On April 11, 2022, the State Press and Publication Administration released 45 new game versions. It has been 8 months since the suspension of the release of the version number in August last year, and these 8 months have been called "version number winter" by game practitioners.
Online games with the reputation of "the ninth art" have long been criticized by society as "electronic heroin". It is precisely because of its duality and the uneven status quo of domestic game products, in recent years, policies such as "underage real-name authentication" and "anti-addiction" have been introduced, and the suspension of the issuance of version numbers is after this.
In such a "cold winter", there have been many discussions on the pulse, including the survival and development status of the game industry? How do industry insiders anticipate the future of the industry? And how do you prepare for this? How did they react after the version number was restored? At present, "What opportunities does the game version number reboot bring?" "The game industry is going to 'gold five silver six'?" Two topics of discussion are hot. In order to answer these questions, the Beijing Youth Daily reporter interviewed two industry insiders.
Xiao Luo, an expert in pulse workplace development and a senior headhunting consultant of Chengdu Xindahan Human Resource Management Co., Ltd., observed the impact of these industry dynamics on both between prospective game practitioners and game companies. When she learned that the version number was issued, she excitedly informed her candidate in the circle of friends: "New Year's Day!" ”
Dao is a senior game operation expert in the pulse and the head of the operation of the competitive world, who has been in the downstream of the game industry chain for 8 years, and he has witnessed the development and changes of the industry while gaining insight into the mentality of user players. He said: "The gamers are still on the sidelines. ”
Here's what they have to say —
Game Headhunter Xiao Luo:
The distribution of the version number and the ideal of the game people made me see the hope of the game industry for the better
"Game companies are increasingly demanding talent"
Xiao Luo's language in the interview is vivid and humorous, belonging to the type that does not "drop the words on the ground", and the conversation shows the liveliness and humor of her life everywhere. She told reporters that such a personality is one of the reasons why she chose to come to the game field as a headhunter half a year ago. Here, she doesn't need to treat candidates and clients with a formal, serious tone like a headhunter in other fields. She would come up with the candidate who came to apply for the job and say, "I must 'sell' you for a good price." When confronted with a candidate whose qualifications do not meet the requirements, she will say to the other party: "When you have developed a fat turnip, I will 'sell' you for a good price." The other party responded to her with "If you 'sell' me for a good price, I will invite you to dinner."
Xiao Luo's responsibilities are mainly to meet the needs of both job seekers and customer companies, and the positions he is responsible for include original artists, battle planners, and data planners in the field of game development. She looks at 50 to 70 resumes a day on various job search platforms and selects 3 to 5 to recommend client companies.
Xiao Luo observed that since the suspension of the release of the version in August last year, the personnel needs of the game company have changed. "These companies have fewer new games, and everyone is refining their existing games and pursuing their own unique advantages." As a result, game companies are more demanding of candidates. "Some candidates' conditions were put in the past, and it was no problem to push them to the company, but now they push them over, and they may not get the opportunity to interview." Xiao Luo said.
Xiao Luo recalled that she had met a candidate for an original painter who had worked in a well-known factory. This candidate's work has won awards, and Xiao Luo also judged her qualifications based on experience, so he recommended her to a company. Unexpectedly, the company replied in seconds: "This person is not suitable." Xiao Luo said that because the company did not think her work was very good.
"Last year there was a problem where everyone in the market said they couldn't find a job, and a lot of companies said they couldn't hire people. The needs of both sides are not met. Luo said.
"The flow of talent in the gaming industry has become faster"
Although there are difficulties in finding a job, Xiao Luo found that the number of job seekers in the game industry has not decreased, and in a sense even become more. "Many of the version numbers issued by the state belong to small and medium-sized companies, while large companies that have not obtained version numbers will have to cut some projects, and some people will leave the company." Among the 45 new version numbers issued in April this year, most of them are the projects of small and medium-sized game manufacturers, while large manufacturers such as Tencent Games and NetEase Games have not received version numbers.
In fact, from 2017 to 2021, the number of domestic game version numbers issued annually decreased year after year, from 9369 models to 755 models. From August last year to March this year, the game industry spent eight consecutive months of empty window periods, and no one knows when the release of version numbers will be resumed. Under such a trend, many large manufacturers choose to shrink the front line and concentrate on mature game IP or market hot themes. Correspondingly, some practitioners return to the job market.
At the same time, in the context of the general layoffs in large factories, many gamers are planning ahead and looking for opportunities in advance as insurance. "Everyone is at risk. When people hear the rumors that their own projects or similar projects are about to be dismantled, they wonder if they may be affected. With this idea, the first thing to do is to pull out your phone and download a few recruitment software. For a variety of reasons, "the talent flow in the game industry has become faster than before." ”
"The dream of game people will make the industry better and better"
Most of the candidates for Xiaoluo's docking are post-90s and post-00s. In his contact with them, Xiao Luo observed that they were basically veteran players, and even used to be "Internet addicted teenagers" in the eyes of their parents, while on the inner level, they all had similar "game dreams". "The post-90s and post-00s are Internet natives, and many of them have been exposed to games since childhood and have their own understanding of games." Xiao Luo said, "After entering the industry, they will prefer to do a good job in the game, while resisting some games with rough workmanship and poor content, which is the dream of this generation of gamers." ”
Among these candidates, some of the better conditions will also have a higher vision of the position, "they are more willing to choose projects according to their favorite and good areas." ”
The ambition of these young people has given Xiao Luo more confidence in the future of the industry. She believes that along with the trend of younger game practitioners, the industry is pursuing higher and higher game quality. "China doesn't have a triple-A game of its own right now, but in the future, the industry will get better and better, and rough games will slowly fade out of the market."
"After the version number was issued, the position was increased"
Since the release of 87 editions on July 22, 2021, in the following 8 months, the State Press and Publication Administration has not released the edition number, which has been called "edition winter" by gamers. After 263 days, on April 11 this year, the "Game Approval Results" column of the official website of the State Press and Publication Administration was updated, and 45 version numbers were announced. "My feeling at the time was that the game people were new to the New Year. Not only me, but also the people around me are also jubilant, and everyone feels that the cold winter of the industry has passed. Xiao Luo told reporters that there are many gamers around her who have planned to leave the game field, and after they heard the news, they felt that the game industry was "alive" again, so they reconsidered the problem of staying.
After the version number was resumed, Xiao Luo felt that the number of jobs offered by various companies had increased, which made her more obvious that the industry was developing for the better. "I hope that the game people who have not yet landed, whether they are fresh graduates or practitioners, will not be overly anxious." Your current situation is due to the turmoil in the industry and the economic downturn under the epidemic. Now that the version number has been released, there will be more posts in the future, and I hope that everyone will not be too pessimistic. Luo said.
Competitive World Game Operator:
The gamers are still on watch
8 years of Daocai, 8 years of industry
These days, Daocai is participating in a competitive mobile game project, and it is expected to launch a new version during May Day. As the head of the company's operations, Daocai's work includes version operation, event operation and channel operation. Due to the approaching deadline, Dao Cai has recently often stayed in the unit from 10 am to 10 pm.
In 2014, Daocai, who was about to graduate from a university major in mathematics, wanted to enter the Internet industry, but mistakenly entered a company that specializes in web games, thus stepping into the game industry. At that time, the domestic mobile game field had just started.
This is Daocai's 9th year working in the game industry. In the past 8 years, he has worked in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, from the field of page games to the field of mobile games, witnessing the development and changes of the domestic game industry in recent years.
"When I first entered the industry, domestic browser games were particularly popular, mobile games were just starting out, at that time, companies in Guangzhou and Shenzhen were basically doing browser games, and Beijing was mainly some old big manufacturers. Since 2014, many companies have begun to transform into mobile games. In 2016, the types of games made by established manufacturers were mainly MMOs (massively multiplayer online games). In 2017, "PUBG" from overseas was particularly popular, so the Chinese began to study shooting games. After 2018, card games began to occupy a part of the market. In August last year, the issuance of version numbers was suspended, and many companies began to work on overseas layouts. ”
Dao found that in the current industry background, the game category is being refined. "For example, planning and operating two positions, they are directly linked to the product, then in the future, when the unit is recruiting, it may depend on whether the candidate is familiar with the corresponding game category, rather than recruiting people from the general direction as before."
Regarding the resumption of the release of the version in April this year, Dao Cai said: "From the perspective of players, they have new games to play; from the perspective of people in the industry, there are more opportunities, especially operations." So, of course, I am very happy that the version number is issued. He explained that the operation position belongs to the downstream of the industry, and the new game only involves the operation work after obtaining the version number, so when there is no new version number, the opportunity for the operation post is actually much less than other positions.
In addition to being happy, Daocai also knows that there are still many uncertainties in the industry. "Everyone is still waiting and seeing if there will be a new version next month, and how many new versions there will be." Dao Cai said.
"After the implementation of 'anti-addiction', game companies began to 'do subtraction'"
Today, there are still many people who scoff at online games, believing that it poisons the body and mind of young people. Daocai's parents also can't fully understand their son's work, "When it comes to games, many people think it is something that hurts children. Dao Cai said. When he came home every New Year and needed to introduce his job to relatives, he often used the phrase "working in an Internet company" to avoid contradictions.
Dao Cai also understood their "incomprehension." He says well-made games can be appreciated as art, but for some people with poor self-control, some games are easy for them to indulge in and tend to cost them a lot of money.
In June 2021, the revised Law on the Protection of Minors came into effect, which stipulates in the form of legislation that minors need real-name authentication to enter games. Subsequently, on August 30, the "Notice on Further Strict Management and Effectively Preventing Minors from Addicted to Online Games", which is known as "the strictest anti-addiction in history", was released, clarifying that all online game companies can only provide 1 hour of online game services to minors from 20:00 to 21:00 every day on Fridays, Saturdays and statutory holidays, and may not provide online game services to minors in any form at other times. As a game practitioner and a person involved in providing online game services, Daocai does not think that these new policies are bad news for him, "From my personal point of view, I think this is very good." Dao Cai said.
Dao Cai observed that in such a policy background, many game companies are "doing subtraction". "The games players will play are actually limited, and game companies choose to develop better in these major areas." Dao Cai said.
Become friends with user players
Although it was a mistake to hit the line, Dao Cai was a game enthusiast and a senior player before entering the industry. During college, the five people in the dormitory would "open the black" together on weekends, playing games such as dotas and League of Legends. If there are no other restrictions, you can play all day long. Now, Daocai still uses his lunch break and after work time to play some competitive games and cultivation games, but while enjoying it, he will play these games with the purpose of competitive research. If he focuses on one game, he may spend up to 3 hours a day on the game. "Some games are more casual, and some games are still more brain-burning." Dao Cai said.
Dao Cai believes that games can release stress and play a casual role. In addition, games are a social medium, and people can do a lot of communication when playing games together to promote and maintain feelings.
As a game operation, one of the key points in the work is to deal with user players and understand the player's experience and opinions. Daocai shared that once when their team was testing a game, they recruited a group of core players, and they would "open the black" with the core players and exchange game experiences with each other. One of the players always gave him loyal feedback and suggestions, which gave them a lot of help. Later, the player developed into offline friends with them and traveled with them to Yunnan.
In Daocai's observation, these core players have usually played a wide variety of games and played for longer than others. After extensive and in-depth contact with the game, they have a strong willingness to express their views on the game, so they are more involved in the discussion. In addition, most of them love the other games of these game companies, are willing to "generate electricity for love", and do their best to propose their own improvement plan for the game.
Dao Cai recalled that there was once a core player who, after participating in the test, invested in an internship position in their company and became an intern in their company. The positive interaction with the player into friendship is one of the pleasures that Daocai feels at work.
Intern reporter Gu Xiaoxiao
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Wen Jing
Editor/Fan Hongwei
![The game version number was issued 45 copies, and the chairman of the game company, Huang Yimeng, cried with joy[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)