Chapter 438: Debate and Discussion
The first designer stepped onto the stage.
This was an A-grade designer from Imperial Dynasty Interactive Entertainment, also specializing in PC games. He had clearly done plenty of research on *League of Legends* as well.
"Regarding competitive games, my view is this: Competitive games will continue to develop over the next three to five years and become one of the mainstream game genres on PC. As for the VR side, I haven't studied it much, so I'll leave that for other designers to discuss."
"Now, let me explain why competitive games will become the mainstream genre on PC."
The audience below listened with great interest.
It was obvious that this designer had prepared a lot of material before the exchange meeting, covering the history of esports and related analysis. He touched on everything from the early development of RTS game competitions, to the emergence of gaming clubs, and finally to the success of *League of Legends*—all fairly accurate.
"The reason I assert that competitive games will continue to develop over the next three to five years is that, on PC, they have a huge advantage over other game genres. These include fragmented time usage, repeatable experiences, clear objectives, and ease of dissemination. All these traits align perfectly with the habits of current mainstream PC players."
"In the coming years, the habits of mainstream PC players are unlikely to change, so I conclude that competitive games still have great potential on PC."
Soon, the first designer finished his talk.
The second designer took the stage to discuss the current state of competitive games in the VR field. This designer was also from Imperial Dynasty Interactive Entertainment.
"Regarding the development of competitive games in VR, to be honest, it's lagging far behind the PC side. Of course, the reasons for this are complex and multifaceted."
"Currently, competitive games in VR mainly refer to FPS games, but there are no major tournaments yet. This is primarily limited by two factors: the player base and spectator appeal."
"The VR player base is already small, and FPS games have fewer players than RPGs. With an insufficient player count, large tournaments lack enough viewers. As for spectator appeal, FPS games change too rapidly. Even with commentators, it's hard for viewers to keep up with every exciting moment on the battlefield."
"However, I remain optimistic about the esports ecosystem on VR. Clearly, VR is a platform of comprehensive progress and innovation compared to PC. VR games are the future direction of gaming—there's no doubt about that. So, I lean toward the idea that VR games can support competitive gaming; we just haven't found the right path yet."
After the second designer finished, the third designer came up.
This designer was from Zen Art Interactive Entertainment. As soon as he stepped on stage, he presented a different viewpoint.
"Regarding the development prospects of competitive games on VR, I hold a different opinion. In my view, competitive games are only popular temporarily. Over time, they will inevitably decline."
"The reason is simple: games are different from traditional sports. The turnover rate for games is too fast. I've never heard of any game dominating for more than three years. If a game fades, the esports system built up with so much effort becomes a castle in the air, collapsing in an instant..."
These designers expressed their own opinions, each holding their ground.
Some believed competitive games had great potential and would enjoy bright development prospects in the future. Others thought competitive games were just a flash in the pan, fading quickly as the games themselves declined.
Of course, some rebutted this, arguing that when one competitive game declined, another would take its place. While games might fade, the audience would transition, meaning the competitive gaming genre as a whole would only grow stronger.
Then someone else countered, claiming the idea of "audience transition" was untenable. Most viewers only watched games they played themselves. The premise of "audience transition" relied on "player transition," but not every future blockbuster game could be a competitive game, could it?
...
That was the nature of the exchange meeting. Since the discussion revolved around unresolved topics in the industry, it was full of arguments, refutations, and counter-refutations. But that was also the purpose of the meeting. Through this debate, the designers in the audience could form their own thoughts and develop their own understanding of the issue.
At the same time, through constant exchange and debate, the flaws in various viewpoints were pointed out, helping everyone get closer to the ultimate truth.
Zhang Xiaokong glanced at Chen Mo sitting beside him and noticed he was still listening with great interest.
The organizer of this exchange meeting hadn't invited Chen Mo. In truth, Chen Mo was the designer of *League of Legends*, and it seemed odd that such a topic would exclude him.
But the main issue was that the organizer was a designer from Imperial Dynasty Interactive Entertainment, and Imperial Dynasty and Chen Mo didn't get along. The organizer had probably considered this and felt awkward about extending an invitation.
Most of the invited designers were from Imperial Dynasty Interactive Entertainment, with a small number from Zen Art Interactive Entertainment. This was quite evident.
Moreover, these designers believed that before *League of Legends* appeared, Chen Mo's ideas were indeed completely ahead of their time. But after *League of Legends* came out, most designers could study the game carefully and uncover its success factors, not necessarily knowing less than Chen Mo.
Of course, Chen Mo still had some tricks up his sleeve. But even if he were invited to speak, would he reveal those secrets? Obviously not. Even if Chen Mo came, he'd probably just talk about things everyone could already see.
So, Chen Mo wasn't on the list of speakers for this exchange meeting.
...
The discussion phase lasted two hours, with a twenty-minute break in between.
After the last designer finished, the organizer took the stage again.
"Alright, after the presentations from several designers, you should all have your own opinions. Now, feel free to speak your minds. As usual, anyone who wants to speak can come up to the stage. But please keep it brief—ten minutes per person, and try to be concise."
After saying this, the organizer stepped aside.
One by one, designers came up to share their views. Of course, the designers attending this awards ceremony were at least somewhat famous domestically, and they were all very restrained in such a setting. There was basically no hogging the stage or talking nonsense. They showed mutual respect, so the atmosphere remained orderly.
The organizer listened to the new speakers while glancing around the audience.
"Huh?"
When his gaze swept over a seat in the back corner, he actually saw Chen Mo, sitting together with Zhang Xiaokong and the others.
"Chen Mo?"
The organizer rubbed his eyes to confirm he wasn't mistaken.