A group of youth gather together at a theater. They are told they are a test group for a new video game simulation. There are 2 lines that form as they are ushered into two different theater rooms.
The first line of people are instructed to grab a pair of glasses as they enter the theater. These glasses transform the way they see each other and the theater turns into a simulated battle field. Each student is outfitted in different types of knightly armor and weaponry. On the huge screen, the students are instructed on how to use the equipment. Then, a very realistic fighting scenario takes over the room. They are able to work together to learn the tactics needed, but no one is injured in this process, because it isn’t really happening.
The second line of people are also filed into a theater room, but they are not given the glasses. This group can hear instructions, but can not see each other in the battle gear. They can’t practice any of the moves because the simulation is not able to been seen without the glasses. Getting bored, these youth begin to play their own games with each other. Childish type games like Duck Duck Goose and throwing a ball back and forth.
Next instructions come over the intercom and announce to come back out into foyer area.
The first group returns their glasses. The kids all seem to get along and walk out of the theater together. At this point, they walk out the doors of the theater and they are in an arena of some sort. It reminded me of the Colosseum. A loud alarm or horn is blown and it becomes a scene almost like the fighting gladiators of old. The group of kids from the first line (the ones who had the glasses) were able to see the armor and various weapons that were in a box. This group immediately picked up the weapons and armor they were taught to use in the simulation. This group knew how to work together. They had a strategy based on the simulations they had practiced back in the theater.
The second group did not know how to put on the armor and had never practiced fighting. The swords and all equipment were not helpful, but more cumbersome and awkward. The only thing this group of youth could do was try to run away from the animals and fighters that were released. Many of them did not make it. The ones that did realized the only hope was to stay with group 1 and learn as quickly as possible.
