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Imprisoned Online #1
Gaming the System
Commit an online crime, go to an online jail. In this MMORPG penal colony, inmates PVP to gain EXP, loot, and most of all...survive.
Seph has been sentenced to play in one of these virtual correctional facilities. Sounds fun right? Maybe for some, but there is no worse punishment for Seph, mostly because he isn't a gamer. Will he be able to complete his sentence with all the trials and objectives thrown at him? Trapped in a virtual world he cannot escape, Seph now has to step outside of his comfort zone and align himself with the very thing he's been rebelling against his whole life--the system.
Game designer and avid gamer, P.A. Wikoff wrote this story as a love letter to a lifetime of gaming.
Seph has been sentenced to play in one of these virtual correctional facilities. Sounds fun right? Maybe for some, but there is no worse punishment for Seph, mostly because he isn't a gamer. Will he be able to complete his sentence with all the trials and objectives thrown at him? Trapped in a virtual world he cannot escape, Seph now has to step outside of his comfort zone and align himself with the very thing he's been rebelling against his whole life--the system.
Game designer and avid gamer, P.A. Wikoff wrote this story as a love letter to a lifetime of gaming.
- GenresAmazon
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2019
120 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 11, 2019
4 Stars
Imprisoned Online is the first book in the Gaming the System series by P.A. Wikoff. It is a sci-fi, futuristic fantasy story- with adventure, video gaming, role-playing, action, drama, virtual reality, twists, group play- that also has a bit of a dystopian feel to it too. I have read and enjoyed some of Mr. Wikoff’s other books and enjoyed them- and this one seemed quite intriguing-with the whole online gaming and prison synopsis, so I really wanted to find out where the story would lead. It has a bit of a TRON vibe to it, but is definitely an original story with it’s own identity and unique flare.
There is plenty of action, danger, and drama as the story unfolds. Seph’s world is interesting and certainly felt very ‘real’. He isn’t like other members of his society; he hasn’t lost himself in the gaming world- but then finds himself in an online jail- where he will need to learn and adapt very quickly- if he is to have any chance to survive. Player vs player to earn the experience points to ‘progress through the game’. So, will this non-gamer learn the ropes quickly enough? Does he have any chance of progressing through, and surviving this cyber experience? This intriguing story is well worth the read to find out.
The story is wonderfully detailed and descriptive- bringing the story and characters to ‘life’. The characters were well developed, interesting, and somewhat quirky. Making this a really fun and engaging read.
Thank you, Mr. Wikoff!
Imprisoned Online is the first book in the Gaming the System series by P.A. Wikoff. It is a sci-fi, futuristic fantasy story- with adventure, video gaming, role-playing, action, drama, virtual reality, twists, group play- that also has a bit of a dystopian feel to it too. I have read and enjoyed some of Mr. Wikoff’s other books and enjoyed them- and this one seemed quite intriguing-with the whole online gaming and prison synopsis, so I really wanted to find out where the story would lead. It has a bit of a TRON vibe to it, but is definitely an original story with it’s own identity and unique flare.
There is plenty of action, danger, and drama as the story unfolds. Seph’s world is interesting and certainly felt very ‘real’. He isn’t like other members of his society; he hasn’t lost himself in the gaming world- but then finds himself in an online jail- where he will need to learn and adapt very quickly- if he is to have any chance to survive. Player vs player to earn the experience points to ‘progress through the game’. So, will this non-gamer learn the ropes quickly enough? Does he have any chance of progressing through, and surviving this cyber experience? This intriguing story is well worth the read to find out.
The story is wonderfully detailed and descriptive- bringing the story and characters to ‘life’. The characters were well developed, interesting, and somewhat quirky. Making this a really fun and engaging read.
Thank you, Mr. Wikoff!
October 16, 2019
Imprisoned Online_ Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff is an original sci-fi fantasy story that is set in the future. The story is set in a world where virtual reality and video games are the norm for all and a way of life and not many venture outside. The story is intriguing and unique and is very vivid in descriptions of the writer which helps you better understand the world and the characters.
Seph seems to be the odd one out in that he plays games but they are not the be all end all that it is for the rest of the world. When he suddenly finds himself in cyber jail he has to pretty quickly learn how to play or his life could become forfeit. Navigating this new world is an adventure fraught with lots of drama and action, twists and danger.
If you like online gaming and even if you don’t you will love this book.
Seph seems to be the odd one out in that he plays games but they are not the be all end all that it is for the rest of the world. When he suddenly finds himself in cyber jail he has to pretty quickly learn how to play or his life could become forfeit. Navigating this new world is an adventure fraught with lots of drama and action, twists and danger.
If you like online gaming and even if you don’t you will love this book.
April 19, 2020
At heart, I'm a gamer. I had my first Nintendo at 6 years old. My childhood saw the evolution of video games through all of its various eras. I always enjoyed RPGs as well. Super Mario RPG, Legend of Dragoon, Star Ocean 2, and Final Fantasies 7, 8, and 9 were some of my favorite video games in my teens. I can 100% complete Super Mario 64 in just under 4 hours. I maxed out the play clock on Pokemon Pearl version at 999 hours, and I'll even play the original 8-Bit The Legend of Zelda to see how fast I can reach Ganon without ever picking up the sword. (Yes, it's possible. look it up!)
You'd think with such a penchant for playing video games and enjoying being immersed in RPGs that I would pick this book up, devour it quickly, and have nothing but praise to heap upon Wikoff and Imprisoned Online. But I regret to inform you that this is not the case. And it pains me to say it, to be honest.
The book is split into 2 portions: PVE and PVP. I liked this approach, as it gives you a chance to understand the world and why people have chosen to retreat into the virtual world. I started from the beginning (PVE) to get the whole story, and quite frankly, I wish I hadn't.
The PVE avenue of the story starts off by following the offline life of Seph—short for Sephiroth. Yes, that Sephiroth. He lives in a world where screens, programs, and A.I. dictate everything around him. Wikoff had a good concept for a virtual-obsessed world. However, it is bogged down by far too much description. So much description, in fact, that I got to a point where I was completely unable to suspend my disbelief. I understand this is fiction, but the world Wikoff crafted outside the game is so unbearably bleak and terrible, it makes me question how Seph is even capable of developing the free-thinking, anti-tech defiance he is characterized by.
Then there are the vehicle-piloting scenes. The author went into so much detail about the vehicles and their operation, I could swear someone could hire him to do novelizations of The Fast and Furious films. Mind you, I say this as a compliment. Unfortunately, shortly after the second one, I gave up on the PVE sections and fast-forwarded to the chapter designated to start the PVP section.
I thought skipping ahead like that was going to take me to the book I sat down for. Starting the PVP section at Chapter 7 seemed like the right call. I understand Seph caused some trouble, got himself arrested, and was now preparing for the sentencing alluded to in the blurb. Chapter Seven, however, dragged on for far too long, and not too long into chapter eight, I was trying to figure out what in the nine hells it was that I was reading because literally none of it felt like it had anything to do with kicking the story into gear. I'm 28% of the way through this book—nine chapters in—and we are now getting into the book we sat down to read. This is positively unacceptable.
Once the reader is finally introduced to the world of Dreamscape Online, everything from the farthest realms of gaming starts to feel familiar. This is where my smiles started coming in as Wikoff dives into interesting takes on character creation and the misfortunes you bring upon yourself when you skip the tutorials. Having played a number of MMO's, the length and detail of that scene felt warranted and familiar. My only concern about being so technical about the rules within the game is that it makes the novel a bit inaccessible to non-gamer readers. As a gamer, I took in this information. A non-gamer would probably skip the chapter.
From that point forward, Wikoff's online world shines through both the actions of Seph and the rules involved with his 3-year sentence to this game. (Oh wait...I can't call it that :D ). A significant amount of the details about how Dreamscape works are clearly written in the way a game designer would. A lot of it reads like legitimate rules text from a tabletop gaming manual. I should know, as I helped design 3rd-party content for D&D and Pathfinder a few years back.
Now...now this book is going right up my alley! The remainder of Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System is delightful and Wikoff makes sure to keep the rules of his game consistent. Seph's trials through the game will strike a chord with every single gamer that picks this book up. I really don't want to spoil anything here because some of it had me rolling in laughter, while others gave me that appropriate, tight, frustrated feeling familiar to all who have ever seen "YOU DIED!" plastered across their monitors.
Despite the misgivings I front-loaded into this review, gamers of all stripes will want to give Imprisoned Online a portion of their time. It took me back to the countless days of Phantasy Star Online and World of Warcraft in ways I would not expect a novel to do. The buildup and climax was super-satisfying, and everything Seph experiences in the game just kept making me root for him even more. After reading this book, I started online shopping for some old games that I want to play again, and re-read some of the old tabletop content I produced. It's a good, fun read.
In summation, it hit the right nerves for me chapter nine and onward, but all the wrong nerves everywhere before that. Added to this, the aforementioned inaccessibility to non-gamers, and I unfortunately can't give this five stars. I wanted to enjoy this entire book; I really did. But considering the fact I almost gave up on it while getting through the first act, I can't say that I did.
However, the bonus chapter at the end of the book has me looking forward to the next installment of the series. I'm interested to see where it all goes from here.
I Rated this 3.5 stars on my blog. Round up to 4 if you're a gamer. Round down to a generous 3 if you're not.
You'd think with such a penchant for playing video games and enjoying being immersed in RPGs that I would pick this book up, devour it quickly, and have nothing but praise to heap upon Wikoff and Imprisoned Online. But I regret to inform you that this is not the case. And it pains me to say it, to be honest.
The book is split into 2 portions: PVE and PVP. I liked this approach, as it gives you a chance to understand the world and why people have chosen to retreat into the virtual world. I started from the beginning (PVE) to get the whole story, and quite frankly, I wish I hadn't.
The PVE avenue of the story starts off by following the offline life of Seph—short for Sephiroth. Yes, that Sephiroth. He lives in a world where screens, programs, and A.I. dictate everything around him. Wikoff had a good concept for a virtual-obsessed world. However, it is bogged down by far too much description. So much description, in fact, that I got to a point where I was completely unable to suspend my disbelief. I understand this is fiction, but the world Wikoff crafted outside the game is so unbearably bleak and terrible, it makes me question how Seph is even capable of developing the free-thinking, anti-tech defiance he is characterized by.
Then there are the vehicle-piloting scenes. The author went into so much detail about the vehicles and their operation, I could swear someone could hire him to do novelizations of The Fast and Furious films. Mind you, I say this as a compliment. Unfortunately, shortly after the second one, I gave up on the PVE sections and fast-forwarded to the chapter designated to start the PVP section.
I thought skipping ahead like that was going to take me to the book I sat down for. Starting the PVP section at Chapter 7 seemed like the right call. I understand Seph caused some trouble, got himself arrested, and was now preparing for the sentencing alluded to in the blurb. Chapter Seven, however, dragged on for far too long, and not too long into chapter eight, I was trying to figure out what in the nine hells it was that I was reading because literally none of it felt like it had anything to do with kicking the story into gear. I'm 28% of the way through this book—nine chapters in—and we are now getting into the book we sat down to read. This is positively unacceptable.
Once the reader is finally introduced to the world of Dreamscape Online, everything from the farthest realms of gaming starts to feel familiar. This is where my smiles started coming in as Wikoff dives into interesting takes on character creation and the misfortunes you bring upon yourself when you skip the tutorials. Having played a number of MMO's, the length and detail of that scene felt warranted and familiar. My only concern about being so technical about the rules within the game is that it makes the novel a bit inaccessible to non-gamer readers. As a gamer, I took in this information. A non-gamer would probably skip the chapter.
From that point forward, Wikoff's online world shines through both the actions of Seph and the rules involved with his 3-year sentence to this game. (Oh wait...I can't call it that :D ). A significant amount of the details about how Dreamscape works are clearly written in the way a game designer would. A lot of it reads like legitimate rules text from a tabletop gaming manual. I should know, as I helped design 3rd-party content for D&D and Pathfinder a few years back.
Now...now this book is going right up my alley! The remainder of Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System is delightful and Wikoff makes sure to keep the rules of his game consistent. Seph's trials through the game will strike a chord with every single gamer that picks this book up. I really don't want to spoil anything here because some of it had me rolling in laughter, while others gave me that appropriate, tight, frustrated feeling familiar to all who have ever seen "YOU DIED!" plastered across their monitors.
Despite the misgivings I front-loaded into this review, gamers of all stripes will want to give Imprisoned Online a portion of their time. It took me back to the countless days of Phantasy Star Online and World of Warcraft in ways I would not expect a novel to do. The buildup and climax was super-satisfying, and everything Seph experiences in the game just kept making me root for him even more. After reading this book, I started online shopping for some old games that I want to play again, and re-read some of the old tabletop content I produced. It's a good, fun read.
In summation, it hit the right nerves for me chapter nine and onward, but all the wrong nerves everywhere before that. Added to this, the aforementioned inaccessibility to non-gamers, and I unfortunately can't give this five stars. I wanted to enjoy this entire book; I really did. But considering the fact I almost gave up on it while getting through the first act, I can't say that I did.
However, the bonus chapter at the end of the book has me looking forward to the next installment of the series. I'm interested to see where it all goes from here.
I Rated this 3.5 stars on my blog. Round up to 4 if you're a gamer. Round down to a generous 3 if you're not.
July 3, 2020
Sarcasm and Witt aside, not my type of book
The author has Witt and sarcasm. His dumb jokes can be funny and his characters have pluck.
I still don’t like the book.
50% is sheer pain. Reading about a stupid messed up over the top crappy life protagonist. 25% is actual adventure fun. The only way anyone should play this awful MMORPG is if they committed a crime.
The protagonist’s reality is horrible and the VR world is no better.
It’s hard reading when you know the main character is always going to pick the wrong action, or you can see that the author will in no way give him a break. Everything seems stacked against him and as a reader you agree the character sucks. Why read a train wreck?
Hard pass on this book.
The author has Witt and sarcasm. His dumb jokes can be funny and his characters have pluck.
I still don’t like the book.
50% is sheer pain. Reading about a stupid messed up over the top crappy life protagonist. 25% is actual adventure fun. The only way anyone should play this awful MMORPG is if they committed a crime.
The protagonist’s reality is horrible and the VR world is no better.
It’s hard reading when you know the main character is always going to pick the wrong action, or you can see that the author will in no way give him a break. Everything seems stacked against him and as a reader you agree the character sucks. Why read a train wreck?
Hard pass on this book.
April 18, 2020
Audiobook version:
1) Terrible choice in narrator.
2) MC is quite possibly the stupidest character I've ever come across. I hate it when the MC are stupid but this one is really idiotic.
3) The storyline is very forced, doesn't naturally flow
1) Terrible choice in narrator.
2) MC is quite possibly the stupidest character I've ever come across. I hate it when the MC are stupid but this one is really idiotic.
3) The storyline is very forced, doesn't naturally flow
January 24, 2021
Alert
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
August 6, 2021
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the system is a science fiction LitRPG novel. Taking place in the far future, the story follows Sephiroth Moore, Seph for short. The environment of the planet in this time period is so bad that nobody can go outside without a respirator, so most people stay indoors and play highly advanced video games all day. Seph, however, is not a gamer and enjoys going for rides on his customized sky bike. When he crashes his bike on an outing on the way to pick up gaming equipment for his parents, he is arrested after a series of misunderstandings. Sentenced to online prison where he must serve a multiple year sentence in a virtual video game. Picking a fantasy massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG for short), Seph must figure out how to play the game to earn online currency to pay off his debt. He must content with other players who enjoy making things difficult for new players while trying to learn how the game works.
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the system is an entertaining story. The world of the game is very detailed and readers will enjoy discovering how the game is played. Seph is defiant in his dislike of video games, refusing to listen to advice. He slowly learns how to play the game over the coarse of the book as he forces himself to adapt to the situtation.
Overall, The Slasher Experience is a fun and unique story. It portrays the world of MMORPGs very well and presents a different take on science fiction. Fans of this genre will be certainly be looking forward to future installments.
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the system is an entertaining story. The world of the game is very detailed and readers will enjoy discovering how the game is played. Seph is defiant in his dislike of video games, refusing to listen to advice. He slowly learns how to play the game over the coarse of the book as he forces himself to adapt to the situtation.
Overall, The Slasher Experience is a fun and unique story. It portrays the world of MMORPGs very well and presents a different take on science fiction. Fans of this genre will be certainly be looking forward to future installments.
April 16, 2020
This book was an odd mix for me, the ingame part of the book engaged me with the characters and storyline both providing an entertaining introduction to the series, but the author simply took far too long to reach that point, taking 2-3 hours of the book's total runtime and not doing anywhere near enough to make me interested in the main character's life prior to their time in the game.
The performance of the narrator was also a little mixed for me, their range and tone worked well for the supporting cast, but didn't quite work for me with the main character as the voice didn't seem like it matched the main character and reduced my immersion in the book.
Overall, a promising start to the series and an enjoyable story once it finally gets going.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
The performance of the narrator was also a little mixed for me, their range and tone worked well for the supporting cast, but didn't quite work for me with the main character as the voice didn't seem like it matched the main character and reduced my immersion in the book.
Overall, a promising start to the series and an enjoyable story once it finally gets going.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
May 4, 2020
Fantastic even if you're not a gamer
I was blown away by how detailed Wikoff is as a writer. I'm in no way, shape or form a gamer by any means. I'm probably much older than most that would read this book, and in fact the last real console I played was the Nintendo cube.
But my husband is a gamer, and I can tell you right now, reading this book was like watching my husband play one of his RPGs, but with my own imagination! I was lost in this world from the beginning! I could easily relate to the main character.
I have recommended this book to all our gamer friends and can't wait to read more of Wikoff's work. Thanks for putting this on the Goodreads giveaway page!
I was blown away by how detailed Wikoff is as a writer. I'm in no way, shape or form a gamer by any means. I'm probably much older than most that would read this book, and in fact the last real console I played was the Nintendo cube.
But my husband is a gamer, and I can tell you right now, reading this book was like watching my husband play one of his RPGs, but with my own imagination! I was lost in this world from the beginning! I could easily relate to the main character.
I have recommended this book to all our gamer friends and can't wait to read more of Wikoff's work. Thanks for putting this on the Goodreads giveaway page!
June 17, 2020
There's a lot of interesting tidbits happening in this story. Mostly I'm left wondering about the world outside of the game. Especially what the deal with the wild animal was and what the AI are up to.
The LitRPG portion is fine for the most part, nothing really spectacular about it.
Wikoff's explanation for the 'breakthrough' for the game immersion was really underwhelming though, that seems like the lowest tech way possible to accomplish it rather than some brilliant breakthrough and really doesn't work or explain things very well.
The LitRPG portion is fine for the most part, nothing really spectacular about it.
Wikoff's explanation for the 'breakthrough' for the game immersion was really underwhelming though, that seems like the lowest tech way possible to accomplish it rather than some brilliant breakthrough and really doesn't work or explain things very well.
February 23, 2021
Worth giving a try
My feelings on this are somewhat mixed so far, but overall positive.
I have some minor issues with the future this takes place in, and the knowledge that the MC both does and doesn’t have based on how the world is presented, but they are fairly minor distractions. Enough to stick out, but not enough to ruin things.
The writing style is a bit rough to me, and the pacing is bot amazing, but it does improve somewhat towards the end of the book.
I think it is worth reading, and picking up the next in the series, to see where things go with it.
My feelings on this are somewhat mixed so far, but overall positive.
I have some minor issues with the future this takes place in, and the knowledge that the MC both does and doesn’t have based on how the world is presented, but they are fairly minor distractions. Enough to stick out, but not enough to ruin things.
The writing style is a bit rough to me, and the pacing is bot amazing, but it does improve somewhat towards the end of the book.
I think it is worth reading, and picking up the next in the series, to see where things go with it.
June 4, 2020
I would it a 3.75, but I rounded up.
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator is quite talented, but not a great match for the book. It is a little offputting to have a first petsin male mc but a female narrator. Still, I liked the narrator and I would love to check out other examples of her work.
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator is quite talented, but not a great match for the book. It is a little offputting to have a first petsin male mc but a female narrator. Still, I liked the narrator and I would love to check out other examples of her work.
September 29, 2023
Help me read more books
An interesting story, not at all what the title might conjure up. It's (somewhat) unique, and while the main character does seem to be rather reckless, he does make an attempt to learn, so it's not all bad. I liked this one, and will most likely read more in the series as they appear.
An interesting story, not at all what the title might conjure up. It's (somewhat) unique, and while the main character does seem to be rather reckless, he does make an attempt to learn, so it's not all bad. I liked this one, and will most likely read more in the series as they appear.
November 26, 2020
A fun story that leaves me wanting more.
February 8, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, it's different then alot of the other litrpg I have read/listened to. Narration was good.
September 6, 2021
Interesting premise
… but the main character comes off as a spoiled brat. Once he actually gets into the game it gets better and he seems to grow up a bit
… but the main character comes off as a spoiled brat. Once he actually gets into the game it gets better and he seems to grow up a bit
Want to read
August 24, 2025I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
October 17, 2019
I give Imprisoned Online_ Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff, 4 stars.
Seph lives in a world where virtual reality is the new reality. No one goes outside, preferring to stay plugged in. Why do things the hard way when it's so easy to do it virtually? But Seph does not believe in this. He yearns for a time way before his lifetime where AI did not rule. One day, he is out doing things his way when everything goes horribly wrong. He is arrested, sentenced and imprisoned for much longer than he thinks he should be. The only way he can earn enough to pay his fine and to make the three years go faster is to plug into a game -- something he has refused to do before. But the more he plays, the more he realizes there is so much more than what he ever expected. Will he be able to learn and become good enough? Will this possibly change the way he looks at life?
This is the second LitRPG book I have read and I quite enjoyed it. I liked how the author gave us a choice of starting the beginning to learn the back story, or jump ahead right into things in a further chapter. Seph is a great main character, refusing to just go along with what everyone else does. There are many who can relate to this. But he is also humble enough to quickly realize that he may not know everything when it comes to gaming. The story is fun and feels exactly like what it should be -- a video game in book format.
If you are a fan of LitRPG, you will quite enjoy this book. If this genre is new to you but you enjoy video games, I recommend you read this and see what you think.
Seph lives in a world where virtual reality is the new reality. No one goes outside, preferring to stay plugged in. Why do things the hard way when it's so easy to do it virtually? But Seph does not believe in this. He yearns for a time way before his lifetime where AI did not rule. One day, he is out doing things his way when everything goes horribly wrong. He is arrested, sentenced and imprisoned for much longer than he thinks he should be. The only way he can earn enough to pay his fine and to make the three years go faster is to plug into a game -- something he has refused to do before. But the more he plays, the more he realizes there is so much more than what he ever expected. Will he be able to learn and become good enough? Will this possibly change the way he looks at life?
This is the second LitRPG book I have read and I quite enjoyed it. I liked how the author gave us a choice of starting the beginning to learn the back story, or jump ahead right into things in a further chapter. Seph is a great main character, refusing to just go along with what everyone else does. There are many who can relate to this. But he is also humble enough to quickly realize that he may not know everything when it comes to gaming. The story is fun and feels exactly like what it should be -- a video game in book format.
If you are a fan of LitRPG, you will quite enjoy this book. If this genre is new to you but you enjoy video games, I recommend you read this and see what you think.
October 2, 2019
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1)
By: P.A. Wikoff
5 out of 5 stars
The story Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff is a fantasy/role-playing book. It is a story that is exciting and intriguing to read. It has action, danger, and wonderful character development. I enjoyed reading about the character of Seph. He is not a gamer however has been sentenced to a virtual correctional facility in which he must play one. Will he be able to survive the game? Read this book to find out. Seph is a character who has to adapt and learn how to play the game that he is in. There are many trials and obstacles that he must overcome. Seph is intelligent and at times stubborn. Two things that will help him on his quest. This story is very detailed, and I felt like I was right there with Seph seeing what he does. It is a fast-paced book that will have you not wanting to put it down until the very end. It is a book I would recommend reading.
By: P.A. Wikoff
5 out of 5 stars
The story Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff is a fantasy/role-playing book. It is a story that is exciting and intriguing to read. It has action, danger, and wonderful character development. I enjoyed reading about the character of Seph. He is not a gamer however has been sentenced to a virtual correctional facility in which he must play one. Will he be able to survive the game? Read this book to find out. Seph is a character who has to adapt and learn how to play the game that he is in. There are many trials and obstacles that he must overcome. Seph is intelligent and at times stubborn. Two things that will help him on his quest. This story is very detailed, and I felt like I was right there with Seph seeing what he does. It is a fast-paced book that will have you not wanting to put it down until the very end. It is a book I would recommend reading.
October 13, 2019
"...all the best treasure was hidden in the worst possible pain."
Remember when 2020 was so far away that we had fantasies about getting info subliminally, clothes that could be changed instantly, and everything is run by AI (who prefer non-binary identies)? Well this story is what our fantasies of the future look like. (Except credit card magnetic stripes are still blown in and rubbed when they don't work.)
This book is all of that and so much more. The first qtr of the story is the protagonist talking to himself which is how we "see" everything he is doing. The rest of the book is an enjoyable adventure.
This is a LITrpg story. LitRPG is a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy which describes the hero's adventures within an online computer game. LitRPG books merge traditional book-style narration with elements of a gaming experience, describing various quests, achievements and other events typical of a video game. (Credit: litprg(dot)com)
I absolutely recommend this story.
Remember when 2020 was so far away that we had fantasies about getting info subliminally, clothes that could be changed instantly, and everything is run by AI (who prefer non-binary identies)? Well this story is what our fantasies of the future look like. (Except credit card magnetic stripes are still blown in and rubbed when they don't work.)
This book is all of that and so much more. The first qtr of the story is the protagonist talking to himself which is how we "see" everything he is doing. The rest of the book is an enjoyable adventure.
This is a LITrpg story. LitRPG is a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy which describes the hero's adventures within an online computer game. LitRPG books merge traditional book-style narration with elements of a gaming experience, describing various quests, achievements and other events typical of a video game. (Credit: litprg(dot)com)
I absolutely recommend this story.
December 14, 2019
I don't usually read science-fiction (the author calls it LitRPG, but to me, this looks more or less like sci-fi. Set in a world several years into the future in a time when computers write programs for humans and tell them what to do when - including carrying out everyday bodily activities like attending nature's call or eating), but the first chapter of this book drew me into the story.
Seph is a very intriguing character. His development through the book was interesting to witness and I loved how the author dealt with his internal turmoil and his cynical outlook of the world. While being an unlikeable narrator, Seph invokes love and sympathy in the reader, and that, I believe, is the greatest achievement of the author. The language was simple and the plot was outstanding. I only deduct one star from my review because the author used a lot of pop culture references which aren't relevant to people (like me) who don't play online games.
Other than that, this is an entertaining read I would definitely recommend to all.
Seph is a very intriguing character. His development through the book was interesting to witness and I loved how the author dealt with his internal turmoil and his cynical outlook of the world. While being an unlikeable narrator, Seph invokes love and sympathy in the reader, and that, I believe, is the greatest achievement of the author. The language was simple and the plot was outstanding. I only deduct one star from my review because the author used a lot of pop culture references which aren't relevant to people (like me) who don't play online games.
Other than that, this is an entertaining read I would definitely recommend to all.
October 7, 2019
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff
5-Stars
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff was creative fictitious novel. I was extremely impressed with the authors imagination in that he created a fascinating world where online gaming has pretty much taken over. The world has literally become to hazardous to live in but the human race has created devices to allow them to live safely and be able to fully immense themselves in the online world.
The main character was even more fascinating than the world he lived in. He was very different from his family and, as seen at the start of the book, does not really care to be in the online system like the rest of the world. He was definitely fun to follow in this novel and was developed well. I also loved how easily the story seemed to flow and keep my interest. This was an excellent read and I highly recommend it!
5-Stars
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff was creative fictitious novel. I was extremely impressed with the authors imagination in that he created a fascinating world where online gaming has pretty much taken over. The world has literally become to hazardous to live in but the human race has created devices to allow them to live safely and be able to fully immense themselves in the online world.
The main character was even more fascinating than the world he lived in. He was very different from his family and, as seen at the start of the book, does not really care to be in the online system like the rest of the world. He was definitely fun to follow in this novel and was developed well. I also loved how easily the story seemed to flow and keep my interest. This was an excellent read and I highly recommend it!
December 12, 2019
P.A. Wikoff is a promising new author in the LitRPG genre. His book has a fairly unique premise. Most of the LitRPG books are immersions into a gaming system that is voluntary or else in all other ways a positive experience. Having his world be a prison punishment caught me by surprise. It does have a bit in common with books like Life Reset however, as the "trapped in a terrible place" trope has been explored, just not as often as many other approaches.
The story has a lot of fun references to pop culture and older gaming experiences/characters. No spoilers need to say that if you are an old school gamer, there are a couple of Easter Eggs here for you. That said, the writing quality, style, and tone, need some improvement. Many LitRPG fans do not care about this aspect of stories, but for me, it is essential.
I am looking forward to seeing how much P.A. grows in the next book, and feel this is a good book overall in its entertainment value.
The story has a lot of fun references to pop culture and older gaming experiences/characters. No spoilers need to say that if you are an old school gamer, there are a couple of Easter Eggs here for you. That said, the writing quality, style, and tone, need some improvement. Many LitRPG fans do not care about this aspect of stories, but for me, it is essential.
I am looking forward to seeing how much P.A. grows in the next book, and feel this is a good book overall in its entertainment value.
October 15, 2019
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) P.A. Wikoff. While not in my normal wheelhouse of reading I did find this an interesting read. It’s got plenty of adventure and action. It’s a unique story and I liked how different it is to the story world. Characters are complex and well developed. Storyline had a way of drawing me in and I soon found myself not being able to put it down. It’s a well written storyline and I liked the pace. I was pleasantly surprised by the way I like it, not because the author did anything wrong just because it’s not something I’d normally pick up but I’m definitely glad I game it a try and think you should to. I’m giving this story a four star review and recommend it.
October 25, 2019
I read the first chapter. Aside from there being inconsistencies already, I found the main character so unpleasant, so unlikable, that I didn't have any desire to read further.
I'm going to go ahead an guess - the jackass does something anti-social, gets thrown into prison, only oh no, since everything else is an online game, it's an online game prison. But his specialness at hating gaming and not being afraid of the real world will somehow give him an advantage, he'll learn some important life lesson, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Now, if I'm wrong, and he gets run over by a car in chapter 2 and the rest of the book is about his parents, who seem like kind, decent people, let me know. That's a book I may want to read - not one about a whiny 12 yr old in an adult body.
I'm going to go ahead an guess - the jackass does something anti-social, gets thrown into prison, only oh no, since everything else is an online game, it's an online game prison. But his specialness at hating gaming and not being afraid of the real world will somehow give him an advantage, he'll learn some important life lesson, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Now, if I'm wrong, and he gets run over by a car in chapter 2 and the rest of the book is about his parents, who seem like kind, decent people, let me know. That's a book I may want to read - not one about a whiny 12 yr old in an adult body.
October 10, 2019
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System by P. A. Wikoff is an adventure story. Wikoff is an online game designer and gamer and this is a story to join the two worlds. For me the online world is a safe haven and I encourage if you have never played an online game to play one. The MMORPG world has interesting rules and can be a safe place to meet someone. In the story, if you commit a crime you go into cyberjail. This cyberjail is the MMORPG world. Seph is sentence to an interest gaming sentence. This is going to be tough seeing that Seph is not a gamer and has no idea what is going on.Will Seph have enough to be able to navigate his new world?
October 12, 2019
Imprisoned Online - Gaming the System by P.A. Wikoff is the first book in the LitPRG Adventure Book series. This book was well written and creative and that I loved reading.
I loved this authors take on a futuristic society based in online gaming. It was unique and believable and made for an interesting read. I enjoyed the story progression. It felt like the book moved at the perfect pace.
I did struggle at times with the main character however I found that after a while Seph did grow on me and I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Overall this was a great book and one I would recommend reading.
I loved this authors take on a futuristic society based in online gaming. It was unique and believable and made for an interesting read. I enjoyed the story progression. It felt like the book moved at the perfect pace.
I did struggle at times with the main character however I found that after a while Seph did grow on me and I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Overall this was a great book and one I would recommend reading.
August 19, 2019
An interesting twist on using VR
Seph, the main character, is around 20 and still has a bit of a rebellious nature, though that seems more due to serious boredom and frustration with the status quo than full disaffection. He is the rare person in this futuristic society who does not want to play games all the time and wants to go outside and do things like hiking. Note: Hiking requires governmental (AI at least) approval, as the surface air is toxic.
He ends up imprisoned in an online game and we start to see hints there might be more going on than most people realize.
Seph, the main character, is around 20 and still has a bit of a rebellious nature, though that seems more due to serious boredom and frustration with the status quo than full disaffection. He is the rare person in this futuristic society who does not want to play games all the time and wants to go outside and do things like hiking. Note: Hiking requires governmental (AI at least) approval, as the surface air is toxic.
He ends up imprisoned in an online game and we start to see hints there might be more going on than most people realize.
October 15, 2019
5 Star
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff is a Sci-Fi Fantasy with adventure, action,drama,video gaming. It started out a bit slow and I had a hard time getting into but once it picked up I had a hard time putting it down. Seph isn’t a gamer but has been sentenced to a virtual correctional facility in which he’ll have to play one. Can he survive the game? Find out what happens next in this must read. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) by P.A. Wikoff is a Sci-Fi Fantasy with adventure, action,drama,video gaming. It started out a bit slow and I had a hard time getting into but once it picked up I had a hard time putting it down. Seph isn’t a gamer but has been sentenced to a virtual correctional facility in which he’ll have to play one. Can he survive the game? Find out what happens next in this must read. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
October 2, 2019
This is not my first book by this author but it is my favorite yet. One thing I enjoy about this author’s books is how they read like a video game. This book starts out a little slow but once it picked up, it was hard to put down. You feel as if you are part of the game with the other characters. This book is about Seph. He doesn’t spend alot of time playing video games but what will happen when he ends up in online video jail? I highly recommend this book.
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