Lorenzo had to admit—he wasn't young anymore, and playing such a physically demanding ga wasn't exactly practical for soone his age.
But most people hadn't co to see him show off gaming skills anyway. They were there partly to pay tribute to him, and partly to see what kind of ga this was.
And the ga definitely didn't disappoint.
Gastar Electronic Entertainnt had always been known for their innovation. They'd created countless new ga genres over the years and had beco an industry giant.
Once again, they were making waves in a brand-new field.
Beat Saber was simple in concept: just swing the two controllers to the rhythm of the music to slice through incoming blocks.
The controllers looked like glowing lightsabers.
There was no Star Wars in this world, but similar sci-fi films existed featuring laser swords, and people had a real fondness for that kind of aesthetic. That's why Takayuki had no hesitation in adapting the concept of Beat Saber for this world.
...
...
Because of that existing pop culture foundation, everyone in the audience was able to understand and get into the ga right away.
"Phew... just a short session and I'm already tired," Lorenzo said, chuckling. "Anyone want to co up and give it a try? This old man isn't quite cut out for this type of ga anymore—but I think so of you would be perfect for it."
"! ! !"
Hands shot up from the crowd in eager response.
So just wanted a chance to get close to Lorenzo—maybe even grab a photo with him. Of course, many were genuinely interested in the ga too.
Quite a few of them had experience with rhythm gas.
Takayuki had previously made a small rhythm-based ga himself, though it didn't borrow any nas from real-world rhythm gas. It was more of an experint for him at the ti.
But rhythm gas eventually carved out their own space in the market. Players who enjoyed them truly loved the pure fun of the genre.
This version of Beat Saber hit the sweet spot for those fans, and they were imdiately intrigued.
"Alright then, you there—co on up."
In that mont, Lorenzo felt like he had returned to his youth.
Back in those early days, cutting-edge computer tech was just starting to bloom.
He and a few friends had once charged fearlessly into that uncharted market.
They didn't have money back then. Hosting events at departnt stores or local venues was common—they did it themselves to save on MC fees. Sotis that saved cash was all they had for food that day.
Looking back on those turbulent years now brought a knowing smile to his face.
Lorenzo's lips curled upward in reminiscence.
The person he picked was a young man who looked stunned for a mont, then walked up to the stage, eyes sparkling with excitent.
"Here, give it a try. Have you played any rhythm gas before?"
"Of course!" the young man said, nodding hard. "I'm the best rhythm gar in my area!"
"Oh? That's great!" Lorenzo replied. "Seems I picked the right person then. I'll leave the demonstration in your hands."
He handed the VR headset to the young man, who took it and put it on, ready to play.
Compared to the older Lorenzo, this young man clearly handled the ga more skillfully.
He quickly picked up the controls and selected a track he was familiar with to start playing.
Dodging, slashing with the light blades—his movents were smooth and precise.
His sense of rhythm was strong, and by the end of the first song, he had already earned an A score.
And this was only his first try.
The energy in the crowd below surged.
"Alright everyone! If you're interested in buying the product, please co sign up and pay now! You'll receive this VR headset along with the bundled ga. And so lucky buyers may even receive autographs from both Lorenzo and the creator of Beat Saber!"
A salesperson appeared in the crowd holding a registration clipboard.
He had picked the perfect mont.
People were already extrely interested in the product, and now was the ti to convert that interest into purchases.
Even a single sale was a win.
The crowd visibly buzzed with excitent. Without much hesitation, so began signing the form and paying for the product—though they weren't in a rush to leave. They wanted to stay and see what else Lorenzo had to show.
From this VR headset, people seed to be getting a glimpse of the future.
"Looks like it's going well," Takayuki murmured quietly in the crowd. At the very least, everyone here seed receptive to the VR product—despite its high price.
Of course, the attendees today had mostly been pre-screened and had an 80-90% chance of being actual buyers.
Even those who hadn't planned to purchase might be swayed by the lively atmosphere.
"Please don't wait too long!" the salesperson called out again, right on cue. "Our supply is limited. If you hesitate now and miss out, all we can say is—better luck next ti!"
Several people rushed over to sign and pay imdiately, not hesitating at all.
Watching this, Takayuki grew more confident that this world was, indeed, open to VR. Even though it was still a difficult field—one that required real capital—it wasn't hopeless. It was safe to dip a toe in.
Maybe it was ti to consider developing Half-Life: Alyx.
Takayuki had already decided earlier: if even Lorenzo's personal appearance couldn't generate enthusiasm for the VR product, he'd put off VR developnt for now—at least until the technology tree reached a level comparable to his original world's 2022 standards.
But now, there was no more hesitation.
Once he returned, he'd instruct Airi Sazawa to accelerate her VR research.
With Morgan Group's tech backing them, Airi and her team should be able to produce a VR product that aligned with his vision much more quickly.
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