Chapter 969: The First Person to Eat the Crab
While the new VR game pod was being developed, a new VR game was also being created simultaneously.
Chen Mo wasn’t too worried about the development of the new game; after all, the framework remained the same, just with a different way for players to enter the virtual world.
In reality, most older VR games could be adapted into next-generation VR versions, but they required many fine adjustments. This neural connection method essentially increased the game’s difficulty in a roundabout way, and players’ uncontrollable behaviors would grow exponentially. These issues had to be considered during the remastering process.
For example, if they wanted to make *Dark Souls* into a next-generation VR game, simply changing the method of consciousness access wouldn’t work. Two problems would arise.
First, players might actually have to perform rolling movements in muddy water, and if they rolled poorly, they’d get slashed. This was far more suffocating than the original method of achieving actions purely through consciousness.
Second, players could effortlessly climb knee-high steps or even half-human-height dirt slopes. Wouldn’t that completely mess up the level design?
When granting players high degrees of freedom, it also meant the game needed more complex rules and designs to mitigate the issues brought by that freedom. And all of this required a lot of work.
So, there was no rush to port these games.
*Detroit: Become Human*, as an interactive movie game, had relatively simple controls, making it easy for players to get started. After this game launched, they could observe player reactions and then decide on the subsequent development plan.
…
January 17th.
A brand-new VR game pod was delivered to Thunder Entertainment’s headquarters and moved into Chen Mo’s office.
This VR game pod had already undergone a week of testing at the Game Committee and related tech departments. Neurological experts and VR technology professionals confirmed that the device was harmless to the human brain before it was finally sent to Chen Mo.
During this time, Chen Mo had spent a lot of effort running back and forth to the Game Committee, driving himself crazy.
After all, this new VR game pod had an incredibly wide range of implications. Some people praised it, some coveted it, some questioned it… Every aspect had to be considered.
It was called a virtual reality game, but in reality, this VR game pod could be used in many fields, such as the military or medicine. So, whether it could be used and how it should be used weren’t decisions the Game Committee could make alone. It required communication and coordination between many departments.
Of course, for Chen Mo, this was all a clash of titans that had little to do with him.
Chen Mo was also forced to use a lot of the intelligence-reducing auras he’d stockpiled, finally allowing this new VR game pod to cut through all obstacles and reach the market.
Was there any risk?
In truth, Chen Mo knew there was basically no risk. Just like the technological advancements the system had pushed before, system products were trustworthy. But others didn’t know that, and some were bound to be suspicious.
However, when something had enough potential and involved enough interests, even if it carried some risk, it would still be heavily promoted.
Things like cigarettes, which are clearly harmful to human health, still sell well and have even become pillar industries in some regions.
So, by now, the new VR game pod had essentially obtained the license to be sold on the market.
The only question was… could it actually achieve the expected results?
Several important figures had gathered in Chen Mo’s office.
Zhou Jiangping from Le Hui had already arrived, along with Qiao Hua and Zhang Zhongxiang from the Game Committee. There were also several experts in neuroscience and leading figures in VR technology.
All these people had come to…
Witness a historic moment.
There was even a dedicated cameraman filming everything from multiple angles.
Because Chen Mo had made a request: he wanted to be the first to experience the new VR game pod.
Normally, it would be perfectly fine to find a few volunteers for testing during the trial phase, but Chen Mo insisted, “If you want to find volunteers for testing, that’s fine, but only after I’ve experienced it.”
Originally, Zhou Jiangping and Qiao Hua wanted to persuade Chen Mo. After all, this new device connected to brain nerves; before its safety was confirmed, it was better not to take the risk. But seeing Chen Mo’s determination, they dropped the subject.
In truth, the Game Committee’s technical tests had already shown that the device was basically harmless to humans. Most people were just a bit timid—after all, not everyone had the courage to be the first person to eat the crab.
Chen Mo smiled at everyone, then sat down in the VR game pod and lay back.
With a *click*, the pod’s hatch closed.
Through the transparent hatch, everyone could clearly see what was happening inside.
After Chen Mo lay down, the upper part of the neural interface helmet lowered and locked seamlessly with the bottom part of the pod, completely encasing Chen Mo’s head. The indicator lights lit up, signaling that hypnosis was about to begin, inducing a subconscious state.
At the same time, the life-support system activated. Special restraints secured Chen Mo’s chest, waist, arms, wrists, thighs, and ankles, with just the right tightness to avoid injury. The spot where Chen Mo lay had special grooves, with material that was neither too soft nor too hard, and the structure followed ergonomic principles, allowing him to lie for long periods without fatigue or muscle soreness.
Part of the life-support system was dedicated to monitoring the player’s vital signs, transmitting data to a display screen outside the pod.
All vital signs were completely normal. His breathing and heartbeat steadily calmed, indicating that Chen Mo was gradually entering a hypnotic state and preparing to connect to the virtual world.
Two large displays were connected to the VR game pod, both still completely black.
But two minutes later, images appeared on both screens.
One display showed Chen Mo’s first-person perspective, similar to the first-person view output from the original VR device. The other display showed a third-person perspective, as if a camera were filming from any angle in the virtual world.
At that moment, Chen Mo was in a virtual space, surrounded by nothing but white.
“So, why did you choose this as the test scene? Wouldn’t a seaside mansion be better?” Chen Mo’s voice came through the speaker outside the pod.
Everyone present was excited. Zhang Zhongxiang spoke through the microphone, “How is it, Chen Mo? Can you hear me? How do you feel right now?”
Chen Mo looked around, as if searching for the camera and sound source in the virtual space. “Yes, Chairman Zhang. I feel great. My breathing is steady, my heartbeat is strong, I feel full of energy… like an athlete.”
Qiao Hua explained, “Yes, the test data was taken from a gymnast’s stats. Maybe you could try doing a one-arm giant swing in the virtual world.”
“Forget it, you didn’t give me a horizontal bar,” Chen Mo said. “But I think I could try a backflip.”
Chen Mo tried to push off the ground with both legs while leaning backward.
Then he landed flat on his back.
A neuroscience expert nearby said, “Mr. Chen, although your physical attributes in the virtual world meet the standard, your brain doesn’t have the technique for a backflip, nor does it know how to coordinate each muscle.”
Chen Mo got up from the ground and instinctively brushed off his butt. “I know. You’ve adjusted the pain feedback, right? Falling on the ground feels like falling on cotton—no sensation. I think after another dozen or so falls, I’ll succeed.”
“So… can we change the scene? This endless white is blinding me. I want the seaside mansion from *Oasis*, and my dog.”