Chapter 12: The Beta Breakthrough
Delhi — February 25, 2009 — 4:45 AM
Shiva jolted awake before his alarm.
There was no grogginess anymore.
No dragging himself out of bed.
Every morning now felt like the start of a great war — one fought not with swords or guns, but with ideas, code, and sheer grit.
Today's mission was clear:
Beta testing Rickshaw Rush begins.
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5:30 AM – Preparing the Beta
Shiva created a checklist on a sticky note, stuck it to his laptop:
Beta Prep List:
Final build export (compressed assets, optimized engine)
Install APK on 5 different devices
Create a simple Google Form for feedback
Write basic installation instructions
Rickshaw Rush wasn't perfect yet.
It was messy in places, buggy in others.
But it was ready enough.
Waiting for perfection was just another form of fear.
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6:30 AM – Assembling the Beta Army
During breakfast, Shiva texted a dozen friends:
> "Yo! Need beta testers for my new mobile game! Fun + free! DM if interested."
Within an hour, five people replied eagerly.
Two classmates.
One tuition buddy.
Even a neighbor's cousin.
By the time Shiva reached school, he had a mini-army of testers.
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8:00 AM – Guerrilla Testing
During recess, Shiva sat on the school steps, distributing Rickshaw Rush APK files via Bluetooth.
Old school hustle.
The scene looked chaotic:
Boys huddling around their phones.
Shouting when someone's phone froze.
Laughter when a cow sat on a rickshaw.
"Brooo, my rickshaw exploded!" one shouted.
Another cracked up, "This passenger called me 'bhagwan' after a perfect dodge!"
It wasn't polished.
It wasn't professional.
But it was real.
Real people.
Real fun.
Real feedback.
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1:00 PM – The Harsh Truths
Shiva took detailed notes as the beta players shared brutally honest opinions:
> "Love the cow animations!"
"Too many potholes in Level 3, it's frustrating."
"Game crashes if you turbo boost into traffic."
"Needs background music — feels empty sometimes."
He didn't argue.
He didn't defend.
He just listened.
Every complaint was a gift.
Every bug found was a future success.
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4:00 PM – Fixing the Cracks
Back at home, Shiva and Rohit jumped into action.
Reduced pothole density by 15% in Level 3.
Added random upbeat dhinchak Bollywood-style loops as background music.
Patched turbo boost memory leak.
Introduced a hidden Easter Egg: collect 50 coins in one run, unlock a "Super Rickshaw" skin with neon lights.
They worked like surgeons, operating on their creation.
Every tweak made Rickshaw Rush a little more alive.
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7:00 PM – Marketing Mindset
While files compiled, Shiva brainstormed marketing ideas.
How would people even hear about Rickshaw Rush?
He scribbled rough strategies:
Budget was tight.
Creativity had to be infinite.
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9:00 PM – The First Real Ad
He used MS Paint to create a basic poster:
> "Experience the Chaos of Delhi Traffic — Drive Your Dreams in Rickshaw Rush!
Available soon on Android!"
Cheesy?
Maybe.
But it stood out.
He printed 10 sample flyers at a local photocopy shop, paying ₹30 from his freelance money.
He would start small.
Tomorrow, he would tape these around college campuses during lunch hour.
No permission.
No waiting.
Just hustle.
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11:00 PM – The Night Before the Launch
Shiva sat on his tiny balcony, staring at the scattered lights of Delhi.
Somewhere out there were millions of people — bored, stuck, desperate for a distraction.
Rickshaw Rush could be their escape.
He imagined someone on a crowded DTC bus, frustrated and tired, pulling out their battered phone — and laughing when a cow wrecked their speeding rickshaw.
That moment — that tiny burst of joy — was what he was working for.
Not money.
Not fame.
Impact.
Real impact.
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11:45 PM – Journal Entry
> "February 25, 2009 — Rickshaw Rush Beta complete.\nFirst testers gave feedback.\nFirst improvements made.\nFirst posters printed.\nTomorrow, we plant the seeds.\nTomorrow, the world gets a glimpse of NovaEdge.\nBrick by brick.\nByte by byte.\nRupee by rupee.\nSmile by smile."
He closed the notebook.
Set his alarm for 5 AM.
Tomorrow wasn't just another day.
Tomorrow, the real hustle would begin.
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[End of Chapter 12]