. Let's begin!Back Cover: Log On to //AI buster 2 The Continuing Adventures! Your favorite .hack characters converge in these mind-blowing stories that delve into the characters' real-world personalities and their in-game avatars-and examine the far reaches of The World...and beyond! Take a journey inside the pages of this hallowed collection:
*Get to know Haruka Mizuhara, the real wman behind Hokuto
*Discover the reason for Albireo's departure from The World
*Cross paths with Kamui, the leader of the Cobalt Knights, who protects The World from bugs
*Meet Rena, a little girl with a big personality
*Find out how Hotaru and Sanjuro first meet
"An instantly discernable and absorbing cyber-reality accessible to anyone with a sense of wonder." --Dave Holverson, Play magazine
Just as a referance, the ISBN of the book is 1598164074.
The book opens with a lovely two-page illustration (monochrome) of Albireo, Kamui, Hokuto, Lycoris, and the Cobalt Knights. The table on contents reads:
History of [The World] * 007
Foreword * 013
Story 1: 2nd Character/Haruka Muzuhara's Situation * 019
Story 2: Wotan's Spear * 061
Story 3: Kamui * 103
Story 4: Rumor * 135
Story 5: Firefly * 153
Afterword * 179
I'll start with the updates soon; I've a Chemistry exam tommorow which I don't intend on failing ^_^ At the very least, I'll post the timeline the book gives, History of [The World] before I go to sleep today.
EDIT: Rather, I'll post it right now ^_^
History of [The World]
End of the 20th Century
The U.S. Department of Defense develops the ARPANET, which becomes the basis of the Internet. By 1999, almost everyone across the world has access.
Beginning of the 21st Century
As the Internet increases in popularity, classified government information becomes harder to conceal and easier to obtain. Hackers continue to attack networks; cyber crime increases.
2002.10
The United Nations subsystem, WNC, is implemented.
2003.1
WNC winter meeting.
2003.4
A new virus called Hello, WNC infects up to ten million users.
2003.12
The Japanese youth who created the Deadly Flash virus is sentenced to death.
2004.4
At the WNC spring meeting, the following bills are passed: Investigation and Research of New Viruses, Technical Security Development Aid, and Strengthening Reinforced Penal Regulations of Net Crime.
2004.8[/i]
Emma Weilant dies.
The net poem Epitaph of Twilight is lost before it can be completed.
The Swiss Bank's main computer gets hacked, losing more than $84 million.
2005.1
Hacking causes the New York Stock market's prices to hike.
2005.12
On December 24th, Pluto's Kiss shuts down the Internet; all network computers and communication control systems crash, only to recover 77 minutes later. A 10-year-old elementary school student causes the virus.
2006.1
America's 44th president, Jim Stonecold, resigns.
ALTIMIT OS becomes The World's most commonly used operating system.
2006 Summer
CyberConnect Corporation (CC Corp.) takes over and becomes the foundation for The World.
Harold Hoerwick sells Fragment to CC Corp.
2007.1
The ALTIMIT OS Corporation (head office in San Francisco) establishes 12 overseas affiliation firms.
2007.5
Watarai and Junichiro Tokuoka begin work on the Japanese version of Fragment, which later becomes The World.
ALTIMIT OS' Fragment begins its test play.
2007.7
Fragment becomes the most popular topic among network game users.
2007.10
WNC announces that all computers switch to ALTIMIT OS.
On December 24th, the United Nations names The Mother Mary's Kiss an international holiday.
CC Corp. announces the release of Fragment.
2007.11 Beginning of the month
Within the beginning of the first hour, The World receives more than 100,000 orders.
2007.11 End of the month
CC Corp. denies the rumors of discontinuing The World.
2007.12.24
The World's Network Security Declaration President, Alex Coleman, is informed of the start of The World's download sale.
2010
While debugging, Watarai meets with the Vagrant AI. (Story #1, 2nd Character)
Watarai investigates the cat PC. (Story #2, Wotan's Spear, based on .hack//SIGN)
The second Internet crash, Pluto Again, occurs. (Based on the PS2 game)
2011
Watarai leaves CC Corp.
2013
Saki Shibayama takes over as official debugger. (Story #3, Kamui)
Rena Kunisaki purchases The World. (Story #4, Rumor)
2014
.hackers Official Limited Edition Character Exhibition. (Story #5, Firefly, based on .hack//Legend of the Twilight)
NOTE: Everything above is typed EXACTLY as it is print in the book. I'll update on Foreword and Story 1 tommorow.
