[ Genre: Science Fiction, Video Games ]
LOGLINE: On the verge of succumbing to a life of poverty, a lonely gamer is the first player to find a clue to the whereabouts of the most valuable video game "Easter egg" in history and kicks off a worldwide treasure hunt; but when an evil corporation tries to kill him, he must team up with his fellow competitors to stop the corporation from finding the treasure before it's "game over" for good.
OPENING IMAGE: Wade introduces us to the world of 2045 and the ultimate quest: the hunt for a billion-dollar "Easter egg" inside a virtual reality video game called the Oasis.
THEME STATED: "You both obviously need to get a life." I-r0k, Wade's nemesis, states the theme of "reality versus virtual reality." Reality is where true happiness is found.
SETUP: Wade (aka "Parzival") lives a crummy life in the stacks. He spends almost all his time in the Oasis with his BFF, Aech. His only purpose in life for the past five years has been searching for the Easter egg so he can win $40 billion and control of the Oasis.
CATALYST: Wade stumbles upon a clue that he believes will lead him to the first key in the hunt.
DEBATE: How will he get there? Wade quickly solves this problem by using his gift of ingenuity.
BREAK INTO 2: Wade enters the Tomb of Horrors and wins the Copper Key by playing Joust (an '80s video game).
B STORY: After winning, Wade meets Art3mis, his longtime crush, who is also close to finding the Copper Key. Art3mis will eventually teach Wade it's better to live in the real world than the virtual one he's been hiding in.
FUN AND GAMES: Wade becomes famous as the first player to find the Copper Key, but soon others catch up on the scoreboard, and I0I (the evil corporation that wants control of the Oasis) blows up Wade's trailer park.
MIDPOINT: (False defeat) During a Midpoint party, Wade confesses his love to Art3mis, who freaks out and breaks up with him. Then, shortly afterward, I0I crashes the party and a virtual war breaks out.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN: Wade throws himself into the Easter egg hunt, but Art3mis and Aech find the second key first.
ALL IS LOST: Sorrento (the head of I0I) clears the Second Gate, putting him at the top of the scoreboard, and then finds the third key. It looks like I0I will win control of the Oasis.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL: Wade wallows and plans a virtual (and real-life) suicide. But then he figures out where the Second Gate is, clears it, finds the third key, and discovers the location of the Third Gate. But I0I has built an impenetrable stronghold around it.
BREAK INTO 3: Wade formulates a plan, which he hides from the reader.
FINALE: Wade enacts his plan, which includes hacking into the I0I system, bringing down the stronghold, and joining forces with his team to clear the final gate and find the Easter egg.
FINAL IMAGE: Wade meets Art3mis (aka Samantha) in real life, claiming he has no interest in going back into the Oasis. Real life is good.
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