Release Day and the blank screen lit up with system stats for the Virtually Real Simulation. Chief Designer Barrok’s heart sank. Hundreds of users denied service. All around him, excited voices bounced off the metal walls of Service Central.
His chief aide tapped him on the shoulder. “Look at the news.”
Stepping back from the monitor, Barrok stared up at the news feed: “Virtually Real a Global Success, exploding all benchmarks.”
“I want it to be perfect.”
“I know, sir. Nothing ever is.”
Chief Never-Satisfied they called him. “Brilliant man. Impossible to work with,” they said, but never to his face.
***
This is my weekly submission for Friday Fictioneers, where every week we write 100-word stories inspired by the picture of the week. This week’s picture made me think of Ender’s Game and also how many times when creating something we forget to step back and see the big picture. For more fiction or to add your own, click on the blue froggy!
Anne Higa 
Ooooo I know a few people like that, never happy with what they’ve done. Great story. Well told
Cool picture prompt and very good story! Go you!
Somehow it’s easy to be miserable for a perfectionist…
Ah those perfectionists!
Some people are never happy unless they’re miserable.
Interesting take on the prompt, enjoyed it. Nice one.
Your take reminded me of the old saying – best is an enemy of good. Beautifully crafted.
Somehow something tells me this one will never be satisfied. Yep, I know people like this. Great take, Anne.
I used to be like that. I’d see one error for one customer out of thousands and be all depressed about it 🙂
Dear Anne,
Some will never be satisfied with success. Perhaps that’s why they’re successful. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
There is a down side to an A+ personality.
I can relate, it must be an IT thing. If it fails for one, it isn’t good enough. But the story is good. 🙂
I can see how the picture took you to the Ender stories. I must have another look at those books – I enjoyed them years ago. I agree with the above comments about the woes of perfectionism, but what worries me more is how vulnerable we are to IT glitches and failures. We depend on them working perfectly and there’s chaos when they don’t. Thought-provoking story.