Player Discussions

The next day, in Nebula Games' office, Chen Xu handed the completed concept design draft, along with the appearance requirements for the main characters such as Johnny, Liva, Eva, and Neil, to Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue.

Looking at the concept design draft and the script within it, both Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue felt somewhat moved.

But this was clearly not the time to immerse themselves in the game's story, and the two raised the questions in their hearts.

"Wasn't this supposed to be a sci-fi game? CEO Chen, this core theme is obviously romance!" Ruan Ningxue was full of question marks, to the point that she had even changed how she addressed him.

"Yeah, where's the sci-fi we were promised?" Yang Xin echoed.

In yesterday's meeting room, Chen Xu had described the setting to them.

There was going to the moon, and there was memory-alteration technology.

The two had even discussed things like brains in vats, dystopias, cyberpunk, and more in private.

Then, when they got the concept design draft, they realized.

Good lord, they had been completely led astray!

This was actually a romance story wrapped in sci-fi skin!

"How is it not sci-fi? Look at this memory-alteration technology. Isn't that sci-fi enough?"

"Later, we can add some more sci-fi-style background elements. For example, we can make the car the two doctors drive to Johnny's house more futuristic."

"And that isn't important. What's important is that the game's content can touch the players' hearts."

"Alright, alright, everyone, get to work. We don't have much time!" Chen Xu lightly coughed twice.

Meanwhile, discussions about this event were gradually heating up online.

After all, the date was drawing near.

Since it was an officially organized event, there was naturally official promotion as well.

At the same time, game designers participating in the event were also promoting it on their own Official Blogs.

Most of them, however, were PC and mobile games.

Mainly because their development cycles were shorter.

Some well-known domestic game companies, such as NetDragon, were also participating.

Of course, they were not sending their core studios.

After all, these major companies had quite a few studios under their banners.

Under such circumstances, many player communities got the news and began discussing it.

'The Sci-Fi Game Development Competition is about to start!'

'Sci-Fi Game Development Competition? What the hell is that?'

'It's the competition the Game Department organized before.'

'That one? I'd completely forgotten about it. Forget the Game Recruitment Event—what kind of garbage games did it even select?'

'Exactly. We're not asking for something like "Undertale," but could they at least give us something decent?'

'This time is a little different from before. Players can vote too. Previously, the people being judged were mainly Game Department leaders, so games made to win awards naturally had to cater to those leaders.'

'So this time it's for the people to enjoy?'

'More or less. This time, it'll definitely lean more toward ordinary players.'

'Color me skeptical.'

'But do you think we'll get a whole bunch of META games this time? META elements have been really popular lately.'

'Probably not. When the Game Recruitment Event started, "Undertale" hadn't even launched yet.'

'Do you think Chen Xu will participate?'

'Dreaming, are we? Look at the timing. If Chen Xu participates, I'll chop my thing off!'

'Bro, that fierce?'

'Of course! Anyone could tell it's impossible. During the period since the Game Recruitment Event was announced, Chen Xu made "Magic Mirror" and "Undertale." Where would he get the time to develop another game for this event?'

'Holy crap, bro, your thing is in danger! Go check Chen Xu's Official Blog—he really is participating!'

'??? What's going on? You're joking, right!?'

'A moment of silence for the bro above's dick.'

'Holy crap, it's actually true!?'

Although "Undertale" was an indie game, its popularity was nothing like that of an indie game.

The main reason was that this game had shown everyone what META elements truly were.

Combined with its impressive sales performance, it directly made the game a model of how art and commerce could come together.

Naturally, it drew the attention of countless designers in the game industry.

As for the media, there was even less need to mention them.

What did it mean for an ordinary game designer to create a game like this?

It meant traffic and trending topics!

As for what project Nebula Games and Chen Xu would develop next,

the opinions of both the game industry and players were largely aligned.

It would most likely be a sequel to "Undertale," or another META game.

But who could have imagined that Chen Xu would openly announce on the Official Blog that Nebula Games was developing a special game to participate in this event?

As for what kind of special game it was, Chen Xu did not say on the Official Blog.

But players, industry designers, and the media were not particularly concerned about that either.

After all, no matter how special it was, it was still a game, wasn't it?

The key is the timing!

There was only half a month from the post going live to the game registration deadline. Could Nebula Games really make it in time?

Based on Nebula Games' previous project schedule, it was obvious that this competition entry definitely had not been prepared in advance.

After hearing the news, many game designers in the industry felt that Nebula Games was treating this whole thing like a joke.

Zhong Mei, who had been holding back ever since "Undertale," seemed to have been watching Chen Xu at every moment.

Less than four minutes after this Official Blog post went up, he reposted it with a comment.

'A momentary success does not mean a lifetime of success. Unfortunately, some game designers fail to understand this, and even treat the official Game Recruitment Event like a joke. I think a designer like that might not even get their entry past review, right?'

Clearly, Zhong Mei was rotten to the core. The moment he saw Chen Xu's Official Blog post, he jumped out to try to divert some of the fire directed at himself.

To be fair, although the comments below were still full of sarcastic mockery, this time his words did receive some support.

After all, developing a sci-fi game for the competition in just over ten days?

That was simply unreliable!

Chen Xu's response to Zhong Mei was very simple.

He posted a screenshot of Zhong Mei's previously deleted Official Blog post, along with a chart showing "Undertale's" ratings and sales, and finally added a meme.

The meme featured the recently popular Bunny Baby character staring at a clown with a disgusted expression. Chen Xu also added a line beside it: Don't come looking for me. I don't want to talk to clowns.

The moment countless players saw Chen Xu's meme response, they burst out laughing.

Good lord, that was killing someone without even drawing blood!

No wonder Zhong Mei had such terrible relationships in the gaming world, whether with players or people in the industry.

The replies below the meme were filled with the players' cheerful comments.