Agreed to make bad games, What the Hell is Titan Fall 140
by adminChapter 140: Please, Earn a Little Less!
2024-07-17 Author: Bulufen Warrior
Chapter 140: Please, Earn a Little Less!
The key point is here!
Now!
沈妙妙 has already put her mind at ease about the gameplay and prospects of the game.
These two aspects, let alone the project department, even old Gu himself couldn’t grasp them!
She had almost never seen Gu without a grasp of something!
So, the APEX project is probably doomed.
But!
That’s not enough!
To completely eliminate its potential to make money, we need to work on the profit model.
Here, we have to mention the loss-return system’s judgment mode.
Because theoretically, the APEX game is free.
After all, Gu Sheng personally sent invitations to countless players during the Titanfall game process, providing serial numbers that could unlock the game.
And now, Titanfall has surpassed 100% purchase rate in ArtTour X2.
So, theoretically, this game is a free game.
But the problem is!
A game with no profit points cannot create invoices in the system!
This bug is too obvious, and the system isn’t stupid, so it won’t agree.
So!
沈妙妙 needs a profit model.
A profit model that can theoretically generate profits but is difficult to implement in practice.
That’s a bit difficult.
Shen Miao Miao wanted to brainstorm.
After some thought, Gu Sheng was the first to speak:
“In terms of profit model, I suggest doing a split processing,”
“After all, although APEX is a derivative work of TTF, it can also be considered a relatively independent project,”
“Although now, our purchase share in ArtTour X2 exceeds 100%, all players who purchase Titanfall can play for free,”
“But as time goes on, our share will eventually return to the normal threshold,”
“At that time, some players may appear who ‘want to play APEX but don’t want to buy TTF’,”
“So, I suggest that we customize a game price specifically for this group of players, giving them a separate purchase channel, priced at 98 or 108.”
After speaking, Gu Sheng looked at everyone in the conference room.
Jiang Shan raised her hand:
“Sheng Ge, I don’t quite understand. Since we’re already making it free, why not make it completely free?”
“All players playing for free would attract more players and make the player base stronger, wouldn’t it?”
Hearing this.
Gu Sheng first smiled, then shook his head:
“That’s true, but we can’t do that.”
Jiang Shan is from the art team, and she hasn’t been in the gaming industry for even two years, so she thinks about things relatively simply.
The complete free-to-play she proposed seems very good, as it effectively lowers the barrier to entry for the game, emphasizing the idea of ‘everyone has a chance’.
But Gu Sheng knows!
If we actually do that, more than half of the players who bought Titanfall would explode!
Because one of the things that players hate most is being stabbed in the back in a short period of time!
I spent 200 bucks on a game, experienced a fantastic story, went through countless journeys, and at the end of the game, the designer, playing as an NPC, sent me an invitation, solemnly saying to me, “You’re amazing. To reward you, I’m giving you an invitation. Welcome to come and play with me later.”
Such a great idea! Such a strong sense of ceremony! Such a clever design that breaks the fourth wall!
I’m excited, I’m cheering, I’m applauding for this scene, I’m moved by the game developers’ care and conscience!
Then you turn around and tell me that the invitation was just a formality, that the invitation in my hand is a joke, and that the so-called competition is actually open to everyone, completely free?
Who wouldn’t explode?
Therefore, this game cannot be completely free.
Otherwise, just wait to be scolded.
Gu Sheng considers things comprehensively.
After all, besides being a designer, he is also a player.
As a player, he himself wouldn’t want to see this happen, so he definitely wouldn’t do that.
Jiang Yun, an old hand in the gaming industry, also agrees with this:
“Director Gu makes a good point. Making it completely free would definitely hurt the feelings of the original players to a great extent,”
“The key is that now, we have a huge number of original player users,”
“If we hurt this group of players, the negative impact on us would be huge.”
Hmm—
Hearing this, Shen Miao Miao slightly frowned, pondering for a moment.
Actually, she quite liked Jiang Shan’s suggestion.
Completely free would maximally curb the game’s profit.
But old Gu is absolutely against it.
In that case, she can’t intervene and force old Gu to implement complete free-to-play.
But!
If we do it according to old Gu’s suggestion, with all original players playing for free, and non-original players paying to buy it.
That would bring some risks to her plan to lose money.
What to do?
Shen Miao Miao thought hard, then gritted her teeth:
“In that case, we might as well stick to the game’s plot,”
“APEX is a free game,”
“And it’s only open to players who have purchased the original game and received an invitation.”
I’ll directly filter out non-original customers!
Want to play APEX? You must buy Titanfall!
Set a threshold, maximally tighten the number of players!
This wave!
Shen Miao Miao really used her brain.
Because according to the system’s judgment standard, even if there are players who buy Titanfall because they want to play APEX, the profit won’t be counted towards APEX!
In other words, if we execute it according to her suggestion.
Then APEX would be back to square one, becoming a purely free game!
I’m so smart!
Shen Miao Miao cheered for her quick thinking.
But doing this, obviously wouldn’t be in line with Gu Sheng’s expectation of “expanding the player base.”
Seeing him pondering for a moment, “This…”
“Old Gu,”
Seeing this, Shen Miao Miao quickly took the lead, blocking Gu Sheng’s mouth:
“I want the fish, and I also want the bear’s paw, but both cannot be had,”
“We can’t both stand from an artistic perspective, wanting to maintain the work’s style,”
“And from a commercial perspective, wanting to attract as many customers as possible,”
“These two are contradictory, just like the predicament you mentioned about the Gods of Chaos,”
“In my opinion, reputation is far more important than immediate profit,”
“Please, earn a little less.”
Just consider it as me, Shen Miao Miao, begging you!
The last sentence was what Shen Miao Miao said in her heart.
Gu Sheng opened his mouth, turning to look at everyone.
Seeing that everyone also had a conflicted expression, after some thought, they all nodded.
This wave of persuasion from Shen Miao Miao was truly remarkable.
It left almost no room for rebuttal.
Undeniably, if we follow the little Nezha’s words, then the style of Titanfall + APEX as a combination would be directly pulled to the full!
Players’ sense of immersion and belonging would be even stronger!
The only downside is filtering out casual players.
After weighing the pros and cons.
Gu Sheng eventually compromised. After all, judging from the current sales of Titanfall, even if we filter out some casual players, the number wouldn’t be too large.
He nodded:
“Alright, Shen Zong’s pursuit of artistry is admirable. Then we’ll fully implement the game’s immersion and style, only opening game access to users who have received invitations, and let them play for free.”
Yeeeeeeeeees!!!Seeing Gu Sheng agree with her suggestion, Shen Miao Miao almost jumped out of her seat in excitement!
But on the surface, she had to put on a calm and contented look!
“Very good, that’s settled then,”
Taking a silent breath of relief, Shen Miao Miao continued:
“Now, the problem is back to the original point,”
“This game’s cost is 50 million, it’s not a charity game,”
“So, what are our profit points?”
沈妙妙 spoke grandly, as if she was concerned about the return on investment.
But in reality, if it wasn’t for the system’s mandatory requirement, she’d rather APEX be completely free, without any profit-making methods at all!
Just a task for the system.
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, and Jiang Yun spoke:
“If it’s completely free, then we can only do it through in-game purchases.”
“Indeed, but what form should the in-game purchases take?”
Lu Bian bit his signature pen and pondered:
“Currently in the domestic market, the ones who do the best in in-game purchase revenue are our old enemy, Xun Teng,”
“Fireline Shuttle, a free game, relies solely on in-game purchase sales, and last year’s annual sales revenue was about 90 billion.”
Ssss—
The slight shock of a small Fire麒麟 made Shen Miao Miao tremble uncontrollably!
This in-game purchase is too terrifying!
90 billion in a year! That’s 7.5 billion per month!
And this!
Is just an average!
If calculated monthly, then in those months when they hold events and do lucky draws, their sales revenue would definitely easily exceed 10 billion!
Too scary.
Shen Miao Miao shivered, immediately rejecting it outright:
“No, that profit model doesn’t fit our Golden Wind,”
“We’ve always emphasized high-quality game content, friendly game pricing, and a conscientious game profit model,”
“Xun Teng’s lucky draw turntable and the gold-spending system, sure, they make money,”
“But this money is earned at the cost of sacrificing the game, even the company’s reputation,”
“For us, this is not worth it,”
“I believe it also doesn’t align with Director Gu’s game philosophy, right?”
Shen Miao Miao looked at Gu Sheng.
Looking at the little Nezha’s solemn expression, Gu Sheng smiled with satisfaction.
This is why he likes the little Nezha as his boss, and why he likes the Golden Wind company.
Admittedly, games, as a business, are destined to ultimately seek profit.
But Gu Sheng is unwilling to only focus on the word “profit”.
He doesn’t want to become Xun Teng, become the rotten Blizzard, and even less does he want to become the infamous Vivendi.
Otherwise, the system wouldn’t have descended upon him.
He’s like a bard who traveled from the previous life.
Bringing the vibrant and colorful game world, earning the laughter and cheers of players in this parallel world.
And now, the bard has found his protective Valkyrie and a large group of companions who share the same passion for games.
The bard loves the Valkyrie, and even more so the joyful laughter along the way.
“I agree with Shen Zong’s statement,”
Gu Sheng cast a approving glance at the little Nezha:
“I believe everyone else agrees too.”
Turning to look, he saw that the people in the meeting didn’t hesitate, and they all nodded.
Perhaps saying it this way is a bit sentimental, but everyone felt that adding Xun Teng’s style of gold-spending system to their game would be a stain on their game.
But if we don’t do Xun Teng’s style of gold-spending, then how should we design in-game purchases?
For a while, everyone furrowed their brows in contemplation.
And at this time, Wang Xiaoming, who had just joined the project meeting, raised his hand:
“Director Gu, I have an immature idea.”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, nodding: “Just say it. The purpose of our meeting today is to turn immature ideas into mature ones. Be bold.”
“Hehe, thank you, Director Gu, I’m a bit nervous for my first meeting.”
Wang Xiaoming grinned.
It has to be admitted that Director Gu’s personal charm is truly powerful.
He can always use a simple two-sentence phrase to lighten the mood, drawing people he looks upon to his side.
Wang Xiaoming organized his thoughts and spoke:
“I think the reason players have always criticized Xun Teng’s gold-spending system is due to the item attributes,”
“Shortening the flash duration, increasing the visibility range of smoke, increasing weapon magazine capacity and penetration, even directly adjusting weapon damage,”
“It’s more like they’re selling attributes rather than selling guns and items,”
“It’s item involution, a coercive move of ‘not spending is weak’.”
Wang Xiaoming does have something.
In a few words, he summarized the core of the current gold-spending system in most free games—
Coercion, deception.
“Players don’t dislike in-game purchase gold-spending, they dislike attribute selling,”
Wang Xiaoming said:
“Since that’s the case…”
At this point!
Wang Xiaoming paused, looking at Gu Sheng with a hint of anxiety.
Seeing that Gu Sheng was looking at him with a smile, he felt reassured, took a deep breath, calmed his nerves, and said:
“Since that’s the case, we won’t sell attributes, we’ll just make more beautiful gun skins and outfits.”
This is Wang Xiaoming’s forte!
You know!
The reason why Wang Xiaoming caught the attention of Golden Wind, the reason why Gu Sheng favored him, was because he used to be the maker of the most exquisite mods for Left 4 Dead!
And now!
Wang Xiaoming is going back to his old trade!
With these words!
Ssss—
Except for Gu Sheng, everyone else couldn’t help but gasp!
Only make skins, no attribute bonuses!!!
Such a forward-thinking in-game purchase design concept couldn’t help but make everyone present feel a bit worried!
Admittedly!
Wang Xiaoming once had a prominent name in the Left 4 Dead mod circle, countless fans, and he had long occupied the top spot of the mod subscription list.
But don’t forget!
Mods are free!
But the in-game purchase idea he’s proposing now is for money!
Make players pay for a skin that has no attribute bonuses, just makes the gun model look prettier?
Who the hell would pay for that!
Everyone knows!
Although players complain about Xun Teng’s deception and coercion.
But it’s precisely because of this that, in order to ensure their playing experience, any player who plays Fireline Shuttle will spend some money on in-game purchases.
At least at least, they must have a smoke grenade, a head-protecting visor, and a hero-level main battle gun!
Otherwise, it’s impossible to fight.
It’s like complaining while still spending.
But now!
The in-game purchase idea that Wang Xiaoming proposed directly overturned this tradition!
Whether you spend or don’t spend, we, Golden Wind, will guarantee a completely fair gaming atmosphere for all players.
Everyone talks with their skills!
Gold-spending won’t make you stronger, it can only make you go from an ordinary noob to a flashy noob!
This…
For a while, the conference room was filled with hesitant voices.
Undeniably, this move would definitely win players’ reputation.
The four characters “Conscientious Manufacturer” would be firmly etched on Golden Wind’s forehead!
But the problem is!
Since gold-spending is optional, and it doesn’t give me any advantages, why should I spend money?
And amidst this questioning!
Only two people showed a glimmer of joy in their eyes, their smiles widening!
One of them is Gu Sheng.
He really hadn’t been wrong about Wang Xiaoming, this “ordinary” genius!
This guy, through his previous experience and market analysis, has successfully opened up a brand new, green, profitable, and free gold-spending model!
Although!
This is nothing remarkable in Gu Sheng’s previous life.
But for this world, it is a creative feat that can change the free game in-game purchase model!
Its awesomeness is no less than “Second-Generation FPS” for the shooting game market!
He really is the man I’ve been looking for!
The reason I was so determined to bring you into Golden Wind is because of this day!
Gu Sheng is spirited, his approval in his eyes is undisguised!
And the other person who is equally bright-eyed, with a crazy smile on his lips, is—
Shen Miao Miao!
(End of Chapter)
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