CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 387: SHORT ON MONEY?

While others were still skeptical, he was completely convinced—Penson truly possessed this technology and was preparing to incorporate it into gaming to capture the market.

When Apex and other companies were boasting about their smart pets, Penson had already advanced into the gaming industry, catching them off guard with holographic technology.

Henry Hale was laughing internally; he should have anticipated this. How could Paige Sterling’s potential ever be exhausted? Even if all the technical staff left Penson, she could still support it on her own, and those who left posed no threat to her.

Because the level on which Paige Sterling stood was one they could never fathom.

Soon, the host invited the gaming experts to the stage for a trial.

Among the gaming experts, there was eager anticipation; if another company claimed to have developed holographic technology, they might doubt it.

But if it was Penson, their skepticism was greatly diminished.

They eagerly went on stage, impatient to enter the game.

The staff helped them put on helmets and guided them into chairs.

The game started quickly, and they began making all sorts of bewildering movements in their chairs.

The journalists were in the audience, and the gaming experts were on stage.

The holographic screen showcased each gamer’s gameplay in small boxes, allowing the audience to clearly see the gaming activity. When paired with their real-life movements, it was easy to judge whether the game was successful.

Without this screen, the audience might have thought the players in chairs looked like lunatics, while they were the spectators of the madness.

The venue was silent save for the clicking of the photographers’ cameras, making the shouts of the players particularly prominent.

That jubilant laughter and the extreme, terrified screams were simply...

Indescribable.

As the game ended and the experts excitedly described their in-game experiences, there were still some who refused to believe, especially the industry executives.

So they requested a trial, even though they might not even play games.

The host agreed; unless they tried it themselves, how would they understand what a real-world impact meant?

Thus, the second batch of testers went on stage.

The atmosphere became even more charged; the second batch of testers continued to shout and scream like mad dogs.

Finally, the faces of the few industry executives who tried the game turned somewhat ashen.

Everything that happened today made them realize.

Penson’s market could not be captured by relying on a few technical staff who left Penson.

When the host asked them for their thoughts at that moment, their faces seemed even paler.

"I shouldn’t have thought Penson would stop here; it’s narrow-minded of me, not of President Sterling."

After speaking, they left the stage dimly.

The host, "..."

I was just asking for your thoughts on the game, not for your opinion on President Sterling.

Our President Sterling already has a broad vision, do you really need to mention it?

The press conference also stirred up heated discussion online.

Because it was live-streamed.

Like most people on site, many netizens were skeptical at first.

But when batch after batch of testers went on stage and came off with the same expressions, netizens realized it must be true.

So before the Penson press conference ended, Penson’s website nearly crashed as countless people flooded in, eager to buy holographic helmets in advance.

As the helmets were priced during the conference, it was within the affordable range for many.

Especially for those who loved gaming; not buying a holographic helmet felt unjust to their gaming life.

However, people refreshed the website time and time again, yet...

The website didn’t have the holographic helmets, and all the other products were also out of stock.

Everyone was used to this situation, given Penson was always perpetually out of stock all month long.

But now even robots couldn’t be stocked, leading to an agonizing situation—especially with limited production numbers for holographic helmets, it felt like intentional torture.

Quickly, Penson’s website issued an announcement stating that this game was solely supported by Penson, but purchases should be made at the Chambers Group website.

Consequently, swarms of people flooded into the Chambers Group website.

If Paige Sterling hadn’t had the Chambers Group website updated in advance, it might’ve crashed under the pressure.

But the quantity was still small, with only a hundred units, which were sold out instantly.

Netizens screamed online; with so many people nationwide, how could only a hundred units be produced? It’s inhumane!

Even though many hadn’t experienced the game firsthand, a lot began offering high prices online for second-hand helmets.

Of course, those few gaming experts who participated in the trials at the conference didn’t have to worry about obtaining helmets.

All test gaming experts were given a helmet by Penson.

If you couldn’t buy a helmet, watching experts play was also an option, so when the gaming experts went live, their streaming audience surged.

And those hundred who first secured helmets, despite not playing games very well, also started streaming with their holographic helmets, gaining visibility.

If one person says the helmet is amazing, no one might believe it.

But when everyone who bought it says the same, how could anyone not trust it?

Surely, not everyone has been bribed to lie?

Moreover, among them were wealthy individuals; do they need money?

So, in less than a day, the holographic technology swept globally, becoming a worldwide headline topic.

During this period, logging online was almost synonymous with seeing holography everywhere.

The arrival of holography changed not only the gaming industry; it was an undeniable fact known to all.

With such technology, it could be applied to multiple industries.

3D movies could be made into holographic movies, many complex simulations could be replaced with holographic training...

In no time, so many sought cooperation that Penson’s front door was almost treaded down.

But soon, educational figures began raising concerns about the holographic gaming helmets, stating they would lead minors into gaming addiction. They criticized the holographic gaming helmets online, venting vehemently, almost demanding Paige Sterling face severe repercussions.

Although, due to production quantity issues, no minors had managed to purchase the holographic helmets.

And with that price, without parental backing, a minor couldn’t afford one.

Nonetheless, educational figures expressed grave worries about the future harm holographic gaming helmets would cause to children.

Sure, holographic technology signifies scientific progress, but isn’t it also the culprit of destruction?

Paige Sterling, with such talent, why not develop more beneficial things for the nation and its people instead of creating games that harm adolescents?

Thus, Penson became regarded as the culprit poisoning minors.

Soon, online voices vehemently contradicted these claims.

"Acting like without holographic technology, your children can study peacefully; isn’t it the responsibility of teachers and parents if children don’t study, why burden gaming with blame?"

"Isn’t it true that minors require protection? So adult leisure lives don’t require protection at all? Adults don’t need to play games anymore, and it’s totally dismissed?"

"If you don’t want your kids to play, just don’t buy it for them, why pin educational shortcomings on gaming, did gaming even get a say?"

"People who have filth in their eyes see filth everywhere; clearly, the development of holographic technology is a huge societal advancement, yet some insist on labeling other’s achievements as filth, it’s truly absurd."