Digital Means of Interaction

Methods of Digital Interaction:

The following methods of digital interaction are available for player use:

>Personal Entertainment Terminal, aka PET (MMBN)
>>Cyber Form: NetNavi
>>>Pros: Easy to use and upgrade, highly portable, Battle Chips
>>>Cons: Defeat in combat could result in NetNavi deletion, current models lack wi-fi, NetNavi cannot act autonomously

Debuting on December 7, 1991 after the end of the 'Virus Dark Age', the PET was originally designed as an advanced PDA. It achieved popularity thanks to the included 'Network Navigator' program that can act as an active virus-buster instead of older 'Guardian' defensive systems.

The current model, PET 2.0, is the most widely used digital access tool in the world.

>Animus Personal Entertainment System (APEC)
>>Cyber Form: highly customizable, often licensed
>>>Pros: Online persona and weapons-set highly customizable, wi-fi
>>>Cons: Higher cost than PETs, upgrading is a hassle

Announced in 1994 by UbiSoft as a direct competitor not only to the PET 1.0 and the video game consoles of its day, the APEC was the world's first virtual reality console. Instead of an onboard AI the APEC relies on placing the user's consciousness directly in cyber-space, often in a shell licensed from another company (ex: Sega's Virtua On! series).

>Gunpla
>>Cyber Form: Digitized control of assembled gunpla
>>>Pros: Powerful forms, competitive NetBattling tournaments often pay well
>>>Cons: High skill level barrier of entry (assembly and use)

Created as a toy-based spinoff of the famous Gundam series, gunpla achieved a new level of popularity with the rise of Net Society when they were introduced into a digital format. Gunpla are now assembled and pitted against one another professionally for paying audiences.

>Digimon
>>Cyber Form: Direct insertion into cyber-systems
>>>Pros: You have a new best friend!
>>>Cons: No one's ever seen one.

There are rumors of autonomous, self-replicating digital lifeforms. No one is a hundred percent sure where these creatures came from, only that they are rumored to hatch from eggs and can change form...

>'The World' Avatar
>>Cyber Form: Avatar as created through 'The World'
>>>Pros: Can be transported through PETs, accessible through desktops, ease of use
>>>Cons: Current version of 'The World' is *glitchy as fuck*

Still one of the most popular games online despite its poor reputation, versions of 'The World R:2' characters can access the Internet thanks to CC Corp's dominance in the PC market.