Why does the same Pokémon react differently depending on who their trainer is? How do emotions influence a Pokémon's combat abilities, and do these effects vary between trainers? This level of detail makes it difficult to distinguish between players and NPCs in "One Piece," adding a realistic depth to the game that captivates many. In other games, where characters follow rigid instructions, players often lose interest quickly. But here, things feel alive.
"Yes! There must be a super-skilled development team behind this game!" someone exclaimed.
"I thought so! How could John, a recent college graduate, make such a complex game all on his own?!"
As Matthew Hudson finished speaking, the tables in the room shook from excited reactions. Richard Burns, a bald, seasoned executive, had been feeling something was off about the game for a while, though he hadn't quite put his finger on it.
That's it!
How could John, a young, recently graduated developer, create something so elaborate? Programming a game of this scale is a colossal project, not to mention all the unique materials and innovative settings. Could he have done it solo?
Seeing the amazement on the others' faces, Matthew felt a surge of satisfaction. As one of the five major players in this game's ecosystem, he had forced his way into the group through his formidable strategy skills. Naturally, this left him on tense terms with the others, who often sought to undermine him.
"Everyone, don't get too excited. This game's development team is well-hidden."
"As far as I know, John rarely leaves his home," he continued. "Do any of you even know how to find them? Would you dare take on his family?"
Seeing their enthusiasm, Matthew poured cold water on their plans. John was, after all, the son of Michael, the influential leader of Seaside City, and the likely future governor of Eastflower Province.
Who would dare make a move?
"Before we go further, let's pool our information," Matthew suggested.
"Agreed," Richard said. "Since John hasn't revealed the development team, finding them will take time. Let's share what we know and discuss things slowly. I'll start."
With a wave of his arm, Richard changed the display in the room, showing a new scene.
"This is what our team has discovered so far. We've embedded players across various factions in the "One Piece" world and found something intriguing. Mochizuki Group, a major conglomerate, has deep roots in many industries, especially gaming. Even though Mochizuki Games took a hit when virtual games became popular, they managed to stay at the top."
Richard Burns, the largest shareholder of Mochizuki Group, had initially been the third-largest. But by capitalizing on the rise of virtual gaming, he had gained control of the entire company. Now, their main focus was on gaming.
Richard habitually touched his forehead and continued, gesturing to a document he projected onto the screen. It was a book filled with all the information they'd gathered about the "One Piece" world. He paused on a specific page, where it read:
"There are three ancient weapons hidden in the world of pirates!"
"Three ancient weapons?!"
The others were stunned. These ancient weapons were a well-kept secret in the pirate world. Both the Navy and the World Government were aware of their existence, but few dared to mention them openly.
"What exactly are these ancient weapons?"
"No clue," Richard replied with a shrug.
Then why mention it?
The others stifled their irritation but maintained neutral expressions.
"All I know," Richard continued, "is that these weapons have been around since ancient times. They hold the power to destroy entire worlds. People here are extremely cautious about these weapons, and we lost a lot of players just to get this information."
"World-ending power?!"
Everyone's eyes lit up. This was exactly what they had been hoping for.
Richard went on with a confident smile, "If we can get our hands on even one of these weapons, we'll have a solid foundation in the world of 'One Piece.'"
Matthew Hudson frowned, though not out of jealousy. Something about the ancient weapons sounded unreliable.
A solid foundation?
He recalled a glitchy video presentation that had gone viral, shocking viewers everywhere. The "One Piece" world didn't seem simple at all.
Even if they found an ancient weapon, would it really be that easy to control?
But as he looked around at the others' excited faces, he knew no one would listen to his doubts. So, he stayed quiet and played along with a smirk.
"Alright, I'll go next," he said, keeping up the momentum.
Richard's revelation had everyone buzzing, and next, Luke Dillon stepped forward.
This time, the scene didn't change.
Clearing his throat, Luke began, "The information we collected from Dillon Entertainment isn't as groundbreaking, mainly news about Devil Fruit auctions. I'll send a copy to everyone directly."
No one reacted much. Not every report had to be sensational.
The last two updates were similarly mild, without much impact.
A few days after John posted his update on WebNet, his supporters rallied on the forums, quickly shifting the momentum back in his favor.
"If you don't want to pay for extra features or deal with challenges, then why are you even playing the game?"
"Right?! These players are top-notch!"
As usual, John toured the world of "One Piece" to check on plot progress, then browsed the forums to see player reactions. But the tone there had taken an odd shift.
"Picture posted~ [Image.jpg]. Found my soulmate in the game! How about you?"
"Heh, who hasn't? Look at this! [Image.jpg]. I'll be living my best life in a few more weeks!"
"Haha, I'm holding hands with a handsome swordsman!"
John was dumbfounded.
What?! This is how they're playing the game?
I didn't even know my own game could be played like this!
What happened to the thrilling pirate adventure I designed? How did it turn into a dating sim?
When this thread migrated from WebNet to the game forums, players' imaginations exploded.
What? You can find wealthy partners in-game? Then why can't I earn money with physical labor here too?
It's all within the game world, right… so why not?
A/N: Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.
Also check out my Patreon if you want extra chapters up to chapter 95: Patreon.com/AncestorX
Enjoy ✌️.
John couldn't help but feel impressed with his players. The creativity they displayed in expanding the game's potential was remarkable! As he scrolled through various gameplay threads on the forums, a look of amazement mixed with deep thought spread across his face.
People from any world, real or virtual, should never be underestimated—and neither should the world of "One Piece."
When John first designed the game, he had a hard time pinning down its genre, but he eventually leaned towards tagging it as an adventure and treasure-hunting experience. After all, that was the essence of "One Piece." However, he realized now that it was the casual gameplay aspects—the fishing, exploration, and socializing—that attracted a whole other audience. And those players were finding endless ways to enjoy it.
For example, there was a player with vast resources who didn't chase after wealth or power, nor did he pursue battle or influence. His favorite pastime? Fishing. And he wasn't alone. Many players seemed more interested in making money by marrying rich characters, becoming traveling chefs, or even earning a living as in-game novelists. Every walk of life seemed represented—there was even a growing subset of players treating it as an immersive life simulation.
John realized this was an opportunity to enhance "One Piece." Players weren't only here for combat or adventure; they wanted to live out virtual lives. Beneath the adrenaline-filled battles, there was a whole realm of potential waiting to be developed.
With this in mind, John entered the virtual workspace to make some adjustments to the game.
First, he focused on the romantic elements that had become so popular. "Alright," he thought, "if players are this invested, let's add even more appealing characters." In this virtual era, characters weren't just flat images—people wanted to interact with attractive, realistic NPCs. Who could resist?
With a smirk, he imagined his players reluctant to abandon their in-game partners. So he set to work creating new characters, paying close attention to every detail. This time, he wanted them to look distinct and appealing.
He paused as a bold idea crossed his mind. "System, can we increase the realness of the simulation?"
The system responded, "Modification possible."
Perfect.
"Then let's push the realism up to 100% for certain interactions. Just in the right ways, of course." A chuckle escaped him. "Let's see who can resist the appeal now."
Realistic simulation games had been around for some time, but most lacked quality, leaving players feeling like they were interacting with lifeless robots. But John's game was different; he could fine-tune the realism so that players wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the game and reality.
"Alright, let's give them a little treat," he mused. "And this can double as motivation to keep players active—let's make them work up a bit of a sweat!"
In this virtual era, people rarely went outside, and even though everyone had exercise equipment, few used it regularly. Coughing, he convinced himself this was for their own good. His "patch" was done swiftly, since it wasn't a large update, and he was already plotting more ways to enhance the players' experiences.
Fishing? Let's add in some Sea Kings to make things interesting. After all, who doesn't love a thrilling surprise?
He continued improving other aspects: travel for the explorers, culinary challenges for aspiring chefs, and even new encounters for adventurers. Not long after, John finished the preliminary updates. These additions covered the immediate ideas he had, but he knew he could add more as they came to him. With the system's capabilities, he could make changes directly in the virtual world, sidestepping the Dragon Kingdom game platform entirely.
The virtual world he created functioned like an extended clone of the main game, allowing him to control the outside instance seamlessly.
There was no update announcement—players simply discovered these tweaks on their own. And it didn't take long for a few active ones to notice.
"Ouch! What the—?!"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Let's keep going!" one player said, slightly out of breath, his cheeks flushed as he ran beside his virtual partner.
"I'm going to sprint!"
"Wait for me! You're too fast!"
Fifty meters from the finish line, they both gave it their all, competing playfully, until finally the guy crossed first.
"Hah… what the…!" He paused, surprised and a bit flustered.
His partner looked at him, concerned. "What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing! Let's just run back!"
"Alright~"
Within a day, the changes spread across the forums.
"I went running with my wife in the game yesterday, and… let's just say I felt something different."
"What's so unusual about that?" someone replied.
"Are you clueless? This wasn't just normal—it was… a bit more intense."
"???"
"Oh my gosh! John adjusted the game's realism level for certain activities, and it's amazing!"
"Heh, I didn't just love it—I think I might need to up my health insurance!"
"I'm feeling the same. I need to start exercising for real or I won't keep up in-game!"
"Let's hit the gym, everyone! After last night's session, my back is killing me."
And just like that, John's latest update was a hit.
A/N: Looks like the author decided to cook something worthy of being called chapter 69.
Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.
Also check out my Patreon if you want extra chapters up to chapter 95: Patreon.com/AncestorX
Enjoy ✌️.
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