VIII: Our Infinite Days — Chapter 5

Summary

• Simon and Sam from Unfair Games finish debugging a game, "Counterpart High: senior year", and they plan a celebration launch party for the occasion.
• Since the game ends in a graduation ceremony, the party also takes a graduation "Grad night" theme. A party planner suggests ideas such as a secret room for alcohol, a photo booth, and a yearbook signing table. Despite inviting his friend Sadie, Sam is aware she would not likely come due to struggling with postpartum depression.
• The party is a success, with attendees reminiscing about their early days in college and the launch of the game. Sam and Simon discuss why Marx, their former colleague who passed away, agreed to develop their game despite its initial concept and title being thrown out. Simon recalls that Marx found their ideas intriguing and wanted them to share their vision for the game.
• By midnight, Sam takes a break from the socializing and ends up finding Ant in Sadie's office, poring over an unknown portfolio of artwork. The artwork includes intricate sketches and storyboards drawn in pencil and watercolor, with a post-apocalyptic American Southwest setting. It features characters known as "the keeper" and "Mama", as well as "desert vampires", the Parched, and the Gentle.
• Despite some initial criticisms of the cliched ideas, Sam expresses interest in the portfolio and decides to bring it home. He discovers a note in Marx's handwriting asking for thoughts on the work. He quickly realizes that the work probably belongs to a woman and her husband who had contacted him earlier.
• Sam and Ant discuss Sadie's potential return to work. Ant reveals that despite her struggles, Sadie still plays games at night for relief. This brings hope to Sam, who believes she will eventually return.
• At the end of the party, they celebrate their success with a ceremonial cap toss on the roof, similar to a graduation ceremony. Sam and Ant reflect on how their commitment to creating games made them miss their own senior year milestones.
• When the party concludes, Sam drives home and stops by Sadie's house. He sends her a text, hoping to pique her interest in a new game idea that's a cross between two of their older games, "Ichigo" and "Dead Sea". However, she declines his invitation to be involved.
• In the following days, Sam meets the creators of the portfolio, Adam and Charlotte Worth. They express eagerness to share their thoughts and vision of the game, to which Sam reciprocates interest.