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First Person Shooter (The X-Files)
Encyclopedia
"First Person Shooter" is the thirteenth episode of the seventh season
of the science fiction
television series The X-Files
. It is the spiritual successor to Gibson
's earlier episode "Kill Switch
".
who enter the virtual reality
game "First Person Shooter". In a control room, Ivan and Phoebe—the game's programmers—are monitoring the players' vital signs
. Only one of the players makes it to the second level of the violent game, where he encounters a female character in a fetishistic leather outfit. She introduces herself as Maitreya, stating, "This is my game". She then kills the player with a flintlock
pistol
.
Fox Mulder
and Dana Scully
visit the headquarters of the game's developers in Inland Empire, California. They meet the Lone Gunmen
, who work as consultants to the game. They look at the body of the player, which clearly displays a gunshot wound. Ivan claims there is no way a real gun could have been brought into the highly-secured building. The agents are shown a video from the game, showing the female character who killed the player. Mulder takes the printout of the character and shows it to a detective, as he believes she is the killer.
Daryl Musashi, a renowned computer hacker revered by the Lone Gunmen, arrives at the building and enters the game in order to kill the female character. However, she cuts off his hands and decapitates him. As Scully performs an autopsy
on the first player, the remains of Daryl Musashi are brought in. Mulder receives a call from the Sheriff's Department that a woman similar to the one in the printout has been picked up.
The woman, a stripper
named Jade Blue Afterglow, she tells the agents that she was paid by a medical imaging
facility in Culver City to scan her body. Mulder and Scully return to the "FPS" headquarters, finding that the Lone Gunmen have become trapped inside the game, with somebody shooting at them. Mulder enters the game in game combat gear to help them, sees Maitreya, and follows her. Phoebe tearfully admits that the female warrior (nicknamed "Goddess" by Phoebe) was created by her, a sort of personal estrogenic outlet and rebellion in a testosterone-riddled environment. Maitreya was to be contained within Phoebe's personal separate project, but the character found her way into the first person shooter program.
Despite mocking the game and gamers who get their "ya-ya's" playing it, Scully puts the suit on and enters the game herself. She finds Maitreya and fights with her. Every time Scully shoots and destroys one set of Maitreya's (she multiplies at level 2), more sets come back as the game gets progressively harder. Mulder, being out of ammo, takes to hiding. Scully continues fighting off Maitreya, who has now taken to sitting on top of a tank with a machine gun. Phoebe admits there is one way to stop the game, but doing so will erase the whole game. Ivan is less than keen on killing his game and nearly stops Phoebe from telling the kill command to Byers. After a back-and-forth between Ivan and Phoebe, Phoebe tells Byers the kill command (which is shift + alt + "bloodbath") and he types the command, effectively destroying the game, but saving Mulder and Scully. During Mulder's voice-over
we see that in the control room one of the monitors is still active. Ivan sees a message reading "Data Acquisition." He sees the image of a digital character
. She is wearing Maitreya's leather outfit but now her face is different: it is Scully's face.
, together with fellow science fiction novelist and long-time friend Tom Maddox
. "First Person Shooter" aired on FOX on February 27, 2000. This was the second episode written by the authors, after the success of "Kill Switch
", which first aired on February 15, 1998 and subsequently made frequent appearances in reruns, encouraging Gibson to continue working in television. "Kill Switch" came about after the pair, having previously discussed possible collaborations, approached the production company with an offer to write an episode.
"First Person Shooter" deals with recurrent Gibsonian themes: alienation, paranoia, the will to survive, emergent technology, the evolution of artificial intelligence
, virtual reality
, and transferring one's consciousness into cyberspace
.
, this episode was nominated for three Emmys, of which it won two:
The episode earned a Nielsen rating of 9.3 with an 13 share. It was viewed by 9,374,000 households.
The X-Files (season 7)
The seventh season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 7, 1999, concluded on May 21, 2000, and consists of twenty-two episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season seven took place after the destruction of the...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. It is the spiritual successor to Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
's earlier episode "Kill Switch
Kill Switch (The X-Files)
"Kill Switch" is an episode of the popular Canadian/American science fiction television series The X-Files.- Plot :The episode begins one night at a diner in Washington, D.C.. A man tries to access some files on a laptop computer, but is repeatedly denied...
".
Plot summary
The episode opens with three men with futuristic combat gear and automatic weaponsAutomatic firearm
An automatic firearm is a firearm that loads another round mechanically after the first round has been fired.The term can be used to refer to semi-automatic firearms, which fire one shot per single pull of the trigger , or fully automatic firearms, which will continue to load and fire ammunition...
who enter the virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
game "First Person Shooter". In a control room, Ivan and Phoebe—the game's programmers—are monitoring the players' vital signs
Vital signs
Vital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. The act of taking vital signs normally entails recording body temperature, pulse rate ,...
. Only one of the players makes it to the second level of the violent game, where he encounters a female character in a fetishistic leather outfit. She introduces herself as Maitreya, stating, "This is my game". She then kills the player with a flintlock
Flintlock
Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. The term may also apply to the mechanism itself. Introduced at the beginning of the 17th century, the flintlock rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies, such as the doglock, matchlock and wheellock...
pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
.
Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
and Dana Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
visit the headquarters of the game's developers in Inland Empire, California. They meet the Lone Gunmen
The Lone Gunmen
The Lone Gunmen are a trio of fictional characters, Richard "Ringo" Langly, Melvin Frohike and John Fitzgerald Byers, who have recurring roles on the American television series The X-Files. They also starred in a short-lived spin-off, also called The Lone Gunmen. The name was derived from the lone...
, who work as consultants to the game. They look at the body of the player, which clearly displays a gunshot wound. Ivan claims there is no way a real gun could have been brought into the highly-secured building. The agents are shown a video from the game, showing the female character who killed the player. Mulder takes the printout of the character and shows it to a detective, as he believes she is the killer.
Daryl Musashi, a renowned computer hacker revered by the Lone Gunmen, arrives at the building and enters the game in order to kill the female character. However, she cuts off his hands and decapitates him. As Scully performs an autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
on the first player, the remains of Daryl Musashi are brought in. Mulder receives a call from the Sheriff's Department that a woman similar to the one in the printout has been picked up.
The woman, a stripper
Stripper
A stripper is a professional erotic dancer who performs a contemporary form of striptease at strip club establishments, public exhibitions, and private engagements. Unlike in burlesque, the performer in the modern Americanized form of stripping minimizes the interaction of customer and dancer,...
named Jade Blue Afterglow, she tells the agents that she was paid by a medical imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
facility in Culver City to scan her body. Mulder and Scully return to the "FPS" headquarters, finding that the Lone Gunmen have become trapped inside the game, with somebody shooting at them. Mulder enters the game in game combat gear to help them, sees Maitreya, and follows her. Phoebe tearfully admits that the female warrior (nicknamed "Goddess" by Phoebe) was created by her, a sort of personal estrogenic outlet and rebellion in a testosterone-riddled environment. Maitreya was to be contained within Phoebe's personal separate project, but the character found her way into the first person shooter program.
Despite mocking the game and gamers who get their "ya-ya's" playing it, Scully puts the suit on and enters the game herself. She finds Maitreya and fights with her. Every time Scully shoots and destroys one set of Maitreya's (she multiplies at level 2), more sets come back as the game gets progressively harder. Mulder, being out of ammo, takes to hiding. Scully continues fighting off Maitreya, who has now taken to sitting on top of a tank with a machine gun. Phoebe admits there is one way to stop the game, but doing so will erase the whole game. Ivan is less than keen on killing his game and nearly stops Phoebe from telling the kill command to Byers. After a back-and-forth between Ivan and Phoebe, Phoebe tells Byers the kill command (which is shift + alt + "bloodbath") and he types the command, effectively destroying the game, but saving Mulder and Scully. During Mulder's voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
we see that in the control room one of the monitors is still active. Ivan sees a message reading "Data Acquisition." He sees the image of a digital character
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
. She is wearing Maitreya's leather outfit but now her face is different: it is Scully's face.
Production
The episode is notable for being written by William GibsonWilliam Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, together with fellow science fiction novelist and long-time friend Tom Maddox
Tom Maddox
Tom Maddox is an American science fiction writer, known for his part in the early cyberpunk movement.His first novel was Halo , published in 1991 by Tor Books. His story Snake Eyes appeared in the 1986 collection Mirrorshades, edited by Bruce Sterling.He is perhaps best known as a friend and...
. "First Person Shooter" aired on FOX on February 27, 2000. This was the second episode written by the authors, after the success of "Kill Switch
Kill Switch (The X-Files)
"Kill Switch" is an episode of the popular Canadian/American science fiction television series The X-Files.- Plot :The episode begins one night at a diner in Washington, D.C.. A man tries to access some files on a laptop computer, but is repeatedly denied...
", which first aired on February 15, 1998 and subsequently made frequent appearances in reruns, encouraging Gibson to continue working in television. "Kill Switch" came about after the pair, having previously discussed possible collaborations, approached the production company with an offer to write an episode.
"First Person Shooter" deals with recurrent Gibsonian themes: alienation, paranoia, the will to survive, emergent technology, the evolution of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
, virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
, and transferring one's consciousness into cyberspace
Cyberspace
Cyberspace is the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place.The term "cyberspace" was first used by the cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson, though the concept was described somewhat earlier, for example in the Vernor Vinge short story "True...
.
Reception
Although not as well-received as the first episode written by William Gibson and Tom Maddox, Kill SwitchKill Switch (The X-Files)
"Kill Switch" is an episode of the popular Canadian/American science fiction television series The X-Files.- Plot :The episode begins one night at a diner in Washington, D.C.. A man tries to access some files on a laptop computer, but is repeatedly denied...
, this episode was nominated for three Emmys, of which it won two:
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series (won)
- Outstanding Visual Effects for a Series (won)
- Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (nominated)
The episode earned a Nielsen rating of 9.3 with an 13 share. It was viewed by 9,374,000 households.
External links
- First Person Shooter at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...