Hyu's Adventures

I'm working on the prototype for a video game I intend to create with a good friend of mine.
The game will require fast AI pathfinding over dynamic terrain for a large amount ( >1000 ) of enemies.
My current navmesh/A* approach is working fine, but I'm a little worried that it's not going to scale well if we want to add even more enemies.
I remember that one of my friends did her masters thesis on swarm AI,
so I decide to call her on Skype to get her opinion on my situation.
Unfortunately I'm having trouble navigating my contact list.
The names don't seem to be sorted alphabetically...

I hear the door bell go off, so I go downstairs to check who's at the door.
A man in his early 20's offers me a package addressed to "Hyu".
Huh? Did I order anything using my nickname? Why would I do that?
I accept the package and the man just leaves without asking me to sign anything.
What the hell?

I go back upstairs and open the package.
OH MY GOD. It's the Oculus DK2 I ordered!

I am so excited!
I unpack everything as quickly as I can, tossing the empty package into a corner of my room.

Once I've plugged everything in I notice that my computer is now running Elite: Dangerous.
That's not right, I was working with Unity3D before...
hmm....
I try to increase my awareness, going through the last few minutes in my mind.
Yup, I'm definitely dreaming.

I'm so disappointed. I got all excited for nothing.
Then again... I wonder what happens if I...
I sit down and hold the device in front of my eyes, trying to see if the displays in it are showing anything.
The device just straight up vanishes from my hands as soon as the screens cover my entire field of view.
I'm left completely immersed in the game, sitting inside the cockpit of a Sidewinder, which is the ship you start out in in the game.
Huh, that's kind of a neat trick.


Also I'm in a spaceship. Did I mention I'm in a spaceship?
I'm super excited and get going immediately.
Fortunately the controls are identical to the joystick setup I use in waking life, so I have no trouble maneuvering the ship.
I use the lateral thrusters to lift off and to get to the center of the station.
The moment I let go I immediately feel the weightlessness, which makes me feel a little sick initially,
but the feeling quickly subsides.

As I maneuver out of the station, I notice for the first time how tight the entrance actually is.
You don't really get a sense for it on a computer screen.

Unfortunately I don't really remember much else.
I faintly remember feeling the heat of a sun radiating into my cockpit as I dropped out of frameshift, but that's about it.


The experience got me thinking about how virtual reality is going to affect dreams though.
I wonder if it'll make it easier to incubate dreams about video games.
I imagine it could also make such dreams more immersive.
Usually when I have video game dreams, it feels like I'm merely an observer.
I'm not really in the dream, it's more like I'm viewing it on a monitor that happens to cover my entire field of view.
Perhaps this is going to change with regular usage of VR.

non dream - lucid - non lucid

I've had a lot of dream fragments related to this lately.
I dream them completely out of order, but they clearly belong together.
They're all non-lucid and play a few years in the future.
This is a try to connect them and fit them into chronological order, now that I feel I have enough fragments for everything to make sense.

• Working for NASA
  I own a company specializing in all kinds of modern computer toys.
  We mostly develop futuristic user interface hardware, but recently we've gotten into the development of air plane cockpits.
  Most companies want more modern hardware than what is currently used.
  It's not like our stuff is insanely more user friendly, but it looks much more futuristic and it isn't really more expensive than the traditional stuff.
  
  NASA hired us to design all user interface devices on a new experimental spacecraft.
  It's supposed to achieve high speeds using a small nuclear reactor powering experimental Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.
  This would allow traveling to close planets such as Mars in much more reasonable time frames.
  We're supposed to design everything in the cockpit, and all other interfaces all over the ship.
  We're also in charge of creating a simulator where pilots can train flying the spacecraft and to figure out what the most user friendly control to operate this thing are.
  
  NASA doesn't agree with some of my ideas. They prefer designs where the pilot has little control over the spacecraft for some reason.
  I don't understand this and most of my designs feature direct user input, such as a joystick to freely maneuver the ship.
  
  Although I'm not working for NASA directly, I still get to play with their stuff and I spend many hours in the simulator I'm designing.
  After some time we get the bad news.
  The government has canceled all funding for NASA, so the project is scrapped.
  This doesn't directly affect us since we get paid on a monthly basis, not on project success.
  I feel very sad though, I never understood why most people lost interest in space exploration after the first few Apollo missions, and now
  they're scrapping the whole program.
  ______
• Back to Europe
  I get a very interesting phone call from a company in Europe.
  They specialize in the development of nuclear fusion.
  The technology is solid, and produces clean renewable energy at an extremely efficient rate.
  However for some reason there exists nearly zero funding for this.
  I'm not sure if this is because it gets grouped in the "nuclear energy" category by the media and politics, which is stupid,
  or if there is some sort of conspiracy going on.
  The energy is clean, and the reaction doesn't produce hazardous radiation or any other dangerous by-product.
  
  Anyways, they want us to design the whole reactor controls and everything.
  They want a super futuristic look to help them finally convince the media that this is indeed the future of energy generation.
  This comes in handy because I was planning to move the company to Europe all along.
  The US military is pressuring me to work on fighter jets and similar things all the time, and it makes me very uncomfortable.
  
  After relocating to Switzerland I am working with said company on their reactor.
  They finally got the permission to build it. I also work on a supersonic airplane project.
  I enjoy working with everyone, they are not as secretive as the guys in America.
  They like explaining how all their stuff works and I get an immense insight into fusion reactions and supersonic airplane designs.
  ______
• Taking things into my own hands
  The fusion reactor is a huge success. Some people are still skeptic, but most governments are buying the green and renewable energy.
  I make a ridiculous amount of money on this project and also quite a bit on the supersonic airplane.
  I talk to the guys responsible for the airplane a lot because they also work for the ESA.
  I ask them how reasonable it would be to put a small fusion reactor onto a spaceship to power Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.
  They confirm that it would be much more reasonable than a nuclear reactor, and would save an insane amount of weight because you don't need
  the very heavy contamination to protect the crew from radiation.
  
  I tell him jokingly that I worked for NASA before and still have all the computer, simulator and user interface designs, we should get some sort of
  new project going.
  A few days later he comes into my office and acts quite secretive.
  He asks me if I was serious about those designs.
  I tell him we never officially sold them to NASA, so I still own all of them.
  He says I absolutely need to come to some sort of ESA meeting.
  
  I have to sign the biggest NDA I have seen in my entire life to enter the ESA meeting.
  It's over 200 pages long, I jokingly say that signing this feels like selling my soul.
  In the meeting I learn that the ESA isn't messing about.
  They have developed a technology that allows traveling faster than light, or rather work around the problems associated with approaching the speed of light.
  It's very technical and I don't understand most of it.
  It involves forming a bubble around the ship, it reminds me of Star Trek.
  
  Finally most people besides some company heads and ESA directors leave.
  I am requested to stay in the room.
  More technology is presented, and it is clear that the presentation is going towards a space ship project.
  It all sounds oddly reasonable, even though most involved technologies are somewhat experimental.
  
  The final problem that is mentioned is financing, ESA does not receive enough of it for a project of this magnitude.
  They want to do some small tests with drones followed by a manned mission into another solar system, using the FTL drive.
  I say that given my recent acquirements I'd be willing to develop all computer systems for free and even invest some money into the mission.
  A few more company heads follow this movement...
  ______
• FTL
  I am now working full time at a special facility used for this mission alone.
  It is absolutely huge.
  We launch the first FTL testing drone into space.
  I am sitting in mission control overlooking most of the technical systems.
  The drone is ready to test the FTL system.
  Everyone in mission control is extremely excited as we wait for the FTL countdown to run out.
  As the drone accelerates, our information becomes more and more delayed as it approaches the speed of light.
  All connections are quickly lost.
  But this was to be expected, we don't have technology to transmit information faster than light.
  The drone is supposed to fly ~1 light day within a few minutes, then stop and transmit a signal.
  If we have a position signal tomorrow we know it worked.
  ______
• Hyperdrive
  We've tested 3 drones now, each one with a better FTL system. The 3rd one worked absolutely flawlessly.
  The engineers have dubbed the system "Warp Drive".
  I have adopted this into the user interface for the spacecraft.
  The director is complaining about it, he says Warp Drive would be very appropriate due to the connection to Star Trek.
  I suggest calling it Hyperdrive instead. He seems pleased with that.
  ______
• Destiny
  All details of the project are clear now, and the ship is being built inside our facility.
  It uses a small but very powerful fusion reactor to power a new form of Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.
  It can generate an artificial gravity field, making life on board much easier, and enabling us to cancel out the extreme acceleration forces of the engine.
  Without this the passengers would be crushed by the g-forces during acceleration.
  It is also capable of atmospheric flight. It will fly into space by itself.
  This is actually necessary because it is way too big and heavy for a payload delivery system.
  It is also very solid, with a thick hull. This ship is not build around value for money.
  It looks very different than anything else we've send into space so far, compared to it everything looks extremely fragile.
  ESA plans a crew of 8 people for this mission.
  
  We're discussing the name of the ship.
  Someone suggests calling it "Ikarus", something about challenging destiny.
  I ask why not call it "Destiny" then? "Ikarus" has a bit of a negative vibe.
  ______
• Pilot
  I am playing around in the simulator.
  I often go into the simulator claiming to test stuff, but I'm actually picturing myself being a pilot on the mission.
  I bet everyone knows about it, but I don't care, it's way too much fun. I'm also quite good at it.
  
  The director intercepts me as I leave the simulator. He says we need to talk.
  We talk about how I know every detail about the ship, how I designed most of it.
  Then he says I have by far the best simulator scores, which surprises me a bit.
  He suddenly acts extremely serious.
  
  He offers me the position of captain on the mission, he wants me to fly the Destiny.
  My mind is blown, I immediately reply with "Yes!"
  He asks me if I'm sure, if I don't need to consider the risks.
  I tell him that this is absolutely not necessary, my decision is final and there isn't a doubt on my mind.
  ______
• Trouble
  The Destiny is nearing completion.
  All vital systems are installed, it's basically just missing the outer hull.
  But there is trouble. Some governments are voicing concern.
  The media throws some unreasonable accusations at us, that going faster than light might end the universe and whatnot.
  Telling them that we've already done it 3 times and the universe still exists does not calm them.
  I'm on some TV show defending against other random accusations, explaining why they make so sense.
  ______
• The Signal
  The director informs me that they have received a signal a few years ago, from an unknown source flying by earth.
  He shows me the data... it doesn't make any sense.
  According to the positioning of the source of the data it must have moved faster than light.
  It was broadcasting a specific position nonstop.
  The director tells me that it is assumed the signal was of alien origin.
  I finally understand why some governments are concerned with the mission, we are going to the location broadcasted by this most likely alien object.
  ______
• Lying
  Destiny is ready, so is the crew. The official launch is in 2 months, however we are actually going to launch in 2 days.
  I understand how governments are afraid of a mission that could potentially make contact with another species, but
  I really want to do this, and so does everyone else on the project.
  By faking a late launch date, and claiming that the construction of the Destiny isn't finished yet, we try to avoid the inevitable shutdown by the governments.
  ______
• Launch
  Launching the Destiny is incredibly easy.
  You just open the hangars of the construction facility and fly it out to space.
  This is why we were able to keep the launch date a secret until now.
  We haven't received any official "no-go" from any government, so technically launching isn't entirely illegal.
  We are going to get into trouble though, that much is clear.
  
  I'm sitting in the Destiny with my crew.
  I am the main Pilot, Nicole is my Co-Pilot. She had very good simulator scores and is a trained astronaut.
  She's never been to space though.
  There is an engineer on the crew to maintain the thrusters.
  The 5 remaining people are 4 scientists and a language/culture specialist.
  
  The hangar doors are open, everyone pointing a camera at the facility can now see that the construction is finished.
  We are fully fueled, ready to go, just waiting for the signal from mission command.
  The hangar is right at the end of a very long runway, so we can just roll out and launch.
  
  I'm very nervous when I get the signal to launch. Thankfully the process is entirely automated.
  We're slowly rolling out, after about 100m the MPDT engage.
  They are absolutely brutal, you can really feel how much power those things have even though they're operating below 0.1% of their capacity right now.
  They need to be though, the Destiny weights over 400 tons with fuel.
  I am really nervous as the Destiny finally takes off. It's not like I'm worried that something would go wrong, it's just the excitement.
  The ship climbs at a progressively faster rate and the thrusters become stronger and stronger.
  
  The beauty of starting to see the stars during the middle of the day calms me down though.
  I verify if everything is in order. Everything is perfect.
  We enter orbit and bring the ship into the correct position for the acceleration maneuver for FTL.
  ______
• Decision
  We're in orbit and in position.
  We have a video conversation open with mission control.
  They have just been told that we have to cancel the launch.
  We are ordered to come back down immediately. He obviously isn't pleased to announce this.
  Some official government type figure is with him demanding to comply immediately.
  They have voted a few minutes ago that the project is too dangerous... right...
  The mission director tells me to "try to cancel the acceleration maneuver".
  
  It is very clear what he's doing. The acceleration maneuver hasn't begun yet.
  He gives us the opportunity to say we cannot cancel it and continue on with the mission.
  I block communications and ask the rest of the crew if we should just go for it.
  Everyone agrees that we should.
  
  I enable the coms and tell the director that I am terribly sorry, but it is too late to cancel the acceleration sequence.
  The gov. guy gets really angry and demands that mission control remotely cancels the sequence.
  The director explains that this is impossible.
  Due to the nature of the mission, remote control would make no sense because we're out of reach most of the time anyways.
  The gov. guy is furious but accepts that he can't do anything.
  
  I activate the acceleration sequence. It is quite dramatic.
  Even though the artificial gravity field compensates most of the vibrations and the acceleration forces, it still feels extreme.
  We're being shaken violently and even though the ship indicates we are experiencing 3g of acceleration, it feels like much more, but it doesn't hurt the way more g's would.
  The acceleration maneuver lasts multiple hours. It is extremely tiring feeling such forces for so long.
  Finally, as we reach our wanted speed, the engines quiet down and the vibrations stop.
  We are now cruising about at many times the speed of light; the ship feels perfectly stable.
  Without looking outside you wouldn't be able to tell that we are racing at a mind-boggling speed.
  The outside looks very beautiful. The vision is distorted but very colorful.
  You just hear the gentle humming of the fusion reactor and the MPDT's working at very low power.
  We will arrive at our destination within approximately 2 weeks.
  Everyone is happy that everything worked out so far, and that we managed to actually pull it off.
  ______
• Travel
  I have had multiple dreams about the next 2 weeks.
  I'm either piloting the ship, which is basically just staring at instruments or doing some maintenance work on some ship components.
  So far everything is working fine, a few hiccups in diagnostics but that's about it.
  Nicole and I take shifts staring at instruments, even though if something goes wrong navigation wise, there's nothing we can do.
  You can't exactly make a course correction going many times the speed of light.
  I'm trying not to think about what would happen if the hyperdrive fails. The truth is no one knows, but it most likely wouldn't end well.
  We're all wondering what waits for us at the rendezvous point, or if there is anything at all.
  I think I'm the only one fully expecting something or someone to wait for us at the rendezvous point.
  I'm convinced that signal a few years ago was form an alien probe designed to catch the attention of species capable of FTL travel.
  
  I'm usually just sitting in my seat staring at what seems to be stars rushing by, wondering what's going to happen next.
  I occasionally glimpse at the instruments. They always display that everything is alright and that we're on the correct course.
  It's oddly boring, but the excitement of what waits for us keeps me entertained.
  I sometimes wonder what's currently happening back home.