Ready Player One: The Rise of VR & Digital Addiction Phenomenon

 

Written by: Hans Thobie Sachio

Ready Player One tells the story of an 18-year-old teenager named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan). He is interested in playing games in Oasis. Oasis is a virtual world that humans can enter through avatars to play games. The device used is similar to VR (virtual reality). After the creator of Oasis, James Halliday (Mark Rylance), dies, his avatar announces a new game. The winner of the game will gain complete control over Oasis and inherit Halliday's fortune of 500 billion US dollars.

To win the game, players must find the golden Easter egg hidden in Oasis. The golden Easter egg can only be obtained if players get three keys as rewards from each challenge. In answering each challenge in Oasis, Wade Watts will meet several other players. He even finds a woman he likes and forms a team called High 5.

Wade Watts - Tye Sheridan (Src:HBO Max)

The film Ready Player One takes viewers into the incredibly imaginative virtual world of OASIS, where VR technology shapes the lives of almost everyone in the film. This world is so vast and interactive that it allows players to do things that are impossible in the real world, from adventuring in various digital worlds, creating unique avatars, to facing spectacular missions and challenges with other players from around the world. Through this article, we will see how the sophistication of VR technology attracts human attention while also giving rise to interesting social phenomena to ponder.

The Exciting & Fascinating World of VR

War in OASIS (Src:HBO Max)

OASIS is not just an ordinary virtual world; it is an arena where spectacular adventures happen all the time. Players can run on top of tall buildings, jump from fantastic ceilings, and face dangerous obstacles that are impossible to do in the real world. Scenes of custom jet races or battles with digital monsters showcase VR technology that enables complex interactions and real-time responses between players from around the world. 

The speed, scale, and level of immersion make viewers feel the tension and excitement as if they were in the middle of the action themselves. Thus, the sophistication of VR in this film is not only visible, but also felt through the adrenaline and intensity of the players' movements.

The Social Impact of A Growing OASIS (VR WORLD)

Real World in Ready Player One (Src: HBO Max)

On the other hand, humanity's obsession with OASIS reveals the dark side of dependence on digital technology. Many characters prefer to live in the virtual world rather than face reality, which gives rise to conflict, tension, and social problems. This phenomenon can be compared to the real world, where many people experience addiction to online games, social media, or other digital technologies. Although technology offers innovation and entertainment, this article reminds us that excessive obsession can blur the line between real life and the virtual world.

James Halliday with Tye Sheridan (Src: HBO Max)

From Ready Player One, we can learn an important lesson: VR technology and the digital world offer unlimited creativity, collaboration, and innovation. However, humans must be wise in using them, maintaining a balance between digital entertainment and real life. Just as VR is currently used for education or therapy, OASIS inspires human imagination, but uncontrolled obsession has the potential to cause significant social impacts.