Exactly what keys would you use to perform these kinds of movements? Is it even worth it to programme that in? Some movements are just too subtle, such as when “Sarius feels for the sword at his belt”, touches an object “very cautiously” and then puts it in his inventory “ith the greatest care” or when a barbarian named Bloodwork “straightens up a bit and reaches for his ax, but then… seems to reconsider”.

As far as I know this isn’t possible in any game at the moment, but Erebos is special. I can also accept that accurate and detailed wounds are inflicted on players and monsters, so that when Nick stabs the troll in the leg he can actually see the wound he made and watch the blood running out of it, and he can also see that his avatar’s shoulder is bleeding where the troll’s weapon hit it.

For example, during one of his first fights Nick tries to disable a troll by cutting the tendons in its legs. I can just about accept that the game allows players to aim their weapons at certain body parts while fighting. Yes, it’s supposed to be a revolutionary piece of programming, but it’s still a PC game and that imposes certain limits on how realistic it can be. I love the idea behind Erebos, but I had a few issues with the novel, mostly involving the game itself. It’s only then that he starts to ask the important questions – why does Erebos make people do things outside of the game? What is the purpose of all those strange, restrictive rules? And who is benefitting from it? But the instructions get increasingly demanding, and eventually Nick fails to comply and is banished.

Like all those who started playing before him, Nick finds the game highly addictive, so when the Erebos starts giving him instructions to do things in the real world – like picking up a package in one location and dropping it off in another – he complies just to keep playing. The strangest rule of all, is that players only have one chance to play – if they die or break any of the rules, it’s over and they cannot play again. Never mention the name of your character outside the game.” Never speak about the content of the game to other players or post information on the internet. “Never mention your real name in the game. When he finally gets his hands on a copy he finds that it’s an amazingly realistic multi-player online fantasy role-playing game called Erebos. Those who have it refuse to talk about it, and Nick – a popular jock – can’t understand why he’s being left out. It’s all got something to do with a DVD that’s being passed among the students. They’re all being very secretive about their behaviour, including Nick’s friend Colin who shuns Nick but is seen sucking up to two boys who are so uncool Nick calls them “The Freaks”. His basketball teammates keep missing practice and a lot of students are staying home sick or look like they’ve been up all night. Nick Dunmore’s classmates are acting strangely.

Published: First published 07 January 2010 by Loewe in German.

Erebos u poznanski