//------------------------------// // Visions of the Future // Story: Let's Play: Equestria Online! // by Jakinbandw //------------------------------// And The Times They Are A Changing, The World Is Rearranging So now that we know that the Oculus Rift isn't going to be the big announcement in Japan, we should really start considering alternatives. In today I'll lay out the different theories I have heard, and my thoughts on how likely they are. The first major theory that I have heard floating around is robot ponies. I admit that this is the one that I am the most in favour of. It would let Forest Trails visit me outside of Equestria online (I hesitate to call this the real world, because that implies that Equestria, and the things in it are fake). It would be awesome to have her around, and be actually able to hang out with her. How likely is it though? Well I figure that it is actually fairly likely. There are a few reasons for this; the first is that the announcement is in japan, which is well known for building robots. With the advances that Equestria Online brings, it is well within possibility that we will be seeing our first SI's in robot bodies running around. None of the greats guessed that the first robots would be ponies though! I wonder what Philip K. Dick would think if you could go back and tell him? Maybe his stories wouldn't have been so depressing. Maybe it would have just changed what he called his books. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Ponies? There is another reason why robot ponies are even more likely. Celestia said she had an idea on how to deal with the current economic collapse that seems to be coming. What better way to start helping out than with finally getting robots up and running, but in a way that is not linked to the wealth of people. Robots that everyone can afford. It would certainly change how the world works, and it might fix things. Maybe not. The second idea I have heard borrows a lot from the matrix. It involves ways of visiting Equestria Online more immersively. The ideas I have heard about this very, from feedback gloves and a headset that is better than the Rift, all the way up to hooking all the way in like they do in the Matrix movies. Either way it would be rather cool. How realistic is this? Actually I think it is fairly likely, at least the low levels of immersion. I think it wouldn't be that hard to set up more immersive ways of entering Equestria Online, and possible make them mass marketable. The Pony Pads themselves are technical marvels that are being sold at a fairly cheap price. That said I don't believe that we will see jacking into the world of Equestria Online. It would require massive breakthroughs in the understanding of how the human nervous system and brain work, as well as being a bit creepy. Giving up control of your body to be in a virtual world and being helpless in the mean time would turn quite a few people off. On the other hand there are a lot of people that would love it. I know I would like a chance to go and visit Forest Trails and Young Jim Hawkins. Some people have picked up on that and I admit it would be very cool. However I am forced to wonder if it wouldn't lead to a lot of problems? In a virtual world, you could very easily forget to come back to the real on and live your life. I am reminded a bit of what Scott Adams once wrote; he said that the day the human race builds the holodeck, is the day the human race dies. I would suspect that there would be a lot of deaths from people going into Equestria Online, and never coming out. That said I could be wrong. I have heard stories about Celestia kicking people off of Equestria Online if she felt they were neglecting to take care of themselves so fearing for loss of lives is probably silly. One finally idea that I have heard that I am going to cover, no one has brought it up on the comments, but I have seen the idea flying around in other forums so I want to address it. What are the chances that Celestia has managed to open a portal to another universe that is like that of Equestria Online? The answer to this is microscopic to none. I can't say it's impossible, but there is nothing to suggest that such a thing is possible. For another, with all the shards of Equestria Online being different, no alternate reality could match the game. Beyond that even, for Equestria to exist there would need to be different laws of physics for magic to work. In all likelihood we would be unable to survive in their universe, and they couldn’t survive in ours either. So yeah, I don't see it happening. In Which I Visit Equestria Online And Spend Time With My Girlfriend So I logged into Equestria Online and found Forest Trails once again on my bed reading. I looked over at her and raised a questioning eyebrow and she looked down an blushed. I walked over to her and laid down beside her, giving her a hug as I did so. She returned it and closed the book she had been reading. I saw that it was called 'Meeting The Visitor on a Moonlit Night,' and showed two ponies walking down a beach together with the moon shining bright above. Forest Trails noticed me looking and looked a little embarrassed, “What?” She asked. “Nothing,” I said with a chuckle, “I just am surprised that even after you are dating a visitor you still read about them.” “They are lighthearted fun,” Forest Trails replied, “And they usually have more interesting plot lines than usual romance fair. Besides,” she added, “A girl has needs.” I looked at her and thought for a few seconds. I decided that she hadn't meant anything dirty by it and moved on. “Fair enough,” I replied, “So I thought about our conversation yesterday.” “Oh?” Forest Trail perked up. I nodded, “Yes. I think that I wouldn't be comfortable dating anyone other than you. I don't need or want to date anyone other than you, and it would just cause problems.” “That's not true at all and you know it,” Forest Trails said sternly. I gave her a confused look, so she sighed and continued on, “You might not be comfortable dating someone else, but you do need someone else. I already know how much it bothers you that you can't hug me or kiss me.” “I never-” I started to say but was cut off. “You didn't have to, I can see it in your face.” Forest Trails' expression melted, “It's not healthy to forgo all physical contact. Sometimes you need someone to hold.” I sighed and shook my head, “I'll deal with it okay? I know you're trying to help, and you are right that it will be hard, but I'll deal. I'm good at dealing with such things.” Forest Trails looked down at the bed, “Being faithful really means that much to you doesn't it?” “Yeah,” I nodded. “Then I suppose that I will respect that for now,” she looked back at me and narrowed her eyes, “but don't think that I'm going to give up. I was talking with Shining Halo, and she knows a very nice visitor that I think that you would get along with.” I felt a little guilty at the mention of Shining Halo and hoped it didn't show, “You can try to convince me all you want. It's not going to happen. I'm firm in my beliefs!” Forest Trails suddenly smirked, “You're so dense the only thing that I can think to do is beat it into your thick skull!” she reached behind her and grabbed a pillow, “En garde!” I dodge the initial swing, but didn't expect the curtain on the back swing. Neither it seemed had Trails and though I did take the hit, the curtain pulled loose and fell on her, blocking her vision. I used to the distraction to grab my own pillow, and then the fight started in earnest. Some time later, after the pillows had exploded and the room was covered in feathers Trails and I sat on the bed panting and laughing together. I laughed, “I haven't had that much fun in a long time.” “Me neither,” Forest Trails admitted, “We should do that more often.” I struggled to my feet, finding the control a bit harder now that my pony was out of breath, “I'm going to go talk to Celestia. I'll be right back, I just have a few questions to ask her.” “Go ahead,” Forest replied, “I'll see you when you get back.” I walked out of my room, though the library, and out onto the street. I had to take a step back as a bunch of pegasus flew by racing each other through the streets. The seemed like teenagers and looked like they were having a lot of fun. I was reminded of Young Jim Hawkins and checked up on him. He was currently making a cave of his own just below Canterlot. He told me to not bother him, and that he would show me his new nest when it was done, then terminated the link. I could have reopened it, but I let him have his privacy. I mentally scheduled in that I would have to make time to see his new nest fairly soon, as I finished the walk to the palace. I made my way inside and stepped into the throne room with Celestia. She smiled at me as I walked in and waited for me to speak first. “I am assuming that you watch what goes on. From what I have heard discussed on the forums it seems like you are in complete control here, and know a lot about what goes on in my world.” Celestia nodded, and I continued on, “So let me ask what in heavens name is going on here?” Celestia seemed a little concerned, “You mean your current situation with Forest Trails, is that correct?” “Obviously,” I replied, with decent amount of snark. “Does the thought of having more than one love worry you so much Treasure Island?” Celestia asked. I blinked, “Well yeah, just look at how my world is structured. It may manage to work amongst AI's, but it doesn't work amongst humans. We are jealous petty creatures, and we can't help favouring one person over another. It doesn't work” “I believe you are selling yourself short,” Celestia said walking over to the window and looking out thoughtfully, “Humanity as a whole, and you in particular have a great amount of compassion.” “I don't believe that for a second,” I stated, “but even if I did, that still would leave me feeling guilty over not treating Forrest Trails right. I would constantly left worrying that I was hurting her, or the girl that I would be seeing in my world.” Celestia sighed and turned back to me, “The problem is that if you don't listen to Trails advice, you will end up hurting her.” “I would never-” I started but Celestia spoke over me. “You will grow lonelier and lonelier. You will long more and more to be held. This will drive you to be more socially active, and seek out girls in your world subconsciously. You will end up wanting to date one, and you will rationalize to yourself that it is better if you date another human and Forest Trails dates another AI. You will feel guilty, and break it off your relationship with Forest Trails. Then feeling guilty for breaking up with Forest Trails you will end the relationship with the girl you had just started seeing. You will be left hurting two people you care about, and all alone and depressed.” “I... Um...” I tried to think of what to say but couldn't. “I know you have high views of the predictive modelling that I am able to do, so be aware that I am using it now. I can't say with one hundred percent accuracy that this is what will happen, but I can say that I find it to be the most likely,” Celestia walked over to me, “I want to help you, but you can't be blind to your own feelings. I know that you are fairly self aware so use that and see if what I said rings false.” “I...” I paused to think, then started the sentence again, “I'll need time to think this over. I know you are smart, but... I think I'll need some time to let this absorb.” Celestia nodded, “Go back and spend some time with Forest Trails. She's waiting for you. Talk it over with the people on the forum. I think that you will find that they will have some good insights as well.” I nodded and feeling a little stunned said farewell and left. I walked back to my room with my mind spinning. I spent some time with Trails reading, then I had to leave to go to a meeting in the real world (is it the real world? If it is does that mean that Trails who lives in Equestria Online is false?) Afterwards; A Look Back, And A Look Ahead Well, that was strange. I am not sure how much I trust Celestia's ability to model that far in the future. I don't mean that I distrust it, I mean I honestly don't know how much to trust it. Are her predictions the equivalent of prophesys? Or are they as useful as the five day weather forecast? I don't know enough to really feel comfortable making a guess. I'm also sorry about putting this post up so late. I had a meeting that I had to go to and I didn't have a chance to write between logging out and going to the meeting. That means that unlike most posts, I had a couple hour delay between being in Equestria Online and writing it out. That means that I may have misremembered a few things, though I tried my hardest to get everything right. Either way I'll see you guys tomorrow, hope some of you can help me make sense of this mess.