Chapter 975: What a Rush!
At 5 a.m., long lines had already formed outside Thunder Game Experience Stores, Lehui Homes, and various tech markets in major cities across the country, with no shortage of foreigners among them.
According to "inside information," the production run of Matrix Game Pods this time wasn't too large. A batch would be distributed nationwide for players to try out and experience, but when the official release came, it would likely require a scramble to get one.
Thinking about it, this made sense. After all, the value of this thing was sky-high, and it was unclear how the market would accept it. At the start of production, cash flow concerns had to be considered. Once the hype built up, mass production could come later.
Attitudes toward the so-called "next-generation" Matrix Game Pod varied widely, but overall, most people were tinged with skepticism.
"Can it really be as awesome as the promotional videos claim?"
Another major reason many didn't believe it was that... no one abroad had even heard of this thing!
Previously, any high-tech product would first appear in Europe or America. Although in this world, the country's tech level hadn't fallen too far behind, it usually took a short while to catch up. That meant people first learned about these high-tech products from foreign news, followed by domestic tech media reports, and only then came news of similar products developed locally.
But this time, such an earth-shattering technology was emerging domestically first, which made many people feel it was a bit unreal...
It wasn't just locals who thought this way; even foreigners were completely baffled.
What the hell? A next-gen VR game pod with neural connection technology has already been released? What are our tech companies doing?
Foreign tech companies were equally stunned. What is this thing? It's already been built? And it's about to go into production and sale? We've only just scratched the surface of similar technology over here!
They had to go check it out and see if this thing was just blowing smoke...
In fact, as soon as this news broke, it caused a stir worldwide. Many foreign companies flat-out refused to believe it. What? Lehui? Aren't they the ones making smart glasses? Aren't they all about good quality at low prices? When did they get this kind of research capability to pull off such black tech??
If key figures domestically had doubts, Chen Mo could use his intelligence-reducing aura to forcefully brainwash them, but he couldn't control those abroad. Let them guess!
...
Thunder Interactive Entertainment headquarters was the liveliest spot, since it had the most Matrix Game Pods.
But even so, there were only twenty units. These were the first batch of samples, meant for players to try out, and mass production hadn't even started yet.
Given the player base at Thunder Interactive headquarters, these twenty pods were barely a drop in the bucket. So, players had no choice but to line up and endure limited-time sessions.
When your turn came, you got twenty minutes to experience it, and then you had to let the next person go.
Even so, everyone's enthusiasm remained undiminished. Many had brought their Switches and Matrix Glasses, playing games while waiting in line. Some were just chatting and flirting on the spot, turning what was supposed to be a new game pod experience event into something that was drifting toward a large-scale offline social gathering...
"Hey, you're here too? Waiting in line? Got it, I'll head to the back."
"Hey, I'll join you in the back. Got your Switch? Wanna start a game?"
"Come on, let's play a round on Matrix Glasses. Anyone else? We need one more for a five-player match!"
"Hey, anyone up front already tried it out? How was it?"
The Matrix Game Pod experience area was buzzing, but even those at the front of the line hadn't played yet, because the twenty new machines were still being calibrated.
A few minutes later, the calibration was done, and the first batch of testers eagerly climbed in.
This VR game pod only had one game: a trial version of *Detroit: Become Human*. It was just the first small scene—the same one Zhou Jiangping had tried before. "Hostage Negotiation Expert" Connor was handling an abnormal android incident, gathering clues to rescue a little girl.
In reality, most of the rest of the game was already finished, but it wasn't being offered for play yet. The focus this time was on the Matrix Game Pod, not *Detroit: Become Human*. Priorities had to be clear.
As the first batch of players entered the pods, everyone behind them craned their necks to watch.
Through the transparent doors of the Matrix Game Pods, the cool neural connection helmets and restraint devices were clearly visible. It wasn't just these parts—the entire pod exuded a beauty that surpassed current technology.
A certain famous self-propelled causality weapon once said that whether it's warships, planes, or weapons, the cooler they look, the stronger they are. Appearance often reflects power.
This reasoning was quite sound and could also apply to products. When a product pushes performance and practicality to the extreme, that's when it polishes its design, making it look beautiful.
Clearly, the Matrix Game Pod was exactly that kind of nearly mature product, even though it hadn't officially gone on sale yet.
Twenty minutes later, the first batch of players' time was up, and they emerged from the pods.
The moment they stepped out, everyone wore expressions of utter shock.
"Holy crap!"
"That's freaking amazing! It was like having a dream!"
"This is way too real, right? I still feel like I have some illusion that I can scan things..."
"That last shot was a rush! Can I experience it one more time?"
"No way, I have to go back to the end of the line. I want to play it again."
"What? You fired the gun? Why did I just fall down with that abnormal android? That scared the sweat out of me..."
The first batch of players was incredibly excited, chatting animatedly as they headed to the back of the line to queue up again.
Those ahead saw this and got even more hyped, already starting to imagine what the neural-linked VR game pod experience would be like.
But no matter how much they imagined, they would still be blown away when they actually entered the Matrix Game Pod.
So this is what real transmigration feels like!
...
Soon, various posts about the Matrix Game Pod appeared online. Many people were asking: How was the experience? Was it as amazing as claimed? Did it really feel like transmigration?
Players lucky enough to try it out responded one after another.
"I've already decided—no matter how expensive it is, I'm buying it!"
"This thing completely overturns your worldview... It's like it's about to change the world!"
"I suggest that whether you have money or not, whether you can afford it or not, go to a Thunder Game Experience Store or Lehui Home and wait in line for half a day to try it. Seriously, this feeling is just too damn amazing!!"