Agriculture Maniac

Chapter 519 Simulated Cultivation, Sudden Change in Art Style

9 month 15 number.

Day 10 of the open beta test of the simulated cultivation game.

ADM Special Research Group.

The person in charge, Lao Yuan, reports to his superiors:

"Strictly speaking, compared to World of Warcraft, Fantasy Westward Journey, Perfect World, Yulgang, etc., the cultivation simulation game cannot be considered a true online game, let alone a 3D masterpiece."

"It has no backstory, no main quest, no tutorial, no clear class roles, and no distinction between new and old servers."

"After creating a character, players can gain a certain amount of professional experience and accumulate corresponding online time, whether they are chopping wood, fishing, swimming, wandering around, or even chatting and arguing."

"In general, the cultivation simulation game is like an online labor community where the more you work, the more you earn, and the game relies on hamburgers and drinks to keep players engaged."

"Even so, during the closed beta, the game still became a disruptive force in the gaming industry, attracting billions of views worldwide, thanks to the promotional efforts of its three major industries, its massive real-world map, and the gimmicks of AI dummy characters and advanced artificial intelligence."

"This also led to a shortage of game consoles after the game's public beta launch."

"Subsequently, companies such as Bawang Technology, SY handheld game console, MT Group, Titan Company, including Herl, Skyworth, etc., obtained authorization from Second Life Company, and started full production capacity to mass-produce game boxes, all-in-one game consoles, and goggle helmets under their own brands."

"Currently, some of these devices require ordering through the Sanyuan Communication Network using an external identification card from the company's official online store."

"The underlying rule is to prioritize supplying the unemployed."

"For example, if A has a legitimate job, after placing an order, the delivery may be delayed indefinitely."

"For example, if B is unemployed and stays at home, he can receive the equipment within two hours after placing an order."

"Against this backdrop, as of early yesterday morning, the daily average number of players online in the simulated cultivation game exceeded 500 million, and the number of advanced AI users also reached 200 million."

"During the closed beta, due to the small number of players and their geographical distribution, the game's social impact could not be demonstrated."

"After the public beta launch, with the increase in players and advanced artificial intelligence, the number of rural employees in my country increased by 300 million in just ten days."

"Of course, the unemployment rate statistics only cover urban youth and not rural youth, so the unemployment rate has not fluctuated."

"If this trend continues, the number of players will increase further, and the number of new rural jobs will continue to rise."

"It is estimated that one job will be created for every two additional players."

One of the superiors said, "Isn't this ridiculous? Games are virtual products, at most they can be considered a service industry. No matter how many people they attract, it is difficult to promote social development."

Lao Yuan switched to the PPT, "According to the corporate strategy provided by Second Life, on the 10th day of the open beta, the simulation cultivation game will reach a cooperation agreement with three major telecommunications companies. If players do not want to redeem hamburgers and cola in the future, they can redeem 5 yuan of phone credit or a 1GB data package through the game's online store."

"On the 20th day of the open beta, we have reached a cooperation agreement with Futu Temple and Dongyue Taoist Sect. From now on, players can exchange Buddhist and Taoist items through the game's online store."

"On the 30th day of the open beta, we have partnered with Sanyuan Pharmacy, Sanyuan Fast Food, Sanxi Barber Shop, and Sanxi Bathhouse. Players can redeem medical tickets, medicine tickets, meal tickets, barber tickets, and bath tickets through the game's online store."

"On the 40th day of the open beta, in cooperation with the three-system store, players can redeem grains, oils, rice, flour, daily necessities, clothing, and shoes through the game's online store."

Another superior spoke up: "What's the difference between doing this and directly distributing supplies? The more we distribute, the greater the impact on the rural retail industry, and the more severe the bankruptcies and unemployment will be. It's like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."

The superiors who supported the three systems countered: "The players are all selected; they are unemployed, unable to afford medicine or medical care, and therefore unable to generate consumption. Providing them with resources through the game is like distributing rice, flour, and cooking oil to the elderly in the village, similar to social relief. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Moreover, this can not only promote production but also stabilize society, and it is a true reflection of the rich helping the poor."

"The question is, is it too frivolous to achieve all this through games?"

"You think it's ridiculous to think that you can stop tens of millions of people from having enough to eat with just a few words?"

"... "

The superior who spoke earlier reiterated: "This game employs two million human customer service representatives, and it's very likely they'll hire even more later. If you factor in the items that can be redeemed, how will it make money? Don't go through all that trouble; it won't last six months."

Lao Yuan switched to the PPT and explained, "In the future, with more and more online players, the brand promotion effect will become stronger and stronger, and a brand new business model will soon be formed."

"For example, the free burger doesn't taste as good as the crispy burger that costs 3 yuan plus a voucher. A crispy burger costs 1 yuan to make, so the game can earn 2 yuan."

"For example, the free bath tickets don't include back scrubbing, but when you go to take a bath, you'll almost always need a scrub. Paying an extra 2 yuan provides business for the back scrubbers."

"In short, the free redemption items are just a prelude."

"Furthermore, the game's virtual cultivation simulation has introduced some fun items in the game store, including regional megaphones for 5 red coins, provincial megaphones for 50 red coins, intercontinental megaphones for 500 red coins, and world megaphones for 5000 red coins; small fireworks for 500 red coins, and large fireworks for 5 red coins; a set of costumes with no attribute effects for 648 red coins, and a pendant with no attribute effects for 648 red coins... With the player base here, as long as these items are sold, the game's operating costs can be alleviated."

A superior said, "Who would be stupid enough to buy megaphones and costumes in a game?"

"The oil country prince obtained a set of equipment through connections within the factory. A few days ago, to celebrate the public beta test, he blasted the world's loudspeakers all night and set off a large-scale fireworks display all night, spending a total of 15.8 billion yuan in red banknotes."

"He's just rich and powerful."

"Your grandson, who works at China Railway Construction Corporation, obtained gaming equipment through Wang Zheng. In the game, in order to pursue a certain young lady from the Shanghai circle, although he kept a low profile and did not spam the world chat or set off large fireworks, he bought all the fashions, pendants, jewelry, wings, tattoos, dyeing props, background music... in the game store, spending a total of 4500 million."

"???"

"There are at least a thousand players like your grandson in the game. During the open beta, the game's in-game items generated a total of 220 billion red coins in sales."

"···"

"It can only be said that games are also a circle. In this new circle, if you want to obtain a corresponding identity in reality, besides strength, you also need to spend money. If you spend money, the game company can make money, can support human customer service, can attract more players, and can make you more willing to spend money."

"···"

Seeing that no one else was speaking, Lao Yuan continued, "This game also has an important attribute, which is to promote positive energy, improve players' worldview and values, and promote the growth of the private economy through human customer service."

"It is understood that during the internal testing period, Second Life's chief planner and Fan Tao supported nearly 10 individual business owners or small and medium-sized enterprises through various methods and channels, with an average shareholding ratio of 25%."

"As the number of gamers increases further, these private enterprises will also welcome 'partners' or investors, launch the first round of capital increase and production expansion, and thus become the leaders in the private sector in the East."

The supervisor nodded, "This is a good thing; it benefits the country and its people."

Once the tone was set, no one else raised any further questions.

Lao Yuan switched to the PPT, "As the number of players increases, the number of advanced artificial intelligences increases, players form teams and groups, browse forums, and exchange information with each other. As a result, more and more people have found ways to identify 'super artificial intelligence'."

"As people gain a deeper understanding, more and more people are beginning to question advanced artificial intelligence."

"Some people have suggested voice input, voice changing technology, and intelligent text correction."

"Someone exposed that Grandma Wang from the village was sitting in a rural revitalization online sales company, claiming to be eighteen years old and the most beautiful girl in the village."

"Someone secretly photographed the list of people recruited in the village to serve as human customer service representatives for games, and marked the corresponding game characters with advanced artificial intelligence."

"In response, Second Life disclosed the principles behind its AI."

"Data acquisition + data analysis + large model + central processing unit".

"It also stated that the advanced artificial intelligence in the game is based on data collected from real-world information, and that the subjective behavior of the advanced artificial intelligence is certainly similar to that of the people whose data were collected."

"Therefore, Second Life guarantees that it will strengthen its cooperation with Sanyuan Hi-Tech and strive to complete the comprehensive optimization of advanced artificial intelligence within two years, so that 'they' can break free from the behavioral constraints of the data collected and achieve independent personality."

"At present, we are unable to ascertain the current status of the three AI systems."

"However, due to the influence of the three industries, as of September this year, a total of 10.5 billion off-site identity cards have been applied for in the country, with 880 million actually held, two-thirds of which are concentrated in rural areas."

"Because the off-site identity cards can be used for online payments at Sanyuan Pharmacy, Sanyuan Fast Food, Sanyuan Restaurant, Sanyuan Department Stores, and Sanyuan Terminals, the total value stored by users has reached 7.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 53% of the savings deposits of urban and rural residents."

"Although these stored values ​​are all processed through the banking system, they do not affect banking operations." "However, the off-site identity card already has legal effect and is equivalent to an ID card in some areas, providing online identity, driver's license name, household registration certificate, etc."

"If the three AI systems have off-site identity cards, that would be a very scary thing."

"It can use the internet to influence education systems, healthcare systems, social security systems, and household registration management systems."

"Or, if advanced artificial intelligence or AI data humans really exist, once they have an external identity card, each additional AI data human is equivalent to adding an Eastern resident, enjoying social security rights."

"Therefore, we must supervise the three AI systems and off-site identity cards."

"My suggestion is to refer to the off-site identification card and launch a second-generation ID card with similar functions as soon as possible, as well as an electronic identity system."

The superiors discussed it for a while.

The supervisor began, "Sanyuan Agriculture has repeatedly expressed its desire for Beijing to acquire the Xintai database, which contains a nationwide dynamic geographic information system, dynamic meteorological system, dynamic population census system, dynamic medical security system, dynamic agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery monitoring system..."

"Leaving aside the price, the reason we haven't agreed is because the underlying database and hardware architecture are both from Yu Sanyuan. Even if we buy the Xintai database, we still can't guarantee that he won't secretly delete or modify the data."

"Of course, we tried to build a data center similar to the Xintai Database. Currently, it is only one percent the size. We took advantage of Yu Sanyuan's visit to Northwest A&F University to test the waters through Go, but ultimately failed miserably. The cost of this data center is about 1300 billion Hong Kong dollars."

"If we were to replicate the Xintai data center, the total investment would be difficult to estimate. This is not just a matter of technology and hardware, but also involves the accumulation of time."

"Ultimately, we decided to use the Xintai database and refer to the dynamic information provided there to improve the existing systems and make geographic information positioning and weather forecasts more accurate."

"Similarly, we can introduce a second-generation ID card, but with the current conditions, we cannot achieve the additional functions of an off-site ID card system, such as medical care, express delivery, shopping, and consumption. This involves the amount of manpower required, the integration of radar and communication, and grid-based community management."

"But we can use off-site ID cards to improve the ID card system. For example, in the past, some people held multiple ID cards. Because many areas were not connected to the network, it was difficult to find out that one person had multiple ID cards, allowing them to slip through the net. Now, with off-site ID cards as a reference, we can determine their movement trajectory and real identity through dining, consumption, transportation, accommodation, tourism, whereabouts, monitoring, etc."

"Therefore, we treat the ID card as official proof of identity and the off-site identity card as a resident information management system. We treat the two differently, but they can be mutually verified. There is no need to regulate the three-system AI and the off-site identity card, and it will not affect the education system, medical system, social security system, etc. It can even save fiscal expenditure."

Upon hearing this, many superiors nodded in agreement.

Old Yuan nodded in agreement, but he already knew the answer when he asked the question.

The reason for raising this issue is simply to show that he wants to go against Yu Sanyuan.

However, his superiors wouldn't allow him to actually go against Yu Sanyuan.

In this way, he would neither offend Yu Sanyuan nor be considered a close ally of Yu Sanyuan by his superiors.

Next.

Lao Yuan also introduced the three amphibious assault ships with a displacement of 4 tons and the three drone carriers with a displacement of 4 tons that are about to be delivered.

The former is priced at $40 billion per ship, while the latter is priced at $60 billion per ship.

The price was double that of Tijuana Group, but just yesterday, Tijuana Group placed an additional order with North American Pentagon, with the exact same price quoted by Sanyuan Heavy Industries.

The superiors could only lament that both sides were in cahoots.

As for buying...

Being able to afford Yu Sanyuan's things is one thing, but being able to use them is another.

Just like the Xiaodongyue-class destroyers, the annual maintenance and repair costs for each ship, plus ammunition replenishment, are almost equivalent to the cost of building a Type 052 destroyer, approximately 35 billion yuan.

A better 4-ton amphibious assault ship is almost comparable to a 4-ton Dongyue-class guided missile cruiser. The annual maintenance, repair and ammunition replenishment costs for each ship would probably be astronomical.

Moreover, once the warships are delivered, they are also incorporated into the naval forces, just like the Xintai database and the factory's external identification card. It doesn't matter whose ownership it belongs to, as long as it can be used.

Upon reflection, many superiors immediately understood.

"Three amphibious assault ships are not enough. We need to urge Yu Sanyuan to get at least 10."

"This drone carrier is good, but three is a bit too few. Shiliying Street is a large and wealthy place, and it can easily support 10. Urge Huang Ganchen to take action."

Old Yuan's lips twitched as he listened, but he didn't dare say, "If this continues, we'll become compradors." Instead, he took out another document and said, "The Japanese islands have called us, claiming that our tugboats towed away two of their amphibious landing ships and demanding their return as soon as possible."

"They're afraid to confront Yu Sanyuan, treating us like pushovers. Send a telegram back: the grievances should be settled with the perpetrators, and whoever towed it away should be held accountable."

····
Titan Corporation.

Yu Yang sat in front of the screen, fishing while AFK in the simulation cultivation game, and browsing posts on the simulation cultivation forum.

As it turns out, the number of players has increased, and the skepticism surrounding advanced artificial intelligence has diminished.

Currently, most players are concentrated in rural areas.

Computers were not yet widespread in rural towns, and the vast majority of players had never been exposed to keyboards and mice, keyboard joysticks, multi-button game controllers, or even played 3D games.

While it helps the vast majority of players operate the game, it is far less effective than using smart devices for voice input or relying on AI-assisted programs to control characters, which is much more convenient for the elderly.

Furthermore, with the help of AI-assisted programs, the elderly manage forums and chat tools, and even use beauty filters to create personas through selfies…

In particular, these 'masters' have far more experience than the young people.

This leads to advanced AI becoming more realistic than the players, and many people being mistaken for beta testers and even becoming their mentors.

Even more extreme, this has led to groups of elderly people forming cliques and then directing players in battle.

"One part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal, did you even go to elementary school? Hurry up and make it."

"Prepare the catapult, load the gunpowder, fire!"

"Holy crap, it's only been 10 days since the open beta, and the other side has already used an alchemy furnace to create a steam tank?"

"Airship! They've deployed an airship!"

Looking at the series of strange game screenshots on the forum, and then at the antique-style cultivation simulation page, Yu Yang asked, "Brothers, are we playing the same game?"

Soon after, I saw a bunch of posts asking to buy food or recruiting farming players.

"This is a cultivation game! What are you talking about, collecting food? You need to cultivate and abstain from grains!"

"Go away, only little brats cultivate immortality. We need to open up the Wakhan Corridor as soon as possible and build the railway from Aynak to the Caucasus to realize the westward expedition of the Eastern Legion!"

"???"

Yu Yang switched pages to view the European forum.

The posts are densely packed with people criticizing Second Life.

The reason is simple: there is a shortage of equipment in the European region, and there are only 20 players.

However, the number of Eastern players who have signed up for the Western Expedition has exceeded 500 million, in addition to over a million advanced artificial intelligences.

Besides.

Seventy to eighty thousand players from the three northeastern provinces are practicing swimming at the beach, planning to swim across to the Japanese islands and seize unclaimed land while there are no players on the islands.

As a result, Japanese forums were filled with criticism, demanding that the game be listed on the platform.

(End of this chapter)