Game Development: Starting by Healing the Players
Chapter 29: Players' Discussions
The next day, at the Nebula Games office, Chen Xu handed the completed design concept document, along with the character design requirements for the main characters Johnny, River, Eva, Neil, and the others, to Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue.
After looking through the design document and its script, both Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue were somewhat moved by the story.
However, this was obviously not the time to get immersed in the game's story. The two of them raised the questions they had in mind.
"Isn't this supposed to be a science-fiction game? Mr. Chen, the actual core theme is clearly romance!" Ruan Ningxue was full of question marks. She had even changed the way she addressed him.
"Exactly. What happened to the science fiction?" Yang Xin agreed.
During the meeting the previous day, Chen Xu had described the game's setting to them.
Going to the moon, memory-altering technology, and so on.
The two of them had even discussed it privately, bringing up concepts such as the brain in a vat, dystopias, cyberpunk, and other similar ideas.
But now that they had the design concept document in their hands, they finally realized something.
They had been completely misled!
This was actually a romance story wearing the skin of a science-fiction game!
"How is this not science fiction? Look at the memory-altering technology. Isn't that science fiction?"
"We can also add some more sci-fi elements to the setting later. For example, when the two doctors drive to Johnny's house, we can make their car look more futuristic."
"And besides, that's not important. What's important is whether the content of the game can move the players."
"Alright, alright. Everyone, get into position. We don't have much time left!" Chen Xu cleared his throat twice.
...............
At the same time, discussions about the competition were gradually heating up online.
After all, the deadline was approaching.
Since the event was being organized by the Ministry of Games, the authorities naturally carried out their own promotional campaign.
Some of the game designers participating in the event were also promoting their entries on their official Weibo accounts.
Most of the entries, however, were PC and mobile games.
The main reason was that their development cycles were relatively short.
Several well-known domestic game companies, such as NetDragon, were also participating.
Of course, they weren't sending their core studios.
After all, these major companies had quite a few studios under them.
As a result, many players learned about the competition and began discussing it.
"The Sci-Fi Game Design Competition is about to start, isn't it?"
"Sci-Fi Game Design Competition? What the hell is that?"
"The competition previously organized by the Ministry of Games."
"Oh, that one. I'd completely forgotten about it. Those competitions are pointless. What kind of games do they even pick as winners?"
"Exactly. I'm not asking for something on the level of Undertale, but at least give us something decent, right?"
"This time is a little different. Players can participate in the judging too. In the past, the main judges were Ministry of Games officials. Games made specifically to win awards obviously had to cater to the officials."
"So this time they're letting the people have some fun too?"
"More or less. This time, they'll definitely lean more toward the preferences of ordinary players."
"I'm still skeptical."
"But do you guys think there'll be a bunch of META games this time? META elements have been pretty popular lately."
"Probably not. After all, Undertale hadn't even been released when the competition was announced."
"Do you think Chen Xu will participate?"
"Dream on! Look at the timing. If Chen Xu participates, I'll chop off my dick!"
"Damn, bro, that's pretty extreme."
"Obviously! You'd know it was impossible even if you used your ass to think! During the period since the competition was announced, Chen Xu has made Mirror and Undertale. How could he possibly have had time to develop another game for this competition?"
"Holy crap, bro, you're screwed! Go check Chen Xu's official Weibo. He's actually participating!"
"??? What the hell? You're joking, right!?"
"F for the guy above. One second of silence for his dick."
"Holy crap, it's actually true!?"
...............
As an indie game, Undertale's popularity was completely unlike that of a typical indie game.
The main reason was that the game had demonstrated exactly what META elements could do.
Combined with its impressive sales, the game had directly become a model example of the combination of art and commercial success.
Naturally, it attracted the attention of countless game designers throughout the industry.
As for the media, there was even less need to mention them.
What did it mean when an ordinary game designer created a game like this?
It meant traffic and headlines.
As for what project Nebula Games and Chen Xu would develop next, the opinions of the game industry and the players were basically identical.
That was that it would most likely be a sequel to Undertale, or perhaps another META game.
But who could have expected that Chen Xu would publicly announce on his official Weibo account that Nebula Games was developing a special game to participate in the competition?
As for what made the game "special," Chen Xu didn't say.
However, neither the players, industry designers, nor the media paid much attention to that detail.
After all, no matter how special it was, it was still just a game, wasn't it?
The real issue was the timing.
There was only about half a month between the announcement and the competition's registration deadline. Would Nebula Games actually have enough time?
Judging from Nebula Games' previous project schedule, it was obvious that the game they were entering had not been prepared in advance.
After hearing the news, many game designers in the industry felt that Nebula Games was treating the competition like a joke.
Zhong Mei, who had been keeping quiet ever since Undertale became successful, seemed to have been watching Chen Xu's every move.
Less than four minutes after Chen Xu's official Weibo post went up, Zhong Mei reposted it with a comment.
"A momentary success doesn't guarantee lifelong success. Unfortunately, some game designers haven't understood this and are even treating an official game competition like a child's game. I think it's possible that a designer like this won't even be able to get their entry through the review process, right?"
Clearly, Zhong Mei had ulterior motives.
The moment he saw Chen Xu's Weibo post, he immediately jumped out, hoping to redirect some of the criticism he had been receiving toward Chen Xu.
Although the comments beneath the post were once again filled with sarcastic remarks and mocking replies, this time Zhong Mei also received some support.
After all, developing a science-fiction game for a competition in little more than ten days?
That sounded completely unrealistic!
As for Zhong Mei's response, Chen Xu's reaction was very simple.
He posted a screenshot of Zhong Mei's previous Weibo post that Zhong Mei had deleted.
Then he added an image showing Undertale's ratings and sales figures.
Finally, he posted a meme.
The meme featured a recently popular Bugs Bunny image, with the rabbit looking at a clown with an expression of complete disgust.
Next to it, Chen Xu added a line of text:
"Stop looking for me. I don't want to talk to clowns."
The moment players saw Chen Xu's response and the meme, countless people burst out laughing.
The replies beneath the meme were filled with players having a great time.