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AlterGame #1
The First Player
THIS IS ALTERRA, where you can be the master of your own castle... or a field hand on a farm.
And this is Jack, who wants to make his way to a different continent, hidden in the virtual mist.
And this is an ancient quest line, buried under new versions of the game.
Jack's goal: create his own guild. Buy a ship. And set off on the Great Journey. The journey of his life. The dangerous Gravediggers are not the only ones opposing him. Necromancers from sinister Nightmare, elite alpha-citizens, and relic hunters are only a small fraction of the enemies that the First Player will have to face.
In the perilous Wasteland, the drifter Jack finds an abandoned truck, where an old-world game console is hidden. This moment marks the beginning of Jack's path to the lost continent, hidden in the virtual depths of the colossal Alterra. He still isn't aware of the enemies standing in his way. Not only are the guild of Gravediggers and the sinister necromancers of Nightmare against him, but also the secret masters of the game world themselves. The discoveries of ancient quest lines, long buried under new versions of the game, give Jack access to the Dark Service. This is a special branch of character development, which is no longer available in the modern version of the game. Now Jack, the messenger of a great Goddess, possesses a Night Weapon, and is venerated by an entire race of NPCs.
Just how will this road end? And it does indeed have an end...
And this is Jack, who wants to make his way to a different continent, hidden in the virtual mist.
And this is an ancient quest line, buried under new versions of the game.
Jack's goal: create his own guild. Buy a ship. And set off on the Great Journey. The journey of his life. The dangerous Gravediggers are not the only ones opposing him. Necromancers from sinister Nightmare, elite alpha-citizens, and relic hunters are only a small fraction of the enemies that the First Player will have to face.
In the perilous Wasteland, the drifter Jack finds an abandoned truck, where an old-world game console is hidden. This moment marks the beginning of Jack's path to the lost continent, hidden in the virtual depths of the colossal Alterra. He still isn't aware of the enemies standing in his way. Not only are the guild of Gravediggers and the sinister necromancers of Nightmare against him, but also the secret masters of the game world themselves. The discoveries of ancient quest lines, long buried under new versions of the game, give Jack access to the Dark Service. This is a special branch of character development, which is no longer available in the modern version of the game. Now Jack, the messenger of a great Goddess, possesses a Night Weapon, and is venerated by an entire race of NPCs.
Just how will this road end? And it does indeed have an end...
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2017
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188 people want to read
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April 4, 2020 🎁 Books 1 & 2 in the Series are FREE on Amazon today (4/4/2020)! 🎁
December 5, 2017
Interesting enough, though nothing spectacular. It's original enough to maintain interest, and if you like LitRPG, then you're likely to really like this one. It does have some unique story parts, and I really enjoyed some of the subplots, and I'm likely to continue with the series, so it's worth the read to be surre, though it isn't as exciting as it might otherwise have been. It is a nice addition to the genre though, and I'm glad to have read it.
June 21, 2020
LitRpg may become something I enjoy as time continues.
This book as an audiobook was quite enjoyable. It seems to take place after a nuclear or chemical weapons leaving lands blighted. society has been rebuilt in this part with two major castes: Alphas in their walled city, and Omegas in the ghettos outside of it.
Before this "GenDemic" there was a VR online game called Alterra which was revived and modified to be the main escape from everyday life for both Alphas and Omegas. There's an economy of swapping money for ingame gold.
75+% of the story takes place in the fascinating world of Alterra follwoing our main character "Jack The Tramp". All he longs for is adventure and exploration.
we are introduced to several characters both in and out of game as well as the games rich mythology which is in vast contrast to the loss of history in the book's real world.
Jack's main world profession is that of a "walker" which is one that means he explores the wasteland for good and can be hired to lead people out and back from the wasteland.
This job leads to a discovery that triggers changes in both the Gameworld and the physical world leading to great change in his and several other's lives.
Reading #2 (2020)
I left this out of my original review ; by far the thing that made it the hardest to get into was the portrayal of Eloise. That + the excessive descriptiveness towards egghead was a bit much.
The rest of the story was good and Eloise when in Alterra was managed well, but in RL it was a bit ick.
This book as an audiobook was quite enjoyable. It seems to take place after a nuclear or chemical weapons leaving lands blighted. society has been rebuilt in this part with two major castes: Alphas in their walled city, and Omegas in the ghettos outside of it.
Before this "GenDemic" there was a VR online game called Alterra which was revived and modified to be the main escape from everyday life for both Alphas and Omegas. There's an economy of swapping money for ingame gold.
75+% of the story takes place in the fascinating world of Alterra follwoing our main character "Jack The Tramp". All he longs for is adventure and exploration.
we are introduced to several characters both in and out of game as well as the games rich mythology which is in vast contrast to the loss of history in the book's real world.
Jack's main world profession is that of a "walker" which is one that means he explores the wasteland for good and can be hired to lead people out and back from the wasteland.
This job leads to a discovery that triggers changes in both the Gameworld and the physical world leading to great change in his and several other's lives.
Reading #2 (2020)
I left this out of my original review ; by far the thing that made it the hardest to get into was the portrayal of Eloise. That + the excessive descriptiveness towards egghead was a bit much.
The rest of the story was good and Eloise when in Alterra was managed well, but in RL it was a bit ick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2018
Despite the fact that this is man-centric (literally reads like I am watching my brother playing WoW over his shoulder), includes a "girl" of interest that follows and takes orders from said character like a puppy (with the exception of intermittent and sassy bouts of spunk despite her small and frail disposition, of course), and even features an overweight character that the narrator himself has a field day with calling fatty, sausage fingers, and the like (I mean, c'mon. Not everyone can meet your refined standards of ripped, genius, lone-wolf, fierce hetero-male character)
.....I actually somehow enjoyed this book. It's probably because I enjoy this new-to-me genre of litRPG, which is probably because I used to watch my genius brother play video games over his shoulder. Reaching new lows in the nerd world.
.....I actually somehow enjoyed this book. It's probably because I enjoy this new-to-me genre of litRPG, which is probably because I used to watch my genius brother play video games over his shoulder. Reaching new lows in the nerd world.
December 28, 2019
Started out really interesting, with a focus on game mechanics balanced with an interesting story and a hella compelling premise. About halfway through it forgot it is a LitRPG novel and became a run-of-the-mill fantasy story, disappointed.
June 2, 2018
Another LitRPG bites the dust thanks to Hoopla and the public library system.
Of all the books I’ve read in the genre, I found this one to be the least engaging. I contemplated this over the past week or so and the reason I have concluded it missed the mark a bit is because of the dissembled conflagration of parts.
This is part LitRPG, part post apocalyptic adventure, part steam punk, part six-of, it is a lot of stuff. The writer tries to rope you in to his complete world, the surrounding world, the digital world, and so much more. It just doesn’t succeed. But it’s not bad.
One other nit, I could not help but see (in the power dynamics and other sociological reflections) Eastern Europe, from where the author originates, but the story was set in America. It rang a bit hollow to me.
The book isn’t bad, but I didn’t feel a burning desire to keep plodding along with the series. I’ll get back to it eventually, probably, but it’s not going to be on my short list.
If you are looking for a whole lot packed in a little book, all the different genres and a bunch of stuff started but that doesn’t really get finished in this installment, give it a try. There are, however, better Steam Punk, Post Apocalypse, LitRPG, etc books out there in my opinion.
Ps. And Necromancer books. But, I have to admit, this feels like an underappreciated topic and I’m optimistic on this aspect of it coming more to life in books to come.
Of all the books I’ve read in the genre, I found this one to be the least engaging. I contemplated this over the past week or so and the reason I have concluded it missed the mark a bit is because of the dissembled conflagration of parts.
This is part LitRPG, part post apocalyptic adventure, part steam punk, part six-of, it is a lot of stuff. The writer tries to rope you in to his complete world, the surrounding world, the digital world, and so much more. It just doesn’t succeed. But it’s not bad.
One other nit, I could not help but see (in the power dynamics and other sociological reflections) Eastern Europe, from where the author originates, but the story was set in America. It rang a bit hollow to me.
The book isn’t bad, but I didn’t feel a burning desire to keep plodding along with the series. I’ll get back to it eventually, probably, but it’s not going to be on my short list.
If you are looking for a whole lot packed in a little book, all the different genres and a bunch of stuff started but that doesn’t really get finished in this installment, give it a try. There are, however, better Steam Punk, Post Apocalypse, LitRPG, etc books out there in my opinion.
Ps. And Necromancer books. But, I have to admit, this feels like an underappreciated topic and I’m optimistic on this aspect of it coming more to life in books to come.
May 10, 2017
Good story
Lots of errors though that pull you out of it.
I will get book two just for the story, but I hope that the editing will be better in book two.
I recommend this book based purely off of the story.
Lots of errors though that pull you out of it.
I will get book two just for the story, but I hope that the editing will be better in book two.
I recommend this book based purely off of the story.
December 6, 2018
Good start, liked the mix of real world (Fallout post apocalyptic) part, and the Virtual reality (Fantasy setting) contrast. the problem I lost interest as the story advanced.
September 23, 2023
Introduction:
Greetings, fellow denizens of the vast universe. I am Kiba Snowpaw, an alpha male Ice Wolf from the icy realm of HowlStrom. As the winter season grips our world once every century, I find solace in the tales of other realms. Today, I shall share my thoughts on an audiobook that has captured my attention: "AlterGame #1 - The First Player" by Andrew Novak.
Basic Plot Summary:
In the world of Alterra, players can be masters of grand castles or mere field hands on farms. Our protagonist, Jack, aspires to traverse to a hidden continent shrouded in virtual mist. His ambition? To establish his own guild, purchase a ship, and embark on the Great Journey of his life. But the path is fraught with peril. From the dangerous Gravediggers to the dark necromancers of Nightmare, Jack must navigate a myriad of challenges. His journey begins in earnest when he discovers an old-world game console in an abandoned truck in the Wasteland. This discovery sets him on a path filled with ancient quests, dark powers, and a destiny intertwined with the very fabric of Alterra.
Characters:
Jack, also known as "Jack The Tramp," is a wanderer and explorer, both in the game and in the real world. His profession as a "walker" sees him venturing into the wastelands, leading to discoveries that change the course of his life. Alongside Jack, we meet a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique stories and roles in this expansive world.
Structure:
The narrative seamlessly transitions between the post-apocalyptic real world and the virtual realm of Alterra. This duality provides a rich backdrop for the story, allowing for intricate world-building and character development.
Impact:
The tale resonated with me, reminding me of the icy adventures in HowlStrom. The challenges Jack faces and the choices he makes mirror the trials we face in our own lives, making the story both relatable and inspiring.
Hook and Thesis:
The allure of a hidden continent and the promise of untapped adventures serve as the primary hook. The underlying thesis revolves around the idea of destiny, choices, and the blurred lines between reality and virtuality.
Praise and Critique:
Novak's world-building is commendable, creating a universe that is both familiar and foreign. The character development, especially of Jack, is well-executed. However, some characters, like Eloise, could benefit from more depth. The portrayal of certain characters based on physical attributes was a tad distasteful, detracting from the overall experience.
Evaluation:
The audiobook offers a fresh take on the LitRPG genre, blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic themes. While it has its flaws, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, making it a worthy addition to any audiobook collection.
Comparison:
While "The First Player" is reminiscent of "Ready Player One," it carves its own identity in the LitRPG genre. The post-apocalyptic setting combined with the virtual world dynamics sets it apart from other titles in the genre.
Conclusion:
In the vast expanse of tales from different realms, "AlterGame #1 - The First Player" stands out as a beacon of creativity and imagination. It is a tale of ambition, challenges, and the indomitable spirit of adventure. As the winter winds howl in HowlStrom, I find warmth in the tales of Jack and his journey in Alterra. I recommend this audiobook to all who seek adventure and a journey into the unknown.
Greetings, fellow denizens of the vast universe. I am Kiba Snowpaw, an alpha male Ice Wolf from the icy realm of HowlStrom. As the winter season grips our world once every century, I find solace in the tales of other realms. Today, I shall share my thoughts on an audiobook that has captured my attention: "AlterGame #1 - The First Player" by Andrew Novak.
Basic Plot Summary:
In the world of Alterra, players can be masters of grand castles or mere field hands on farms. Our protagonist, Jack, aspires to traverse to a hidden continent shrouded in virtual mist. His ambition? To establish his own guild, purchase a ship, and embark on the Great Journey of his life. But the path is fraught with peril. From the dangerous Gravediggers to the dark necromancers of Nightmare, Jack must navigate a myriad of challenges. His journey begins in earnest when he discovers an old-world game console in an abandoned truck in the Wasteland. This discovery sets him on a path filled with ancient quests, dark powers, and a destiny intertwined with the very fabric of Alterra.
Characters:
Jack, also known as "Jack The Tramp," is a wanderer and explorer, both in the game and in the real world. His profession as a "walker" sees him venturing into the wastelands, leading to discoveries that change the course of his life. Alongside Jack, we meet a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique stories and roles in this expansive world.
Structure:
The narrative seamlessly transitions between the post-apocalyptic real world and the virtual realm of Alterra. This duality provides a rich backdrop for the story, allowing for intricate world-building and character development.
Impact:
The tale resonated with me, reminding me of the icy adventures in HowlStrom. The challenges Jack faces and the choices he makes mirror the trials we face in our own lives, making the story both relatable and inspiring.
Hook and Thesis:
The allure of a hidden continent and the promise of untapped adventures serve as the primary hook. The underlying thesis revolves around the idea of destiny, choices, and the blurred lines between reality and virtuality.
Praise and Critique:
Novak's world-building is commendable, creating a universe that is both familiar and foreign. The character development, especially of Jack, is well-executed. However, some characters, like Eloise, could benefit from more depth. The portrayal of certain characters based on physical attributes was a tad distasteful, detracting from the overall experience.
Evaluation:
The audiobook offers a fresh take on the LitRPG genre, blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic themes. While it has its flaws, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, making it a worthy addition to any audiobook collection.
Comparison:
While "The First Player" is reminiscent of "Ready Player One," it carves its own identity in the LitRPG genre. The post-apocalyptic setting combined with the virtual world dynamics sets it apart from other titles in the genre.
Conclusion:
In the vast expanse of tales from different realms, "AlterGame #1 - The First Player" stands out as a beacon of creativity and imagination. It is a tale of ambition, challenges, and the indomitable spirit of adventure. As the winter winds howl in HowlStrom, I find warmth in the tales of Jack and his journey in Alterra. I recommend this audiobook to all who seek adventure and a journey into the unknown.
August 8, 2018
This story was an odd one. At first the title made me think it was a knockoff attempting to capitalize off of the popularity of ready player one, but the stories though somewhat similar, were quite different where it mattered.
Next the beginning of the story couldn't seem to decide on what it wanted to be. Action adventure, cyber punk trip, apocalyptic fallout. Back and forth it went until I finally gave up on trying to identify it and just held on for the ride.
Then the people began to confuse me with somewhat out of character moments. Some people would make video game jokes in real life making me confused as to which reality was the game and which was real. Hardasses would suddenly become sweet and jovial, while their opposites would suddenly turn out to be the nastiest of the lot!
About a third of the way in, I felt like the story really began to hit it's stride and despite the bumps and bangs on the way I was beginning to like the characters and hope they'd succeed in their adventures. Right up until the final climax of the story which just felt poorly written and out of the blue. Why did the bad guys make the decisions they chose? Why did the heroes to come to the conclusions they did? Everything felt random and like it was quickly added to finish out the book in preparation for the next in the series.
The story of this book was a solid 3/5 most of the way through, I'm just sad that the ending had to knock it down to a star for me. I may continue the series at a future date but I don't see it happening for a while.
Next the beginning of the story couldn't seem to decide on what it wanted to be. Action adventure, cyber punk trip, apocalyptic fallout. Back and forth it went until I finally gave up on trying to identify it and just held on for the ride.
Then the people began to confuse me with somewhat out of character moments. Some people would make video game jokes in real life making me confused as to which reality was the game and which was real. Hardasses would suddenly become sweet and jovial, while their opposites would suddenly turn out to be the nastiest of the lot!
About a third of the way in, I felt like the story really began to hit it's stride and despite the bumps and bangs on the way I was beginning to like the characters and hope they'd succeed in their adventures. Right up until the final climax of the story which just felt poorly written and out of the blue. Why did the bad guys make the decisions they chose? Why did the heroes to come to the conclusions they did? Everything felt random and like it was quickly added to finish out the book in preparation for the next in the series.
The story of this book was a solid 3/5 most of the way through, I'm just sad that the ending had to knock it down to a star for me. I may continue the series at a future date but I don't see it happening for a while.
September 6, 2018
This book, though entertaining, did not him me in a way that I could call it a truly good book.
The premise was very interesting and as it is based around a society submerged in a virtual world, I was immediately reminded of Ready Player One. Unfortunately, The First Player did not fully emerge me in the character plights as RPO did. The characters felt rather flat to me, and this failing was further enhanced by short dialogue that lacked exposition.
I would say that this book is worth reading for the entertainment value. I may even continue the series once I get through some other novels.
As a side note, I'm not sure if I missed something, but the virtual reality experience in this book seemed very unrealistic to me. The protagonist will feel things and react to things in the virtual world such as a heavy wind blowing into his face, but from everything I remember, most of the poor people like the protagonist have simple VR headsets. That was a very big disconnect for me.
The premise was very interesting and as it is based around a society submerged in a virtual world, I was immediately reminded of Ready Player One. Unfortunately, The First Player did not fully emerge me in the character plights as RPO did. The characters felt rather flat to me, and this failing was further enhanced by short dialogue that lacked exposition.
I would say that this book is worth reading for the entertainment value. I may even continue the series once I get through some other novels.
As a side note, I'm not sure if I missed something, but the virtual reality experience in this book seemed very unrealistic to me. The protagonist will feel things and react to things in the virtual world such as a heavy wind blowing into his face, but from everything I remember, most of the poor people like the protagonist have simple VR headsets. That was a very big disconnect for me.
July 17, 2018
I got this in a sale and figured it would be a interesting go. Overall I'm pretty happy with the novel, although like most LitRpgs, it isn't going to be the forefront of plot heavy development. The plot is simple, but has some nice interplay of mystery. It does require you at least be either a big fan of MMORPGs or know a few people that are. It gets really hard to accept that our real-world badass really wants to escape into a virtual world where he apparently does the same thing he does in real life. It's like Han Solo sitting down to play dungeons and dragons as Hans Solo - hard to believe.
I'm split on whether or not I'll continue the series - there isn't a whole lot of serious plot development but the action is fun and the mystery of how this hero is (obviously) going to overthrow society might keep me into a second book.
I'm split on whether or not I'll continue the series - there isn't a whole lot of serious plot development but the action is fun and the mystery of how this hero is (obviously) going to overthrow society might keep me into a second book.
July 2, 2018
Fantastic story by a moderate author
The story, world, and characters are excellent and I'm starting on the second in the series immediately.
That said, the dialogue is often under-wrought and flows poorly. The characters are internally consistent, but lack the backstory or build-up for the reader to make a solid guess at motives, emotional state, or next move.
The copyediting also leaves much to be desired, with a fair number of misspelled or duplicated words sprinkled throughout. The intent of the author is never lost as a result though.
I'm certain the next two will expand on the already fascinating world, and I'm hoping that the writing experience gained from the first shows through.
The story, world, and characters are excellent and I'm starting on the second in the series immediately.
That said, the dialogue is often under-wrought and flows poorly. The characters are internally consistent, but lack the backstory or build-up for the reader to make a solid guess at motives, emotional state, or next move.
The copyediting also leaves much to be desired, with a fair number of misspelled or duplicated words sprinkled throughout. The intent of the author is never lost as a result though.
I'm certain the next two will expand on the already fascinating world, and I'm hoping that the writing experience gained from the first shows through.
December 14, 2017
A litrpg where reality is a devastated world like that in Fallout, and the game world a large, but simple fantasy realm. I would have been fine with a story set only in this books reality, because the inhospitable wasteland had enough excitement. Then again, I don't blame the inhabitants of that dreary place seeking escape in virtual reality. Almost didn't finish it, but in the end I'm glad I did. Will probably read book 2 when it is published.
November 2, 2018
I generally don't care for fictionalized 'person playing an RPG' novels, but this one kept me engaged. I think it was the combination of real-world intrigue mixed with the in-game action. While both situations were clearly beyond reality, they were solid enough that I felt connected (at times) with the main character. While this initial volume is interesting, I'm not compelled to continue the quest.
August 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and the direction that it went. The only downside in my opinion is that a generally good guy started serving what appeared to be a dark evil goddess of death. This service does continue through the series and seems a little inconsistent but otherwise I generally enjoyed the series and would definitely recommend it.
July 14, 2017
4.5/5 stars
I have to say this was Avery good book. It had a very interesting plot. I hope in the book we get to see more battles and discoveries. I can not wait to find out what comes next.
I have to say this was Avery good book. It had a very interesting plot. I hope in the book we get to see more battles and discoveries. I can not wait to find out what comes next.
July 31, 2017
i enjoyed the book the real world was interesting in it as well, there were some spots where flipping back and forth between was confusing though. translation was good but i think some cultural references were lost.
November 23, 2017
Apocalypse mixed with Litrpg
It is a near New take on the standard apocalypse plot (the Gendemic) mixed with a LITRPG world today keep the peace. An excellent unique contribution to the genre.
It is a near New take on the standard apocalypse plot (the Gendemic) mixed with a LITRPG world today keep the peace. An excellent unique contribution to the genre.
May 10, 2017
Not really litRPG. Very minor game elements. XP means levels, 1 XP = 1 Level. Only one stat: health. New abilities are unexplained. Decent plot.
May 14, 2017
Eh.
Wasn't bad. The real world didn't feel realistic, despite the detail put into it. The game world lacked balanced mechanics and felt arbitrary.
Wasn't bad. The real world didn't feel realistic, despite the detail put into it. The game world lacked balanced mechanics and felt arbitrary.
May 20, 2017
Wanted to enjoy, but just didn't do anything for me.
November 16, 2017
Fair
Started well and was not a bad story. I felt it became a little monotonous towards the end. Not really hanging for the next book....
Started well and was not a bad story. I felt it became a little monotonous towards the end. Not really hanging for the next book....
December 28, 2017
3.5 ... curious to see what happens next
January 1, 2018
I enjoyed. A bit more of an apocalypse story than most lit-rpg.
June 28, 2018
Huge fun!
Quickly engaged me and left me keen for the next one.
Quickly engaged me and left me keen for the next one.
July 6, 2018
Fairly good, but I wonder if the author has ever played an RPG.
July 10, 2018
It's ok
The book is ok but nothing spectacular. Has a few good ideas so the rest of the series might be better.
The book is ok but nothing spectacular. Has a few good ideas so the rest of the series might be better.
August 16, 2018
Enjoyed it works my imagination
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews