Chapter 6: Cosplay, VR, and Rotten Potatoes
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of chaotic activity at Potato Studios. Ace, fueled by a strange mix of determination and despair, threw himself into his self-sabotage efforts with renewed vigor.
Brenda's "Potato Cosplay Contest" was a disaster from the start. The event was poorly advertised, the venue was too small, and the judging criteria were completely arbitrary. Only a handful of contestants showed up, dressed in elaborate potato costumes that ranged from the vaguely creative to the downright disturbing.
The grand prize winner was a middle-aged man who had glued hundreds of potatoes to his body, creating a grotesque potato suit that smelled faintly of soil and decay. He was overjoyed to receive his lifetime supply of potatoes, which consisted of a truckload of russets that were promptly dumped in his front yard.
Gary's virtual reality version of "Potato Simulator 2024" was even more disastrous. The game was nauseatingly immersive, the graphics were even worse than the original, and the vibrating potato controller was… well, let's just say it was an experience.
Early testers complained of motion sickness, eye strain, and a strange tingling sensation in their hands. Ace, however, was delighted. He knew that this VR game was a guaranteed flop.
Tiffany's redesigned logo was the final nail in the coffin. She replaced the pixelated potato with a hyper-realistic image of a rotting potato, complete with visible mold and decaying flesh.
The new logo was so repulsive that it caused a minor uproar on social media. Users complained that it was disgusting, offensive, and completely inappropriate for a mobile game.
Ace, however, was ecstatic. He had finally managed to alienate his fanbase.
He released the updated version of "Potato Simulator 2024" with the new logo and the VR support, fully expecting sales to plummet. To his surprise, the opposite happened.
The negative publicity generated even more buzz around the game. People were curious to see just how awful it could be. Sales skyrocketed.
"This is a nightmare!" Ace exclaimed, slamming his fist on the desk. "I can't do anything right! Even when I try to fail, I succeed!"
He checked his system. No changes yet, they only change monthly, but the companies wallet sure did fill.
He checked his company's bank account, bracing himself for the worst. It was overflowing with cash.
He needed to take drastic action. He needed to do something so outrageous, so irresponsible, that it would bankrupt Potato Studios once and for all.
He decided to invest in a theme park.
Not just any theme park, a "Potato-Themed Adventure Park," complete with potato-shaped roller coasters, potato-themed rides, and a giant potato statue that would dominate the skyline.
He knew it was a terrible idea. Theme parks were expensive, risky, and notoriously difficult to manage. But he was desperate. He had to do something drastic.
He started scouting locations, meeting with architects, and drawing up blueprints for his potato-themed paradise. He poured all of his company's money into the project, confident that it would be the final nail in the coffin for Potato Studios.
As he worked on his theme park, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He knew it was a terrible idea, but he was also strangely drawn to the project.
He imagined families laughing and screaming on the potato-shaped roller coasters, children marveling at the giant potato statue, and tourists lining up to buy potato-themed souvenirs.
For the first time since the activation of the system, Ace felt a flicker of genuine ambition. He wanted to create something lasting, something memorable, something… potato-ey.
He quickly dismissed the thought. He couldn't afford to get attached to this project. It was just a means to an end, a way to lose money and fulfill his destiny as an accidental failure.
But as he continued to work on his theme park, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the verge of something truly special. Or something truly disastrous. Only time would tell.