Chapter 66: C66: It is Online
As the first prize of last year's Sci-fi Theme Game Development Competition, I, Chen Xu, who created Escape that kicked off a wave of horror, Overcooked has drawn attention not just within the independent game circle.
For Neon Games, Overcooked isn't just another game—it's a turn towards the platform's future direction. That's why the publicity resources for Overcooked surpass even those used for Escape.
I specially filmed several one-and-a-half-minute short video clips for this game for advertising.
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In one of the ads, I show a couple sitting in front of their computers in a bright, sunny bedroom. On their monitors, the game "Overcooked" is running.
The separation doesn't affect our connection and understanding. We can be separated physically but connected virtually all through Overcooked.
This line plays in the background...
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In another ad~
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Cutting vegetables, cooking, and serving them, the kitchen in the game splits into two with the shake of the screen. The couple suddenly finds themselves cooking on a hot air balloon. They laugh together as they enjoy and cooperate in the game, experiencing the beauty of enjoying their time together.
Time passes, from day into night. As the scene progresses, you see the two, once in separate locations, merging their spaces. Soon, they're living together in a house, yet in front of them, the game "Overcooked" is still playing on their screens.
From the past to the present, our bond remains Overcooked with love.
This line plays in the background...
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In another ad ~
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A boy stood up from his chair and reached for his phone to open a delivery app, ready to place an order.
But just as he's about to do so. A girl from behind sneaked in, smiling brightly, and snatched the phone away. She pulls out a chef's hat, shaking it playfully in front of him.
Then she controls her keyboard to move her character toward the kitchen...
Opening the refrigerator, the two head to the kitchen—one chopping, the other cooking. What began as virtual cooking in the game seamlessly transitions into real-life cooking.
Enjoy the game, Enjoy this life, and share the fun with the one you love.
This line plays in the background...
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With the melodious BGM under the hood. The video came to an end during a candlelight dinner for two.
In the center of the final screen, a line of subtitles appeared: Overcooked will be launched on March 24.
Of course, this was a promotional video for the couple version, there is also a brother version and a Soulmate version.
We shot a total of three different versions. I can confidently say we covered all levels for all niche groups of players.
For the players, it's obvious that the promotional video for Overcooked has piqued their interest.
The adorable visuals, paired with the heartwarming vibe of the video, have made countless players eagerly anticipate the game's release. This looks like a heartwarming game.
Soon after, the official blog for my promotional video was filled with replies from players.
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"Fuck, the game designer, He is cheating on us!"
"The promo video is amazing! But the couple version made me, a single person, feel a bit salty."
"This game is so cute and warm! Is this Chen Xu's compensation for disturbing us with Escape?"
"This is the true 'warrior of love'. I'm definitely buying it to play with my girlfriend. Chen Xu, you've earned a like from me!"
"Looking closely, it seems like a cooking game, maybe for two-player co-op? Poor me, I can only play it with friends!"
"Don't be discouraged, sometimes friends can turn into lovers!"
"????? What's wrong with the person above? Is he Gay?"
"What's wrong with being one? Let me and Brother Jie figure it out!"
"I'm planning to confess on Valentine's Day this year. My crush loves cute casual games. I'll confess while we play. I've got a plan: I'll cook in-game, then wow her with my cooking skills! I'll even hide the confession gift inside a cake!"
"Good luck with the confession, brother!"
"Yeah, this is the Chen Xu I know! No more underworld games like Escape. Although it was hilarious watching others get scared, I still prefer games full of love like this!"
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It wasn't just the players talking. Some designers in the game industry who follow my work were also discussing it.
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"Did you hear? Chen Xu's new game is a co-op game for couples."
"So Soon! Although we are good at manufacturing! But isn't this too diabolical"
"It's not just for couples, though. It's being marketed that way because of Valentine's Day."
"I'm not sure how this kind of game will do. If it's mainly a co-op game, the whole thing could fall apart if the level design isn't strong. Most of Chen Xu's past games are story-driven. Is this his first try at something like this?"
"It's hard to describe the game's content completely, but I feel like I understood it from the publicity!"
"Exactly, when I watched the promotional video, It felt warm, and instantly wanted to buy it and play with my girlfriend."
'Upstairs are you a game developer?"
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"However, it's not easy to guarantee popularity. After all, the success of cooperative games depends on how popular they become. If it can achieve some buzz like Escape did, Overcooked could see some impressive sales."
"But there doesn't seem to be any competition during the Spring Festival in his genre, so old thief Chen Xu took advantage of that."
"Though, no competition might not always be a good thing. The gaming industry isn't zero-sum. As long as it's not oversaturated, it helps grow the market for everyone."
"I think it might be a bit unrealistic for Chen Xu to expect this game to sell as well as Escape."
"Still, making a profit seems certain. Judging by its production, the development cost of Overcooked shouldn't be too high, so even if it earns less, it'll still earn."
"But compared to Escape, the art style of Overlooked leans toward cute cartoons, which means it has a much broader audience base."
"By the way, have you noticed that Neon's platform is running a buy-one-get-one-free event?"
"Normal. With the Spring Festival and Valentine's Day around the corner, they have to offer some perks to players. And who wouldn't want to build a loyal fan base on their platform?"
"Exactly, and since 'Overcooked' is a cooperative game, some players might hesitate to buy it solo, but this buy-one-get-one-free offer might convince them to jump in."
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Discussions about Chen Xu's new game are widespread among industry insiders and players alike.
For regular players, it's all about how the game performs.
For those in the industry, the focus is more on the market potential.
Even the buy-one-get-one-free offer from Neon's platform has caught the attention of game designers.
As Chen Xu had predicted, not many are too focused on it. After all, who doesn't want to build their game platform these days?
With commissions being high on other platforms, launching a platform-exclusive deal makes sense.
Regarding Overcooked, most designers have the same opinion: It will make some money, but its overall impact is still uncertain.
Chen Xu, however, remains unaffected by these speculations.
How did the game perform? Well, only time will tell.
As the days inch closer to release, on March 24th, the third day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Xu posts an update on his official blog:
"Overcooked is launching today! It's a multiplayer game full of fun and chaos. Let's dive in! Mistakes will not be tolerated in this crazy kitchen!"
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So Overcooked has a launch date of 24th March.
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