still hesitating, please wait for the second batch…

Listening to the curses and regrets rising all around him, Old Wang gently shook his head.

A thousand dollars was indeed not cheap, but there was no helping it.

The cost was there. No matter how much cheaper it became, it could only go so low.

The profit margin on virtual equipment was actually not high, and Old Wang had never intended to make money from it—

Virtual world expansion packs, hero skins, weapons, and equipment all cost money, and they were expensive.

Playing more role-playing games also required payment.

Not to mention the possibility of renting out advertising space…

And it really was not that expensive. It still cost less than the recently popular Banana 10plus smartphone, while containing several times more technology. It was only natural that it would be in high demand.

Anyone who could afford a Banana 10plus would definitely be willing to buy the cheapest VR headset.

The Banana 10plus had sold more than ten million units worldwide. VR headsets should sell even more.

They would not play that scarcity marketing game. The next shipment would go straight to ten million units.

They would only focus on technological and hardware upgrades…

"Looks like it’s time to push for the arrival of 5G and 6G…" Old Wang gently shook his head.

The 10% realism VR headset had reduced resolution, which also lowered its network speed requirements. Ordinary people could meet those requirements.

At 50% realism, the network speed requirements were very high. Fiber connections directly to homes were necessary.

As for 100% realism, aside from the experience centers, only a very few locations could currently meet the requirements, such as large server rooms, data exchange centers, and certain laboratories with extremely demanding standards.

Communications was also an enormous and tempting pie. He wondered whether he could get a slice…

With massive amounts of capital pouring in, the newly built factories immediately began production. More virtual experience centers began selecting sites and starting construction. Governments across the world offered their support, and everything got on track.

Afterward, a series of companies built around virtual technology—animation, film, advertising, and more—would also be established one after another.

They would bloom everywhere.

With virtual technology settled, Jia Ying handled Afterlife Base while Skye devoted herself completely to company operations. Every day, seeing the enormous flow of incoming funds made her as happy as if she were looking at Old Wang himself.

Of course, no matter how much money flowed in, it could not remain in the accounts for long. It was quickly invested into equipment production and infrastructure—

More virtual experience centers still needed to be built. Azeroth Tower and The Laboratory were not yet complete. The Shengun Bureau’s two major bases also needed financial support. Azeroth Industries needed better machine tools, and a series of acquisitions was underway at the same time…

And just then, Fitz and Simmons came to find Old Wang together.