Agreed to make bad games, What the Hell is Titan Fall 9
by adminChapter 9: A Bitter Repayment
“This is too damn abstract!”
Shen Miao Miao exclaimed in her heart, feeling utterly bewildered.
If the previous “Mao Liao” could be considered a pile of trash at first glance, then Gu Sheng’s new project was simply preposterous.
After all, “Mao Liao” was a derivative of “Mario.” Regardless of the quality of the game, at least one could tell at first glance what kind of game it was, what the basic gameplay was, and what the objective was.
But this new project!
Shen Miao Miao couldn’t even imagine what kind of game it was based on Gu Sheng’s description!
A crazy kid constantly trying to kill himself, and a tired old father trying to stop him?
Where was the fun in that?
Shen Miao Miao couldn’t understand, and she was even a little worried about Gu Sheng’s mental state.
But!
Undeniably, such a bizarre game had absolutely no selling points.
Gu Sheng’s chosen path was already niche, and coupled with this strange gameplay setting, it would be hard not to lose money.
Thinking about this, Shen Miao Miao couldn’t help but smile.
Forget it, what kind of game it was didn’t matter. The more absurd it was, the more advantageous it was for her!
This time, she would definitely make up for the lost profit from “Mao Liao”!
A bitter repayment!
Thus, she nodded:
“Good, I like this idea (even though I don’t understand it),”
“Then Director Gu, please go ahead and start the project. Feel free to make any requests, especially regarding investment, the company will fully support it and meet all your needs!”
What a great boss!
Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng secretly gave himself a thumbs up.
It was clear from Little Nezha’s expression that she didn’t understand this game at all. She was completely dumbfounded and confused.
But!
Little Nezha still chose to trust him, just like he trusted his teacher’s answers in math class. Whether he understood or not, he just nodded and said yes, yes, yes.
With a boss like this, what more could he ask for?
Gu Sheng secretly vowed in his heart to make the company prosperous, so as not to betray Little Nezha’s trust!
Thinking about this, Gu Sheng nodded:
“Thank you for your trust, boss. Now that we’re on this topic, I do have a small request.”
“No problem, go ahead. Anything the company can do, we will support you.”
Shen Miao Miao nodded, motioning for Gu Sheng to continue.
Gu Sheng grinned, seemingly a little embarrassed:
“Well, this project is much larger in scale than “Mao Liao,” so I was thinking we could expand the team size a bit.”
“A complete game team, aside from the producer, which is me,”
“We’ll also need a main programmer responsible for engine development and program maintenance, and a main artist responsible for scene UI and character modeling. Since some of the subsequent works may involve trade secrets, it’s not suitable to outsource all the projects.”
Actually, he also left out a main planner.
A main planner usually handles gameplay planning, level design, plot logic structure, and so on.
But due to the existence of the system, the games he redeemed were almost half-finished, containing core gameplay and plot design. So, Gu Sheng also served as the main planner by default, saving the company money and ensuring the game’s authenticity to the greatest extent.
After all, if Gu Sheng held both producer and main planner positions, it meant that the game’s core framework was entirely in his hands, making him the true embodiment of the game’s soul.
Listening to Gu Sheng’s suggestion, Shen Miao Miao nodded repeatedly.
Good! Excellent!
Our great director has grown, he knows to spend the company’s money!
Immediately, she waved her hand!
“Director Gu’s proposal is excellent! Like this!”
Then, Shen Miao Miao turned to Chu Qingzhou:
“Secretary Chu, immediately recruit according to Director Gu’s requirements. The requirements are experienced and capable individuals. Salary and benefits are not an issue, the higher, the better!”
You see!
According to the system’s rules, the principal, as the investment executor, their salary is not included in the investment amount. However, any personnel investment other than the principal will be considered an investment! In other words, the more expensive the people Gu Sheng hires to work on the game!
The larger the investment amount!
The harder it will be to recoup the principal!
The more she would get in return!
Of course, hiring personnel must also follow market prices, you can’t hire a dog and pay it a million dollars a year, that would be cheating.
Therefore, Shen Miao Miao instructed Chu Qingzhou to recruit the best talent possible to increase investment.
However, before Chu Qingzhou could respond, she heard Gu Sheng interrupt:
“Uh… I mean… maybe we don’t need to go to such great lengths?”
These words surprised both Shen Miao Miao and Chu Qingzhou.
“What do you mean?” Shen Miao Miao shrugged, confused by Gu Sheng’s words.
Gu Sheng smiled:
“What I mean is, instead of hiring those so-called experienced industry elites who have jumped ship multiple times,”
“Why don’t we cultivate a team that belongs to the company?”
A loyal team?
The two people across the conference table looked at each other.
Chu Qingzhou asked, “Director Gu, do you mean hiring newcomers?”
“Yes,”
Gu Sheng nodded:
“Compared to those so-called ‘industry elites,’ I prefer to lead a new team.”
Gu Sheng’s consideration was quite thoughtful.
This was what?
A parallel world.
To be more specific, it was a parallel world where game creativity was scarce, and game types were stagnant.
Games were an art form full of creativity.
But in this world, those so-called ‘elites’ were merely a group of mechanical laborers unable to break free from the shackles of established thinking.
They saw the success of “Crossfire” and concluded that shooting games could only have the crosshair in the middle of the screen, the health bar fixed at 100, and the objective focused on defusing bombs.
They saw the success of “Need for Speed” and concluded that driving games could only be racing, the chosen vehicles had to be flashy, all sorts of modifications had to be in place, and the pursuit of extreme performance.
Unbeknownst to them!
Gunfire could also be simulated with iron sights, breathing and regaining health could also speed up the game pace, and game objectives didn’t have to be stuck on that defused bomb a thousand times over.
Driving games don’t have to be racing either. The chosen vehicles could be heavy-duty trucks, and the scenery that was ignored in racing could also allow players to experience a relaxing and enjoyable beauty.
Gu Sheng would release many more games in the future.
He wanted his game development team to open their minds, to try to understand the attribute of games as the ninth art, instead of always focusing on “Will this game make money?” “Is this game mainstream?” “Does this game have a market?”
Games are boring, because their essence is composed of 0s and 1s, a string of tasteless code.
At the same time, games are wonderful, because within those countless combinations of 0s and 1s, there lies the sunset scenery of the Alps, the grandeur of Norse mythology, the excitement of becoming a hero to save the world, the human contemplation of uncovering the truth behind the fog.
This was the kind of game that Gu Sheng loved.
“So, I am requesting the company to try out my two friends. They, like me, still maintain a passion for the creativity of the gaming industry.”
(End of Chapter)
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