I propose a ‘game’ that hacks the real world. I think it’s definitely interesting.

I want to do business in virtual spaces, like games and VR.

A long time ago, when I was in junior high, I had an idea for a game like this: a game where you could do anything. Normal phenomena and ordinary events of daily life would just happen normally. I used to think it would be great if there was such a game.

For example, going to school, working part-time, joining club activities. The sun properly sets and night turns to day. There are four seasons, with summer and spring coming. You have a lifespan and grow older. You save money by working part-time. You do business. There's a vast world to travel. If you commit a crime, you go to jail. You fall in love. You get married and have children. What kind of life you lead is up to you! A game where ordinary things just happen ordinarily.

People get excited because they experience extraordinary spaces in games. For that, I think it's enough to just reproduce daily life in a virtual space. I wonder if that's the ultimate extraordinary. Because in a game, you can start over. You can restart your life as many times as you want. If you can restart in a game that's close to real daily life, wouldn't that be the most extraordinary thing of all?

Adding an economic zone to a junior high schooler's idea

That said, up to this point, it's just a junior high schooler's idea. Let's expand on it a bit.

The fields and worlds you travel between can be 'created by anyone who participates.' Make it an open world. The image is that participating users continuously add and expand fields. Of course, fields should be easy for anyone to create. I think there used to be a game called RPG Maker. It might be good to refer to that.

And, items and events can also be created by anyone. However, you can't upload them until they're complete, and once uploaded, all users can enjoy the event. Then, you create fun events on your own island or area, and those events can be purchased for, say, 100 yen. Of that, 20% goes to the operating company, and 80% is returned to the creator. There will probably be popular events too.

You also create items yourself and monetize them. Then, you circulate them in the virtual world.

However, to create items, you need materials. Materials must be paid for. Then, you decide how many to make. To create powerful items, you have to procure more expensive materials. The amount and quantity of materials determine the circulation volume. Then, once circulated, you price them at, say, 100 yen each and distribute them in the virtual world. Of course, about 20% of the 100 yen goes back to the operating company, and 80% goes back to the creator.

In other words, I think it would be good if we could establish the act of earning real money in a virtual world that continuously expands through the hands of users, from procuring materials to developing items, circulating them, and generating income.

Well, it's similar to Second Life, but a little different.

Circulate real cash-based businesses in the virtual world.

In other words, provide a mechanism that allows users to 'easily' add events and fields, and to set up businesses in the virtual world. Frankly, with current technology, I don't think it's impossible. Furthermore, it can expand the income cycle of the real world and build new business models.

Recently, many games have emerged, especially open-world types, that have evolved towards freedom. I think more will come out soon, and I'd even like to produce one myself. If such a virtual world existed, one could establish a life solely within an eternally expanding virtual world.

Games will likely evolve by pursuing even greater realism. In that case, the dreams and concepts I've just talked about will probably be realized by someone someday. Games should incorporate real-world mechanisms and evolve. And I think they will become enjoyable as VR, using Oculus Rift (the prototype of what is now Quest 3) and Morpheus.

Eventually, virtual worlds will evolve into worlds that exist parallel to reality.

I think a world or system that is complete only within a virtual world will emerge soon. So, in fact, to understand the reality and trends of the virtual world, I've been buying a lot of games. It's kind of scary, but also exciting, isn't it? Like an avatar.

Eventually, that virtual space will be directly connected to human eyeballs and brains, once brain function and technology, and physical function and technology, have evolved. We will be able to perceive the virtual world as if it were happening right before our eyes. I think recent VR technology is a precursor to that. Around that time, humans might live between the virtual world and the real world. Perhaps in about 50 to 100 years.

As a preliminary step, if we expand virtual space for users and set up a scheme to create businesses, we might hit the jackpot there. And by continuing updates, constantly introducing innovative and new systems, improving graphics, and so on, it will eventually become a virtual space parallel to the real world.

I think this is really interesting, and I hope it comes true soon. If it doesn't come true, I'm interested enough to want to make it happen myself. Ultimately, games might hack the real world. The development of technology really brings to mind enjoyable things. I'm glad I was born into this world.