Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Experience Store
The experience store was located in the northeastern part of the capital, near the Fourth Ring Road, adjacent to a mid-to-high-end residential area. The location was a bit secluded but had the advantage of being quiet and not too noisy.
Alex Parker got out of the taxi, dragging his suitcase to the entrance of the experience store.
The store was a two-story shop, not very large, with no sign outside and a locked door. Alex unlocked the door and dragged his suitcase inside.
The interior was quite spacious, with each floor having over two hundred square meters and some sofas and furniture already arranged.
"It's quite spacious."
Alex was a bit surprised. He initially thought the experience store would be around a hundred square meters, but it turned out to be much larger.
With 200 square meters, if arranged like a typical internet café (non-VR), it could accommodate 30-40 machines, with extra space for sofas, plants, and beverage machines.
The first floor was generally arranged like an internet café for players to experience games, while the second floor served as the designer's studio and rest area.
The first floor was mostly empty, as different designers had different layout plans. Some focused on developing VR games and needed VR game pods, so the competition organizers had to discuss with the designers before finalizing the layout.
The renovation was well done and clean, which Alex found satisfactory.
On the second floor, it was entirely the designer's space.
The designer's studio had a standard VR game pod, a high-performance computer, and various brand phones. There was also a professional computer for game design, already equipped with a game editor.
Game designers needed to play a lot of games to gather inspiration, so the studio was equipped with VR, PC, and mobile devices, all included with the experience store.
The rest area had a desk, bookshelves, and a large bed. Its minimalist design and basic appliances made it suitable for long-term living. The living conditions were much better than those of the place Alex was currently renting.
Many designers in this world were workaholics, so a rest area next to the studio was necessary.
The layout of the entire experience store could be modified. The competition staff would handle minor adjustments, but significant changes would require personal funding and approval from them.
Since Alex only had the usage rights to the experience store and not the ownership, he was content with saving a significant amount on rent each month.
After a quick inspection, Alex called the staff to come over and help with the setup.
About half an hour later, the staff arrived.
"Set up two-thirds of the hall with computers and one-third with massage chairs for mobile game users. Install a bar counter here; for drinks, a vending machine will do for now."
"Add a freezer and a snack shelf here."
"Place a bookshelf here; I plan to stock it with game-related magazines and books."
"Create a small partition with a meeting table and a projector for the sofa area."
"Set up some plants on the second-floor balcony."
"And here..."
Alex gave instructions while the staff took notes.
The first floor was arranged like an internet café but with more space between the computers. According to Alex's plan, it would have 18 computers and ten massage chairs.
The massage chairs were mainly for mobile gamers, each equipped with a high-performance phone and tablet.
The second floor was entirely based on Alex's preferences, and he didn't have many specific requirements. He could gradually personalize it later.
After arranging everything, the staff nodded. "Alright, I'll arrange for people to come over. It should mostly be done by this afternoon or tonight at the latest."
Alex said, "Okay, I'll leave it to you. I'll head back to pack up and come over tomorrow."
The staff nodded. "Don't worry, without major changes, it's not too difficult. Just moving things around. It'll definitely be ready by tomorrow morning."
"I've sent you the detailed authorization agreement. Please review the rules, and we can discuss any issues."
Alex nodded. "Sure, I'll go through it carefully."
Feeling reassured by the competition staff, Alex left them at the experience store and took the subway to his rented apartment.
On the subway, Alex carefully reviewed the authorization agreement for the experience store.
In short, Alex had the usage rights to the store but not ownership. The ownership still belonged to the competition organizers. Alex could buy it, but it would be at market price, which wasn't much cheaper.
Alex couldn't afford such a large sum right now.
The equipment inside, like the computers and VR game pod, also didn't belong to Alex; he only had usage rights. These items were listed in the agreement, and any loss would require compensation.
Alex didn't need to pay rent or any usage fees, nor did he have to cover daily expenses like water and electricity. These were all covered by the competition organizers.
However, this didn't mean Alex could stay indefinitely. He had to meet certain performance metrics.
Alex's games had to generate a certain amount of revenue, or the experience store would be reclaimed.
Moreover, the revenue requirement wasn't static; it increased over time.
In essence, the experience store was an investment by the competition organizers. If the winning designer consistently produced high-quality games, they could continue using the store, which was a form of support. If the designer's performance declined, the store would be taken back.
Alex thought this rule was fair. At least they weren't charging money directly, and Alex wasn't worried about meeting the revenue targets with his game development skills.
In this world, Alex was confident in his ability to make money from games.
…
After getting off the subway, Alex returned to his rented apartment.
He spent the afternoon packing and, as it got dark, had a quick meal at a nearby restaurant before heading home to continue packing.
He didn't have much stuff—four large boxes were enough. He didn't have any large furniture to move. After booking a van online for the next day, Alex lay down to rest.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone