Agreed to make bad games, What the Hell is Titan Fall 115

## Chapter 115: Design

The next day arrived in a flash.

ArtTour moved quickly.

Early that morning, upon arriving at the office, Shen Miao Miao casually scrolled through game-related social media platforms and was met with an overwhelming wave of information about *Titanfall*.

Coupled with the enthusiastic promotion from casual players, TTF and the other three games from their rival, XunTeng, were engaged in a fierce battle, resembling a thrilling scene of three heroes fighting against Lu Bu.

Amongst this barrage of publicity, one video garnered an exceptionally high number of likes and was omnipresent across every social platform.

Within just an hour, Shen Miao Miao had already encountered it at least three times.

Intrigued, she clicked on it.

The video was a re-upload from Bilibili, titled: “Game Microscope: Using Shot Breakdown to Show You Why TTF is Fun.”

Following the link to the original video, Shen Miao Miao navigated to Bilibili. She first threw in two coins (a gesture of appreciation for the content creator) and then grabbed a bag of potato chips from her drawer. She maximized the video window and began watching with gusto.

The video’s creator was a self-media account called “Game Microscope”. The video primarily focused on frame-by-frame analysis of promotional materials, predicting core gameplay elements or plotlines.

Due to the high accuracy of their predictions, the creator was also known as “Game Oracle”, “Game Crystal Ball” by many fans. They boasted over 1.7 million followers, wielding considerable influence.

Recently, with XunTeng and ArtTour’s six major game releases unveiling their trailers simultaneously, Game Microscope was also in action. At the fervent urging of their fanbase, they produced shot breakdown analyses of all six games.

Amongst them, the one with the most likes, coins, and shares was TTF – the shot breakdown of *Titanfall*.

“Seeing the Big Picture Through the Small Details. Welcome to the latest episode of ‘Game Microscope’. If you like my channel, please throw in a coin, give it a thumbs up, and subscribe. Without further ado, let’s introduce our protagonist today – *Titanfall*!”

“Let’s begin our shot breakdown – Start!”

A wave of comments floated across the screen:

‘Checking in’

‘Finally, TTF is here!’

‘Can’t wait!’

‘Fish aren’t caught that way’

‘GKDGKD!’

‘Came here out of curiosity, next time, I’ll definitely throw in a coin’

‘…’

The vibrant barrage of comments was a testament to the popularity of Game Microscope.

Already boasting a million followers, their self-media account, combined with ArtTour’s covert operations, saw this episode garner far more views than their previous works.

As the streamer spoke, the game trailer began playing. Game Microscope stated:

“Okay, pause!”

The screen froze on the moment when the Rifleman charged out of the smoke.

“Amidst the rolling smoke, a Rifleman bursts forth, with the camera following closely behind,”

“Attention class, what is the significance of a following shot in cinematic language?”

“That’s right, emphasizing key points, imparting personality, locking the perspective,”

“And the reason for designing such a cinematic language is primarily for what?”

“Correct, it’s to allow the audience to experience the world through the protagonist’s perspective, to showcase this war,”

“Yes, the protagonist!”

At this point, the streamer’s tone escalated:

“Previously, I saw some joking comments saying that the trailer makes the Pilots look powerful, but when you actually play the game, you realize you’re a Rifleman,”

“Congratulations, you guessed right,”

“The protagonist of this game is the Rifleman you see right now,”

“Because in the entire two-minute-forty-second trailer, only he uses the following shot from behind twice, everyone else, including the long stretch of Pilot solo performances in the middle,”

“The characters are not centered, they don’t use the standard following shot,”

“This point is also reflected in the subsequent footage and voiceover,”

“So, I boldly predict that the story *Titanfall* seeks to tell is actually quite simple:”

“It’s the journey of the soldier we’re seeing now, transforming from an ordinary Rifleman into a Pilot, and his constant pursuit is embodied in four words –”

As he spoke, Game Microscope dragged the trailer to the end.

The voiceover rang out –

【The day I become a Pilot is still far away, but when I do, I want to – earn it】

Wow – interesting!

Seeing this, Shen Miao Miao’s eyes lit up, finding it quite intriguing and even somewhat admiring the streamer’s analytical abilities. She watched intently.

Next, Game Microscope used frame-by-frame extraction to dissect numerous elements for the audience:

For instance, Pilot skills consist of permanent abilities and consumables, Titan modifications require defeating boss Titans and looting them, judging by the Pilot’s power, there will be auto-aim lock-on towards the latter half of the game…

Even in the end, Game Microscope stepped away from the game trailer, offering a conclusive analysis of the game’s core:

“It’s evident that this work is Supernova Gu Sheng’s ambitious creation,”

“He is acutely aware of the reasons behind the mech game market’s stagnation and attempts to inject longevity and engaging experiences into the gameplay through the Pilot+Titan format,”

“This synergistic design might just inspire Gu Sheng to produce stunning level design that will redefine the gaming world, thanks to his burst of inspiration,”

“At the same time, I believe that the path from Rifleman to Pilot will not be smooth sailing,”

“Though *Golden Wind* has never released a plot-driven game before, I have no doubt about their capability and skill,”

“I eagerly await the opportunity to witness this tumultuous, epic hero’s journey,”

“Alright, that concludes this episode. If you like my channel, don’t forget to give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and throw in a coin. See you next time…”

The video concluded.

Shen Miao Miao finished her bag of potato chips and sucked on her fingers.

For this video, Shen Miao Miao had a two-word assessment:

Fun.

The first half of the video was decent; it focused on a frame-by-frame analysis of the trailer. While some of the predictions were absurd, they were at least grounded in some evidence.

But as the video progressed, the streamer was clearly just spouting gibberish.

Stunning level design, epic heroic saga – he was blowing smoke, almost preemptively placing *Titanfall* on a pedestal.

Shen Miao Miao chuckled.

Go ahead, blow it up even further. The more outrageous, the better. It’s precisely the effect I want.

The higher it flies, the harder it falls. The greater the loss, the bigger the rebate.

Sweet.

Thinking this, Shen Miao Miao stood up, crumpled the potato chip bag, and tossed it into the trash bin.

“A bit salty, might as well grab a fruit tea…”

She smacked her lips, pushed open her office door, and took the elevator to the ground floor.

Stepping out of the building through the automatic doors, she was greeted by the warm sunshine.

Shen Miao Miao hummed a tune she didn’t know the name of and strolled toward the tea shop with a carefree gait.

However, her good mood or perhaps her absent-mindedness, caused her to completely miss a man sitting in a booth towards the back of the coffee shop next to the tea shop.

Gu Sheng.

He was holding a cup of coffee.

Opposite him, sat a woman in a sleek, tailored suit. She was beautiful, refined, and exuded an air of sophistication.

…

“Your position as Director remains, a salary of 1.2 million, and year-end project bonuses,”

In the coffee shop, the woman with exquisite features and a refined appearance addressed Gu Sheng, seated across from her:

“Director Gu, everyone aspires to climb higher, and water flows downhill,”

“Since I’m here representing XunTeng Technology, it means I’m here with complete sincerity,”

“Right now, what we desperately need are talented individuals like you, who understand market trends and are courageous enough to break new ground,”

“Therefore, we’ve extended these generous, no, incredible conditions to sincerely invite you to join us!”

Indeed!

The woman before Gu Sheng was none other than XunTeng Technology’s General Manager Chen Guang De’s personal secretary – Zhen Ting Mei.

Just half an hour ago, Gu Sheng had intended to grab a coffee as usual.

But as he was about to pay, Zhen Ting Mei stopped him.

She took the Cappuccino he was about to take away and replaced it with a more expensive Cold Brew, ordered an Iced Americano for herself, and then, without a word, pulled Gu Sheng to a booth.

Had it been a man, Gu Sheng would have immediately challenged him, invoking self-defense as his justification.

But shaking off a woman’s hand would be highly ungentlemanly, so Gu Sheng had no choice but to sit down with Zhen Ting Mei.

Straight to the point.

After Zhen Ting Mei’s initial self-introduction, Gu Sheng understood her purpose –

Poaching.

And the reality aligned with his expectations.

It was common knowledge that XunTeng Game Group had six subsidiary companies, namely Tian Lang, Guang Yao, and three other top-tier game studios.

Then there was XunTeng Technology – a comprehensive company responsible for platform operations and game-related industries.

Theoretically, the six subsidiary companies were all under the XunTeng Game Group and under the jurisdiction of XunTeng’s headquarters.

But in practice, XunTeng Technology held a higher position within the group, ranking above the five studios.

This time!

Faced with the impact of their major game releases flopping, XunTeng Technology applied to the higher authorities for the establishment of a dedicated VR game development studio for Polar Bear 3.

To put it kindly, this was about expanding their business and achieving comprehensive development.

To put it bluntly, Chen Guang De wanted to distance himself from those five failures and build a loyal flagship team dedicated to XunTeng Technology, to service Polar Bear 3 and subsequent VR product upgrades.

And the top candidate for the flagship team commander!

Was Gu Sheng!

Naturally, the conditions XunTeng Technology presented to attract him were incredibly lucrative and sincere!

Director position! 1.2 million annual salary! Year-end performance bonuses!

Most importantly, if Gu Sheng joined XunTeng Technology, he would be a pioneer in breaking new ground!

His future prospects would be limitless!

Gu Sheng was tempted.

He was human after all.

Facing such incredibly generous conditions, he couldn’t deny being at least a little tempted!

Furthermore!

Gu Sheng had heard of Chen Guang De.

Unlike the five flagship studios or even the overall style of XunTeng Games, Chen Guang De was a rather unconventional boss.

He had an exceptionally high tolerance for novel things and was willing to experiment, continuously seeking new frontiers and exploring progress.

Simultaneously, he was also exceptionally shrewd, bold and fearless, adopting a direct and decisive style, and his moral boundaries were… quite low.

Rumor had it that when ArtTour X1 and Polar Bear 2 were released, causing a major stir,

This fierce boss had brought his team to negotiate with ArtTour, pouring a pot of boiling water on the lucky bamboo vase on the CEO’s desk in front of ArtTour’s CEO (at the time, not Yan Sheng), wishing the person “prosperity” before leaving.

ArtTour immediately lost their temper, intending to surround the XunTeng personnel, but this old fellow was even more ferocious, whipping out his baton with a snap.

Eventually, the police arrived and mediated the situation, becoming a significant talking point within the gaming industry at the time.

Now, this individual was inviting him to join his team, becoming the vanguard in breaking new ground, with preferential treatment.

It was hard for Gu Sheng not to be tempted.

However!

That was XunTeng after all.

Even if Chen Guang De was incredibly bold and unconventional, it wouldn’t change the group’s constraints.

Currently, within *Golden Wind*, Gu Sheng oversaw both personnel and projects.

In a way, he was *Golden Wind’s* CEO, while Xiaona Zha was the one who provided unconditional funds.

But if he went to XunTeng!

He would be under Chen Guang De, who would be under XunTeng Game Group, which would be under XunTeng HQ.

That was a massive, tightly organized structure!

Not to mention,

“Let’s just be frank, Secretary Zhen,”

Gu Sheng said:

“If I weren’t at *Golden Wind* right now, but instead at XunTeng Technology,”

“Then would *Titanfall*, a project that practically drained our company’s resources, have even been possible?”

Unconditional trust in him.

Apart from Xiaona Zha, could Chen Guang De achieve that?

However!

Zhen Ting Mei was a shrewd, experienced individual. She simply smiled:

“If Director Gu were at XunTeng Technology, such a situation wouldn’t have even happened,”

“I’m referring to… the fact that we would have far more than just 200 million for a company’s resources.”

Damn!!!

Zhen Ting Mei’s words were like a sharp blade, nearly piercing Gu Sheng’s defenses.

Money truly does allow you to do whatever you want…

Gu Sheng almost chuckled before nodding:

“Let me rephrase then. If I were to develop a game with a 1 billion investment tomorrow, a game where players simply stare at a rotating mountain, watching the seasons change, the sunrise and sunset, the grass grow and wither, the passage of time,”

“Would Director Chen still approve the project?”

What Gu Sheng referred to was a game known in his previous life as “*Mountain*”, one of the “Four Great Classics” of Steam.

As he said, it had no gameplay, simply a life simulation experience, incredibly abstract.

It was also on Gu Sheng’s development list for the future.

Of course, the prerequisite was that *Golden Wind* was no longer strapped for funds and had the financial capacity to create it.

“Well…”

Gu Sheng’s question left Zhen Ting Mei stumped:

“Actually… if you could elaborate on this game’s selling points, I think Director Chen might not be impossible to convince.”

“Selling points?”

Gu Sheng smiled:

“The selling points are the word-of-mouth spreading among players with malicious intent to troll each other, or people who are simply bored and want to kill time.”

“Just that?” Zhen Ting Mei raised her eyebrow, surprised.

Gu Sheng nodded: “Just that.”

Abstract supernova, truly living up to the name.

Zhen Ting Mei inwardly scoffed.

This game was incredibly foolish. Even if Director Chen agreed, the group wouldn’t approve funding.

Unless everyone in the group had gone insane.

“Could it be…”

Zhen Ting Mei shrugged, frowning:

“Would President Shen agree to such a project?”

“More than likely,”

Gu Sheng was confident:

“My little… President Shen has always been highly enthusiastic about exploring games,”

“She will always be interested in niche game genres,”

“Like bullet hell games, psychological horror games, mech games,”

“That’s why we’ve achieved things like *Vampirelike*, *Psychological Horror*, *Second-Generation FPS*, and *Titanfall*,”

“That’s also the main reason I’m willing to stay at *Golden Wind*,”

“Because here, I can make the games I like without constraints.”

Woah –

Upon hearing Gu Sheng’s words, Zhen Ting Mei took a deep breath!

“So… is Director Gu truly not going to consider our sincere invitation?”

“Hehe,”

Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng took a sip of his coffee, his brow slightly furrowed:

“Cold Brew is more expensive, but it doesn’t necessarily suit everyone’s taste.”

“For example, you?” Zhen Ting Mei looked at Gu Sheng.

Gu Sheng shrugged and nodded: “For example, me.”

“Sigh-”

Seeing this, Zhen Ting Mei sighed in disappointment, stood up, and smiled as she shook hands with Gu Sheng:

“Alright, Director Gu is quite eloquent. Although we didn’t reach a deal today, having this conversation with you is an honor nonetheless.”

“Secretary Zhen, where are you going with that,”

Gu Sheng also stood up, smiling as he extended his hand to shake Zhen Ting Mei’s hand:

“Thank you for your company’s sincerity, I’m not qualified enough to…”

However!

Before Gu Sheng could finish,

Suddenly!

He felt a force coming from his hand!

Zhen Ting Mei lunged forward, placing his hand on her waist, then suddenly plunged into his embrace.

In a flash, their faces were inches apart!

Damn!

Gu Sheng cursed under his breath, immediately taking a step back. But Zhen Ting Mei had already let go of him, winking at him provocatively:

“The vanilla scent on Director Gu is indeed alluring.”

It was the morning work hours, so the coffee shop was relatively empty.

Besides the two of them, there was only one group of customers at a neighboring table.

Gu Sheng felt a sense of dread, turning his head to look.

He saw that the lone remaining group of customers was holding cameras and phones.

Crap.

Gu Sheng sighed inwardly.

This table of ‘customers’ were working with Zhen Ting Mei.

“Hehehe, my apologies, Director Gu,”

Seeing Gu Sheng frown, Zhen Ting Mei chuckled:

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, don’t mind me, Director Gu…”

Seeing Zhen Ting Mei smiling triumphantly, Gu Sheng shook his head helplessly: “I’ve heard that Director Chen will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, I’ve finally witnessed it today,”

“You ambushed me with a negotiation, if we reach an agreement, everything’s fine, but if we fail, you frame me with a staged photo, feed it to the media to sow discord, that’s quite a complete performance, isn’t it?”

“But this is less than fifty meters from my company,”

“Who do you think will be faster, you notifying the media, or me heading back upstairs to brief President Shen?”

Breaking the discord plan was easy.

All he had to do was go back upstairs, tell Xiaona Zha that he was framed by XunTeng Technology, and explain everything in detail.

That way, even if the media fabricated headlines tomorrow, he and Shen Miao Miao could remain unfazed.

However!

As if anticipating Gu Sheng’s move!

Zhen Ting Mei grabbed the phone from the person who took the photo at the neighboring table and waved it in front of Gu Sheng.

The photo showed him and Zhen Ting Mei ‘embracing’. Zhen Ting Mei had cleverly used angles to make it appear as if they were kissing.

Zhen Ting Mei was satisfied with the angle: “So, who do you think will be faster, you running, or me sending a text to President Shen?”

Gu Sheng’s expression froze: “You damn…”

(End of Chapter)

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter