Arcade Page #3

A MAN steps out from behind the ARCADE machine. He grins happily, dressed

to kill, sporting a SLIP-STREAM ID tag. This is DIFFORD, P.R. man for

SLIP-STREAM.

DIFFORD:

Hi, kids.

(nods)

Mr. Finster...

The ARCADE machine continues to breathe, inhale, exhale... The eyes in the

face are glowing now, in unison with the breathing.

Difford draws closer and indicates the machine behind him with a nod.

DIFFORD:

(smooth as silk)

We're glad you people could make it, and

we're anxious to have you try out our new

product. We think it's going to be a big

seller. But you're the people that make it

happen. You're the market share everyone's

tearing each other apart to get at. It's

your opinion that's going to make or break

us.

NICK:

So what's so different about Arcade? You

guys've been talking about it for months.

Difford turns to Nick and salutes him.

DIFFORD:

A man after my own heart. Straight to the

point.

(to everyone)

What's different about ARCADE is the way it

reacts. It responds like a human does. It

learns. It adapts. Each time you play, it

changes its strategy.

NICK:

That's impossible.

DIFFORD:

(taking the bait)

Is it? Why don't you see for your self?

Difford reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a quarter. He tosses

it at...

NICK:

who snags it out of mid-air and grins.

GREG:

Go for it, Nick.

Difford steps aside and waves Nick to the machine. The rest of the kids

crowd around.

ARCADE:

isn't just your typical video game. First of all there are three

screens...front, left, and right...which provide a panoramic view while

playing. Second, the player wears "data gloves" (which provide an actual

sensation of touch) and stereoscopic goggles which in turn are wired

directly into the machine. The results give the user the feeling that

he/she has actually entered the video game universe.

Difford thinks he has a hit on his hands, and his excitement shows.

DIFFORD:

(indicating equipment)

The CyberGloves are keyed into the game's

response mechanism. You'll be able to pick

things up inside the world...tools, weapons

... it'll feel like they're really in your

hands...

Nick pulls on the gloves, securing them with velcro straps.

DIFFORD:

(continuing)

The goggles heighten the experience. When

we said "Reality will never be the same",

we weren't kidding.

Difford places the goggles on Nick's face. Then he points to the control

board, which features two joy-sticks and a large RED BUTTON labeled

"ESCAPE".

NICK:

(skeptical)

"Escape"?

DIFFORD:

In case things get too intense. It

automatically freezes the game, gives you a

breather. Things can get pretty wild...

BENZ:

(scoffing)

Nick won't need it.

DIFFORD:

You're good, eh?

NICK:

(grins)

The best.

Nick winks at Alex and Greg.

NICK:

(to Difford)

So what's the scenario? Am I saving a

princess? Fighting Zombies?

DIFFORD:

It changes. There are eleven levels. Each

one is a different layer of the ARCADE

universe. The concept is, you're entering

the video game itself, making your way

across the circuit board to the logic core

... ARCADE's brain.

NICK:

So how do I start?

DIFFORD:

The game will guide you.

Nick turns back to the machine and pops the quarter into the coin slot.

He punches the "START" button on the top of one of the joy-sticks.

Immediately the screens come to life. Darkness with shooting stars of

light racing back and forth.

ON SCREEN:

A three-dimensional computer-generated FACE appears out of the darkness,

spinning in from far away and coming to rest.

ARCADE:

I AM ARCADE.

(breathing)

YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES? YOU PICKED THE

WRONG MACHINE.

The crowd of kids is suitably impressed. Even Alex is amused.

So far, so good.

ARCADE:

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

NICK:

Nick.

ARCADE:

(almost contemptuous)

NICK. KISS REALITY GOODBYE.

SUDDENLY,

A LIGHTBEAM above the video screen illuminates Nick's face.

LAURIE:

(concerned)

What's it doing?!

DIFFORD:

Memorizing Nick's features. Watch.

ON SCREEN:

the face of ARCADE spins away and a computer-generated figure appears,

complete with a pixel-rendered version of Nick's face!

VIDEO NICK:

is dressed in futuristic armor with exaggerated CyberGloves and a full

helmet on instead of goggles. He also wears elbow and knee pads and

carries a thrasher in his hands, sort of a cross between a souped-up

skateboard and the Silver Surfer's board. It's his means of

transportation.

The screen prints out: "NICK. ENTER THE VORTEX".

VIDEO NICK:

hops onto the thrasher. Abruptly the world around him begins to spin, and

Video Nick is shooting a curl, a whirlpool of light...down, down, faster

and faster, until...

BOOM! Empty space and video Nick is falling towards a circuit grid. It's

the electronic universe rushing up to meet him...

ARCADE:

ONE WORD OF ADVICE, NICK. YOU SPEND TOO

MUCH TIME IN ONE PLACE, AND I SEND OUT THE

SCREAMER. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND WHEN

THAT HAPPENS.

(laughs)

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ON SCREEN:

Video Nick plummets from the sky like a meteor, slamming into the ground

with an explosion of dust. The dust clears.

Video Nick is standing on an eerie plain, with strange reed-like plants

dotting the ground and mist coiling around everything. It looks like

Earth, and yet...it doesn't.

VIDEO NICK:

hops onto the thrasher and begins to move. And move it does. With a

WHOOP! the ARCADE world is rushing past us. The game has begun.

ON NICK'S FACE

As a smile gradually creeps across it. He's having the time of his life,

gloved hands manipulating the joy-sticks like mad. From his reactions, we

can tell that this is one of the most incredible things he's ever

experienced.

THE OTHER KIDS:

watch Nick, then the screen, then Nick again...

BENZ:

Check it out!

GREG:

Come on, Nick...

Now everyone is laughing, urging Nick on. It's like they've all

discovered the most amazing toy...something that's going to turn their

world upset down.

DIFFORD:

is pleased as punch, watching the kids' reactions more than the game.

ON SCREEN:

Images are rushing past at blinding speed, LASERS, EXPLOSIONS, and god

knows what...

ON NICK:

As sweat begins to trickle down his fast. His hands move faster and

faster, in response to the game.

The screen.

Nick.

The screen and...

BAM!!! Nick SLAMS down the escape button and rips off his goggles. The

video image freezes.

NICK:

He's practically hyperventilating, sweat pouring down his face. He leans

over, resting a hand on the control board. And for a moment, everyone is

silent. Then...

GREG:

Nick...you okay?

Slowly, Nick lifts his head. He's now sporting a devilish grin.

NICK:

You gotta try this thing.

Nick pulls off his CyberGloves and holds them out for Greg. Greg turns to

Alex.

ALEX:

Go for it.

GREG:

Hold my keys, then.

He hands her his keychain and takes the CyberGloves from Nick. Greg pulls

them on, then straps on the goggles.

GREG:

(to Difford)

So how do I get back in?

DIFFORD:

Just hit "ESCAPE" again.

ON SCREEN:

Greg hits the button and immediately the image unfreezes. Once again,

we're on the thrasher board, rushing across the plains.

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