2 Chapter 1: Rejection
THE SYSTEM I MADE
Chapter 1
"Rejection "
(The day before the death of Williams Carter)
In the heart of the bustling city stood the towering, luxurious building of Blue Horizon Studios, a beacon of innovation and creativity in the gaming industry. The polished glass façade reflected the bustling activity of the city around it, symbolizing the company's cutting-edge presence. Inside, the atmosphere was charged with a palpable sense of anticipation. Employees from every department had congregated in the large meeting room, the buzz of their conversations filling the air as they waited for the much-anticipated All Hands Meeting (AHM) to begin.
Sasha, with her hair neatly tied back, donned a sharp black suit that mirrored her professional demeanor. As the personal assistant to the CEO, she stood confidently next to the CEO by the large screen at the front of the room. In her hand was a clipboard containing a meticulously prepared list of all employees and management, along with their positions and the numbers from various departments.
"As you requested, sir, here is the list you inquired about. Everyone is present," she informed, handing the list over to the man beside her.
The CEO, Ethan Morrow, took the list with a nod, his eyes quickly scanning the names and figures.
"Management and key employees, eight in total; shareholders, five in total; support staff and other key roles, about five in total. Representatives from each department are all present," he noted, looking up from the list.
"Shall we begin the meeting?" Sasha asked, a slight hint of urgency in her voice.
"Yes, let us begin," Ethan agreed, turning to address the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our AHM. As you know, today we will discuss a significant game update—one that has the potential to bring in substantial revenue and excite the market. This information comes directly from our Chief Financial Officer and the staff involved in financial analysis," Ethan began, his voice steady and commanding. The room fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on him.
"The famous game 'Starforge Legacy' has gained an incredible amount of popularity and revenue over the last several years. It's one of the most successful projects we've undertaken as a company," he continued, his tone filled with pride. Murmurs of agreement echoed around the room, a testament to the game's impact.
"The fans have demanded a new release—a precise update. Today, we are all here because this new project will require the efforts of our entire company. We need higher animation frames per second and high-quality video resolutions for the game, including new characters and storylines, and much more. This clearly means that everyone will be involved—from story writers and art directors to game designers, the department of quality assurance, and software developers," Ethan declared, outlining the scope of the project.
William Carter stood confidently at the front of the conference room, the walls lined with large screens displaying the intricate details of his latest project. The room was filled with the company's top executives and various team members, all eyes fixed on him. Clearing his throat, William clicked the remote, transitioning to the first slide of his presentation.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation, "thank you for giving me the floor today. What I'm about to present, I believe, is not just an evolution in our technology but a revolution in how we experience and interact with virtual environments."
He clicked to the next slide, which detailed the core concept of his system—an advanced virtual reality platform that used neural interface technology to provide a fully immersive gaming experience.
"The system we've designed," William continued, "is not merely about playing a game. It's about living inside it. Our neural pathway technology allows users to experience virtual worlds with unprecedented realism. You don't just control a character; you become them."
The room was silent, the audience hanging on every word. William pointed to a graph showing the projected user engagement compared to current market leaders.
"Here's where we stand in terms of engagement metrics compared to conventional systems. Notice the spike in user retention and satisfaction—key indicators of a successful market disruption."
However, as he moved to the financial forecasts and investment needs, murmurs began to rise. He could see skepticism on some faces, curiosity on others.
Ethan Morrow nodded, gesturing for the meeting to continue. The room buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and skepticism as William Carter, the Game Design Director, outlined his ambitious vision for a groundbreaking new gaming system.
"That is an amazing idea, honestly," Amir Hussain, the Chief Financial Officer, began, adjusting his glasses with a calculated air.
"But realistically speaking, such a high-tech tool can have a huge cost on the company. We're already budgeting for multiple projects, and integrating such advanced technology could strain our financial resources. There's also the risk of unanticipated expenses in development and the potential need for new hiring to manage this technology."
Mia Robertson, the Lead Software Developer, added her perspective, "And also to mention, it's time-consuming. Integrating such a complex system with our current technology stack could delay other projects. We need to consider the additional testing and debugging phases this would require."
Nami Kawasaki, holding 60% of the founding shares, then spoke up, her voice firm and authoritative. "While I appreciate the innovative spirit, I must express my concerns. As the majority shareholder, my priority is the stability and continuous growth of Blue Horizon. Venturing into such an untested technology might divert our focus from proven revenue streams. We need to weigh our innovative strides against practical outcomes."
Luke Sanders, the Technical Support Lead, shared his reservations as well. "From a support perspective, this system could generate an influx of new user issues and troubleshooting demands. Our team is already at capacity handling the current systems, and scaling up to accommodate something this complex might overextend our resources."
On the other hand, Inam Mbatsa, who owns 10% of the preference shares, saw potential in the proposal. "I think it's a bold step forward," he said enthusiastically. "Innovation is key to staying ahead in this industry. Yes, there are risks, but the potential to set a new industry standard could yield substantial returns. We need to be pioneers, not just participants."
As each key figure voiced their thoughts, the room filled with a mix of conflicting opinions, laying the groundwork for a crucial decision on the future direction of Blue Horizon's innovation.
Ethan Morrow, the CEO, massaged his temples briefly before making a decision. "Alright, everybody, I hear the idea alongside with agreements and disagreements. However, as the CEO, I will remain neutral in this. Let's have a vote—those in favor of William's idea, please raise your hands."
A brief, tense silence fell over the room as a few hands tentatively rose—only three out of the eighteen members present showed their support. Ethan's gaze swept over the group before he continued, "Now, those who disagree, please raise your hands."
This time, many hands shot up decisively, a clear majority. Ethan counted quickly, his expression unreadable, "Fifteen against, three in favor."
With a slight nod, Ethan turned towards William, his voice softening with a note of sympathy. "William, the idea is fascinating, truly, but as you see, the majority has their reservations. We'll have to put your idea on hold for now."
William Carter nodded, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features as he sat down, his mind racing through the implications of the rejection.
The meeting moved forward as other members presented their ideas, discussing enhancements in graphics, user interface improvements, and potential marketing strategies for the upcoming release. The atmosphere was abuzz with creative energy, yet one member, a shadowy figure seated at the back, watched William with a cold, emotionless stare. The intensity of their gaze was unsettling, yet unreadable, as if they were calculating much more than just the merits of game development ideas.
As discussions continued, the person made no move, their eyes occasionally flicking to the notes in front of them, but always returning to William with that same, eerie focus. The air around the table was charged with the passion of the other developers, contrasting sharply with the silent observer's quiet scrutiny.
