Magic Shop

Magic Shop

This is a fictional short story. Nothing related to present, past or future occurrence.

MacroSoft is a company that produces state of the art software to cater for all modern attention seeking individual of today. We have been long and doing good in the business where people relied on our software to project a much vibrant, flamboyant and youthful life. Those who doesn’t fit into the society or just plain disgusted with their weakness often relied on our software which provided with a spectrum of solutions which today has become an industry standard to push individuals into the higher echelon of popularity, pushing them higher through the ranks of influence-based social hierarchy.

MacroSoft flagship software is called Macrosoft MagicShop. We have assigned a lot of software engineer to develop this software, which development spanned for a decade with budget allocation several times bigger than our second most sophisticated software. For what we have known, our intense effort on MagicShop had paid off, with countless of success stories had been recorded for what firsthand user of MagicShop might call: Life Changing Experience!

Hence, we at MacroSoft decided to make those three phrase our motto, ‘Life Changing Experiece’, let us walked through the successive versions of MagicShop which holds the testament of our company dedicated effort to change people life.

October 1997 – Chris Farquhar and Malik Yusuf formed AttentionGrab Inc. An IT company created with the help of the government. AttentionGrab Inc. pioneered the digital image manipulation for societal make believe (Also known as DIM-4-SIMB )

December 1997 – Chris and Malik with a handful of codewriters developed and released the first ever MagicShop1.0, a software which enabled its user to put their photo into clubbing environment. This software is unique since normal photo retouching software failed to address and adjust to lighting environment of the hectic and lively clubbing background, yet, MagicShop1.0 offers a better solution which are vivid and convincing to the normal eyes. MagicShop1.0 offered 16 clubbing background to select from. MagicShop1.0 was met with a lukewarm response.

March 1998- Chris and Malik improvised and reinvigorate the software with the release of MagicShop2.0. Selection of club environment were extended from 16 to 32 and types of alcoholic beverages can be selected from a list according to users taste. MagicShop2.0 also represent a leap forward with the introduction of drag-n-drop, where users need just to drag their photo into the window and they will be automatically ‘lasso’ed according to their body wrap and fitted into the clubbing environment.

August 1998 – MagicShop started its big break as recession hit nation needed an escapism. Clubbing culture started to thrive and spur everywhere in parts of cities. MagicShop3.0 becomes a phenomenon. There are still 32 clubbing environment to choose from, but the introduction of LAME ( Latitude and Angular Memory Emulation) allowed users to shift angle and explore different possibilities of pictures. This enabled lots of pictures to be taken simultaneously and refute skeptics’ dubious claim. Crisp of photo has been enhanced with 32-bit colour support which means any smog effect (which some clubs use) can be seen through the post-production pictures. By September, MagicShop started to have its own online support group.

December 1998 – First anniversary of MagicShop is celebrated with the release of MagicShop PowerPack!. This pack can be purchased separately for a fraction of price includes another 32 selections of clubs totaling to an enormous 64clubs for users to choose from.

April 1999 – The height of clubbing culture had Chris and Malik employed more codewriters to enhance the realistic and deception effects of MagicShop software. At this moment, 40 codewriters had been employed which resulted in the release of MagicShop4. One of MagicShop4 best feature would be the infamous PoSER ( Powerful Surface and Environment Replicator), this innovation lets user to enhance their boob size, add height, reduce flabbiness or delete blemishes with the MagicShop proprietary surface-mapping technology. Skeptics with their dubious claims can eat their words as PoSER enabled its user to replicate clubbing scene other than the dance floor; they includes the club toilet, club bar, club exclusive tables and club entrance (selection of either doorbitch or bouncer are provided too)

January 2000 – The new millennium ushers new beginning for MagicShop. The fifth version offers users with ability to edit jewellery, headgear and even the dancers of the background. With joint venture with entertainment magazine, a pre-sets numbers of celebrities’ photos can be loaded. Users can brag about their clubbing experience with celebrities and earn respect, new and upcoming artiste can be downloaded at MagicShop Online for a fee. MagicShop5 saw the implementation of HEPPY ( Happy Expression & Predictable Pissed Youth) a complex instruction which enabled the reddish drunk face effect and happy expression to be put on users face. Also, on MagicShop5, 64bit colour is supported allowing not only smog, but also laser effect to be vividly seen. A total of 96 clubs can be selected.

June 2000 – After the purchase of BragItAll Inc. by AttentionGrab Inc., the company now is known as MacroSoft. Macro representing large scale of society. Thus MagicShop6 allows user to experience the outdoor feel of clubbing, may it be on beachside or open field. Again, skeptics who never endlessly fire salvos of doubt can eat their words with the introduction of PoSER2 in which bodies of user can be edited to emulate dance moves. A preset of 32 dance moves had been included in the standard pack.

January 2001 – MacroSoft announced MagicShop6 PowerPack to commerate the fourth anniversary of MagicShop software. By this time, MagicShop had become the industry standard software for those who seek to live fast and wanted recognization. To date, MagicShop had employed 120 software engineers and codewriters, 128selection of clubs, MagicShop Online received million hits . Mr Chris Farquhar as CEO of Macrosoft and chief architect announced that MagicShop7 will be a total change that will take current user into the next level with dramatic ease of use. Third party plug-ins offers users to pose with VVIPs, Tengkus, Syeds, Tan Sri and Datuk Seris which drew fire on MacroSoft MagicShop Privacy Policy.

Febuary 2002 – After a long delay, MagicShop7 is finally released. True to Mr.Chris Farquhar words, MagicShop is not confined to only clubbing environment. The advent of fine dining and high class winery had users suggesting selections of high taste eateries with exquisite meals coupled with crafted garnishing served by well suited food servers. MacroSoft never let its faithful users suggestion fell to deaf ears. MagicShop7 also created another milestone with the inclusion of HDR (High Definition Rendering) support. MagicShop7 represented a revolution. Finally, the phrase Magicshopping made into the English dictionary which means they are fit for official use.

July 2002 – The highly anticipated MagicShop7 was met with several complains as users found it buggy and lacked realism. This sends MacroSoft engineers back to the meeting room to discuss what might have crippled the wholly new start-from-scratch MagicShop7. Sales figures are showing dramatic drops and users of MagicShop6 are reluctant to upgrade. By now, alternative software such as Flaunt! had taken shares from MagicShop. MacroSoft issued a hotfix on August. Mr.Chris Farquhar stepped down as he had taken full responsibility to MagicShop failure to impress the modern demands of society hunger for realistic imagery deception and glamourina. Mr.Malik took over and chartered a roadmap to a better MagicShop.

Febuary 2003 – Exactly a year after MagicShop7 fiasco, MagicShop8 is released. MagicShop8 had addressed previous version flaws and added new functions. Security is enhanced through photo authorization tag which never allows irresponsible person to simply MagicShop anyone to their liking. Although sales were still slow, MagicShop8 received positive feedback and lauded for its wide selection of clubs which stood at 512clubs. 300 over celebrities were able to be ‘lasso’-ed plus 50 over selection of fine dining restaurants.

January 2004 – Asha Ghill officially became the ambassador of MacroSoft MagicShop9. The ninth release became the true second renaissance of MagicShop. Due to popularity of cheap flights and the thrill to become freespirited ,fits-all-environment attitude and rugged looking like Asha Ghill, MagicShop9 offered Asha Ghill wannabes the backpacking environment which is both exciting and brag worthy. Selections of 50+ interesting destinations are provided with cultural activities which users can ‘join’. Locals raging from chicken seller, coffee maker, family-man or taxi drivers are available through MagicShop Online. Exclusive clubs offers their venue downloadable through MagicShop Online, also Datuk Sris and Tengkus which had reputation as being celebrity clubbers offered their photos for a certain fees, all provided through the quick and easy MagicShop Online.

May 2004 – In an unprecedented announcement by the CEO of MacroSoft, MagicShop Mobile is launched. Featured most of MagicShop basic functionality and can be run on most phone models

January 2005 – MagicShop wide offerings started to make the software relatively bloated and heavy to run. Mr.Malik Yusuf announced MagicShop X ( X as in 10 in roman ), due to above mentioned concerns, MagicShop X were offered in three variants MagicShop X Club Edition (for clubbers wannabes), MagicShop X Gala-Ball Edition ( for Crème de la crème Socialites, Datuk Sris and Tengkus wannabes) and MagicShop X Sports Edition ( for Asha Ghill wannabes), all offered at different price respectively with the Gala-Ball being the most expensive. Users who wanted to show they are the all-rounder can opt for MagicShop X Complete Kit which includes all three variants at an attractive price. Branded clothing and designer brands such as Koach, Dulce and Banana, Gas, Chonnel and Forever 22 had agreed to give rights for a certain fee through MagicShop Online thus making MagicShop X as the most successful product ever rolled out to date. MagicShop Online became the second most profitable online store after iTunes Store.

December 2005 – As to value faithful users, MacroSoft threw a Magicshoppers party which gathers famous magicshoppers whose life changed through digital imagery deception. They had gained respects, contracts and recognition beyond their dreams and they all thanked MagicShop and pledged to use MagicShop forever and ever. Mr. Malik Yusuf made a surprise when he announced the release of MagicShop AfterPartay! which is never akin to the PowerPack seen last few years ago. AfterPartay! is an add-on which allow users to portray their activities after going to the club. Mr.Malik warned that AfterPartay! does not include ‘humping-treat’ which some lucky bastard gets. MagicShop AfterPartay! is only capable of emulating usual after party scene which is not obscene. Also, Mr.Malik gave a glimpse of the next MagicShop release.

March 2006 – MagicShop11 is released with support for high resolution photograph and dynamic lighting monitor in which detailed shadows (such as shadows between fingers, shadows of fast moving skirts or shadows under the ear) can be precisely emulated. Support for HEPPY had been dropped and replaced by a new technology called TruFace. TruFace could project expression according to time, which means a tired clubber may have more sober face while fresh clubber can be imprinted with hyper and eager face. Unlike MagicShopX, MagicShop11 is made available only in two distinct editions: Professional and Fun. IKHEA announced that their range of furnitures are ready to be Magicshopped into anyone life.

January 2007 - MagicShop12 represents the pinnacle of image trickery of high-class, high-speed living. The announcement of PoSER3 Technology had enabled something which ex-CEO Mr.Chris Farquhar described as “almost impossible”. The tweaking of user bodies to represent wacky yet spontaneous response. High speed responses such as sneezing, light-strobe attack and hair jumps during intense clubbing are something that MagicShop12 can handle without much trouble. Also included is ‘paparazzi mode’ in which users can adjust the angle as if the photos were taken by stalking paparazzi. All this at full Hi-def post-production quality.

September 2007 – Mr.Malik Yusuf announced his retirement from the helm of MacroSoft replaced by Mr.S.Sivarajah who pledges to take MagicShop to another level of realism. Mr.Malik however still actively involves in the creation of MotionShop, a software which could create video of ordinary people who wanted themselves to be seen in high-class brag worthy situations

November 2008 – MagicShop Online overtook iTunes Store in terms of number of transactions, purchases and profit. Mr. S.Sivarajah announced MagicShop MyLife! (to avoid the unlucky number 13, when it was supposed to be MagicShop13). An ad poster featured a man doing bungee jumping from Tacoma Bridge. MotionShop becomes second most heavily funded software under development. Mr.Malik projected an official release before end of 2009

January 2009 – Mr. S.Sivarajah admitted MagicShop had exhausted all imagery trick it could perform and gladly claim that anyone can look as cool as hell with only a few clicks. Yet still, Mr.Sivarajah did not refute the possibility of MagicShop14 release codenamed ‘Hyperculture’