Which Type of Player Are You in the 'Earth Online' Game?

The Adaptability of Humans

Humans are extremely smart and adaptable animals. If you don't have enough adaptability, you can't survive in this world. All those who manage to stay alive are very good at adapting to the environment.

Some people on short - video platforms compare human society to a large - scale "Earth Online" game. Since it's a game, there must be rules. Different rules and environments give rise to different ways of playing. And the ones that usually survive in the end are not necessarily the strongest, but the ones that can best adapt to the current rules.

Changing Rules and Side Hustles

I came across a short video today saying that civil servants are now allowed to engage in several side hustles, like running a self - media account, working as a fitness coach, driving for Didi, delivering food, or doing planting and breeding. The opening up of these side hustles actually reflects that the rules and ways of playing have changed again.

In the past, when the economy was booming, people wanted to go to the coastal cities to start businesses or enter the Internet industry to earn a six - figure salary. At that time, many people thought that only those who were lazy or lacked motivation would choose to take the civil service exam and enter the system. But later, the situation changed, and taking the civil service exam became the mainstream.

Types of Players in the Game

1. "Beta Testers"

The first type is the "beta testers". They know the rules are about to change before the game is officially launched and make adjustments and adaptations in advance. In real life, these people can predict trends three to five years or even ten years ahead. They plan in advance and seize the opportunity. They may have their own judgment on the economy and history and always get one step ahead of others, mastering the new way of playing the "game" in advance.

2. "Pioneers"

The second type is the "pioneers", those who can closely follow the changes in the rules. As soon as new rules come out, they immediately realize that "the way of playing has changed" and adjust their strategies in time to explore new directions. These people are very sensitive to trends and rules and can catch the wave of the times. For example, they know when to enter the Internet industry, when to switch to AI, or start a self - media or e - commerce business. Sometimes they succeed because of luck.

3. "Early Adopters"

The third type is the "early adopters". They only gradually realize that the environment and the way of playing have changed after the second - type people have achieved success. They see that the people in front have made it, and at the same time, they feel that although they can still make money now, this way won't last long. They can still level up and win, but it gets harder and harder, the profits are getting less and less, and they're getting more and more tired. That's when they realize they need to change, so they start to follow in the footsteps of the second - wave people, imitating and learning from their methods. These people are like those who later imitated the first batch of people who started e - commerce, short - video, Douyin, or self - media businesses.

4. "Ordinary Players"

Finally, the fourth type is the "ordinary players". They never notice the changes until a real crisis hits, and then they're forced to change or get eliminated.

In reality, few people belong to the first type. After all, it's hard for those without connections and resources to get the "beta - testing quota". The second - type people, the pioneers, need a lot of courage to try new things when new rules first appear. But courage doesn't always mean success. Just like in the past, not everyone who went into business succeeded. If everyone could succeed, there would be rich second - generations everywhere. In fact, only a very small number of people really make it.

The third - type people, the imitators, usually have a higher success rate. Although their ceiling may not be as high as the first two types, it's easier for them to achieve some growth because they have existing paths to follow. Their "level - up" journey is relatively smooth as they can learn by example.

My Own Situation

So, which type of player am I? I think I'm more like the fourth type, not the third. I'm the kind of fourth - type person who is forced to change but wakes up a little earlier than most people. I realized the problem earlier, but I didn't reach the level of the third - type imitators. If I were the third type, I should have started my self - media business when I graduated or even before I finished college. In fact, some of my classmates were already trying to do self - media during college. I saw it, but it took me a while to realize that I could do it and why I should. That's why I'm the fourth type.

Most of the people around me are like me, belonging to the fourth type. If they were the third type, they would have succeeded long ago. If they haven't succeeded, they've probably changed careers by now.

This is the rule of this "game". So, which type of player do you think you are?

Xiaolu (小路) Daily Reading & Writing 2025.07.09【day674】