The Never Game

Shaw had some public presence but Hong had assembled that information in record time. And how the CEO knew that his most recent job was in Indianapolis and Muncie, and that he was at the university on his personal mission, was an utter mystery. “That’s all correct.”

Hong’s face brightened, only just slightly. “Then like PIs and like the police and like bounty hunters, which you would prefer not to be called, you solve puzzles for a living. You analyze situations and make decisions and to do this you must prioritize. And sometimes you need to do all of those at once and do them very quickly. Lives might be hanging in the balance.”

Shaw had no idea where this steamship of thought was bound for, though he was struck by the word prioritize, which was the reason his percentage technique existed. He said, “True.”

“Mr. Shaw, do you play video games?”

Aside from once? Resulting in his stabbing death by a beautiful woman he would never see again? “No.”

“I ask because playing games would enhance those very skills you need in your job.”

He reached into his desk.

Shaw didn’t bother to tense. He wasn’t fishing for a gun or knife.

Hong retrieved a magazine and set it before Shaw, American Scientist, a layperson monthly he was familiar with. Ashton, as an amateur physicist, had read it religiously. Hong opened it to the page marked with a Post-it note. He pushed it forward.

“No need to read it. I’ll tell you. This article, from several years ago, was the inspiration for my Minerva Project.”

Shaw glanced down at the title: “Can Video Games Be Good for You?”

Hong: “It’s a report from several prestigious universities about the physical and mental benefits of video gaming. Since we are about to announce it to the world, there is no longer the need for secrecy regarding the Minerva Project. It’s the code name for our Therapeutic Gaming Division.” He tapped the article. “These studies show that video games can create vast improvement in patients with attention deficit disorder, autism, Asperger’s and physiological conditions like vertigo and vision issues. Older patients in the trials report significantly improved memory and concentration.

“And even individuals with no disease can benefit. I’m thinking of your career, Mr. Shaw, as I said a moment ago. Game playing results in improved cognition, faster response times, the ability to switch between various tasks quickly, assess spatial relationships, visualization, many other skills.”

Prioritizing...

“That’s the mysterious room, Mr. Linn. Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom. Or, I prefer to say, the Goddess of Cognitive Functioning. Now, I run a business and as the CEO I’m charged with making HSE money. The engine for Therapeutic Gaming, I decided, could easily be used for lucrative action-adventure and first-person shooter games. Hence, Immersion.

“Now, let me dispose of your concern — the reason you recruited Mr. Linn. About Immersion. Which I note that you’ve played, Mr. Shaw, despite what you told me earlier.”

Shaw tried not to register surprise. He would just assume, from now on, that Hong Wei knew everything about him.

“Yes, it is a goal to get young people around the world off their behinds and exercise. I myself am a black belt in karate and tae kwon do and I practice Afro-Brazilian capoeira. I engage in those sports because I enjoy them. You cannot talk someone into exercising if they don’t want to. But you can encourage them to pursue their passion. And if exercise is a necessary consequence, then they will exercise. That is Immersion.

“I have two recordings of conversations you’ve had about your concern we are stealing confidential data and giving it to the Chinese government. Military data in particular.”

Two? Shaw wondered.

“To address that concern, which is not unreasonable, considering you’re trying to save the life of a young woman, let me say this: from the moment I envisioned Immersion and the forward-facing cameras we were developing, I knew that privacy would be a concern. I personally supervised the algorithms to make certain that every written word, every letter, every chart or graph, every photograph that the cameras scanned would be pixelated beyond recognition. The same with human figures in the slightest stage of undress. No toilets, no personal hygiene products. Dogs urinating, much less mating, would not make it into the Immersion system. Obscene language is filtered out.

“We’ve worked with law enforcement, military and government regulators around the country to guarantee that no one’s privacy has been invaded. You can confirm this.” His eyes flicked to Ms. Towne. The glance was fast as a viper’s bite. She stepped forward and gave Shaw a piece of paper with four names on it, along with their law enforcement affiliation and phone number. The first was FBI, the second Department of Defense.

Shaw folded the paper and put it away.