I stared at the projected display screen in front of us.
The conference room was filled with chatter as my fellow character designers leaned over their tablets and notebooks, discussing last year's game release.
On the large screen at the front of the room, a ranking board of many games appeared, drawing everyone's attention.
Top 10 MMORPG Game Rankings
#1 World of Valor – 9.7/10
#2 Battleforge Legends – 9.4/10
#3 Forsaken Crusade – 9.3/10
#4 Arcane Horizons – 9.1/10
#5 Dragonspire Online – 8.9/10
#6 Silverlight Odyssey – 8.8/10
#7 Throne of Eternity – 8.7/10
#8 Shadow Vale – 8.6/10
#9 Emberheart Rebellion – 8.5/10
#10 Chronicles of the Lost Kingdom – 8.3/10
"Once again, our game has reached the Top 10 in the MMORPG rankings. Let's give ourselves a round of applause, everyone," Mr. Lysander, our head character designer, said, gesturing around the room as he looked at us.
"This is the result of all your hard work and dedication. Every detail, every hero, every skill you've created contributed to this success."
I glanced at the screen. Our three games were holding 2nd, 5th, and 7th place. Mr. Lysander tapped the numbers on the screen and smiled.
He walked back to his chair and straightened his posture, resting his hands on the table.
"But today, I want to talk about something bigger. Our company is preparing to release a brand-new MMORPG, unlike anything we've done before. This isn't just another game. It is a fully immersive VR experience. Players won't just be staring at a screen. They will be able to step into the game world itself."
A few murmurs spread through the room.
One of my colleagues raised a hand, frowning. "Wait… you mean the players will actually use VR headsets?"
"Yes," Mr. Lysander said, nodding and leaning back in his chair. "We will be responsible for creating the characters, abilities, and environments that the players will explore in full VR. Everything we design will directly shape their experience."
Another colleague leaned forward, raising her hand. "But… I thought we were only making a regular MMORPG?"
Mr. Lysander smiled and leaned back in his chair. "The company realized our current games were struggling to reach first place against our rival. That is why we are taking this step. By making it a VR game, we are creating something truly different—a game that will stand out and set a new standard. This is our chance to make it revolutionary."
The room fell silent for a moment. Some of my colleagues exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether this was exciting or risky.
"Is that the same game we're working on right now?" Michael, our senior, glanced sharply at Mr. Lysander before fixing his eyes on us.
Kevin nudged my side lightly and whispered, "Ah, your least favorite coworker is on the move."
I raised my eyebrows and shrugged. "Just let him do his thing," I murmured, glancing at Michael. "He likes being involved in everything."
"Yes, after two years of preparation, I think the only part left is the heroes of the game," Mr. Lysander said.
"That's exactly what I was about to mention," he added, leaning forward and tapping the table. "The character design team is tasked with creating the heroes directly inside the VR game itself."
"What?" we all blurted out at the same time, the room filled with surprise. My colleagues' eyes widened, and a few of them exchanged glances, unable to hide their shock.
"Are you sure, Mr. Lysander?" Michael asked, standing up and folding his arms.
"Yeah, I'm very serious," Mr. Lysander replied. "They want us to create the heroes inside the VR game itself. Every design choice, every skill, every detail, all in real time."
The room went quiet for a moment as the weight of the task sank in. Kevin nudged me with his elbow and muttered under his breath, "Well, this just got a lot more interesting…"
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to process everything.
"What do you think, Olivia?" I asked, glancing at my close colleague sitting beside me.
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I think that would be epic," she said. "I mean, imagine, we're actually going to create our characters inside the game itself."
I shouldn't have been surprised by her reaction. The three of us always played games together after work, and she loved trying out all kinds of game genres.
"How are we supposed to create a character while we're inside the game?" one of our colleagues asked.
"So here are the instructions," Mr. Lysander said as he stood up from his chair. "This game will be available first, and only, to us. The character design team."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"The developers built the entire VR world for us before anyone else can enter. Once we create the heroes and design their skills, that's when the game will be ready for launch. But we are not only here to design. We are also here to test it."
A wave of murmurs spread through the room.
"We will be inside the game as real players," he continued. "They want us to confirm whether the virtual reality system is stable and functioning properly. Think of it as early access, but we are the testers."
"Inside the game, we will be monitored. We will take quests, fight monsters, and challenge bosses to see if everything is compatible and working as intended."
Mr. Lysander's eyes swept across the room.
"Before the public can enter, we must create the heroes, define their skills, customize their gear, and shape their identities. Everything begins with us."
"Once you enter the VR world, you will become more than just testers. You will be designers and players inside the game. You will walk through the world, fight monsters, take quests, level up, defeat bosses, and unlock abilities. This is not only work, it is also your chance to become the first players to experience a true virtual reality MMORPG."
He briefly glanced at the screen behind him.
"The company wants to prove this VR technology is safe and stable. They want to see if the system responds correctly to movement, combat, stamina, damage, magic casting, and interaction."
Mr. Lysander turned toward his laptop and typed something. The projector screen changed, showing an illustration of a human body lying inside a pod, connected to sensors and headsets.
"This is how it will work," he said, pointing at the screen. "You will lie in a pod and wear VR headsets, and inside the game, your vitals will be monitored at all times. Heart rate, brain activity, fatigue levels, and even stress responses. If the system detects danger, the game will automatically stop and pull you out."
The room fell quiet.
"You will also be livestreamed," Mr. Lysander added, his voice firm. "Not just your gameplay, but also your hero creation process, your combat, and your choices. The public will see everything. Millions of viewers will watch who creates the strongest hero, who survives the hardest quests, and who becomes the face of this project."
Some of my colleagues gasped.
Kevin let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "That actually sounds exciting."
Mr. Lysander nodded. "Yes, it will be livestreamed. And because of that, your designs must be more than flashy. They must be balanced, functional, and entertaining."
"The company wants to build an audience early. They want to attract future players and customers before the game even launches."
"There will be quests inside the VR world, but these quests are not ordinary. Some are designed to test class compatibility. Some will unlock skill branches, weapon mastery paths, and hidden traits. And some quests will force you to make choices that permanently affect your hero."
I took a deep breath and stared at the screen. I just hope I'm ready for all of this.