Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shaitu Zhi Bin's first month revenue exceeds 100 million, sparking discussion about developing a AAA masterpiece.
• Wang Chuan, the manager, decides to take a break before starting the next project, despite the team's enthusiasm.
• The official game selection event begins, with the official department playing a leading role in managing and guiding the game industry.
• Players initiate an anonymous poll to predict the top three games: Huangtu Game's Sanguosha, Shaitu Zhi Bin, and Penguin's Three Kingdoms: Farmer Takes Charge.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan shows consideration for his employees' well-being by suggesting a break despite their eagerness to start a new project.
• Huang Shanshan demonstrates her influence and charm by successfully persuading Wang Chuan to reveal information about the next game.

Significant Themes

• The balance between work and rest, as seen in Wang Chuan's decision to take a break despite the team's enthusiasm.
• The importance of considering both artistic merit and commercial viability in game evaluation, as reflected in the official selection process and the players' poll.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan and his team discuss the possibility of creating a AAA masterpiece, showcasing their shared excitement and dedication.
• Wang Chuan and Huang Shanshan interact, with Huang Shanshan successfully persuading Wang Chuan to share information about the next game, highlighting her influence and charm.
• Players online engage in a poll to predict the top three games, demonstrating their enthusiasm and interest in the game selection process.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The voting results for the official game selection are out.
• "Sanguosha" takes first place, followed by "Shaitu Zhi Bin," and "Three Kingdoms: Farmer Takes Charge" in third.
• Both first and second places are occupied by games developed by Wang Chuan.
• The official selection results are released, with "Shaitu Zhi Bin" in first, "Sanguosha" in second, and "Three Kingdoms: Farmer Takes Charge" in third.
• The official game platform features "Shaitu Zhi Bin" prominently.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan's reputation and influence grow significantly as he takes the top two spots.
• Players' enthusiasm and engagement increase due to the heated discussion and competition.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry among game developers and players.
• The impact of official endorsements and media coverage on a game's success.
• The importance of player engagement and community discussion in a game's lifecycle.

Character Interactions

• Players discuss and debate the merits of each game, leading to increased engagement and support for their favorites.
• Media outlets promote their favored games, influencing player opinions and decisions.
• The official selection results spark further discussion and curiosity among players.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan's game "Shaitu Zhi Bin" wins first place in an official event, making his company, Huangtu Game Company, famous.
• The game's innovative mechanics and players' ingenious tactics draw significant attention online.
• Wang Chuan attends the official awards ceremony, where he receives the trophy and certificate for his game.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan gains recognition and status within the gaming industry due to his consecutive successful games.
• Huang Shanshan takes on more responsibilities as a capable secretary and manager.
• Wei Wei and Gong Yingnan show enthusiasm and support for Wang Chuan and the company's achievements.

Significant Themes

• Innovation and uniqueness in game production.
• Recognition and success within the gaming industry.
• The significance of official awards and their implicit meanings.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan and Huang Shanshan share an unspoken understanding and a hint of romantic tension.
• Wang Chuan, Wei Wei, and Gong Yingnan interact playfully, with Wang Chuan expressing confidence in future success.
• Huang Shanshan demonstrates her dedication and capability as Wang Chuan's assistant.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan, after achieving game development milestones, feels idle and remembers his system.
• He checks his fan points, finding over five million, and decides to spend them all on a lottery draw.
• The rewards include skill books (400 in total, covering various game development aspects), Memory Searchers (71 units), Nerve Reflex Enhancement Pills (20), and Teamwork Acceleration Cards (19).
• Wang Chuan uses all the skill books and consumes all the pills, feeling a subtle improvement in his physical reactions.
• He decides to return to work, reviewing player survey reports to plan for the next game.

Character Development

• Wang Chuan becomes more proactive and decisive, impulsively spending all his fan points and immediately returning to work.

Significant Themes

• Idleness and the desire for productivity.
• The importance of understanding player preferences for game development.
• The responsibility of a new game to represent a company's platform.

Character Interactions

• None significant in this chapter. Wang Chuan interacts only with his system and his thoughts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan is considering the next game to develop, requiring market research.
• Game producers are studying "Shaitu Zhi Bin" to learn and improve, as it's the top game.
• Wang Chuan moves Huangtu Game to a new location, Marriott Plaza, with an offline experience store.
• The new location attracts familiar faces and players who can draw Five-Star Divine Generals, puzzling Wei Wei.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan shows his business acumen by choosing a prime location for the new office and understanding the market trends.
• Wei Wei becomes superstitious about drawing Five-Star Divine Generals in the offline experience store.

Significant Themes

• The influence of a successful game on the market and other game producers.
• The importance of a good location for a business.
• The impact of superstition and luck on people's perceptions and behaviors.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with his team, showing understanding and support, e.g., comforting Huang Shanshan about moving.
• Wei Wei discusses his concerns about drawing Five-Star Divine Generals with Gong Yingnan and Wang Chuan.
• Players interact with each other and the game developers, sharing their experiences and feedback.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan explains his game's lack of a 'lock card rate' (guaranteed minimum drop rate), unlike other gacha games.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan discuss copycat games and the Three Major Manufacturers' stance.
• Wang Chuan expresses confidence in Shaitu Zhi Bin's uniqueness and difficulty for small studios to replicate.
• Wang Chuan assigns his team to analyze and play a list of real-time strategy games.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan shows his business acumen and confidence in his game's success.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan demonstrate their knowledge of the gaming industry and interest in real-time strategy games.
• Wei Wei shows enthusiasm and willingness to take on tasks.

Significant Themes

• The impact of gacha mechanics on games and players.
• The challenges and opportunities in game development and innovation.
• The importance of understanding and adapting to market trends.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with his team, assigning tasks and sharing his plans.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan discuss industry trends and express their excitement about potential new projects.
• Wei Wei shows eagerness to take on new challenges, impressing Wang Chuan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan decides to create "Warcraft," an RTS game, to cultivate players before introducing MOBA games.
• He plans to start with "Warcraft 3," combining the storylines of "The Reign of Chaos" and "The Frozen Throne," and release it as a new game.
• Wang Chuan also decides to create the Azeroth Universe to enhance the game's background story and IP development.
• He uses his Memory Searchers to recall details from his past life to draft the game proposal.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan shows his strategic thinking and dedication to his work, taking on a major project and planning for its future growth.
• He demonstrates his excitement and passion for the Warcraft universe and its potential as a significant IP.

Significant Themes

• The importance of understanding the target audience and their gaming experience.
• The value of a well-developed game universe in enhancing player experience and IP development.
• The strategic planning and long-term vision required for creating a successful game.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan discusses his plans with his team members, Huang Shanshan and Wei Wei, who show curiosity, anticipation, and support for his vision.
• Wang Chuan works alone at his villa, demonstrating his dedication and focus on the task at hand.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan presents a plan for a new game, 'Warcraft,' to the team.
• The game is an RTS with a vast worldview and storyline, set in the continent of Azeroth.
• Wang Chuan divides the production into two parts: game production and IP preheating.
• He assigns tasks for creating an official website 'Azeroth' and producing a promotional video.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan demonstrates his leadership and strategic thinking by presenting a comprehensive game plan and assigning tasks accordingly.
• Wei Wei shows initiative and understanding by asking about the meeting and expressing interest in the game's storyline.
• Huang Shanshan displays concern for Wang Chuan's workload and offers advice.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and collaboration: Wang Chuan involves everyone in the project, assigning tasks based on their skills and expertise.
• Ambition and vision: Wang Chuan aims to create a game that will leave a significant mark on game history, despite the team's initial skepticism.
• Planning and preparation: Wang Chuan emphasizes the importance of building up the game's IP through an official website and promotional video before the game's release.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with each team member, assigning tasks and expressing confidence in their abilities.
• Wei Wei and Huang Shanshan engage in conversation with Wang Chuan, asking questions and offering input.
• The team members react with surprise and admiration to the game plan, demonstrating their engagement and enthusiasm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan assigns tasks to his team for the development of Warcraft.
• Wang Chuan works on the game's numerical aspects, while Wei Wei focuses on data modeling.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan handle art resources, with Wang Chuan creating line art for main characters.
• Wang Chuan begins working on the map editor, a crucial aspect of the game.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan demonstrates his dedication and leadership by working tirelessly on the game's core aspects.
• Wei Wei shows enthusiasm and conviction in the game's potential, having been convinced by the data he's working with.
• Huang Shanshan remains supportive of Wang Chuan's decisions.
• Gong Yingnan is eager to prove herself and contribute to the team's success.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and collaboration: Each team member is assigned a task, contributing to the overall development of the game.
• Dedication and hard work: Wang Chuan and his team are committed to creating a high-quality game, putting in long hours to achieve their goal.
• Growth and learning: Team members are learning and improving their skills, with Wei Wei acknowledging Wang Chuan's guidance.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan assigns tasks to his team, showing confidence in their abilities.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan work together on art resources, with Huang Shanshan guiding Gong Yingnan.
• Wei Wei expresses his excitement and conviction about the game's potential to Gong Yingnan and Huang Shanshan.
• Wang Chuan overhears Wei Wei's excitement and playfully teases him about a raise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan reveals that 'Warcraft' will grant raises to all employees together after its release.
• The team completes draft sketches of the main characters, including Arthas Menethil, who is depicted in two contrasting states: as a righteous paladin and a dark, evil death knight.
• Wang Chuan explains that 'Warcraft' is an ensemble game with no fixed protagonist, as each major event has its own protagonist, but none are eternal.

Character Developments

• Wei Wei, excited about Arthas being the protagonist, is surprised and intrigued by Wang Chuan's revelation about the game's structure.
• Wang Chuan demonstrates his understanding of the game's narrative and historical context by using the Three Kingdoms period as an analogy.

Significant Themes

• The absence of a fixed protagonist in 'Warcraft' emphasizes the game's epic scale and the dynamic nature of its story.
• The team's excitement and dedication to creating a classic game highlight their passion and ambition.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with the team, sharing his insights about the game's structure and inspiring their enthusiasm.
• Wei Wei and the others discuss and react to the revelation about Arthas and the game's protagonist system, showing their curiosity and excitement.
• Ding Ke consoles Tian Boxun, showing understanding and support for his efforts, and offers him the opportunity to propose new game ideas.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tian Boxun expresses his desire to learn from senior projects before working on a self-built one.
• Ding Ke agrees and assigns Tian Boxun to be Wang Sheng's assistant.
• Wang Chuan leads the team to accelerate the progress of "Warcraft," using team acceleration cards.
• Art, voice acting, and sound effects for "Warcraft" are completed or in progress.
• Wang Chuan plans to launch the official website of "Warcraft" along with the promotional video.

Character Developments

• Tian Boxun recognizes his limitations, shows humility, and proactively seeks learning opportunities, earning Ding Ke's admiration.
• Wang Chuan demonstrates strong leadership, dedication, and attention to detail in overseeing the progress of "Warcraft."

Significant Themes

• The importance of recognizing and addressing one's flaws for personal growth (Tian Boxun).
• The value of learning from others and seeking mentorship (Tian Boxun's decision to be Wang Sheng's assistant).
• The dedication and hard work required to bring a project to fruition (Wang Chuan's leadership in "Warcraft's" development).

Character Interactions

• Tian Boxun and Ding Ke: Tian Boxun's candid admission of his shortcomings impresses Ding Ke, leading to a new learning opportunity for Tian Boxun.
• Wang Chuan and the team: Wang Chuan leads the team, using team acceleration cards to speed up progress and ensuring high-quality work in art, voice acting, and sound effects.
• Wang Chuan and the outsourcing teams: Wang Chuan collaborates with familiar outsourcing teams, prioritizing quality and ensuring they meet his standards.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan decides to use CG animation for important plot points in his Warcraft game, similar to the approach used in the Wrath of the Lich King.
• He contacts Weiyi Company, a movie and special effects company, to produce the CG animations.
• Wang Chuan agrees to pay seventy thousand yuan per second for the CG animations, totaling around twenty minutes of content.
• The total cost for the CG animations is estimated to be over eighty million yuan, with the game development itself costing over thirty million.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan, now wealthy due to his games' success, is more confident in investing in high-quality CG animations for his Warcraft game.
• He learns from past experiences, such as Square Enix's bankruptcy due to excessive spending on CG animations, and plans to produce CG animations only for major plot points.

Significant Themes

• The role of money in game development and the potential risks of overspending on high-quality visuals.
• The importance of learning from past mistakes and making informed decisions in business.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with Liu Ran, the representative from Weiyi Company, discussing the details and cost of the CG animations.
• Wang Chuan's employees express curiosity about the promotional video and CG animations, indicating their engagement and interest in the project.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan reveals that the game's CG animation cost 70,000 yuan per second, totaling over 80 million yuan (approx. 10 million USD) for 20 minutes.
• The team expresses shock and concern about the high cost, but Wang Chuan assures them it's less than a month's revenue from 'Shaitu Zhi Bin' and 'Sanguosha'.
• Everyone returns to work, inspired by Wang Chuan's confidence and the game's potential.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan: Shows his boldness and confidence in the game's success, willing to invest heavily in its promotion.
• Huang Shanshan: Demonstrates concern for the company's financial health and understanding of its revenue streams.
• Wei Wei, Zhao Jing, Liu Qiang, and Zhou Wei: Display dedication and enthusiasm for their respective tasks, driven by Wang Chuan's passion and the game's potential.

Significant Themes

• Risk-taking: Wang Chuan's willingness to invest heavily in the game's promotion, despite the high cost and potential risks.
• Teamwork and camaraderie: The team's collective concern, dedication, and inspiration following Wang Chuan's revelation.
• Confidence in the game: Wang Chuan's assurance that the game will be a success, boosting the team's morale and work ethic.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with his team, addressing their concerns, and inspiring them with his confidence in the game's success.
• The team members interact with each other, expressing their shock at the high cost, concern for the company, and dedication to their respective tasks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Ran, from Weiyi Animation, visits Huangtu Game Company to sign a contract for Warcraft's CG animation.
• Wang Chuan pays a deposit of ten percent of the total cost to Weiyi.
• Wang Chuan calls for a meeting to discuss Warcraft's upcoming launch and promotion strategies.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan demonstrates confidence in Warcraft's quality and launch timing.
• Zhao Jing shows ambition and proficiency in handling promotions.
• Wei Wei exhibits knowledge about industry rivalries.

Significant Themes

• Competition in the gaming industry.
• The importance of a game's launch timing and marketing strategy.
• Confidence in one's product based on its quality.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with Liu Ran, signing the contract and discussing the animation progress.
• Wang Chuan meets with his team, delegating tasks and expressing confidence in Warcraft's success.
• Zhao Jing and Wei Wei discuss industry rivalries and upcoming game launches.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan's new game, Warcraft, is announced with a promotional message claiming an investment of over 100 million yuan.
• The announcement sparks significant attention and discussion in the gaming industry and among players.
• The game is a PC platform Western fantasy title, Wang Chuan's first in this category.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan gains recognition and fame, with over 1.8 million followers, due to his previous successful games.
• Players and media show enthusiasm and anticipation for Warcraft.

Significant Themes

• The impact of large-scale investments in gaming.
• The popularity and competition in the Western fantasy genre in the Chinese gaming market.
• The influence of Wang Chuan's games and his strategic timing of releases.

Character Interactions

• Players engage in discussions about Warcraft's announcement, expressing excitement, concern, and skepticism about Wang Chuan's ambitious project.
• Media outlets report on the news, contributing to its popularity and reach.
• Other game producers take notice, feeling astonished and challenged by Wang Chuan's move.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan announces Warcraft's development, hinting at a massive budget, including over 80 million on CG animation.
• The gaming industry is skeptical, questioning the validity and necessity of such a large investment in CG animation for a game.
• Wang Chuan's announcement overshadows the promotions of Penguin's Chao Shí Kōng and Net Entertainment's The Journey of Pineapple Heads.
• Producers Wang Sheng (Penguin) and Zhang Xi (Net Entertainment) are bewildered and frustrated by the sudden shift in attention.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan: Remains silent and unconcerned about the skepticism, focusing on building suspense for Warcraft.
• Wang Sheng: Initially troubled by the overshadowing of his game, he later finds solace in his assistant's defense and decides to wait and see.
• Zhang Xi: Arrogantly denies Wang Chuan's claims, believing it to be false advertising, and sparks public debate.

Significant Themes

• Skepticism and doubt in the gaming industry regarding Wang Chuan's ambitious claims.
• The impact of marketing strategies and hype on the gaming industry.
• The competitive nature of the gaming market and the struggle for attention.

Character Interactions

• Wang Sheng and his assistant: The assistant defends Wang Sheng's game and criticizes Wang Chuan, providing comfort to Wang Sheng.
• Wang Sheng and Tian Boxun: Tian Boxun expresses his belief in Wang Chuan's capabilities, differing from Wang Sheng and his assistant.
• Zhang Xi and the public: Zhang Xi openly questions Wang Chuan, sparking a public debate and controversy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan's claim of spending over eighty million on CG animation for their game sparks online skepticism and criticism.
• Wang Chuan reveals that the backlash was expected and part of a strategy for secondary publicity.
• He releases a segment of the game's CG and a contract confirming the expenditure, causing widespread shock and disbelief.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan remains calm and composed amidst the online criticism, demonstrating his strategic thinking and confidence in his decisions.
• Huang Shanshan initially gets angry on Wang Chuan's behalf but is quickly distracted by Wang Chuan's affectionate head pat.
• Zhang Xi, an online critic, is mentioned but doesn't appear in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• The power of publicity and marketing in the gaming industry.
• The extravagance and quality of the game's CG animation, hinting at the game's potential scale and ambition.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan and Huang Shanshan's interaction shows their comfortable and affectionate work relationship.
• Wang Chuan's conversation with Wei Wei reveals their mutual concern for the company's and Wang Chuan's image.
• Wang Chuan's indirect communication with Zhang Xi, using the released CG segment as a response to his criticism.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan releases a stunning CG animation for Warcraft, exciting players and overshadowing other upcoming games.
• Zhang Xi, a producer from Net Entertainment, is heavily criticized by players for his previous comments against Wang Chuan's claims, leading to his hospitalization due to stress and anger.
• Players discover and engage with the official Warcraft website, "Azeroth," which provides detailed lore and worldview information, further fueling their excitement.
• Penguin Company and Net Entertainment move up their game launch dates to avoid direct competition with Warcraft, which is set to release on the first of next month.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan: Maintains a composed and strategic approach to promoting Warcraft, letting the game's quality speak for itself.
• Zhang Xi: His overconfidence and criticism of Wang Chuan backfire, leading to his hospitalization and a loss of credibility.
• Wang Sheng (Penguin Company): Initially skeptical of Wang Chuan's spending on CG animations, he becomes relieved and amused when Zhang Xi's fate unfolds.

Significant Themes

• The power of player opinion and backlash in the gaming industry.
• The impact of marketing and hype on a game's success and anticipation.
• The strategic planning and competition among game companies.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan and the players: Wang Chuan's actions and releases generate excitement and engagement among the players.
• Wang Sheng and his assistant: Wang Sheng remains composed despite the unexpected turn of events, while his assistant feels awkward and embarrassed.
• Zhang Xi and the players: Zhang Xi's criticism of Wang Chuan leads to intense backlash from players, ultimately resulting in his hospitalization.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Chuan's proprietary platform, Huangtu Game, is launched alongside the official game platform.
• Warcraft is priced at 99 yuan on the official platform and 69 yuan on Huangtu Game.
• The game's genre is revealed to be Real-Time Strategy (RTS), surprising the gaming industry and players.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan demonstrates his gaming prowess by easily defeating his colleagues in Warcraft.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan are responsible for the game's story and are currently experiencing it.

Significant Themes

• The importance of game platforms and profit margins in the gaming industry.
• The impact of game genre on player expectations and industry reaction.
• The complexity and skill required for Real-Time Strategy games.

Character Interactions

• Wang Chuan interacts with his colleagues, Wei Wei, Liu Qiang, and Zhou Wei, playing Warcraft together.
• Wang Chuan has a brief interaction with Huang Shanshan, expressing his disinterest in flattery or ulterior motives.
• Huang Shanshan and Gong Yingnan work together on the game's story.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Warcraft's online launch is eagerly awaited by players and Huangtu Game Company employees.
• Liu Hailin, a respected RTS streamer, downloads and starts playing Warcraft on the Huangtu Game platform due to its cheaper price.
• The game's CG animation plays upon launch, showcasing the story of humans, orcs, and a stone golem.
• Liu Hailin finds three unique game modes: Story Campaign, LAN/Local Play, and Online Battle, with Online Battle requiring completion of a Story Campaign or a match against the computer.

Character Developments

• Wang Chuan, the game's producer, remains confident in Warcraft's success.
• Liu Hailin, initially a professional RTS player, now supports a family of three and is more conscious of game prices.

Significant Themes

• The importance of game balance and quality in RTS games.
• The impact of game prices on purchasing decisions.
• The role of CG animation in game marketing and immersion.

Character Interactions

• Liu Hailin interacts with his fans through his stream, discussing the game's launch and his decision to buy it on the Huangtu Game platform.
• Wang Chuan is not directly present but is implicitly referenced by Liu Hailin's purchase on the Huangtu Game platform.