He had felt a new section appear in his interface, and as each new level of detail was unlocked, he felt that same section update again. When he examined that section, he learned that he could make a snapshot at four different levels of detail, and higher levels of detail had progressively smaller snapshot ranges. Each snapshot would include a sphere of area centered on himself.
Snapshot Detail (Approximation)
-Range: 100 km
-Cost Per Snapshot: 1 EP/100 kilometer radius
-Description: Like a quality VR game, everything normal from a distance, but up close, the lack of detail would become apparent. This level of detail is sufficient to capture the structure, composition, and general function of everything, but is insufficient to support simulations of life forms and complex technology. This level of detail is especially useful for reconnaissance, and filling in areas of a simulation outside the area of interest. In simulations, everything captured at this level of detail will only be an approximation of it's real-world self.
Snapshot Detail (Nominal)
-Range: 1 kilometer
-Cost Per Snapshot: 1 EP/1 kilometer radius
-Description: A simulation based on a snapshot of this level of detail will be indistinguishable from the real world in all but the most exacting of circumstances. This level of detail still represents an approximation, but the approximation is so close to reality that events in a simulation would only slowly deviate from those in reality. While this level of detail can recreate functionally identical equivalents of most technology and life forms, the greater the complexity, the more likely the recreation in a simulation is to deviate from the original. This level of detail is suitable for the simulation groups of people, cities, or countries, it is not sufficient to precisely replicate the thought processes of a sapient. The behavior of a sapient in a simulation that is based on a snapshot of this level of detail will subtly differ from that of the original. Many scientific instruments will produce results that are statically similar to the real-world equivalent, but a trained scientist would eventually notice that something was wrong.
Snapshot Detail (Atomic)
-Range: 10 meter
-Cost Per Snapshot: 1 EP/10 meter radius
_-Description: At this level of detail, every atom and it's precise state is captured. In a simulation based on a snapshot of this level of detail, nearly everything will behave identically to that of it's real-world original. This include sapiens and most complex technology. However, this level of detail does not capture subatomic level detail, so experiments, like particle accelerators, that probe the structure of atoms will produce results that are statistically similar to the real-world original, but the relevant scientists would eventually realize something was off.
Snapshot Detail (Subatomic)
Range: 1 meter
-Cost Per Snapshot: 1 EP/1 meter radius
-Description: At this level of detail, every subatomic particle and all quantum state is captured. A simulation based on a snapshot of this level of detail will proceed identically to the real world down to the quantum state of every every subatomic particle. There is nothing and no one on Earth capable of distinguishing a simulation from reality when operating at this level of detail.
Jack was stunned. He'd been fantasizing before about being able to examine a cell at the atomic level, but this, this meant he could actually do as he fantasized. His interface told him that he could examine a snapshot down to the level of detail available. That implied he could examine every single atom in a cell, and every single quark in an atom! He was certain there were many scientists who would happily sacrifice important body parts to gain access to this capability.
Even the lowest level of detail was over powered. If he was reading the description correctly, all he needed to do was get within 100 kilometers of any secure military or government agency building and he could read everything they had. Nations would go to war to gain access to this capability, or to destroy it. For a moment, he felt like a multitude of unseen eyes were staring at him like hungry wolves, before he shook off the sensation as nothing but paranoia. No one knew about the Genesis Heart, and it would stay that way as long as he didn't do anything stupid.
As for the nominal level of detail, it wasn't particularly noteworthy, and he wasn't certain how useful it would be unless he could extend the range to cover the entire planet. When he thought about extending the snapshot range, his focus shifted to the store catalog, and he discovered that four new items had appeared.
Unlock Template Creation
Cost: 1000 GP
Description: Create a template for your template catalog based on an object found in a snapshot.
Unlock Linked Self
Cost: 10,000 GP
Description: Link your body to your soul space manifestation. Once linked, physical changes to your soul space manifestation can be exported back into your physical body. If two changes are non-interdependent, then each change can be independently selected for export.
Unlock Simulations
Cost: 100,000 GP
Description: Create and run simulations. Simulations can be designed, starting with a blank space, created using a snapshot as a starting point.
Extend Snapshot Range
-Cost: 10 GP
-Description: Increase snapshot range to be 100 times greater than the previous range.
These four items had appeared when he unlocked Snapshots. So that meant store catalog items were gated behind other items. And, the only way to learn about more items was to purchase the ones that were visible.
The first three items were amazing, and all were within reach. He only needed to spend a total of about 28 hours in his soul space and he would earn the 100,000 GP needed to unlock Simulations. He wondered if the Simulations ran at the same level of detail as the snapshots. If true, it would be amazing.
He was also itching to unlock Linked Self. With that feature, he could, theoretically, combine it with Time Acceleration and be able to get a full nights sleep in less than an hour of outside world time. And Template Creation meant he could probably bring a copy of his laptop into his soul space. At the very least, that would make it easier to spend a day inside without going insane with boredom. Though, he might lose a lot of time just examining snapshots.
He had enough GP to unlock the Template Creation feature and extend his Snapshot range, but would have to wait for more time in soul space achievements before he could afford the other two options.