"Metacosm", a term from science fiction, has now become a buzzword in the streets. In an instant, the enterprise circle will be called the meta-universe, and some people simply preemptively register the relevant trademarks of the "meta-universe" and want to make a lot of money on the outlet. Some games under the banner of "meta-universe" also came into being, declaring that "making money while playing games" and promising huge profits. However, the Nandu reporter's investigation found that these games are just a matter of fundraising fraud in the guise of "meta-universe". Some insiders revealed that these game projects often "only in and out", developers are running to the user's property at the beginning, as long as the circle of money is successful, the game will stop operating. Some industry observers believe that these "meta-universe" games may be suspected of illegal fundraising, financial fraud, and pyramid schemes, which are illegal and criminal activities.
Can vegetable growing and racing games also meta-universe?
To play, you have to spend money
"We are a decentralized virtual space metaverse game, and the game data can be checked in the whole chain." "By allowing more players to participate in a low-threshold way, ordinary people can also earn high returns through the game."
In the "meta-universe game" Baidu tieba bar, the reporter saw a lot of such publicity online posts. The "meta-universe" game promoted by the online post is also known as "chain game", that is, a blockchain game, and the copywriting is full of fashionable words such as "virtual community", "decentralization", and "digital collection".
These metaverse games come in a variety of forms, from farm planting games to racing racing games to adventure games that raise cats for combat. The gameplay seems to be no different from ordinary games, but it emphasizes that players can get actual benefits through the game. "Playing games with your fingers can bring high rewards to players", full of temptations.
The interface of a so-called "meta-universe" game.
A farm-growing game claims that players can enjoy value-added gains as long as they buy the digital artwork "Farmer NFT" published by the game company, and as the game becomes more popular. After entering the game, you can also spend money to recharge the land for planting and breeding, and you can sell it for profit after harvest.
In another racing game, players buy the "Racing NFT" issued by the game company to play, and in the game, they earn tokens to improve the performance of the car, and the player can profit from the NFT value added in the racing game.
The reporter's investigation found that these metaverse games require players to spend money to buy the so-called "NFTs". It is understood that NFT is a kind of right certificate based on blockchain technology, which has the characteristics of immutable, inseparable and cannot be replaced by each other, and has become an important carrier of digital art collection activities, but there is no unified standard for valuation, and some people think that the current NFT trading market is very chaotic.
The reporter found that the NFT prices sold by these meta-universe games are not low, such as a digital gift box for farm planting games, priced at 398 yuan, containing the so-called "farmer NFTs" and "land" and other farming materials.
A "meta-universe" farm game sells a game package for 398 yuan.
Recently, Nandu reporters selected some metaverse games for observation, and found that most of the game screens were rough and the music was monotonous, far from achieving the effect of publicity.
Reporter Investigation:
The name "hitting gold" is actually "circle money"
In the mouths of some "metaverse" gamers, the so-called "gold" term is often heard. What is "hitting gold"? In fact, it is "mining".
"This is a bit like coin flipping, but using games as a carrier." A meta-universe game promoter told Nandu reporters that players can recharge tokens to buy heroes, and then risk fighting monsters to get gold coins, and then sell the gold coins, "similar to mining in the speculation, except that we operate through mobile phones, low cost, high coins." ”
These metaverse games claim that after entering the game, they can further recharge and purchase game equipment for "gold" operation, and can obtain virtual tokens in the game, and said that tokens can be sold in some markets for profit.
Some insiders revealed to the Nandu reporter that many meta-universe game project parties are building products abroad, docking the virtual currency market, and then attracting users to "circle money" in China, and the basic model is mostly the same: first let the participants exchange cash for the virtual currency issued by foreign platforms, and then exchange the gold coins and materials in the game through virtual currency, and carry out the so-called "gold" and "investment". But in fact, these virtual currencies are not well known, and there are great risks in player trading.
Industry insiders told Nandu reporters that these so-called metaverse games are essentially "a web game with no technical content, with the skin of the metacosm and blockchain."
The reporter also found on some e-commerce websites that some studios provide meta-universe game development services. A merchant told reporters that a set of "meta-universe farm" games costs more than 50,000 yuan and can also provide services for docking foreign virtual currency markets.
A "meta-universe" game development studio shows the game screen.
Industry insiders revealed that many game projects under the banner of meta-universe and blockchain "only in and out", even if players see the rise in the price of coins, they cannot be sold, "because the developer is in the spirit of the user's property at the beginning", and later the game stops operating, and it is difficult for users to protect their rights.
Expert Opinion:
Some metaverse games may be suspected of illegal fundraising
Zhang Shule, an internet industry analyst, believes that the core element of the so-called meta-universe game should provide an immersive interactive experience through VR/AR and other devices, "with the sign of 'meta-universe game', the essence is a farm-grown web game, which is very far-fetched and does not meet the relevant definitions." Zhang Shule reminded investors that at present, many large enterprises at home and abroad have invested tens of billions of yuan in research and development of meta-universe products, but there are very few that can really be launched for the market, do not trust the network touting, and invest their own property in the so-called "meta-universe game" developed by some small companies.
Zhang Shule also said that although NFTs have their "unique" characteristics, it does not mean that all NFT digital collections have collection value, "ordinary people's paintings and masters' paintings are on NFTs, although they are unique, but the value is definitely different." Many operators confuse "uniqueness" with the concept of "high value" and induce unsuspecting investors to invest.
"At present, some so-called meta-universe games are essentially no different from ordinary small games, but they just rub a concept, and their contribution to users and the industry is limited." Zhang Yi, chief analyst of Ai Media Consulting, told Nandu reporters that these "meta-universe" and "blockchain" games may be suspected of illegal fundraising, financial fraud, pyramid schemes and other illegal and criminal activities, and investors should be vigilant against illegal acts related to illegal fund-raising and gambling pyramid schemes under the concept of meta-universe and blockchain.
Co-ordinator Nandu, N video reporter Chen Jiesheng
Written by Nandu, N video reporter Wei Zhixin Intern Chen Jiaqi