The raucous electronic music blares from the giant studio speakers, then fades. A grinning man in a red sport jacket walks onto the stage, flanked by two bikini-clad women. “Welcome to another episode of TV’s most extreme game show…”
He pauses, waiting for the audience to shout the next line with him: “CLASH TV!!!”
You stand under the harsh glare of the studio lights, shirtless, wearing a lightweight crash helmet you know is rigged with cameras and microphones for point-of-view and reaction shots. You hold a bulky automatic rifle clutched in both hands.
Up on stage, the man continues. “I’m your host, Johnny Matasan. Tonight, as always, two brave new contestants are going to RISK IT ALL in our arena, for BIG MONEY, and BIG PRIZES!”
He looks from you to the other contestant. “Please welcome our two lucky guests, ${character.name}!!! And ${The other contestant’s name?}!!!” Behind you, the studio audience erupts into cheers, screams, and howls of unconstrained bloodlust.
Matasan gestures to the heavy blast doors at the back of the stage. You walk forward, into the first arena, a giant square room with its floor and walls plated in steel armor. Camera rigs and bright spotlights hang from the ceiling, high overhead.
“Good luck!” Matasan shouts. “YOU’LL NEED IT!”
The door slides shut behind you. You and ${The other contestant’s name?} ready your weapons. Scattered around the arena are prize tokens. Touching each one will add to your winnings, in the form of cash, consumer electronics, paid vacations to exotic ports of call, or even new vehicles. You make a mental note to grab the giant-screen TV, first.
The starting alarm sounds, and the door in the far wall opens. A horde of identical drones comes marching toward you, bald, expressionless, armed with spiked clubs. They might be clones, or mindwiped criminals. No one seems to know. You sprint toward the big screen TV token, firing as you go.