Chapter 1007: GTA Photography Contest
While players were deeply immersed in the world of GTA, unable to tear themselves away, a new Weibo post from Chen Mo once again stirred up a massive uproar.
GTA Photography Contest!
Many players were utterly bewildered when they heard the news. A photography contest in a game? Are you kidding?
But after reading the detailed rules and the specific rewards, everyone lost their cool.
Isn’t it just a photography contest? Bring it on!
Among the players, there were many photography enthusiasts, and even some who had won awards in real-life photography competitions. A mere in-game photography contest? No big deal!
Why were players so eager to participate? Because the rewards were simply too generous...
The rules for this GTA Photography Contest weren’t complicated. Within a two-week period, players could freely submit relevant materials for evaluation. The contest was divided into two categories: the photography category and the videography category, accepting photos and videos respectively.
These two categories were judged separately, scored by a dedicated panel of judges, and then combined with player votes to select the top 100 from each. These 200 players would receive a generous reward: one GTA Friend Invitation Voucher.
Though it was called an invitation voucher, it was essentially a free copy of GTA. Since most participants in the photography contest had already bought the game, this copy could be freely gifted to any friend.
Many players got excited. This was no small value!
GTA was priced at 3,680 soft coins domestically and 660 US dollars internationally. For players who could afford a Matrix Game Pod, this wasn’t a huge sum, but it was far from negligible! Besides, who would turn down free money?
And this time, a total of 200 people would win. That was a significant number. If there were only a few dozen spots, many might not bother, but raising it to 200 gave many players the illusion that “I should be able to win.”
Players flocked into GTA, driving around to admire the nearby scenery, taking photos of people, landscapes, cars, dogs, and everything fun...
In GTA, Chen Mo had reserved similar features. Taking photos could be done directly through the in-game phone. The in-game Lehui Phone had an auto-photography function, and unlike real-life phones limited by pixels, it could capture images as clearly as desired.
As a representative next-generation VR game, Chen Mo had used the highest-quality art resources in creating GTA. The models and textures were extremely detailed, surpassing all previous VR games in refinement. Even the ambient lighting was rendered exceptionally realistic—water reflections, sunlight, weather, all breathtakingly beautiful.
The in-game Lehui Phone also had a filter function, allowing players to adjust the color tones of their shots with a variety of filters, creating a very unique atmosphere.
As for videography, it was even more complex. Players could use specialized remote-controlled drones in the game for aerial shots, then freely edit the footage. Currently, GTA didn’t have a multiplayer mode, but players still had plenty to film. Once multiplayer was added, with multiple players cooperating, it would even be possible to achieve the effect of shooting a movie within GTA.
...
Soon, a large batch of contest entries was posted on GTA’s official forum.
Spectators who came to watch were all stunned. Holy crap, was this really taken in a game?!
A silver sports car parked on a beach, the distant sea shimmering with ripples, the surface dotted like stars.
A Black woman leaned against the door of a trailer in a slum, staring blankly at the camera. A black-and-white filter seemed to convey her despair at life.
In an alley, sunlight streamed through a gap, casting light on a silver compact car, giving this somewhat retro vehicle a sci-fi sheen.
The sun set in the west, the horizon dyed with fiery red clouds. A seaside amusement park cast its reflection on the water.
On a patch of lush green grass, Chop was chasing a butterfly, his short hind legs pushing off the ground, front paws raised, looking adorably clumsy.
These were just a portion of the photography entries, covering subjects like landscapes, people, and vehicles. The selected works, whether in composition or color, were completely on par with real photography.
As for the videography entries, they were even more creative.
Since multiplayer mode wasn’t available yet, most video entries focused on aerial shots. But even with aerial photography, many people found new ways to innovate.
A lone car parked on a mountaintop, the distant sunset glowing faintly, windmills standing and spinning in solitude, as if listening to the world’s loneliness.
Morning mist lingered over the sea, indigo waves gently rising and falling, crashing against rocks. The camera pulled back to reveal a few fishing boats heading out to sea.
In a valley, flowers bloomed in profusion. Tall grass bent gently in the breeze, butterflies fluttered among the trees, their movements graceful.
Following the coastline, the setting sun dyed the sea a deep red, making it look like an ocean of wine, tempting one to take a sip and savor it.
Deep, dark caves.
Towering mountain peaks.
Steep, rugged canyons.
Lonely lighthouses.
Distant thunderclaps.
Majestic sea-crossing bridges.
Endless streams of traffic.
Skyscrapers.
Intricate overpasses.
A city of neon lights that never sleeps.
Iconic landmarks one after another.
These video works weren’t just casually shot; many were meticulously edited, paired with fitting background melodies—some soothing, some tense—combined with smooth, steady camera movements. The final results were stunning.
Many people, after seeing these photography and videography entries, looked at their own and felt they were utter garbage...
Some players even wondered, are we playing the same GTA?
Did you guys secretly pay extra?
Originally, many felt pretty good about themselves, thinking they’d surely be among the 200 lucky winners. But after seeing these outstanding works, they instantly realized they were out of luck.
However, this photography contest also made a large number of spectators realize just how beautiful GTA’s scenery was!
While constantly figuring out how to capture better views, players’ footprints covered all of Los Santos, traversing every corner of the city and Blaine County, savoring the sights.
Many people also mischievously showed the contest photos to unsuspecting spectators, and many couldn’t tell which was the game and which was reality!
This highly realistic virtual world scenery once again earned GTA great fame, giving it a strong boost in presence.
After intense judging, the 200 outstanding entries were finally selected. There wasn’t much controversy; the chosen works were all highly popular. Chen Mo quickly fulfilled his promise, and the winners’ Thunder Game Platform accounts each received a giftable copy of GTA, which could be given to any friend.
Many players who had been hesitating about whether to buy a Matrix Game Pod, upon receiving a gifted GTA from a friend, gritted their teeth and bought one!
Only after buying did they feel something was off.
Emmmm...
Chen Mo gave away a copy, and then they spent 300,000 on a Matrix Game Pod?
How... did it feel... like they’d lost out?