"2. Given the overly realistic sense of immersion in VR worlds, to protect the mental and physical health of VR players, certain restrictions and censorship will be implemented on content involving pornography, horror, feudalism, the supernatural, and gore."
*Crack, crack!!*
As soon as Cao Yan finished speaking, a wave of clamor erupted from the audience.
"They're taking back the loosely regulated review system that was so hard-won, after only a few years?"
"VR gaming is a new frontier, a crucial period for its upward and vigorous development. To slash the review process at this point..."
"Alas~~~"
"I think having rules is good. Knowing the boundaries makes me feel more at ease and bolder in my creations."
......
People murmured amongst themselves in small groups, their opinions divided.
Everyone present were core leaders of major game studios, having witnessed the ups and downs of domestic games.
A few years prior, domestic games were crushed by overseas titles, their market share squeezed to an unlivable extent.
Major independent studios jointly petitioned the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to relax censorship, granting game designers ample room for imagination and supporting the healthy development of PC indie games.
Facing the increasingly withering domestic indie game market, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism eventually relented, easing censorship, which ushered in the flourishing era of domestic games.
Although there was still a gap compared to the influence of overseas game giants in the industry, people in the gaming circle had gained some hope.
Without censorship restrictions, designers are not bound and their imagination can develop boundless potential, which is the core competitiveness of the gaming industry.
Now,
A new frontier has emerged, yet instead of positive incentive policies, it's a return to those bleak years, with a distinct sense of a phoenix rising from the ashes.
*Bang, bang, bang!!*
He rapped on the table, and the clamor in the hall gradually subsided.
"Quiet, quiet."
Once complete silence was restored, Cao Yan pressed his hands down, a hint of displeasure on his face. "This is not a time for free discussion. Is this everyone's first time attending a seminar?"
"This is merely an initial draft model; mature regulations and standards still require discussion."
Although he said this, many seasoned veterans subtly turned their heads. They saw it as mere pleasantries, a perfunctory step, and ultimately, it would be their decision.
Merchants are nothing.
"3. Considering the uniqueness of VR games, participating designers must meet certain standard requirements, and publishing companies must also possess relevant qualification certificates. Holding different qualification certificates will unlock different tiers of game content."
Perhaps sensing his explanation was too convoluted, Cao Yan added, "This doesn't mean VR games will be completely locked down like PC games used to be; it requires qualifications."
Lu Li understood this. It seemed that Proposal 2 was entirely a prelude to Proposal 3.
It was a tactic of "building up before knocking down."
If they had directly stated that entry into the VR industry required obtaining various licenses or certificates, those already in the industry would have reacted with resistance.
However, by first discussing gore and restricted content, and then presenting the matter of qualification certificates for standardization, it would be relatively easier to accept.
In simple terms, it's too easy to enter the VR game industry now, with too many people joining, all wanting a slice of the pie. They want to set a threshold.
Even more plainly, you have to pay money to enter, to pay protection fees.
How would qualification certificates be obtained, and how would qualification proofs be processed?
All of these would require spending money...
"4. ........."
"........."
Alas!
With a heavy sigh, Lu Li felt a sense of disappointment. He could no longer process the remaining dozen or so proposals.
He hadn't realized that the relaxed environment on the PC platform was fought for by his predecessors, not...
Now that a new frontier is popular, these people who want to cash in are making a comeback, burdening the wild growth of VR games with heavy shackles.
He didn't object to standardizing industry norms. Appropriate policies could lay a solid foundation for the industry, providing strong guarantees for building skyscrapers in the future.
But it shouldn't come at the cost of sacrificing the industry's unique characteristics. In his view, this was an act of self-destruction.
Existence is reasonable.
Horror, the supernatural, and a degree of gore, in appropriate contexts, can produce unexpected effects, adding a rich layer to the overall completeness and playability of a game.
Yes, for the sake of players' mental and physical health, those restricted scenes should be removed, and various mature content should be harmonized. The law already regulates this.
To insist on conflating this content, which isn't particularly outrageous, with illegal content, is no different from a blanket ban.
If they took a little time to research, to segment the industry's content—what is illegal, what is restricted, what is niche—and then set detailed thresholds, wouldn't that be better?
Moreover,
The basic entry threshold for VR games has already been raised to 18 years of age. These are adults with their own judgment and independent thought.
How can they still be reported by parents to affect children's studies and influence their values?
He wasn't asking for tiered ratings, but at the very least, differentiate between what's against the rules and what's illegal.
On a larger scale, among the countless players nationwide, there are many who enjoy niche genres. Some people specifically prefer horror games and horror novels.
Some designers are very talented in rendering horror content, with brilliant ideas for niche directions. This is where their talent lies, their interests.
On a smaller scale, his plans included several classic games that involved horror, the supernatural, and even a touch of feudalistic thought. Yet, in his previous life, they were all masterpieces. He wanted these works to shine in this world.
But for the regulatory body to directly equate these content types and ban them uniformly was, in Lu Li's opinion, extremely unfair to some and fatal to the development of the industry.
"I've said my piece. Who agrees? Who opposes?" Cao Yan folded the thick manuscript in his hands and swept his gaze across the room.
When his gaze landed on Lu Li, the only one not in formal wear, he frowned. Did this guy not know what kind of occasion this was? Had he come to play house?
"Everyone is welcome to speak freely. Weren't the discussions very lively just now?"
"Minister Cao, I'd like to ask, once the regulations are in place, should the blood in VR game characters be red or black?" A stubbled middle-aged man moved the miniature microphone closer to his mouth.
As the spokesperson for Pig Factory, he didn't want to be the first to stick his neck out, but the other old foxes in the room exchanged glances, and no one spoke first.
Impatient, he broke the ice, but he was shrewd enough not to ask the core questions that everyone in the room cared about, only posing an innocuous one.
"The regulators aren't ancient feudalists. Of course, blood is red. VR has haptic feedback, doesn't it? It should not only be red, but also have warmth," Cao Yan replied cheerfully, presenting himself as an enlightened and forward-thinking official.
"I, I'd like to ask..."
Once a path is blazed by a predecessor, it becomes much easier for those who follow.
The research personnel stationed by other major game companies asked their questions one after another, and Cao Yan responded enthusiastically. However, everyone tacitly avoided the second point regarding the restriction of thematic content.
They were all seasoned veterans, adept at slacking off.
They resolutely refused to offend the leadership, even if it might affect their company's future development direction. After all, the company wasn't theirs, so why take unnecessary risks?
*Yawn~~~*
Lu Li felt drowsy listening to them. He stretched, then moved the microphone in front of him, preparing to launch his salvo.
Just as his hand made contact with the microphone, Bai Zhiyuan from the rival Penguin faction erupted.
"I object!"
......