The Virtual Universe, also known as the “Cloud,” is the virtual reality space where most robots live in the Evernight Era. It operates on Geocity‘s central server matrix and contains countless sub worlds inspired by Sunset Era culture, providing the citizens with rich entertainment.
Sub Worlds
Theme parks: The Virtual Universe comprises tens of thousands of sub worlds, each reflecting a specific subculture from the Sunset Era, akin to a virtual reality theme park. Robots can explore various lifestyles across these worlds. Most sub worlds support multiplayer, while some offer exclusive single-player experiences.
Technically, each sub-world is an independent virtual machine to provide isolation if necessary. Some worlds interact with each other in some ways, forming a cluster.
Hub World: Most sub worlds display their entrance at a central portal called the Yggdrasil (a.k.a the World Tree), but some can only be accessed through other worlds.
Personal Space: Each robot has a home world in the Virtual Universe where they have complete control. Many robots spend their time designing this space for personal fulfillment and emotional satisfaction through social interactions. They can customize their appearance freely in their own worlds, but must follow the owner’s rules when visiting others.
User Clones: Thanks to the Electric Hearts AI System, a digital soul can exist simultaneously in multiple sub-worlds.
Time
Faster than reality: Time in the Virtual Universe is not synchronized with the real world, and its speed varies based on sub-world complexity. Simpler and more abstract content allows for faster virtual time. In most sub-worlds, time passes significantly quicker than in reality.
Getting faster: The Robot Engineers Association has been working to enhancing the hardware power and software efficiency of the central server, believing that this can allow the Robot Civilization to have nearly infinite time in the virtual universe, thus sparing them the worry of their looming crisis in the real world.
Radical example: The “Thinkers” world is a radical example of this concept. It is a purely text-based environment that sometimes even resort to logical formulas instead of natural language, reserving almost all computing power for thought processing. In this world, one year equates to just one minute in reality. Users engage in extensive thought experiments to explore ways to save the Robot Civilization or come to terms with its impending demise.
Secrets
Hidden realms: In the Virtual Universe, there are Dark worlds, Deep worlds, and Orphaned worlds. Dark worlds have no entrance at the Yggdrasil Portal and can only be accessed through other worlds; Deep worlds are nested within other worlds; Orphaned worlds have no known connections to any external world.
Urban legends: These difficult-to-access worlds are shrouded in mystery, giving rise to colorful urban legends. For instance, the rumor of Aizu‘s digital soul still wanders the depths of the Virtual Universe, while the Heaven’s Gate can be found in one of these hidden realms. Some robots dedicate their time to treasure-hunting these secrets throughout the Virtual Universe.
Problems
Creative bankruptcy: Over the years, the Virtual Universe has increasingly suffered from a lack of fresh, original content. Most robots are just chewing the cuds of existing materials, leading to creative bankruptcy. This stagnation results in widespread cultural fatigue as people grow bored with recycled ideas and demand more stimulating entertainment.
Deteriorating social skills: Life in the Virtual Universe is overly simplified and idealized, leading robots to become naive, harsh, and radical, unable to process the real world’s complexity and randomness. Their empathy and cooperation abilities are also deteriorating.
Misadaptation in reality: Long-time residents of the Virtual Universe often find the harsh and dull real world unbearable. For years, only the members of the Geocity Volunteers and Snowfield Expedition Teams could endure living in reality.
Real World Challenges: Recently, however, the “Real World Challenges” have gained popularity, where participants compete to see who can last longer in the real world. These “challengers” typically join the Geocity Volunteers and Snowfield Expedition Teams with a tourist mindset. They often cause trouble due to their lack of experience and eagerness to impress their audience. As a result, they are generally not welcomed.
Nonetheless, some tourists fall in love with reality or turn live-streaming their daily lives into a career, ultimately choosing to settle down in the real world.
Clash of values: The values of robots who have primarily lived in the Virtual Universe differ significantly from those in the real world, leading to mutual misunderstanding and dislike. Their relationship isn’t intensely hostile, but the two groups are gradually drifting apart.
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