Chapter 4: The Journalist's Curiosity
While Ace was struggling to reconcile his accidental success with his desire for financial ruin, a game journalist named Chloe was taking notice. She'd initially dismissed "Potato Simulator 2024" as just another fleeting internet meme, but its unexpected popularity piqued her professional interest.
Chloe was a seasoned journalist with a passion for the gaming industry. She loved exploring new trends, profiling interesting developers, and analyzing the factors that contributed to a game's success. She saw "Potato Simulator 2024" as a fascinating case study.
She'd first encountered the game while browsing the app store, noticing its absurd title and the overwhelmingly negative (yet somehow positive) reviews. Intrigued, she downloaded it and spent a few minutes tapping on a pixelated potato.
"It's… certainly unique," she thought, a smile playing on her lips.
She decided to reach out to Ace for an interview. She wanted to understand the story behind this bizarre phenomenon and explore the reasons for its surprising popularity.
Chloe sent Ace an email, requesting an interview for a prominent gaming website. She explained that she was interested in profiling him and analyzing the success of "Potato Simulator 2024."
To her surprise, Ace responded quickly and enthusiastically. He agreed to the interview, inviting her to visit his office.
Chloe arrived at Ace's office with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. The building was… underwhelming, to say the least. It was a far cry from the sleek, modern offices of the major game studios she was used to visiting.
She made her way to the second floor, following the sound of loud, chaotic music and the faint aroma of burnt coffee. She found Ace's office, a cramped, cluttered space that had a certain… charm.
Ace greeted her with a nervous smile, wearing a t-shirt that read "I'm with Stupid" and sporting a disheveled hairstyle that suggested he hadn't slept in days.
"Welcome to Potato Studios," he said, gesturing around the office with a flourish. "Prepare to be… underwhelmed."
Chloe chuckled, taking in the scene. Brenda was taking selfies in the corner, Gary was banging his head against the keyboard, and Tiffany was doodling potatoes on a whiteboard.
"So," Chloe began, pulling out her notepad and pen. "Tell me about 'Potato Simulator 2024.' What inspired you to create this… unique experience?"
Ace shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He knew he couldn't reveal the existence of the System, but he also didn't want to come across as a complete idiot. He opted for a slightly more honest, but still somewhat vague, explanation.
"I just wanted to make something different," he said, avoiding eye contact. "Something that wasn't like all the other games out there. I wanted to… challenge expectations."
Chloe scribbled notes, her expression thoughtful. "And what about the gameplay? The endless tapping? The nonsensical plot?"
Ace shrugged. "It's… minimalist," he said. "It's a deconstruction of the gaming experience. It's… a potato."
Chloe laughed. "I can see that," she said. "But seriously, why potatoes?"
Ace hesitated. "I… I don't know," he said. "I just like potatoes. They're… versatile."
Chloe pressed on, asking about his development process, his marketing strategy, and his overall vision for Potato Studios. Ace answered as honestly as he could, trying to avoid revealing too much about his accidental success.
As the interview progressed, Chloe realized that Ace was genuinely bewildered by his own success. He seemed like a nice guy, but he clearly had no idea what he was doing.
"Ace," she said, smiling warmly. "I have to say, you're a bit of an enigma. How did you manage to create such a popular game with so little experience and such a… unique approach?"
Ace chuckled nervously. "I wish I knew," he said. "I guess I just got lucky. Or maybe the world is just ready for a potato simulator."
Chloe smiled. "Maybe you're right," she said. "Maybe the world just needed a good potato tapping game."
She packed up her notepad and pen, thanking Ace for his time.
"I really appreciate you talking to me," she said. "This has been a fascinating interview. I can't wait to write about 'Potato Simulator 2024' and Potato Studios."
As she walked out of the office, Chloe couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness for Ace. He was a bit of a mess, but he was also genuinely enthusiastic and surprisingly likable.
She still didn't fully understand the reasons for his success, but she was confident that she could write a compelling article about his story.
Ace watched Chloe leave, breathing a sigh of relief. He had managed to get through the interview without revealing too much.
But he knew he couldn't let his guard down. Chloe was still a journalist, and she was still curious about his success. He needed to be careful, to avoid giving her any reason to dig deeper.