Chapter 26: Release of Minecraft
"Just make the game a pixel game. As for the game mod, you can try creating a few after finishing the game, and you'll see the effects."
John didn't elaborate further. The game mod itself wasn't complicated; gamers in his previous life had created them easily, so professionals like them would have no trouble. The success of "Minecraft" in his previous life was largely due to players spontaneously making game mods, and John decided to preserve that tradition. In this world, it would also help increase the popularity of "Minecraft."
""Minecraft" doesn't require complex numerical design. The dubbing and soundtrack are quite simple. Sarah, I'll leave that to you. If you need more funds, just apply at the company."
"Understood, boss." Sarah nodded. After a moment, sensing John's concern about time, she added, "Once we determine the direction of the original art and modeling, we can finish it within a month at most."
"Okay, the meeting is over. You can start working now."
After explaining the tasks, John returned home. Although finding a game production team wasn't as effective as he had hoped, it did help him share some responsibilities. He intended to give them full control over "My World," offering guidance while focusing on building the virtual world. This was also a test for them; if they did well this time, John would naturally share more game information.
Meanwhile, with the nationwide launch of Pokémon in the Dragon Kingdom, the popularity of the franchise experienced a significant surge. In just a few days, the number of players who received Pokémon in "Second World" surpassed nine figures, rapidly heading toward ten figures. This indicated that Pokémon was becoming unstoppable.
To John's surprise, after players received their initial Pokémon, the official channels recommended Happy Farm as a support game. This was a first for "Second World." Some game designers were envious; the advertising space in "Second World" was incredibly valuable, especially the recommended space! Money couldn't buy that!
This was beyond what Michael's authority could manage. Clearly, there was backing from higher-ups in the Dragon Kingdom. Considering the ability to plant trees and fruits, Happy Farm had already built a massive user base, solving the issue of cultivating Pokémon while indirectly creating many jobs.
More importantly, John did not charge for this game, and the official channels accepted this win-win situation. Happy Farm was riding the wave of popularity, leading more people to discover the fun of the game and join the ranks of vegetable thieves. As a result, John's points steadily rose, inching closer to the nine-figure mark.
At the same time, Pokémon alliances were successfully established across various regions of the Dragon Kingdom, with headquarters set up in Seaside City. Thanks to this momentum, Seaside City in "Second World" rapidly developed, benefiting significantly.
"How's it going?"
Next door to John's home, at the Edge Horizon team residence, the team had only spent over ten days developing the pixel game after John's decision. The basic programming of "Minecraft" was straightforward.
"Boss, you're amazing!"
"I can't believe how fun pixel games are!"
"Right? With all the different game mods we can add, this game is going to be limitless!"
Inside the room, members of the Edge Horizon team were gathering test data for "Minecraft." As soon as they saw John enter, they eagerly began to report.
"Hey, did you really just walk in without knocking?"
John felt his cheeks heat up, distracted by the girls' casual attire, which revealed their waists and legs.
"Uh, I thought you heard me coming!"
A few girls suddenly realized what had happened, turned red, and hurriedly pushed John back out the door, causing him to smile at the accidental touch.
"Come on, I knocked! If I didn't have the key, no one would know if you were stuck in there."
"Okay, okay, you can come in now!"
"Tch, look who's shy now!"
After a moment, the girls were dressed more appropriately. Sarah had a faint blush on her face, but her excitement was evident.
"Boss, we've got the test data here. No major bugs have been found, and we've fixed a few minor ones."
John took a look at the data. The basic game world of "Minecraft" had been established, focusing on the synthesis formulas for various items.
"If you're confident, let's start promoting it online."
"Don't worry, boss. I've already reached out to the publicity channels, and the Dragon game platform has passed the review. We're good to go!"
John hadn't focused much on these details, as his mind was on building the virtual world. Sarah had begun promoting the game online even before its official release. Like "Stone Age," "Minecraft" gained considerable popularity online, thanks to John's reputation.
"This is a new version of the game you've never played before!"
"Come to 'Minecraft.' I'm the master of my world!"
"Wait, is this a new project from John?"
"Check out the latest creation from John, the new ninth-level virtual game designer! You have to try it!"
John thought, "…Your promotional channel should still be the same one you found last time."
This familiar promotional style made him feel a bit of a headache.
"Uh, the effect is still okay," Sarah said, a bit sheepishly. While some aspects weren't great, the response was strong. Under these promotional topics, comments began to flood in.
"It's been thirty-five days since John disappeared. I miss him!"
"Seriously! John is working on a new game, but he's not like those people who flaunt their fame everywhere."
"Hey, who are you talking about?"
"Am I not being clear? (Funny)"
"There's still no confirmation. This game has only revealed a name, and I don't know if it's fun or not."
"Regardless of whether it's fun, I'm definitely buying a copy to support John!"
"Same here! We can't let John lose money while making games!"
"Ahem, I heard the Edge Horizon team made this game for John. My aunt's nephew's second aunt's daughter is a classmate with Lily. I heard the Edge Horizon team is already staying with John, so… you know what I mean?"
"What do you mean???"
"I don't get it!"
"Woooooo, is it too late for me to learn how to make games?"
While the topic in the comments had veered off, it was clear to see the impact of John's fame on the game. Unfortunately, "Minecraft" was still free.
"Ding~ The Weibo you follow has new news!"
[The latest game "Minecraft" has been released. This is a brand-new sandbox game. Do casual players of Happy Farm feel their farms are too small? Come to "Minecraft"! The world is up to you!]
After Sarah released the game on the platform, John routinely posted a Weibo promotion. Immediately, hundreds of thousands of comments flooded in.
"Wait, why is it free?"
"Please don't make it free! I want to spend money! I want to recharge!"
"What even is a sandbox game?"
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