中国FARMER最勤奋 卧虎游戏创始人访谈
本期4U访谈嘉宾：卧虎游戏（OffGamers LTD）创始人 KEN先生、Stanley先生
采访人：4U社区总编圣者
圣者的游戏博客>>>
圣者：KEN先生、Stanley先生，很高兴见到两位！首先欢迎贵公司来到中国开拓虚拟交易市场。据我所知，OffGamers 是国际虚拟交易界的一家老牌网站，在美服和欧服市场，一直有不错的口碑和很好的销售业绩，按照我们的采访惯例，能否请您先介绍一下offgamers的发展历程？
卧虎游戏：卧虎游戏（OffGamers LTD）前身为 Offd2。2001年时，Offd2只是一间专卖暗黑2（Diablo 2）装备的小网站，经营模式非常简单。虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT-Real Money Trade）对我们来说是相当新鲜的一个业务。随着时间流逝，虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT-Real Money Trade）越来越被大众所看好，同时我们也意识到这个市场有着广阔的前景。当时我们趁这行业刚刚兴起，在2004年末成立了卧虎游戏（OffGamers）。碰巧魔兽世界也是在这个时期发布，顺理成章的伴随这款的发展逐渐巩固了我们的市场地位。
臥虎游戏（OffGamers）目前除了魔兽金币买卖外，还有20余种网络游戏，当然魔兽还是我们目前主要的经济来源。臥虎游戏（OffGamers）的初期概念是搭建玩家和玩家之间交易的桥梁。玩家可以在玩乐之余赚取月卡费，补贴游戏所花费的负担，到目前为止我们还是始终如一的扮演这个角色。2007年是一个非常具有挑战性的一年，我们会专注于更好地发展网站各项业务。
圣者：贵公司是在本月才开通OffGamers中国站的。我们想了解的是，OffGamers 为什么选择在这个时刻进入中国？您是如何看待目前的中国市场的？从我们的角度看，05年和06年，是虚拟交易在大陆最火的时期，ige等公司，也都是在那时进入中国。而目前，很多人认为，虚拟交易最好做的时候已经过去，他们认为虚拟交易已经进入了一个困难时期，OffGamers 选择这个时刻进入中国，您具体是如何考虑的？
卧虎游戏：不错，目前在中国的采购市场，我们确实还占不到上风。2005年和2006年期间我们看到了虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT）市场的萌芽，尤其在这人力强盛的中国，有不少国际采购商都纷纷进入中国市场进行采购。当时的我们错失了进入中国市场的机会，主要原因在于当时我们还没有准备就绪，加上海外市场的供应有相当不错的回响，就没能及时抓住这个机会。
无可否认，延迟进入这么有潜能和无穷资源的国家市场是我们策略上的一个污点。除此之外，我们在中国从来不曾看到虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT）发展缓慢的情况出现，恰恰相反的看到了步步高升的趋向，渐渐的浮现出持之以恒的局面。再加上近几年来，激烈竞争所剩供应商的高素质远远的超出了这行业初期的平均素质，因此我们相信现在进入中国采购市场是一项明确的选择。
圣者：既然选择了在这个非常具有挑战性的时刻进入中国，那么也就意味着OffGamers将面临更加严酷的市场条件以及更加激烈的竞争，OffGamers 具有哪些方面的优势来面对这个日益复杂的市场以及激烈的竞争呢？
卧虎游戏：虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT）行业是个新兴行业，每一天都不断有新的对手和我们分享这块蛋糕。所谓的竞争压力已完全不是什么新鲜事物。第一天开始从事这行业，我们就知道这个市场存在种种挑战，所以我们无时无刻都把自己处于备战状态当中。有健康的竞争才是我们做这行业的荣耀，不断的改进与创新才可配上这网络时代。我们更加关注的是我们内部发展以及虚拟物品现钱交易（RMT）市场的变化。
圣者：近年来，欧美游戏，尤其是魔兽世界对中国工作室账号封杀现象越来越严重，相对广大的中国工作室而言，OffGamers 对他们有什么样的建议与忠告？
卧虎游戏：我们不是游戏开发商，【封号】对我们这一行业的来说是一场瘟疫，不止对中国的打钱工作室构成一种威胁，全世界只要是做虚拟现钱交易（RMT）的都会很怕听到【封号】这个词。至于我们的忠告是尽量把自己的损失减到最低，各尽所能的把自己隐藏在合法的玩家当中。
圣者：OffGamers 的采购渠道遍布全球，相对中国工作室而言，其他各国的工作室都有什么样的特点？中国工作室该向他们学习些什么？
卧虎游戏：根据我们以往的交易经验，中国打钱商拥有黄炎子孙独具的吃苦耐劳的特质，确实比世界各地的打钱商更加勤奋，这是铁一般的事实。如果能在自己的短处下稍下功夫，或许就会更完美。中国打钱商在【利】方面会看得比国外重，注重短暂利益关系多过长期的计划。另一方面，一旦面对问题时，打钱商会比较缺乏忍耐，这也是导致中国打钱商比较容易放弃一款游戏的因素之一。
臥虎游戏（OffGamers）始终相信从事多样化（Diversitfication)业务才是快速兴起行业内的生存之道。从事单项化业务在这瞬息万变的市场，风险相对要高。我们也时常激励我们的下家从事多样化业务，力求达到稳定的收入。许多供应商也是因为业务过于单一才促使生意一败涂地。至于语言障碍，只要将勤补拙早晚能够克服。
圣者：在EBAY这个虚拟交易的发源地，因为一些法律问题，已经禁止在其网站上进行魔兽币的交易，另一方面，有些国家，也正在逐渐加强对虚拟交易的管理与立法，您如何看待这种现象？您觉得这是个走向规范的过程，还是走向彻底取缔的过程？
卧虎游戏：当易趣（ebay）决定拿下所有虚拟交易（RMT）业务时，的确影响了很多卖家。不管如何，这行动不能与最近立法管制虚拟金币交易课题相提并论。
易趣（ebay）拿下虚拟买卖是因为他们对游戏开发商的让步，然而QQ钱币和这件事情的本质是有所区别的。中国政府立法管制Q币是为了抑止不法之徒滥用虚拟金币。真实的人民币和虚拟币永远是不可能画上等号，如果不及时立法，就会对一个国家造成深远的影响。
虚拟交易（RMT）在最初估计值为20亿美元，我们深信永远会有人不断地积极触及这个行业，索尼（Sony Online Entertainment － SOE）就是个很好的例子。他们不惜一切资金设立交易网站协助市场增长。所以，以个人观点评估【封号】现象在未来的虚拟交易市场会越来越少，甚至不会再被封，慢慢的形成一个比较正规的模式和流程来控制这些虚拟交易。
圣者：最后，请您谈谈如何看待虚拟交易行业未来前景与发展？
卧虎游戏：总而言之，未来的虚拟交易行业是前途光明，不然我们今天也不会在这里和大家分享我们的经验。我们始终相信只要网络游戏一天能延续下去，虚拟交易（RMT）就会有它发挥的空间。
圣者：好，非常感谢您能接受4U社区的采访。4u社区真诚地祝愿OffGamers 能在中国市场上取得成功。
卧虎游戏：很荣幸4u社区能够给我们接受采访的机会。
附：英文原文
Interview with OffGamers
In recent years, we have seen quite a number of foreign virtual trading companies gaining a foothold in China. The phenomenon has certainly attracted the attention of the industry. Following the success of IGE, SV and other well-known sites, we are now seeing OffGamers (臥虎游戏), another veteran contender arriving at our shores. In spite of their busy schedules, we at 4U are fortunate to get a hold of its founders – Mr. Ken and Mr. Stanley to setup an interview with us. Through this interview we are hoping to get an up close on the developments of OffGamers and their recent decision to make a presence in China.
4U: Hello Ken and Stanley, thank you for taking the time and welcome to China. As far as we are concerned, OffGamers is a well-known site in the RMT industry that mainly serves the US and European markets. Given your reputable services and good sales performance, would you like to tell us a little about how you started and what are your present developments. Tell us what are the games you are serving as well.
OffGamers: OffGamers was originally known as offd2.com in its early years. Back in 2001, offd2.com was only selling Diablo 2 items. We had a very simple business model as the whole idea of RMT (real-money trade) was still something very new to us. As time passes, RMT gradually garnered more attention from the masses and we started to realize that the demands from the virtual worlds were never going to die off. Taking the opportunity to capitalize on the emerging markets, we incorporated OffGamers in late 2004. What follows was the launch of World of Warcraft and the rest was history as we ride on the wave of the most successful MMORPG ever created. OffGamers now provide services for over 20 MMORPG titles. Needless to say, WOW is still one of the titles that is generating most of our revenues.
OffGamers were built by gamers to serve the needs of other gamers. Wherever the needs are, we will be there to provide our services. Year 2007 will be an exciting year for us as we see more developments in the company getting a kick start this year.
4U: You have just incorporated a company in China recently and we would like to know why did you choose this particular time to do it. What do you see in the Chinese RMT market at the moment? We all know that the local RMT scene reached its peak in year 2005 and 2006 with IGE entering China at that time. Many now thinks that the RMT market has slowed down a lot and that the golden years has past. What does OffGamers think of this?
OffGamers: There is no better time than now really, to position ourselves in China. In 2005 and 2006 we have indeed seen the burgeoning of the RMT industry in China and all the big players were rushing into China for the supply. Why we were not in the rush was because we knew we were not ready then, and furthermore we were doing fine from sources outside of China.
However, the potential of China is limitless as we see it and we would be fools to ignore that. We do not see the slowdown in the Chinese RMT industry to be permanent. We see it as a period of consolidation for the suppliers. Meaning whoever survived the turmoil will arguably be the best among the bunch. By that, we see this as the best time to get ourselves into China and we come prepared.
4U: Since OffGamers has chosen such a challenging time to enter the Chinese market, you should be expecting intense competitions from the other industry players. How is OffGamers going to face the harsher conditions and an increasingly complex market?
OffGamers: RMT is a sunrise industry and we expect to see new competitors emerging everyday trying to get a bite of the pie. So, competitive pressure is nothing new as it happens every other day since day one. As a matter of fact, competition is healthy and makes us innovate. We pride in our company?s versatility in tackling the issues that we face, be it competition or the ever changing conditions of the RMT market.
4U: We have recently seen in European and American games taking a serious stance in weeding out RMT activities in their games and banning any account that’s suspected to be owned by gold farmers. This is especially harsh in WOW. Do you have any suggestions or advice for our local gold-farmers to minimize damage in the onslaught of the game publishers?
OffGamers: When we do not have the game publisher?s sanction, banning will be an on- going issue that plagues not only the Chinese farmers, but all participants of the RMT industry. To minimize the damage, i would say blend in. Blend in with the legitimate players. Use whatever method you have to mask yourselves and be very alert.
4U: As a fact, OffGamers’ procurement channels spreads worldwide. So what kind of characteristics do you see in non-Chinese gold farmers that are different? Is there anything that the Chinese gold farmers should learn from them?
OffGamers: After dealing with gold-farmers from various countries, we find that the Chinese are generally more hard working. But there are still room for improvements. We felt that some are too focused on short term returns and neglected their long term plannings. The lack of perseverance also caused some of our Chinese suppliers to give up too easily when facing difficulties.
I believe that diversification is the key to surviving in this fast-moving industry. We always urge our suppliers to diversify their operations and get into working on stable income services. Do not put your whole operations working on something that gives you the most return because return is directly proportional to risk. The higher the return is, the riskier it gets. This is one of the pitfalls that a lot of Chinese suppliers fall into, and quit right after.
Another disadvantage would be the language barrier. I would suggest to improve on the English language. That will help the Chinese farmers to have the upper hand in this industry.
4U: As the birthplace of virtual item transactions, eBay has recently prohibited all selling of virtual properties on its site due to legal issues. On the other hand, some countries are gradually strengthening their management and legislatures of virtual asset transactions. What do you have to say about this events? Do you think that this is a standardizing process or a process towards a complete ban on virtual property transactions?
OffGamers: eBay?s decision to stop all RMT activities in its site has indeed affected quite a number of sellers. However, I personally do not see that ebay?s action as having the same motivation as the governments? that has recently introduced legislatures affecting virtual transactions.
eBay caved in to game publishers? pressure while in the case of QQ coins, the Chinese government was trying to clamp down on the virtual currency that was quickly becoming a parallel currency to the Yuan. The QQ coins were so widely circulated and accepted that it could affect the value of the Yuan. If gone unregulated, the surge of QQ coins could theoretically lead to the devaluation of the Yuan. The QQ situation is not quite like what we are doing at the moment.
The RMT market is a growing baby estimated to worth US?2 billion. I doubt anybody would want to put a total stop to it. Even SOE has embraced the notion by setting up Station Exchange to accommodate the growing market. A complete worldwide ban on RMT is the least of my concern.
4U: Tell us about how we should deal with the future prospects for the developments of the virtual asset trading industry.
OffGamers: The future of RMT is certainly bright; otherwise we wouldn?t be here would we? As long as the primary gaming market is thriving, the secondary market (RMT) will flourish.
4U: Well thank you for accepting the interview from the 4U community. We wish OffGamers the best and all the success in the China.
OffGamers: The pleasure was ours and thank you.
