Game Making: Start By Healing the Player

Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue were full of doubts.

"Don't develop a sequel to "Under the Legend", and don't make META games?" Yang Xin couldn't figure out why.

Including Ruan Ningxue as well.

You must know that nowadays the game media is basically carrying out various evaluations about "Under the Legend".

In some forums where industry designers often hang out, various professional gamers also analyze the characteristics of the "Under the Legend" mode.

After all, such a fresh element really feels like it may become a new weather vane.

Even some game manufacturers and some game designers have publicly stated that they have also set up games with related META elements.

But now Chen Xu said no?

It is conceivable how many people will be surprised when such a news is released.

After all, the concept of META was unknown before "Under the Legend".

According to the normal mode, with the popularity of "Under the Legend", it is natural to launch a sequel while the iron is hot, just like "Magic Mirror" launched DLC.

No matter how bad it is, it is a brand new META game!

In fact, before this, Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin also discussed it privately.

They even felt that what they might develop next would be a prequel to "Under the Legend".

After all, in the game, the story of Lamb and Chara is basically just a brief description, not a complete development.

As a result, now, Chen Xu told them not to do the sequel to "Under the Legend", not even to do META games?

"It's not very suitable, and the size of the META element is very limited. "Under the Legend" does give players enough shock, but the main reason is that the player is not psychologically prepared in advance. There is no corresponding concept.”

"Continue to launch META games at this time, so the follow-up response will definitely not be better than "Under the Legend", and even by the first impression of players, it will feel worse and worse."

Chen Xu explained to the two people.

Others don't know the type of metagame, but Chen Xu is still very clear.

Before time travel, metagames were nothing special.

"Ashe", "Stanley's Fables", "My Little Pony Island" and "Under the Legend" that Chen Xu chose to develop.

Are the best among them.

But the highest-selling are "Under the Legend" and "Ashe". In the past life, "Stanley Fables", which really brought META closer to the player's field of vision, did not sell as high as these two rising stars.

As for "My Little Pony Island", many players have not even heard of it.

The main reason, that is, the META element, is not suitable as the main core selling point.

A closer look reveals that Ashe's game is laced with action elements.

Although "Under the Legend" subverts the setting of RPG, it is essentially a combination of RPG and barrage gameplay.

These two games are supplemented by META elements, while "My Little Pony Island" and "Stanley's Fables" are more based on META elements, supplemented by other elements.

The META element is indeed a setting that can shock players.

However, it is not suitable as the main core, but more suitable as a lubricant, allowing it to chemically react with the content of the game itself.

Including many large-scale games in the previous life, similar designs were used.

For example, in the "Metal Gear" series, the BOSS spiritual mantis that can read the player's operation.

There is also the finale of "Nier: Automata", which uses the player's archive to save others.

These are all uses of the META element, but more as a secondary setting.

And the success of "Under the Legend" is definitely not due to the META element alone.

After hearing Chen Xu's explanation, Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin were still at a loss.

I understand, but I don't fully understand.

But there was one thing they understood.

That is, if you continue to launch META games, you may not make much money, and the reputation may not be good.

Coupled with the addition of META elements by a large number of game manufacturers, it may also cause players to experience aesthetic fatigue.

"Then what type of project do we choose?" Yang Xin asked Chen Xu.

"For the time being, a low-cost transition will be made, and the team will also need to expand." Chen Xu said.

"As for the type... look at this."

With that said, Chen Xu opened the laptop next to him, and then logged in to a website: the official website of the Ministry of Games.

Then, in the slightly confused eyes of Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin, an announcement was opened.

【Science is the source of human progress; the progress and innovation of science are making our life undergo earth-shaking changes. With the theme of "Technology Changes Life", the game department will hold a science fiction tour competition. 】

1. The object of the tour: national game designers.

Two: Travel requirements: unlimited platforms, healthy and upward themes.

3: Event organization: This event is hosted by the National Game Department, and adopts the dual mode of review and player voting for selection to ensure fairness and justice.

Four: Selection and commendation: According to the total number of participating tours, there will be one first prize, three second prizes, six third prizes, and several excellent prizes to be commended.

Excellent works will be promoted and recommended on the homepage of the official platform after the event.

At the same time, the award-winning designers will be awarded the title of outstanding designer to encourage them.

(The registration period for the competition is from September 1st to September 5th, and the event ends at the end of September.)

"Are we going to participate?" Yang Xin looked surprised.

She actually knew about this event.

It seems to be a national game designer, but in fact, basically all involved are independent game designers, or some small and medium-sized game companies.

The benefits are naturally there. After all, the organizer is the game department. Game review, including the evaluation of designer titles and the development of game engine technology, and the introduction of relevant game policies are basically the director of the game department.

Being able to show your face in front of the official is definitely beneficial and harmless.

Moreover, it is a real benefit to publicize and recommend on the homepage of the official platform.

After all, the official game platform is also one of the largest channels in China.

As for why the big factories didn't participate, it was mainly because this kind of expedition was tasteless to them.

High cost and high production, there is no shortage of this exposure.

And high-cost and high-production games must be mainly commercial.

Business-oriented games naturally lack some special elements that can attract players.

Don't talk about violence and meat sales, even if there are many female protagonists in the harem, this kind of element is very ugly to get this kind of official event.

So naturally, there are no big-budget games involved.

Most of them are independent game designers, small and medium-sized game manufacturers, and of course some studios acquired by big manufacturers will also participate.