Tentatively, Oliver clicks on yes. And suddenly, a whole new of options appear to him on the computer. He can adjust height, body mass, muscularity, hair colour, age, attractiveness, gender, even…personality? Oliver can’t resist any more and gets stuck in.
It seems most obvious to Oliver to change him to someone that is the most opposite of his friend. So immediately makes him taller. Like over six foot. And he increases his body mass and muscularity too. As he drags the cursor, he watches as the body under Lloyd’s geeky clothing appears to grow and stretch. The body morphs until it shows off a definite and enviable, even if it is just a computer-sim, V-shape. Hair colour? Maybe the auburn Lloyd would look better a blonde. Age? Well a couple years older perhaps. Attractiveness? Oh, ten out of ten for sure. Gender? Hmm, best leave that one for now. Personality…
Three options come up: nerdy, preppy, jock? Lloyd’s already a nerd so why not take him to the end of the spectrum and make him a jock. Immediately as he clicks, the sim’s clothing adjusts too and he’s suddenly dressed up in the full footballer outfit. Oliver smiles to himself as he sits back and admires his creation. Neat little demo, he thinks to himself, shame the rest of the game isn’t included though.
At that moment, the doorbell goes and Oliver hears his mother show Lloyd up! Finally, he’s here. Now he can forget about the crappy sim thing and get on with some serious gaming.
“So what you been upto today?” Oliver asks his pal, midway munching through the sweet cookie his mother had brought up. It’s several hours later and the boys are taking a little break for milk and cookies.
“Oh, you know” mumbles Lloyd. “Sunday’s are so boring, aren’t they?”
“Tell me about it! Nothing ever happens on a Sunday.”
“Dad dragged me out of bed for the usual football training session at 7am. Man, that was a drag”
Oliver almost splutters out his cookie there and then. “What’d he do that for?”
Lloyd looks over at his friend curiously. “How d’you mean?”
“Your dad – since when did he drag you out for football training?”
But Lloyd still doesn’t seem to get it. “Dude, since like forever. You know that?”
“Wha? I do?”
“Course you do. Dad’s always wanted me to play football. These sessions have been part of our weekly routine for years. Doesn’t seem to bother him that I can throw or catch to save my life, and I’ve probably missed out on ever making the school team now anyway. I’ll give him something though – at least he’s persistent. And you know, it is a bit of a drag but getting out there in the mornings, burning up your energy like that, it is kind of fun.”
“Okay, Houston we have a problem. “
“Huh?”
“Earth calling Lloyd, I say, Earth calling Lloyd. You appear to have been abducted by a strange UFO species and replaced by someone who actually likes exercise.”
Lloyd smiled, playfully. “Oliver, you’re such a geek.”
“Mmm, uh-huh. A geek who is going to pound your ass on Warlord III. Come on football-boy, enough chattings, let’s go play!”