VIRTUALLY RUNNING THE SHOW

Audiences of reality shows incorporating physical challenges, adrenaline-pumping activities and problem-solving challenges often find themselves engrossed in the tension and drama. They can't help but be captivated by the thrilling scenarios and wonder how they would perform if they were faced with the same challenges as the contestants.

Fortunately for those viewers, in the latest season of the outdoor reality game show Run for Time, which leverages the interactive power of the metaverse, they have the opportunity to engage in the virtual space and put their skills to the test, taking on tasks and embarking on missions firsthand.

The show requires its celebrity participants, which include singer-actor Gao Hanyu, TV host Jin Mengjia and Hong Kong actor William Chan, to complete tasks both in reality and online, in a virtual world.

In the sci-fi infused reality show, all participants are tasked with completing missions that contribute to the progression of a storyline, all the while evading the clutches of the relentless and mysterious "hunters", who don black suits and sunglasses.

The show's first season, which aired in 2015 and was fully live action, garnered a stellar 8.7 out of 10 points on the review site Douban.

Its latest season, which is being aired on Hunan Satellite TV and video-sharing platform Mango TV, aims to further attract viewers through the groundbreaking addition of the metaverse, blending live action with virtual reality.

Donning VR gaming equipment, audience members can also fully immerse themselves in challenges similar to those featured on the show.

Last winter, Mango TV's technology team formed a VR department. This year, the platform will introduce wider implementation of VR technology in its program production, enhancing user interaction, according to Lu Haibo, CTO of Mango TV.

He is of the opinion that the metaverse has opened up new possibilities for the production of reality TV shows.

"For instance, by using VR technology, it may soon become feasible for entertainers to remotely participate in the recording of our metaverse-driven programs," says Lu.

Furthermore, the integration of the metaverse into variety shows has revolutionized the way users interact with the content. In traditional variety shows, users watch the finished production and engage via real-time, on-screen comments. However, in the metaverse, variety shows are expected to offer users the unique opportunity to participate in the program's creation in the virtual realm. They can interact with virtual avatars of the celebrity participants to accomplish tasks, or even assume the role of non-playable characters, or NPCs, within virtual games, he adds.

"Furthermore, the integration of the metaverse into variety shows makes the process of commercial operations easier. This includes the seamless insertion of advertisements within the virtual space and facilitating transactions involving virtual props and assets," says Lu.

Additionally, they have plans to develop a fully-fledged game based on the core gameplay of Run for Time. Prior to this, the technology team had transformed certain gameplay elements from the puzzle-solving variety show Who's the Murderer into a game application called Forest Evolutionism.

"During the internal testing phase, within a few days, more than 50 percent of users played for over 10 hours, and some users even played for 30 to 40 hours. This confirms that we can amplify the value of the content of variety shows through this approach," Lu says.

In each episode of Run for Time, there is a segment where some participants are required to wear VR devices and step onto omnidirectional treadmills. They navigate through the virtual space, exploring and completing tasks by manipulating game controllers.

Sometimes, they have to rely on their teammates in the real world to search for clues to help them solve puzzles within the virtual realm. This virtual adventure not only demands teamwork and patience but also showcases the participants' physical abilities, adding an extra layer of excitement to the experience.

An Desheng, producer of the program, explains that the decision to design the gameplay in this manner aims to capture the players' sense of tension and fatigue while controlling virtual avatars.

"This immersive approach, where players physically move and engage in the game, is intended to provide a stronger sense of empathy from the viewers compared to the static control of the game using handheld controllers. It enables the audience to truly immerse themselves in the action and experience a heightened sense of involvement," he says.

Additionally, a special focus of this season of the show revolves around the theme of "the speed of China" and aims to showcase the great progress China has made over the past decade in areas such as technological development, environmental protection and intangible cultural heritage preservation.

The program has planned a total of 12 episodes, each visiting a destination that exemplifies the spirit of "the speed of China". These locations include the Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology's factory in Hunan province, the lantern exhibition zone in Zigong, Sichuan province, and the Nanjing Garden Expo in Jiangsu province.