Buying Games, Hiring Employees

DLC referred to downloadable content released after a game's main body.

It generally expanded the game's content, allowing players to enjoy more additional gameplay while experiencing the original version.

It was like buying a serving of fries and getting a packet of ketchup from the shop.

That ketchup was the DLC.

The fries were the game itself.

The main story of Resident Evil 7 followed an ordinary man named Ethan, who came to an abandoned mansion deep in the wilderness to search for his missing wife, only to encounter the mutated Baker family.

The main storyline had Ethan rescuing his wife and beginning his escape, gradually taking down the Baker family members who had become monsters.

However, while playing, players could find several videotapes. After playing them, they could temporarily control a minor protagonist named Clancy.

This minor protagonist, Clancy, was a cameraman. He had followed a team to the Bakers' place to investigate, only to go through the same near-death experiences as Ethan. But he did not have protagonist's luck, so he was ultimately burned into charcoal, ending up even worse than Ethan.

The DLC told the story of two brain-teasing crises experienced by Clancy, this minor protagonist.

Among them, 21 Points was a card game Clancy played with his life on the line after Lucas, the Bakers' son, ambushed and captured him.

Players had to win through three rounds of crises involving finger severing, electrocution, and cutting, then earn their freedom.

Otherwise, it was Game Over.

The fundamental reason Meng Shu chose the Resident Evil 7 DLC as a VR Game example was that 21 Points was not large in scale but was fun enough, with simple rules and a tense feel when played.

It could be called a bloody puzzle game.

Especially after winning, the agonized screams of the person being executed across from you constantly reminded players: if you lost, you would end up the same way!

However, players in the original world had been hardened by all kinds of Horror Games, and they were separated from it by a screen, so this life-or-death card game did not stir much emotion in them.

But in this world... heh heh.

Welcome to experience the allure of death!

That was why Meng Shu had singled out 21 Points as the first shot in breaking into the VR Game field.

Buying the full set of Resident Evil 7 required 105,000,000 Fear Points. He only had 568,000, so he simply could not afford it.

But buying just one DLC was still possible.

Meng Shu selected 21 Points, and the required Fear Points immediately appeared.

210,000 Fear Points!

Even a small DLC cost this much!

Still, it was within an acceptable range.

Meng Shu immediately chose to buy it, and the system promptly displayed that his purchase had been successful.

You have obtained the step-by-step development tutorial for the Horror Game Resident Evil 7 DLC, 21 Points

You have obtained the concept design for the Horror Game Resident Evil 7 DLC, 21 Points

You have obtained the VR version production method for the Horror Game Resident Evil 7 DLC, 21 Points

Clatter—

Amid the sound of coins colliding, he was left with 358,000 Fear Points.

The hand handling the intestines paused slightly.

A surge of professional knowledge appeared in his mind out of thin air.

In just two breaths, he had fully understood it and made it one of his own skills.

Then he let out a breath, shook his head, and smiled.

"Just as expected, there are no art assets or anything like that."

"Whatever. Since I've bought the game, I need to put VR on the agenda too. I'll start recruiting tomorrow."

With that, he stopped dwelling on it and focused on preparing the ingredients in his hands.

That evening, the two elders returned from overtime work. Seeing a table full of delicious dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, both of them looked stunned.

The little Meng girl widened her eyes and cried out, asking what day it was today.

The two elders were honest people, but they were also curious why he had made so many dishes today.

Meng Shu merely shrugged and made up an excuse, saying he had found a job and would start work tomorrow. Tonight was a celebration, so they were having a good meal.

His parents' honest, down-to-earth nature meant they did not doubt him. They even felt happy for him.

The little Meng girl immediately picked up her chopsticks and dug in, without the slightest hint of ladylike manners.

The two elders also sat down, picked up their chopsticks, and started eating, chatting about trivial matters they had encountered at work as they ate.

Meng Shu quietly drank water, answering the elders' questions from time to time. His raised eyes silently observed this family.

His mother's sallow, wrinkled hand gently picked up a dumpling, dipped it in sauce, and placed it in Meng Shu's bowl. Then she picked up another, dipped it in sauce, and gave it to the little Meng girl.

Only then did she pick one up for herself. Before she even had time to dip it in sauce, she eagerly bit into it, scalding herself so badly that she took a large gulp of drinking water.

As for his father, he picked up some dry-fried pork intestines and chewed them with relish, his face full of enjoyment.

Meng Shu got up, took out the two bottles of beer he had bought today from the refrigerator, and handed them over.

His father stared wide-eyed at the sight. He eagerly took them, opened one, and tipped his head back to chug it down. At last, he let out a long breath, his face full of satisfaction.

This was his new family, an ordinary little household that worked hard.

He had not told them that he had already earned tens of millions because he felt the time was not right yet.

He had earned the money, but it had not arrived yet.

Besides, the money needed to be invested in the company's development and could not be touched carelessly.

He planned to wait until the company was operating steadily and he had enough money, then directly buy a house before telling them the good news.

In Meng Shu's view, rather than telling them in advance and making them look forward to it day after day—

It would be better to tell them on the very day the whole family moved into a new life, sparing them the painful waiting and anticipation.

The two elders had lived hard lives for so long, and they were family. There was no need to show off in front of them.

Therefore, Meng Shu chose to keep it hidden for now.

The next day, he arrived at the company.

He smiled as he looked at the huge LED sign at the front desk that read "Only Game."

Then he walked in and arrived at his own private office.

The office supplies and work computer had already been prepared.

From now on, he would develop games here rather than at home.

Although the little Meng girl still had a cast on, she could already move freely around the house and did not need anyone watching over her.

And Meng Shu had made it clear: if there was an emergency, call him.

After taking care of everything, he came to the company and began recruiting online.

The system had given him concept designs, so he needed to turn those designs into art assets.

First, a 3D modeler was indispensable. He would hire one for now.

Then there was a scene designer. He would hire one as well.

Next was an animator responsible for motion capture, whose main job would be adjusting the game characters' body movements, facial expressions, and demeanor.

For the time being, there was no need for concept artists or special effects artists. The system could replace them.

There was also no need for programmers at the moment. He could handle that alone. He would hire people later when they began making actual VR Games; time was tight now, so he would carry the load himself first.

There was no need for planners either.

Then there was finance. That was essential, an absolute necessity for any company.

"Let's leave it at that for now. The urgent task is getting the art assets done first. Everything else can wait."

After making his plan, Meng Shu posted the job listings.

While waiting, he contacted Infinite Network Entertainment again.

As one of the country's leading companies, and one with experience developing games, they surely had motion capture equipment or at least recommendations.

Sure enough, after he asked, the other party said they could help procure it, and that it would definitely be professional equipment with the best results and excellent quality.

That saved him quite a bit of time.

After finishing all that, he continued developing the final chapter of Dark Forest.

Compared to the first two chapters, this chapter was not large in scale. He had worked on it intermittently over the past few days and had already reached 70% completion.

At most, it would take another three or four days.

Once Early Access ended and the Official Version was released, sales should rise by a significant amount.

That would greatly help with the VR Game plan that followed!