Luke was left puzzled by Zhai Wenyao's proposal.
Luke:?
Is there a misunderstanding between us?
Is it necessary to give me a whole Pokémon instead of simply sending money?
And now they're talking about picking out the most outstanding aptitude?
Luke couldn't help but turn his head to look at Haunter, who was lifting dumbbells, and Eevee, who was running on the wheel.
He shuddered at the thought of potentially having another Pokémon that might backstab him.
"Thank you!"
Zhai Wenyao replied with a hearty smile, "Don't mention it!"
According to Coach Zhai, the main responsibility of teaching assistants would be to select and train new students.
During the summer break, the role of a teaching assistant would be quite relaxed, involving occasional visits to the school.
This paid vacation job seemed perfectly suited for Luke, a seasoned individual.
But the prospect of another Pokémon left Luke feeling a bit helpless.
After hanging up, Luke playfully patted Eevee for a while, and time quickly slipped by.
Lunch was a simple Pokéblock meal.
As Eevee and Haunter stared at each other with big eyes for an extended moment, their heads involuntarily tilted to the side.
"What are you two looking at?"
Luke chewed on a pale pink Pecha Berry cube.
"Aren't you tired of this stuff?"
Curious about what Pokéblock actually tasted like, Luke had always wondered.
In the anime, Ash, a bona fide Mega Rookie, even managed to eat Pokéblock raw.
If Ash could do it, couldn't Teacher Luke as well?
In theory, a portion of the Berry could be consumed by humans, and it could even be transformed into a concentrated Pokéblock.
While Luke wouldn't dare attempt a Petaya Berry, he felt willing to give the sweet Pecha Berry a try.
The taste turned out to be surprisingly delightful, almost sweeter than freshly squeezed peach juice, and it tasted even better when chilled.
Luke's expression turned peculiar. "It's... actually quite tasty."
Eevee and Haunter were dumbfounded.
Suddenly, a spark of understanding ignited within them.
Haunter couldn't help but lower its head, wiping away a tear from the corner of its eye.
In order to save on food expenses, their owner had already reached this point...
I need to work harder and take on more part-time jobs!!
Haunter: o(╥﹏╥)o
Eevee's expression became equally serious.
The little creature nodded vigorously.
Decision made—I'll head farther away tonight to level up!
In the afternoon.
Haunter, with determined eyes, floated towards the door without saying a word and waved solemnly at Luke.
Curious, Luke beckoned and asked, "Where are you going?"
"jie jie~!" Haunter responded and disappeared through the gate.
"Don't forget to come back for dinner!" Luke shouted.
"jie jie~!" Haunter's distant response reached Luke's ears.
Luke felt reassured that Haunter wouldn't get lost.
While he had a fair idea of what Haunter was up to, it was still better to have them undergo some training occasionally, even if he wasn't sure about all the details.
Eventually, when they grew tired of training, it would be time for Teacher Luke's ultimate plan to unfold!
"What an adventure this is turning out to be!" Luke mused.
"Earn more BP and get Haunter a Dusk Stone!"
Haunter had long been yearning for a Dusk Stone, but the cost of 5,000 BP was quite steep.
Since he had agreed to Haunter's request, Luke felt inclined to fulfill that wish sooner rather than later.
Aside from earning BP, Teacher Luke also had plans to embark on a money-making endeavor during the summer break.
With 100,000 yuan saved up as startup capital, it might be a bit tight, but it should suffice.
...
This time, Luke aimed to replicate the [Programming Lv3] he had acquired earlier, rather than copying videos or exploiting dirty tricks.
Based on his experiments, this ability allowed him to independently create a game without any issues.
Given the absence of numerous popular games in the parallel world, game development seemed like a suitable entry point.
Luke brought Eevee back to the computer.
After numerous repetitions, the little creature seemed resigned to its fate.
It's up to you; I don't have the energy to resist anymore.
Eevee: (`^´)
Rubbing Eevee's furry little head, Luke started working on a new project.
"vui~?"
Eevee raised its head, its dark eyes fixed curiously on Luke.
"Ah, this time it won't be a live broadcast. I'm going to create a game on my own."
"vui~…"
Eevee scratched its head, looking somewhat puzzled.
Finding it all quite meaningless, Eevee hopped off Luke's lap and moved on to training Substitute in the adjacent area.
Haunter's Substitute and its body got along quite well; even housework was shared.
However, Eevee's Substitute had an even fiercer temper than its actual self.
It's like the Pallas cat that can play with a ball of yarn, yet end up scratching its own face and leaving it stained with blood. Eevee's situation was somewhat similar.
"vui~!"
Eevee grinned and play-fought with its Substitute.
In the meantime, Luke, sitting in the bedroom with headphones on, remained unaware of the commotion happening outside the house.
He was fully immersed in planning his new game: "Plants vs. Zombies."
The global popularity of this tower defense game is widely known, so there's no need to elaborate on it further. What matters most is that the production difficulty and cost for this game are relatively low, with creativity and gameplay being the main factors contributing to its success.
Even though his funds were limited, Luke was confident that, thanks to his [Programming Lv3] ability, he could still create the basic framework of the game. Moreover, the game "Plants vs. Zombies" bore a striking resemblance to the Pokémon world. All he needed to do was change the art assets and background story.
As he typed away at his document:
[In a world struck by doomsday, wandering Ghosts, swarms of insects, and gargantuan behemoths... the ones who can protect your life and backyard are none other than the Grass Type Pokémon you trust.]
[Your neighbor, Bob, a Legendary Grass Type Master, will become your most powerful assistant and partner, joining you in the fight against the invading Pokémon...]
Luke paused for a moment.
"This background story... seems to fit perfectly!"
While the original content was a viable option, the independent game developer forums predominantly offered free and open Pokémon art assets. For someone like Luke, with only 100,000 yuan in startup capital, every penny counted. By utilizing Pokémon imagery, he could substitute and expand the game's reach more effectively.
Luke mused to himself, "Sunflower... maybe use Sunkern as the substitute, that should work."
"Evolved Sunflora... wait, isn't this a spot-on match for the twin sunflowers!"
During the initial stages of planning, Luke was pleasantly surprised to discover that these two IPs seemed to harmonize seamlessly.
For instance, the iconic pea shooter could easily be represented by Bellsprout. The hardworking wall-nut could be replaced with Seedot, which would symbolize endurance.
Be it a night map or a water map, there were Pokémon like Shroomish and Lotad that could adapt flawlessly.
Enemy types were equally straightforward.
Various Ghost Type Pokémon, such as Dusclops, Cofagrigus, and Sableye, could serve as zombies.
However, the enemies weren't limited to just Ghost Types. Pokémon like Beedrill and Muk, often associated with being formidable foes, could also be used as enemy material.
Without realizing it, Luke had typed out nearly ten thousand words in his planning document and stretched wearily.
"I won't be able to fully enjoy my summer break."
Luke estimated the workload and muttered, "I still need to set up a studio and find a few collaborators."
The first name that came to Luke's mind was Damien, despite his receding hairline.
"Well... Damien should be a powerhouse. He's the one for the job!"
ka-cha!
In that moment, the sound of glass shattering filled the air.
Luke's brow furrowed as he saved his planning documents and cautiously stepped out of his room.
Eevee was in hot pursuit of its Substitute, bounding up and down the length of the sofa, knocking over glasses in its path.
"Can it really be this engrossing to play with yourself?" Luke muttered under his breath.
Finally, Eevee managed to bring down its Substitute, causing the faux-Pokémon to transform into a white light that gradually dissipated.
Eevee lifted its head proudly. Observing Luke's complex expression, it couldn't resist tilting its head in confusion.
Amidst the broken glass, the rumpled sofa, and the toppled [Gynecological Sacred Hand] pennant lying on the floor...
"vui~!"
Eevee raised its paw and bashfully scratched its head.
While tidying up the room wasn't a major hassle and Haunter would likely pitch in once it returned, the situation was different when it came to canceling the rent. Compensation for damaged furniture, like the sofa and coffee table, was still required.
With a sigh, it was as though Luke could hear the sound of his wallet shrinking once more.
His money-making plan had to be put into action sooner rather than later!
Despite the significant earnings from his live broadcasts, it had only been two months since he started and Luke had made just under a hundred thousand yuan. Bilibili, on the other hand, provided limited rewards due to Luke's negligence in signing the contract.
However, once "Plants vs. Zombies" was released, supporting himself and his two companions wouldn't be an issue.
Gently lifting Eevee, which was trying to sneak away, from the glass debris, Luke asked, "Are you okay?"
"vui~…" Eevee blinked its dark eyes.
"It's a relief you're unharmed," Luke said with a sigh of relief, rubbing Eevee's small head.
"Do you realize that someone was worried about you?"
Fearful that Luke might scold it, Eevee curled up, bracing itself for reprimand.
Yet, Luke simply continued rubbing its head without any admonishment, causing Eevee to open its eyes in surprise.
"vui~?"
"Ah, once Haunter comes back to clean up, there's no way it won't back you up."
With reasons and evidence, Luke's argument was convincing.
Eevee hesitated for a moment, wagging its tail as a small smile spread across its face, revealing its tiny fangs.
"vui~!"
**
Luke sent the project plan to Damien, along with a phone call where he briefly explained his ideas.
Damien's voice was filled with disbelief, "What? You want me to be part of game development?"
"Do you still think I'm lacking hair?" Luke teased.
"Aren't we a team? We're getting paid 20,000 yuan for the summer break. That's a pretty good deal."
"Where should I report to tomorrow?"
Even as a student at Magic University, Damien's internship stipend barely crossed the 3,000 yuan mark.
Following Brother Luke meant earning the equivalent of 10,000 yuan per month, which was quite the attractive proposition!
"Working online is fine. I'll send you a rough outline. It's going to be a tower defense game."
A tower defense game?
Damien was puzzled. Could something like that really become popular?
In fact, using the commercial game editor on the forum, even novices who had taught themselves programming for three months could create a tower defense game.
Was Brother Luke suddenly struck by whimsy, wanting to throw money into a gaming venture?
Although skeptical about Luke's programming skills, Damien still opened the project file.
The screen filled with densely-packed lines of code made Damien's scalp tingle.
"Damn, is this really written by Brother Luke himself?"
"This level of skill... it's almost catching up to mine!?"
The more he scrolled, the more numb Damien's hands and feet felt.
"It's fine. You have more hair than me, but now you want to compete with my programming skills too?"
Resigned to the fact that his hairline was receding, Damien couldn't help but stroke it with trembling hands.
Despite his trepidation, he resolved, "Brother Luke, you're amazing!"
"Nothing special," Luke replied with a modest smile.
"Well then, let's make this project a success during summer break!"
Damien couldn't help but grip his hairline, feeling both endangered and determined.
However, whenever he considered the fact that he was falling behind, with only his hardwork to rely on...
Damien clenched his teeth and vowed, "Damn it, it's just a hardwork! I'll give it my all!"
**
The first step was to settle on a name for the game.
After a lengthy discussion, they ultimately decided to go with "Plants vs. Zombies."
There weren't many games with the same theme on the market. Much like the FPS games Luke used to play with Cynthia, the themes were often centered around bioterrorism.
The game's title was straightforward, concise, and to the point.
Building upon the original concept, Damien also contributed various innovative ideas.
"Even though it's a tower defense game, I believe having elements of subjugation is essential."
Damien proposed, "For instance, after clearing a level, the Poké Ball can be used as a one-time item to capture enemy Pokémon."
"And after obtaining various gold medals, players can unlock Grass Type Pokémon for free, complete with subdued cutscenes."
Luke nodded in agreement.
"You can implement those features, but there's no need to focus too much on raising Pokémon. After all, tower defense is the primary focus."
Damien chuckled and added, "When you develop a mobile game in the future, you can't avoid it. Have you matured?"
"For a hundred yuan, Bellsprout can evolve instantly. Ferrothorn can be unlocked forever for a thousand yuan. And for ten thousand yuan...uh, cough, cough."
Luke raised an intrigued eyebrow.
Piplup Company's loss for not hiring these talented minds!
"Should we release it on Steam?"
"Yes, let's start with the PC platform. The map design will be simpler... Additional content can be offered as DLC later."
The maps in "Plants vs. Zombies" were actually quite straightforward. The first generation only had four maps: Garden, Night, Roof, and Swimming Pool. However, the variety of plants and their combinations made up for the simplicity of the maps.
For this unique version of "Pokémon vs. Zombies," each Pokémon would have a special movement system in addition to fine-tuning other values.
For example, Bellsprout's [Razor Leaf], Carnivine's [Swallow], and Oddish's [Sweet Scent]...
During the night map, Morelull's [Moonlight] would become the primary source of sunlight.
Moves like [Spore] from the Dewpider sphere and Budew's [Attract] would have sleep and charm effects.
In terms of enemy types, Beedrill would fly past Pokémon in the front row but be blocked by Exeggutor.
Beedrill's offensive move, [Chaotic Needle], would attack randomly between 2 to 5 times, testing the player's luck...
In a way, playing this tower defense game could even help players memorize Pokémon moves.
When the second version of the plan was revealed, Damien was pleasantly surprised. One thought crossed his mind: education can be fun!
Not only would the game help players remember moves, but it could also help them grasp the mutual strengths and weaknesses of different attributes.
Through the game, aside from experiencing the fun and charm of Pokémon, it could even inspire many people to become Trainers.
Was this Brother Luke's real intention all along?
Damien widened his eyes with realization, thinking, "Indeed... Brother Luke's foresight is remarkable!"
With this realization, Damien felt even more motivated to contribute to the game's production.
As for the art resources, Damien mentioned that he could secure them from Smeargles at the Academy of Fine Arts, which would be more cost-effective.
Luke was briefly taken aback.
Had even the world of Pokémon started venturing into business?
But considering how many large companies were utilizing Porygon in place of coders, it wasn't entirely surprising.
Perhaps in the future, when he set up his own company, he could also use Electivire for power generation and save electricity for commercial use...
"In that case, I'm counting on you, Brother Damien."
"Don't worry, even if it means risking my hairline, I'll make sure to put in overtime to bring this to life for you!"
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