Ernie Cline wrote one of the most amusing and heartfelt geek tributes I have seen with Fanboys, and now his book Ready Player One has been picked up to be made into a film.
In the near future, outcast teenager Wade Watts escapes from his bleak surroundings by logging in to the OASIS, a globally networked virtual utopia where users can lead idyllic alternate lives. When the eccentric billionaire who created the OASIS dies, he offers up his vast fortune as the prize in an elaborate treasure hunt. Along with gamers from around the world, Wade joins the adventure, and quickly finds himself pitted against powerful corporate foes and other ruthless competitors who will do anything, in the oasis or the real world, to reach the treasure first.
Sounds a lot like the escapism of Second Life, and crossing it over with a real life adventure to secure the rights to the empire in Willy Wonka type inheritance sounds like it could be a blast.
I really enjoyed Fanboys and I really felt that Ernie Cline didn’t just understand fandom, but that he exists deep in its heart. I think if anyone was to handle this, he could offer some insight into the dark recesses of video game escapism.
Now they have just bought the rights to it. We will have to wait and see if they greenlight a film based on it. At very least, I will be sure to pick up the book.
