On December 10, 1993, a shareware game was released at the University of Wisconsin, USA.
The school’s server, capable of accommodating 125 users, was overwhelmed by over 10,000 eager players trying to download the game, leading to a monumental server crash.
The game, which featured a simple story about marines banishing demons on Mars, made internet history by being the first game to cause such a server crash, thus stepping into the spotlight and becoming legendary.
This game was none other than “Dune,” the father of all first-person shooters (FPS), the ace that introduced the FPS genre worldwide, and the game that taught us that to catch demons, you don’t need crosses or holy water; you need a ‘double-barrel shotgun.’
“Dune” wasn’t strictly the very first FPS game ever created. The title of the first FPS goes to “Maze War,” released in 1974, while “Wolfenstein,” developed by Yard Software, where the Nazis were taken down, also counts as an FPS.
However, there’s no denying that “Dune” was the game that cemented the idea of what an FPS is for players around the globe.
One reason for “Dune”‘s explosive popularity was its [intensity].
With fantastic tools like the chainsaw to hack up demons and the double-barrel shotgun that could blow a demon’s skull apart in one shot!
And let’s not forget the ultimate weapon of the Dune series, the ‘BG9000’!
With various weapons at hand to annihilate demons, “Dune” drove men absolutely wild with excitement.
The second critical element was [network play].
“Dune” was the first game among FPS titles to offer network play.
How much more fun would it be to cap a demon’s head with friends rather than solo?
It was a no-brainer and turned out to be incredibly fun.
College students would stock up on Red Bulls and log on to “Dune” on Friday nights, joyfully blasting each other’s heads off.
The game’s success was phenomenal, racking up 15 million downloads almost overnight.
To put this into perspective, at the time, it had more copies installed than Windows, with Microsoft seriously contemplating acquiring Yard Software for its game development.
The popularity of “Dune” was so off the charts it was almost worshipped at a religious level.
Not just metaphorically, either; fans genuinely sought out the developers wherever they went to show their devotion.
Such anecdotes highlight just how iconic “Dune” became in the gaming industry.
Thus, when considering creating the first FPS in another world, it was only fitting to start with “Dune.”
Some might think it’s too cruel to unleash a violent gaming experience of brutally killing demons in this new world.
However, in this world, wild monsters pose a constant threat, and simple hunting skills are learned from childhood.
That level of violence could even serve as entertaining recreation.
*
“…I’m planning to create a game like this!”
I explained to Arga about the game “Dune.”
Upon hearing my passionate description, Arga responded with a serious tone.
“So, you mean… a gunfight game where you go around blasting demons’ heads off with a massive gun, and when you’re bored, you can fight with friends?”
“Yes! Exactly! And it’s called an FPS, not just a shooting game.”
“Yuren….”
As he trembled slightly while saying my name, Arga suddenly began to cheer, eyes sparkling with excitement!
I knew he would love it!
“You are truly the god of gaming!! A genius!!! Hahaha!!!”
“I’m flattered! Hahaha!!!”
With wide, excited eyes, Arga looked ready to sell his soul, indicating he was eager to jump on board.
“Where’s the contract? I’ll sign it right away!!!!!”
“Hold on. Before that, I have one more request.”
Actually, I had been planning to arrange something specifically catering to this world while thinking of “Dune.”
For that, I definitely needed Arga’s help.
“Anything you say. I’ll do my best to cooperate as long as it’s within my capabilities.”
“Well…”
He looked shocked when I dropped my bombshell.
“Wha—?!”
“What do you think, Arga? Can I count on your cooperation for this as well?”
Arga’s face changed drastically as he replied.
“Well… this is a bit…”
Here we go! I was prepared for this reaction!
Time to switch to Plan B.
“If you help with this, I promise it will be the best FPS game ever!”
“But…”
I knew it could be a dangerous request, but I appealed to Arga’s instincts.
“Don’t you want to see an eternally popular shooting game that gamers are always connecting to!?”
“I… I want to see it!”
“For that, I absolutely need your final cooperation!!”
It was as if I was blackmailing him under the guise of creating a game, while Arga was the one being game-pressured to go along with my proposal. To an outsider, it might look ridiculous, but for us, it was a serious moment.
After contemplating deeply, he finally made his decision.
“Eh… what the heck!! I’ll do it!! I’ll cooperate, Yuren!”
“Thank you! Arga!!”
With a sense of determination, Arga stood up, eyes shining like he was illuminating the dark wilderness.
That was the moment when our agreement to develop the “Dune” game was sealed with a handshake.
*
For the next three days, we were treated like royalty at Nova Mansion.
We visited famous tourist spots in the East, swam at the Eastern beach enjoying the lovely sights.
Then, we set up mana regulation at the Roots of the World Tree, ensuring we could now smoothly engage in multiplayer from the East.
With all preparations complete, as we set off home in the carriage, Sylvia asked.
“So, Yuren, are we diving straight into developing that game called Dune?”
I would love to jump right in!
But before that, there was something I needed to create first.
“Before that, Sylvia, could you help me find a skilled dwarf artisan?”
“A dwarf artisan? What do you need one for?”
I could handle making simple magical tools by myself.
However, I needed an artisan to shape exactly what I needed for the iconic elements of “Dune.”
“To create communication tools for conversing with demons.”
“D…demons!? You’re not planning to dabble in dark magic, are you, Yuren?”
“Of course not! Why on earth would I do something that insane!?”
Using one’s life to bargain for demonic powers with dark magic? That was a perilous kind of magic I wouldn’t dare touch.
I dismissed Sylvia’s misunderstanding.
…Although I won’t deny I might have inadvertently spoken in a way that raised suspicion.
“Anyway, I’m relying on you for that!”
Thanks to Sylvia’s help in recruiting a dwarf, I crafted two extremely important tools for the “Dune” game, which hadn’t yet been introduced in this world.
It wasn’t easy, but with the dwarf artisan’s assistance and my accumulated skills from my previous life, I finished the tools in a few days and demonstrated them in front of everyone.
“What is this, my disciple?”
“It’s… no, it’s a magic chainsaw, Master.”
My first Dune tool was a chainsaw fueled by magic.
“What on earth is this magic chainsaw used for?”
“This is powered by magic, so when you inject mana, the blade starts spinning, allowing you to cut wood.”
Vooooom!!!
I showcased the magic chainsaw.
The rapidly spinning blade swiftly chopped through a branch.
“Aha! So it’s like an axe. But if it’s just for cutting wood, wouldn’t it be easier to use an axe?”
“Are you stupid!? When hunting demons, using this magic chainsaw is the norm!?”
In this world, the standard magical tool for lumberjacks was an axe, with no chain-like tools like a chainsaw.
I understood why; it was cheaper to produce and much easier for the people to use in this world.
But there are some commonsense rules in life that must be adhered to.
[“The flesh of demons must be dismembered with a chainsaw.”] was one of those rules!
Vooooom!!!
“Yuren! This feels fantastic!! I love it!!”
Sora seemed thrilled with the magic chainsaw, effortlessly slicing a large log in half.
I knew he would be ecstatic about it.
While I showcased the magic chainsaw, Noreen pointed behind me and asked.
“Yuren, what’s that?”
“Oh! This is the ultimate remedy for demon extermination… the ‘double-barrel shotgun!’”
Thus, the moment the double-barrel shotgun made its grand appearance in this world had arrived.
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