New Arcadia: Stage One

By: Eric Jason Martin

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin, Matthew Mercer, Erika Ishii, Dave Fennoy, Sam Riegel, Dana Snyder, Andy Merrill, John DiMaggio

In a not-so-distant future, a deadly pandemic has forced the world into social isolation. Confined to their homes, millions now survive off drone-delivered food packages and online-only interactions.

It’s an especially lonely life for John Chambers, a drone shipment coordinator for the monolithic Chum Corporation. Trapped in his dead-end job and having just turned 40, John’s started spending more time grinding in virtual reality MMORPGs than he does grinding for his real-world job--and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by human resources!

But when a corporate executive notices the hundreds of hours John’s logged online, he’s offered one last chance to save his job (and his life!). Instead of getting fired, John reluctantly agrees to become prime beta tester for Chum’s top-secret new VR game, New Arcadia--a digital playground inspired by iconic '90s arcade games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage.

In New Arcadia, John gets to go back to a hyper-nostalgic 199X and do it right this time. Reborn as digital streetfighter Blaze, John starts cleaning up crime with his fists of fury while also building an online life for himself that seems so much more meaningful than the one he’d had in "real" life.

But John soon discovers there’s a darker and more ominous purpose behind the Chum Corporation’s new online playground--and as he starts to make real friends in this virtual reality, he also begins to realize that what players do in New Arcadia could have dangerous implications for the real world.

Starring
Eric Jason Martin
Matthew Mercer
Dave Fennoy
Erika Ishii
Sam Riegel
Dana Snyder
Andy Merrill
John DiMaggio

With Marin Ireland, Scott Brick, Suzanne Elise Freeman, P.J. Ochlan, Tara Sands, Justin Michael, Betsy Sodaro, DC Pierson, Neil Hellegers, Johnny Heller, and Ron Butler.

Theme by Lloyd Cole
Original Soundtrack by Casey Trela
Post Production by Mumble Media

©2021 Eric Jason Martin (P)2021 Sound Off Productions

Ready..Player..Yawn!

This is a decent LitRPG story (since most that I have listened to aren't that great). Ready Player One is however one of the most creative, unique and all around best novels in this genre, and I'm afraid that comparing New Arcadia to RP1 is just not at all appropriate. To be fair, I grew up in the 80's so RP1 was more for me, and maybe some of the 90's video game references were after my time. I did like the full cast production & the sound effects, and the story was OK and very timely. "Chum" the ubiquitous corporation that runs the world reminded me a bit of the story "The Warehouse" which is definitely worth a read. So, If you go into New Arcadia with that expectation that it will be like RP1 you'll likely be disappointed as I was.

Perfect book for an 80s 90s kid

Loved the story details reminding me of my childhood. The characters were relatable as was the eerily all-too-feasible sci fi story line. I find myself chomping at the bit for stage 2. When does it come out?!

Fun story full of nostalgia

If you were a kid in the late 80s & 90s this will take you back. In the not too distant future where a deadly virus has everyone on lockdown for years, the solution to social entropy is a full immersion VR 90s beat em up game (think Double Dragon, Streets of Rage). Lots of movie/video game references. While not destined for literary greatness, it is a very fun ride. although if you born after say 1985 maybe just skip it.

great title, good narration

I enjoyed the performance, good story. it kept me coming back to finish it, main character wasn't the most believable, had some inconsistent character flaws...

Needs a Sale and a Hero

So, this is a book this isn’t bad but isn’t good, and the issue falls squarely in the lap of the main character. He really is so introverted and calm that the tale takes on the same energy. There’s nothing in this book that makes him stand out, and that hurts the text. The book really starts picking up when the main character makes a friend, but it takes quite a while to get there. It’s not terrible either. It just doesn’t excel at anything but the voice acting, but that can’t save a boring hero from bringing the text down with him. It’s not unbearable but it isn’t going on my favorites. However, I’m curious about the next title because of the depth I believe the surrounding characters will add, but this book will be my “Cheers” text for now. You put it on to fall asleep. Great premise but a lack of a hero and villain makes this a book that needs a sale for a pick up. It is not worth one credit - wait for a sale.

Best audio performance ever

I really loved listening to this audio performance. the story was fun too new take on LitRPG.

Cheesy but ::mwah:: Chef's Kiss

I can't not give this book 5 stars. Sorry haters. It blends Ready Player One with aspects of Maze Runner and Mad Max alongside video game and LitRPG tropes while adding in COVID era relatable aspects. Terrifying to think that an Amazon-esque company would have such complete control and be able to also be the only possible entity established enough to be the solution to the virus and societal rebirth.

It's rife wkth 90s nostalgia (and some 80s and 70s in some small ways). Everyone likes a good escape world. It's kinda like LitRPG yet managed to steer itself away from the genre enough where I didn't feel gross listening to it.

I kept appreciating the almost accurate bit-tune music. Not sure why a game about whaling was the top choice to start the story, but ok bro. You do you. (Why did Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" have such a fixture hold in the whaling game? Free Willy, I know, but...that's...I mean...Willy wasn't being hunted for his blubber, right?)

Anyways, I'm coming off as critical but I really liked this book. Eager to hear the next! Left us on a cliffhanger anyways so I can't walk away. Well played.

Great story! Great performance! Gimme a Sequel!

From a nerd standpoint this book was perfect! It's plot has inspiration from Ready Player One (One of my all-time favorite SciFi books. The cast was perfect and some of my favorite voice actors made this a FULL CAST AUDIO! It's been WAY too long since I heard one of those! The sound effects, the music, even the grunting and acting kept me locked in and focussed the entire novel! I LOVED IT!

Adulty Ready Player One during Quarantine

It feels like an algorithm was run on 40-year-olds during 2020 and this book was the result. That being said, it held my interest and I finished it in three days. It’s predictable but well done.

Fun but iffy

Fun performance and a relatively quick listen but tough story without meaning that doesn’t make much sense to the world that was created.