Chapitre 42: C42: Ratings
In various forums, media platforms, and player communities.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the website of the game department, along with the official blog of the media channels, all announced the latest selection news. In the premeditated move, for the next five minutes, all the entertainment media accounts have new and similar articles about the Game department competition.
To the Moon successfully won the first prize in this year's Sci-fi game expedition, while Galaxy Heroes ranked second.
I, Chen Xu, in Neon Games, also received a phone call from the game department.
They invited me to the game department's designated Competition venue to participate in the award ceremony. At the same time, in the official game store, the winning notice of To the Moon was also hung on the homepage.
On the homepage of the official game store, there is also an appraisal review for selecting To the Moon as the first prize. The main point was, that these reviews come from industry veterans and policymakers.
-------------------------------------------------------
' Imagine lying in your bed on your deathbed and recalling all the joys of your life, all the regrets, especially the regrets.' Kayo Shan, Chief of Game Department officer, Beijing.
'You always tell yourself that if you could go back in time, you would do this thing and make this dream come true, but there always seems to be something that takes you off track: family obligations, work, spending time with friends.' Mei Tian, Retired Senior game developer and industry Practitioner.
' The game plot brought tears to my eyes?' Boss Ma, CEO of Free Bird Gaming
' This is just the tip of the iceberg of "To the Moon." It's not a big production. It doesn't have exquisite graphics, and it doesn't have complicated gameplay, "To the Moon" has a lesson for all designers making narratives and plot-based video games, and It has raised the bar for games in this genre so high.' Brother Zhu, Overseas department head, director of the Game department.
'If you want to review the whole game, it's hard to discuss without spoilers, but let's just say if you're a gamer who cares about storytelling, this game is a must-play.' Pei Long, Beijing Times Best Selling Author.
'Such views may be affected by time, but at least for now, this is the perfect game.' Cat Empire, is a game enthusiast.
' The dialogue is perfect, and the collaboration between Dr. Eva and Dr. Neil features many witty banters, providing humor to break up an often dark story.' Dong Zhen Shark TV Streamer.
"The story is perfect; the story of Johnny and his wife River has many twists and turns, some bittersweet, some downright sad, but it's not just a mix of humor and sadness. The music is perfect, full of beautiful piano melodies, and each track shines on its own, recurring in different thematic stories and moments of choice, just like you'd expect from the best movies. Going to the moon is about life: the people, the places, the hardships, and the joys that make us human. The whole story started out as a mixed hodgepodge, but it crystallized satisfactorily over the years. It's absolutely a perfect game, no doubt about it. " Bruce Wang, Senior Industry Practitioner, and a Movie Director.
-------------------------------------------------------
This appreciation from the number of veterans and practitioners and their review which is added to the platform by the game department gives "To the Moon" a very high evaluation, completely affirming the game's status.
Inside the office of Neon Games, Yang Xin, and Ruan Ningxue saw the announcement from the game department for the first time, and they both cheered.
"Chen Xu, look! 'To the Moon' has been recommended on the official game platform!" Yang Xin exclaimed, excitement bubbling within her.
This is the official game platform! This game even won the first title of this event. This is something she never dared think of before. She was so excited, She couldn't control herself at all. Her entire face flushed red with excitement like tomato soup.
Ruan Ningxue, next to her, had the same look of excitement on her face. But She has more control over her emotions.
As for the new employees who joined Neon Games during the period when "To the Moon" was launched, they were also very excited.
Although this game has nothing to do with them, they can't add it to their resume. Such a result fully proves that there is a future in Neon Games and a promising one. They were about to work in this promising company, so they were naturally very happy.
"By the way, When are you going to attend the award ceremony of the gaming department," Yang Xin thought of something and asked Chen Xu.
"The leader of the game department in Shanghai just contacted me with the relevant detail and appreciation towards our work," he affirmed.
"Awards ceremony! Will it be on TV?" Ruan Ningxue asked curiously.
"You think too much. It's not a commercial awards ceremony; it's the showing of our face and then getting a certificate," Chen Xu shook his head and said.
"That's it!" Ruan Ningxue was stunned.
"Okay, let's not talk about this part. Let's discuss the company's affairs and get to the bottom of it with everyone. After the game department ceremony, we will have a week break then we will start the development of new projects, and this time, we will make bigger ones."
"In addition, before the start of December, we need to have the platform ready and working at least the Beta version should be up and running over the internet. The time-consuming and labor-intensive non-core areas should be outsourced directly," He said, looking at the team gathered around.
"Magic Mirror," "Undertale," and "To the Moon"—these three games were small in terms of cost and scale. But when it comes to sales, they were successes.
Even so, the funds brought in by these games are still a bit tight for developing large-scale AAA titles. But less ambitious and medium-sized games? Those are within reach.
As he finished speaking, he could see everyone's expressions turn serious, though there was also a sense of anticipation. After all, anyone in the game industry has the desire to be part of a major project. It's a milestone in both personal and professional development.
After talking with the team, I returned to my office, leaning back in my chair as I stared at the UI interface hovering in front of me that only I could see. I have to admit, "To the Moon" really helped boost my points.
With three million points earned, along with the ones from "Undertale" and "Magic Mirror," my current points have surged to 4.5 million. This means I could draw forty-five times if I have to.
However, despite the tempting pile of points, I decided not to act immediately. I plan to hold off and stock up. I haven't decided on the next project yet, and even if I do, development won't start until the break is over.
In the meantime, based on the current growth rate, I estimate I'll be able to rack up at least a million points more. With "To the Moon" recently winning the first prize and getting featured on the official platform, I know it's going to attract a wave of new players.
And these new players? They mean more meat to harvest.
If I wait and do ten consecutive draws in one go, maybe I'll have better luck. I also need to find something lucky to touch. Statistically speaking, my odds of pulling something great will improve ~ Touch Wood
I hope it won't be like last time—twenty-one draws, and the only decent items were two memory capsules. Not even a rare skill book.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Blood_22
Blood_22 Like it ? Add to library！
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Chapitre 43: C43: Warrior of Love
Next day...
The awarding place for the sci-fi expedition of the game department is located in the game department of Shanghai City "The New York of China".
As for the location, it's in the conference hall of the Shanghai City Game Department Building.
Calling it an awards ceremony feels a bit of a stretch since it doesn't exactly match the grandeur the word "ceremony" usually implies.
Even though it's National Day, there are still quite a few people working in the game department. None can tell if they're regular staff or just contract workers.
There aren't any fancy decorations either. The staff are casual. They are taking photos, mostly using their phones and tablets.
On the other hand, outside the entrance, several media outlets with cameraman who are holding cameras on their shoulders are gathered.
But these folks are mostly filming and snapping pictures from a distance. None is stepping forward for an interview.
It makes sense though—this is just the beginning. If there are going to be any interviews, it'll probably happen at the end of the event.
Despite the simplicity, this is my first time at such an event, and I find it pretty exciting.
It's around one and a half PM now, and we've been told that the official events start at Two.
I follow the staff into the conference hall. This place has been converted into a temporary venue for the event. Although it's quite spacious. I would have preferred a much better venue at some three-star hotel.
The room wall is a combination of red-brown color. The ceiling is colored white, with LED light embedded into the roof. Surprisingly the venue is fully Air conditioned with posters of participating games hanging on the walls. The seating arrangement is a straight-row system.
The chairs are divided into two sections, and upfront, there's a long horizontal table serving covered in red carpet as the main podium. Behind it is, the game department emblem on the wall.
Throughout the conference room, there are markings of the seats for each participant and dignitaries.
Soon, I found my spot, right in the front row. The person next to me shifts a bit to look away.
I sat up in my seat. My curiosity overwhelmed me as I started to look around the room. Suddenly I hear someone call me out. It was the gentleman sitting next to me.
"You're Chen Xu, right? 'To the Moon' really deserves the spot," says the person sitting beside me, giving me a faint smile. But I can also spot something else behind that smile—probably pain. He feels a little conflicted too.
He continued with the same smile "I even admired it a little. After all, I also played your game To the Moon, which moved me deeply."
Hearing his words, I glanced at him and stretched out my right hand which was a little cold with a smile on my face "Thank you, for your appreciation Sir, for fans like you, I will continue to work hard on my upcoming game"
"The narrative depth in 'To the Moon' is just First's kiss, and 'Undertale,' the gem you developed before, is even more mind-blowing," the person said, still clutching my hand with a grip that felt like it was trying to squeeze the life out of me.
I couldn't help but notice the grin plastered across his face—it was like watching someone who's simultaneously in agony and bliss, struggling with the kind of contradictions that only life and bad video games can throw at you.
[Meng You POV]
"Why did this feel so familiar?" he wondered, his mind echoing with the agonized cries of, "Why! Why! Why?" as if he were trapped in a burning hell, each shout amplifying the torment within him.
This scene, which I had imagined in my mind months ago!
It was the protagonist and the supporting roles. Everything is the same, just our roles are reversed.
┻━┻︵ \(°□°)/ ︵ ┻━┻
I let go of his hand and fell silent.
[Chen Xu POV]
I turned away from this fan of mine. As I fold my leg in a boss style and start to browse the internet over my ifruit. I noticed some people coming toward me.
By their clothing style, they look like game developer and game designers, most of them are in t-shirts with logos of some indie studious, and few wearing proper office clothes.
These designers noticed my movement and came over to talk to me.
What surprised me was that several designers were quite familiar, and they were very enthusiastic.
Although these people didn't know me, they all shared the same characteristic.
They had been torn apart by Zhong's antics on the Internet before.
Unlike me, who had trampled the other party and borrowed a wave of popularity, they had only experienced wave after wave of criticism.
Now that I had also won the first prize in this year's game competition, naturally, many designers came to take the initiative to get to know me.
When it comes to hatred, it's even less significant. There is also a little appreciation for trampling over Zhong.
After all, They're all part of the game industry, and one more friend means one more opportunity in the long term. Now I have the phone numbers of many designers saved in my contacts. I am also invited to several chat groups.
As everyone was chatting, the leaders of the game department soon arrived at the conference room.
Before coming here, I had done my homework. I had made sure to get familiar with all the leaders in the game department, knowing there would be a chance to work together in the future.
The award ceremony officially began with Yang Chen, the head of the game department, giving a speech. He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, thin, tall, and wearing golden glasses—a typical intellectual figure.
His speech was formal and serious.
Afterward, it was time for the award ceremony, and Yang Chen announced the winners in a solemn tone.
As the applause filled the room, I walked forward with a smile. When the applause faded, I accepted the red book symbolizing the first prize from Yang Chen, along with a medal for first place.
Next came the thank-you speech. I had already memorized mine, tweaking it slightly based on the speech template from last year's winners.
Whether it sounded similar didn't bother me. After all, I needed something to speak and it's perfect.
"Thank you everyone. I'm honored to win first place in this year's game department competition. It's an incredible moment for me and Neon Games to stand here..."
As I finished, the room erupted in applause, I also noticed the one enthusiastic fan, who had been sitting next to me, had a slightly odd expression on his face.
This speech is so familiar too? The person thought...
Then it was time for the second prize, awarded to Meng Zhou from NetDragon's Thunder Studio. I scanned the not-so-glamorous venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of this indie legend, but all I found was a sea of blank stares. Just as I was about to give up hope, the guy sitting next to me awkwardly stood up and shuffled toward the podium like he was trying to avoid landmines.
As he began his speech, it felt eerily familiar—like I was watching a rerun of a sitcom I didn't remember signing up for. My expression morphed into one of amused confusion, wondering if he was about to deliver the acceptance speech I had memorized in my sleep or if the universe was just playing the longest inside joke on me. Either way, I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
After all the designers finished their speeches, holding certificates and medals, we took photos with the staff from the game department. The event was essentially over.
Once outside, the reporters who had been waiting didn't hesitate to swarm us like prey, they zig-zagged around us.
Most of their attention was on me, then on Meng Zuo from NetDragon's Thunder Studio, as we were the ones who sparked the most interest in this year's competition.
------------------
"Developer Chen, do you have any thoughts on winning the first prize this time?"
"Developer Chen, do you have any new game development plans after To the Moon? Will it still be a warmer game like To the Moon?"
------------------
A group of reporters crowded around me, firing off various questions.
Although everyone seemed eager, it was clear that this wasn't an exclusive interview. If I answered, everyone could use the information—it would just come down to who could publish the story first.
"Winning first prize was completely unexpected and incredibly pleasant. I never imagined that the players and reviewers would be so optimistic about To the Moon. With this prize, I feel an added sense of responsibility. I want to keep contributing new games to the players..."
As I continued, I noticed the reporters around me looking less enthusiastic.
Was I being too formal for such a young designer?
But then, as if to deepen their disappointment, I added, "As for my new game, I don't have any solid ideas yet. Will it be another warm-hearted game? I can't say for sure at this point, but I do prefer developing that kind of game. After all, I've always considered myself a warrior of love."
>>><<<
Chen Xu consider himself to be a Warrior of love.
>>><<<
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
Blood_22
Blood_22
Like it ? Add to library！
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
200+ Classement
Power Stone 
0 Power
stone Vous aimerez peut-être aussi
Commentaire de paragraphe