The Hugoverse

[CW] Tell a story that's only told through patch notes. [ Link to post .] AlterNet 1.0: Commercial Release       The AlterNet streams your consciousness from your body to a shell in an alternate universe. The AlterNet game world is an Earth populated by nanos, tiny programmable machines that can learn to be more efficient. Your AlterNet body is composed of a swarm of nanos that relay sensory feedback. You can touch, feel, and perform magic in the AlterNet!        Choose from 25 different races, and classes to customize your character the way you want. Endgame character customization and advancement exists in the form of the OverSoul system. Completing an OverSoul legendary quest will allow you to learn special abilities from one of nine races.       The races include: Human, Orc, Troll, Goblin, Ogre, Gnome, Elf, Dwarf, Slime, Sappons(Frog humanoid), Naga, Mermaid, Angel, Demon, Fuan, Flora(Plant humanoid), Fairies, Min...

[WP] The first fully immersive online VR game has released in which anything is possible. After months of saving you eagerly log in and hit 'random server.' [ Link to post .] Thomas Fincher smiled at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His dark brown eyes roamed up and down his mostly naked body, making sure he attached the electrodes in all the right places. He grabbed the instruction pamphlet and checked all the marked spots on the pamphlet and himself. "Wrists." He checked the golden stickers on each wrist, each had a golden AlterNet logo on it. "Temples." He looked in the mirror, the stickers appeared to be affixed in the right places. "Back of the neck." Thomas reached behind his neck and felt the textured sticker attached to where he guessed his spine connected to his head. He grabbed his phone from the grey marble counter top in his bathroom and padded out, in just his boxers, to his newly built 'Game room'. It'd taken h...

[WP] "The jailer is the key, kill him and you'll be free..." [ Link to post .] "So that's it? We just gotta kill the jailer?" Mickey hovered around Fig, the tall blue skinned troll that gave him the hint. It was Mickey's first day in the prison and he took to exploring the exercise yard when he ran into the aged troll. Fig shook his head, almost swinging one of his tusks into Mickey's fluttering form.  "You're new. You've still got hope, that's understandable. But let me tell you, ain't no way you're killing the jailer," Fig laughed heartily and gestured at Mickey, "you're not even a fighting class, you're a merchant. Maybe you can save up enough to bribe him, eh?"  "Bribe him? But isn't he one of the Forest guards?" Mickey asked. The Forest was the virtual prison they were sentenced to, destined to live out the rest of their days as player characters. A sly smile came over Fig. ...

[WP] In the distant future, prisoners have their brains extracted and uploaded into a computer system in order to save space and maintain peace within prisons. [ Link to post .] "You are hereby sentenced *immediately* to the Forest." The judge's gavel slammed down. Michael Anderson broke down into heaving sobs while the bailiff escorted him out of the courtroom in handcuffs. He had no resistance to give as the burly guard walked him to the transport, and he remained silent for most of the two hour drive. An hour and a half into the trip the driver yelled back at him. "Man, I'm sorry you got Judge 'Appleseed'. Shitty luck." Michael nodded his head ever so slightly. "Hey. You want a burger or something? Look. I don't know if you're guilty or not, but even if you are... the Forest ain't right. It's too much." The vehicle slowed down, but Michael kept his silence and shook his head. The guard shrugged. "Suit yourself....

[ImagePrompt] Cybermonk  [ Link to post .] The bright orange morning sun illuminated the temple's courtyard and the small group of prospective students standing within. The temple master double checked the list displayed as a hologram hovering over his metal hand, then counted the recruits again. " Only Seven out of 15 showed up. Good, this'll be easy ," he smiled to himself and walked out of the shadows to approach the group. When they saw him approach the newbies made an effort to stand at attention.  "Good Morning," the monk smiled at the group. He noticed a human female, the only human in the group, flinching. She tried to keep her eyes forward, but her head seemed to involuntarily turn to her left while her left eye blinked rapidly. He approached her. "Something wrong?" The monk asked the woman. She now faced forward with ease. "Sorry, Sir. I had something in my eye. I think it's gone now," she said. The monk nodded, ...

[WP] Sunday Free Write [ Link to post .] "Go ahead and take off,"  [ Jake](http://hserratafun.blogspot.com/p/jake-wilson-el-muerto.html) said to the pale boy. They talked in a dim cave while the sounds of battle echoed from up ahead. "We  need to finish up the demo, [Eva] (http://hserratafun.blogspot.com/p/eva-wilson-la-estrella.html)'s probably bored out of her mind by now." Jake's mention of Eva caused [ Oren](http://hserratafun.blogspot.com/p/oren-la-corona.html) to giggle.  "She's gonna smack you for taking so long already," Oren said. The boy's form dissipated into red glowing dust, his high pitched glee continued to echo off the stone walls even after he disappeared. Jake walked toward the cave's exit, and caught up with [Elle]( http://hserratafun.blogspot.com/p/elle-carlson-zero.html). Jake noted the last of the goblins from the fourth ambush disintegrating into dust.  "Where's Oren?" She asked Jake when she ...

Sunday Free Write [ Link to post .] Jake Wilson  led two others through the dense forest toward the cave of the Goblin Prince. He wore elegant red and black wizard robes. This was only a guided tutorial for Ms. Carlson 's benefit. Elle Carlson followed behind Jake wearing tight, dark leather clothes and a black leather trench coat. She had chosen to be a rogue., taking in the fantasy world around them. The trees of the forest were broader than a close family, and stood tall enough that she could not see the top of the forest canopy. All around them she heard unfamiliar sounds, and different colored lights darted through the air away from them. A single green glowing light was slow to move, and Elle caught a glimpse of wings within the glowing ball. "Are those fairies?" She asked Jake. Jake stopped walking and turned to face her with a smile on his face.  "Of course. Oren  and I put a lot of work into this place. It's as fantasy as can be. Of course fantasy...

[WP] "Welcome, we are so glad you are here. We've been expecting you." "What, where am I?" [ Link to post .] "Welcome, we are so glad you are here. We've been expecting you." The young pale boy greeted the blonde woman in a red dress. They stood outside in a field of swaying wheat.  "What, where am I?" The woman asked. She turned around to survey the field. It looked wrong somehow. The sky was a dark shade of purple, but bright sunlight illuminated the grains. She looked up and saw a golden sun high in the sky.  "This is the AlterNet ." A deeper male voice said behind the woman. She turned around and found Jake Wilson  standing behind her, next to the pale boy. She met Jake only minutes before, but he looked different. Instead of the navy blue business suit he wore to their meeting, he was now dressed in an elegant black silk shirt with golden detailing. He also wore black silk slacks, and a black cloak. She could not se...

[ Sunday Free Write ] Jake Wilson  opened the heavy glass door and strode into the imposing building, leading Eva  along by the hand. Eva carried a black briefcase. The couple dressed up for their presentation; Jake in smart navy blue business suit and Eva wore her favorite gold and black blouse and black skirt. After spending months researching the technology sector of that Earth, they decided on an indie company trying to break into the hardware market.  InnerTech successfully crowdfunded their first gaming console the previous year. Despite the polish of the hardware, the company struggled to attract developers for their platform thanks to the deeper pockets of their competitors. Jake was a game programmer on his Earth, and sympathized with their struggles. He decided to help them corner the market.  "Are you sure about this?" Eva asked when they stepped into the empty elevator.  "I mean, I know we're not time travelers, but it's pretty muc...