Jiang Yun had been weathering the ups and downs of the gaming industry for nearly a decade.
As one of the first graduates of Binjiang University's game design program, Jiang Yun had stepped out of school brimming with passion and ambition.
He had yearned to make his mark in game design and erect a monument to his achievements.
He had been dissatisfied with China's gaming landscape, and even more dissatisfied with the rigid stagnation of the global gaming industry!
He had wanted to pioneer a new era of games and personally create groundbreaking masterpieces!
Games shouldn't focus only on making money!
That was what Jiang Yun had thought.
And then...
Reality had slapped him hard across the face!
Every setback he had suffered seemed to point at his nose and sneer:
If you don't care about profits, what do you care about?
Art? Reputation? Don't tell me you really want to put effort into creating happiness for players?
Idiot.
Games are made for money!
That is the sole demand of game developers in China and across the world!
Who cares about pioneering new Gameplay or crafting good stories!
Are you sick? Why even think about that?
Why not spend that time researching the market, seeing which games are popular or likely to become popular, and quickly copying them?
Do you have a grudge against money?
That's how it was!
Over time, the sharp edges of Jiang Yun had been worn away, and he had naturally become numb.
Even when his ambitions occasionally reignited, they were no more than sparks, snuffed out with a single breath.
Just like today.
Forget it.
Why make trouble for himself?
Jiang Yun consoled himself inwardly.
He had become famous at Starlight, found success at Starlight, and had finally clawed his way up to game director. Of course he couldn't leave Starlight.
"Then what do we do now, President Chen?"
Only after Chen Hang's anger had mostly subsided did Jiang Yun speak, asking meekly:
"How about I add another DLC to try and save it?"
"Ha..."
Vice President Chen let out a long breath. He glanced at Jiang Yun and waved his hand.
"Forget it. I have a more important project for you now."
As he spoke, Vice President Chen pulled out a sheet of paper from beside his desk and handed it to Jiang Yun. "Take a look first."
Taking the document, Jiang Yun read it carefully.
Yiyou Platform "Mini-Game Development Festival" Invitation
"This is an invitation Yiyou sent us,"
Vice President Chen said.
"Technically speaking, mature game companies like ours aren't allowed to participate."
"Because it's intended for emerging game companies, studios, or individual designers."
"But I'm fairly familiar with Yiyou's marketing director. He's an old senior from my school."
"He's willing to bend the rules a little and let us enter."
"Yiyou has revealed that this competition will include a voting stage."
"If you win the final vote and receive the support of the overwhelming majority of players,"
"then the designer who made the game will appear in the platform's featured banner promotion."
Having said that,
Vice President Chen raised an eyebrow at Jiang Yun.
"You understand what I mean, right?"
Hiss—
Chen Hang's words made Jiang Yun suck in a sharp breath.
The designer would be featured in a banner promotion?
Yiyou was trying to create a star.
Everyone knew it!
In China, whether players, developers, or media platforms, people generally only cared about the games themselves.
As for the designers chiefly responsible for those games, nobody paid attention to them.
As a result, the big-name designers everyone in the gaming industry knew were basically all foreigners.
Clearly, Yiyou Platform had noticed this problem.
So, following the example of countries with more developed game industries, it intended to use this Mini-Game Development Festival to launch a benchmark figure who could represent China's new generation of designers.
This was an opportunity that was hard to come by!
Jiang Yun's expression sharpened.
If he could take first place at this game festival, he would finally have made it.
At the same time, since the rights to all the games he designed belonged to Starlight, the company would also make a fortune.
"I understand,"
Jiang Yun nodded.
"Then, President Chen, what direction do you think we should take for this competition...?"
"I think those two games from Golden Wind Game Company are both pretty good, and they sell well too."
Vice President Chen waved his hand.
"Pick whichever one you want, then copy it and make a few changes!"
"Copy it and make a few changes? How could that possibly work!"
The next day, at Golden Wind Game Company's CEO's office.
Faced with the game design direction Chu Qingzhou had suggested, Shen Miaomiao immediately rejected it.
Yes.
Just moments ago, Shen Miaomiao had called Chu Qingzhou over to ask whether she had any thoughts or suggestions regarding the development direction for their competition entry.
After all, Secretary Chu didn't understand games!
If someone who didn't understand games designed the game's framework, the game would probably be doomed.
However, Chu Qingzhou wasn't an idiot either.
Although she didn't understand games, she had recently studied the formulas behind quite a few game companies' works!
Generally speaking, for a game company to survive in the market and establish itself, it needed an iconic work that founded its reputation.
It was like the martial arts technique used to establish a sect in wuxia novels.
Then, using that project as a foundation, the company could branch out, whether through DLC or sequels.
In short, it had to rapidly reap profits and accumulate capital while the work was still popular.
Therefore!
Following the example of existing companies on the market, Chu Qingzhou suggested developing a sequel.
If that didn't work, they could simply choose either Mario Bros. or Who's Your Daddy, make some alterations, change the style, and release it again.
After all, both games had been hugely successful!
They could copy either one!
In fact, according to the current logic of the game market, Chu Qingzhou's suggestion was perfectly sound.
But that was precisely why!
Shen Miaomiao had to firmly say no!
What a joke!
Wouldn't that be an obvious way to make money?
Why would she dig a hole for herself?
At that thought, Shen Miaomiao shook her head and put on a righteous expression.
"We are a company that strives to move forward, and Director Gu is also a designer with extraordinary creativity."
"How can we, like other companies, live off past successes?"
"Especially in such a crucial competition, which concerns both the company's reputation and Director Gu's reputation. We must show our creativity all the more."
"So, for this project—"
"I'll build the concept myself!"
It had to be said that Shen Miaomiao's mind was indeed quick.
Especially when it came to such crooked paths.
Since even Secretary Chu, someone who didn't understand games but understood the market, couldn't be relied upon to ensure the game would be one hundred percent terrible,
why not take the field herself?
Surely a game designed by a complete gaming idiot couldn't still become a hit throughout the industry, right?
This time, she would personally take the helm and make absolutely certain the game was terrible beyond all recognition—so terrible it would be astonishing, so terrible it would break through the heavens!
At that thought, Shen Miaomiao slapped the sofa.
"Mm! It's settled, then! Sister Chuchu, notify Director Gu. We'll hold a planning meeting in ten minutes!"
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