Chapter 18 - Game Conference

Several hours and 19 matches later, Gray and the rest of the team had finished their 10th team deathmatch and finally were given a rank in Team Deathmatch. Team Assault and Team Capture the Flag shared ranks as they were both considered objective based while Team Dodgeball was unranked as it was just for fun.

As for their rank, a Bronze Star Icon with a 'IV' appeared next to their team name over the place that indicated their Team's Deathmatch rank. The bronze star had 4 of the 5 arms lit up of the star which seemed to be a visual indicator aside from the Roman numeral 4 inside of it.

"Bronze rank division four eh?" said Gray a little dejectedly.

"You sound disappointed with that" said Geoff.

"A little, I know we only won 6 out of the 10 matches; but the 4 we lost, we barely lost and most of the ones we won, we only lost one of us" Admitted Gray.

"Firstly, we do not know exactly how it determines rank. It could take in to account our team's performance or merely the end result of the match. Secondly, Bronze is the lowest tier, but we're in the second highest part of it and we don't know what everyone else is yet. For all we know we could be in the higher tier of ranks, of course we could also be in the lower tier, but given we have a winning record, we should statistically be in the top 40 percent at least" analyzed Caleb.

Gray chuckled at Caleb "Not sure if you're trying to comfort me or not, but I guess you do have a point, we just don't know enough yet"

"I did notice one thing though, look at how much merits we earned in our last match" Caleb pointed out to everyone the stats on his HUD.

"232 merits!" said Yurika excitedly

"Indeed, and if you select that amount it will give you a breakdown of what caused it" replied Caleb

200 of the points came from entering the Bronze Rank, the 32 remainder came from their rank bonus of 60% and a base of 20.

Caleb continued "So it looks like at Bronze rank we will get 20 points per win and a multiplier based upon our rank, it is a safe assumption that higher ranks will get even more merits."

"Still, it's going to take a lot of matches to earn better mechs to play with" said Gray slightly annoyed still.

"Indeed, but this is also so that one doesn't dominate a single rank early on and hold others back" replied Caleb. "I also imagine that they don't want the lowest tier players goofing around with the higher tier mechs."

"What do you mean?"

"When you buy a mech or any part, you not only gain access to the component in the simulators for matchmaking, but you get a copy of it for use in the game." Said Caleb. "What I want to know is where it is stored if we don't have a virtual storage like most games usually have"

(What Caleb is referring to as virtual storage is what games usually use for storage where you literally store an item inside a bag, wallet, backpack or something like that and it is kept in perfect condition, weightless, and out of sight. For example, if a player stored 20 different swords in their virtual storage, they could bring out any number of them at any time by just grabbing the virtual icon and put them away by placing them inside the storage container. This is how most games do it for player convenience and easier inventory management. Alterra Online is an extremely realistic game, so no magic bags or containers to hold all of your mechs and parts for you to be brought out in an instant.)

Regardless of the nuances of this game, Gray and the others started to feel hungry so they figured it was time to log out anyways and get a meal. Everyone returned to their quarters and logged out from their beds.

Gray pulled off his neural link from his head and looked at the time and saw it was indeed late and he missed lunch and was just in time for dinner.

"I need to remember to eat instead of just playing games" Gray thought to himself. "Although I really do enjoy Alterra Online so I'm not surprised for losing track of time in it."

Gray heated up another instant meal consisting of generic pasta and grabbed a cold bottle of pop. Even at the age of 29 he still ate like a college kid, granted he wasn't THAT much older than a college kid, he just felt like it sometimes. Gray noticed his message icon flashing on his HUD and saw that Jono and a representative from Alterra Corporation had left him a message while he was in game. It was Saturday night so he was pretty sure that Jono was going to ask him to some sort of social outing that involved trying to get with girls. Frankly, Gray was terrible at picking up girls and he was grateful that Jono liked to include him, just that he felt like dead weight as Gray's normal social replies when he got nervous usually ended with him putting his foot in his mouth. (Metaphorically, not literally thankfully)

Gray opened up the message from Jono first and heard Jono's voice. "Gray! Quit playing without me and come with me to tomorrow's launch event! You already missed today's event so come with me tomorrow!"

Gray really didn't feel like it as going to a launch event for a game he had early access to was almost pointless, but he did admit he was feeling cooped up so he figured he'd go with him anyways. Gray then opened up the second message that was from Alterra Corporation.

"Congratulations team 'Steel Wolves', your first match as the 'Enter Team name here' team has been selected for a promotional video. Alterra Corporation cordially invites you to our second day of the launch event for Alterra Online that is located at Alterra Corporation's public banquet hall. Install this ID certificate to your armlet and you will be allowed free entrance and VIP access pass!" said a feminine AI.

What surprised Gray about this was he thought their first battle was one of the more wasteful ones but figured that all of the gunfire must look pretty neat even if it doesn't do anything. He installed the certificate to his armlet and would use it as his ticket for tomorrow, then he called up Jono to let him know that he would come with him tomorrow.

__________

Gray went over to the banquet hall a little early the next day to meet up with Jono. Of course Jono called him up and said he was running late. This wasn't really that surprising as Jono had a tendency to be late for everything and anything. Still, he saw other people entering the banquet hall and the staff handing out a pamphlet and ID badge on a lanyard to wear. He noticed that some people's badges had different color backgrounds which he assumed referred to the different tiers.

Gray asked a woman attendant greeting everyone at the door what the different colors meant and found at the White meant a value pass, Blue meant a normal pass, and Red meant an advanced pass. Gray remembered he had a VIP pass so he asked which one is a VIP pass.

"V…V.I.P.?!?" The attendant seemed a little shocked and was thinking to herself "Those are not marketed so just knowing about them could mean this guy is important.

The attendant suddenly became much friendlier to Gray and added sweetly. "Esteemed guest, the VIP pass will have a metallic purple background and only are given out to those who are deemed worthy. One with said access will be given complete access to everything at this launch event as well as behind the scenes access if one so desires! They would also have access to a private suite in the staging area so they can watch the event presentations and game demonstrations in comfort."

While this was more than what Gray had actually asked her about, Gray was surprised that the VIP access had such special treatment. "How many VIPs currently preside at the event?"

"Currently, only three have appeared. For privacy concerns I am unable who they are but just the amount of them would not be a problem!"

Gray started to say absentmindedly "Guess that means I'll be the fou_"

"GRAY! Dude! Come on! I was able to get a freaking Advanced Pass so quit hitting on girls, what would your wife say?" Jono interrupted Gray while giving him an evil smile.

The female attendant smiled warily at Gray and returned to her less than enthusiastic state from before as she now thought he might be a guy that cheats on his wife. Gray didn't even have a girlfriend let alone a wife, but frankly didn't feel like arguing with Jono as this guy was loud and shameless.

"About time Jono, I've been waiting"

"Sorry! Dude, check it out!" Jono whipped out his lanyard with a red background on his ID badge. "See, I can get in to everything at this event and get to cut in line at various booths. Alterra Online may be the main headliner here, but it's still a gaming conference after all! I hope you at least got the normal pass, but your poor ass probably got the value pass!"

"Yeah, I didn't get the advanced pass or the normal pass." Gray said smugly as he walked up to the entrance and let his armlet be scanned. When the attendant looked at the scanner his eyes went wide and he apologized to Gray and said he had to get his pass especially from the security office.

"Don't tell me you forged your pass Gray?" said Jono smilingly mockingly at Gray.

"I don't know what's going on either."

The attendant quickly returned with another female attendant and handed Gray a lanyard with a purple metallic ID plate on it and said "Esteemed guest, we welcome you as a VIP and apologize for any delays, this is Felicia and she will be your personal escort and guide for the event." The attendant motioned over to the beautiful woman next to him wearing a dark blue skirt, matching low-cut blouse, a pair of heels, and long blonde hair with deep brown eyes that Gray felt would suck out his soul if he stared at them. Her bright lipstick and makeup accentuated her nearly flawless face and both Gray and Jono had their minds go blank when looking at her.

Suddenly Jono came back to reality when he realized that Gray had a VIP pass that he didn't even know existed and his face started to turn right red from embarrassment.

"Hey, buddy, your face is matching your badge there." Gray said while grinning at Jono.