Started as a comics editor

Chapter 326 Letting go
Although it was delayed for a little while.

However, Tang Yao still left the office and went to the other two project teams, where she saw the promotional videos they had produced.

And it has to be said.

As time went on, these staff members really became more and more capable.

Tang Yao only just heard about this promotional video; she definitely wasn't involved before.

Even so, they did a great job.

If we disregard those memories from her past life, Tang Yao felt she could release them directly.

However, since she's still in Avalon, we can't ignore that...

After all, there are ready-made answers.

Since he's a time traveler with experience in game marketing from his previous life, why not make use of it?

New AAA IPs are generally concept-driven, and they rarely rush to release actual gameplay footage right away.

A genuine new IP masterpiece will first guide players' expectations through early concept development, and then gradually release information to maintain the topic's popularity and control players' psychological expectations.

For example, in the early stages of promotion, most of what is released are certain settings or concept art.

The first promotional video is basically a concept PV, highlighting that a video does not represent the final effect of the game.

More detailed gameplay footage or combat demonstrations will be released as development progresses.

At this point, they will emphasize the actual gameplay, telling players that it's real and it's really coming!
Finally, there's a high probability that they'll release something cool, like a movie trailer, to attract even more players...

This phased disclosure of information can maintain the topic's popularity while avoiding the lack of effective marketing later on due to premature exposure of all content.

After all, games need to be promoted in various ways to attract players, but at the same time, players' expectations need to be lowered to a certain extent to prevent them from having too high expectations.

Tang Yao still remembers the original concept PV for Cyberpunk 2077; it was truly cool.

It makes people look forward to it... but also leaves them completely confused.

Avalon clearly lacks experience in this area.

The promotional videos produced by the heads of the two major project teams encountered the problem of "eagerly releasing all the actual gameplay footage."

They wanted to immediately present the most exciting and core aspects of the game to the players.

It's not like doing this is wrong.

However, considering Avalon's current reputation and players' confidence in it... Tang Yao felt that doing this would almost certainly lead to players having too high expectations, ultimately resulting in the product failing to meet those expectations.

That would be troublesome...

In fact.

The Black Myth in Tang Yao's memory... that's how the initial publicity was done.

That kind of promotional video, showing the actual device right away... honestly, that's really too bold.

Because essentially, doing that would be mortgaging the future. Players had such high expectations back then. When the first promotional video went viral, wow, seeing the players' expectant comments, even a developer would probably be sweating bullets.

If the product can't keep up, it could really be a catastrophe!
Subsequent events proved this to be true.

Many gameplay elements shown in the initial gameplay video never actually appeared in the game... Even the cicada transformation sequence felt like it was intentionally or unintentionally fulfilling the promises of the first trailer. In reality, the absence of that particular gameplay element wouldn't seem to have made a difference...

Fortunately, Black Myth was ultimately of good quality. Although it had its share of problems, its fun and interesting aspects were undeniable.

Otherwise, it's hard to imagine how bad the situation would have been in the end.

Even though the first trailer was released so long before the game was officially launched, subsequent games were already being released...

But the words came back again.

If it weren't for that gameplay video, Black Myth probably wouldn't have attracted so much attention and caused such a sensation...

It can only be said that the right timing, location, and people were all in Game Science's favor.

And they lived up to expectations, and indeed did their best in the aftermath.

but.

That's really too risky.

That kind of success simply cannot be replicated.

Tang Yao didn't want to take any risks... after all, Avalon was now much more outrageous than Game Science.

"...That's about it, do you understand?"

In the conference room.

Because the two project teams are too far apart.

Tang Yao felt that instead of explaining to them one by one, it would be better to gather them all together to listen.

So she called over Yu Lili and Kang Ming and explained her concerns to them briefly.

“Your trailers are very well made, but players’ expectations for Avalon are already at a very high level... I think it’s too risky to release these in-game trailers with lots of core gameplay details right now.”

"Because players expect a flawless game that surpasses the demo and is immediately playable. They will take every action detail, every special effect, and even every frame in the video as a promise of the final product. They will believe that is the actual game, or even just the tip of the iceberg, and that it will only get better in the future!"

"That's the problem... This isn't something that can be solved by simply adding a line that doesn't guarantee the final quality of the game."

"This is a brand new IP of ours, and it's its first time appearing. Players know nothing about the two games, and all their expectations are based on a short promotional video."

"But can we really deliver 100% of the details shown in the video when the game is officially released? Can we polish the combat system to the same fluid, impactful level as in the demo by release date? Kang Ming, those movements in the trailer have been adjusted to some extent, haven't they?"

"..."

The office was silent.

originally.

Kang Ming and Yu Lili were quite excited, but upon hearing these words, their excitement froze slightly, and they revealed thoughtful expressions.

Especially Kang Ming.

He was even a little embarrassed, mainly because, for the sake of looking cool, he did add a lot of artificially edited footage to the promotional video...

"Then you mean..."

The two were silent for a long time.

In the end, Kang Ming spoke first.

"I'm not saying the promotional video you produced is bad, it's great."

Tang Yao explained, "But I think the first promotional video should prioritize the concept, using an extreme atmosphere and emotions to move the players. For example, in the first promotional video for 'Wandering Swordsman,' the gameplay is secondary. The main thing is to plant a strong curiosity and emotional resonance in the players' hearts about the game world, to make them want to know the story of the game's protagonist, and to make them want to step into the desolate land in the game."

As for how exhilarating the combat will actually be? Once they're hooked on the concept, we'll gradually and thoroughly demonstrate it to them through gameplay demos and closed beta tests! Satisfying, and even exceeding, their gradually increasing expectations with truly playable content is the long-term, stable, and risk-controlled approach.

"As for MOBA..."

Tang Yao turned her gaze to Yu Lili: "The principle is the same, and because MOBA is an online game, the situation may be more complicated... Let's establish the world view first, focusing on the unique world view and art style, and showcasing a few of the most representative heroes and their backstories through CG."

"Specifically, for example, with 'Vagabond,' I suggest extracting the most essential scenes that serve the atmosphere and character development, and re-editing them into a more conceptual trailer..."

She began to explain her thought process to the two of them.

At the same time, they started writing and drawing on the whiteboard.

Kang Ming and Yu Lili were initially confused, but they gradually understood and suddenly realized what was going on.

The meeting lasted for nearly two hours.

Tang Yao was the one doing most of the talking.

After seeing off Kang Ming and Yu Lili, who were hurrying away with their eyes once again burning with ambition, the meeting room door was gently closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

Tang Yao stood still, her gaze fixed on the dense diagrams, arrows, and keywords on the whiteboard—traces of her nearly two hours of brainstorming.

She subconsciously raised her hand and opened her palm, which was indeed covered with ink from an oil-based pen, a mixture of blue and black.

Tang Yao looked at her hands, which were covered in work marks, and then at the suggestions for adjusting the publicity strategy on the whiteboard, which represented her memories and experiences from her previous life. Her lips first twitched helplessly, and then turned into a very faint but beautiful smile with a hint of relief.

“Really…” She shook her head slightly, then looked around the temporarily quiet conference room, her thoughts drifting to the brightly lit, vast space outside—Avalon—where the sound of keyboards could be faintly heard.

This place was once just a blueprint in her mind, an adventure based on her memories of her past life, an attempt to leave a mark on this world.

But now, it has grown into a giant ship full of talent and dreams. It dominates mobile games, makes a name for itself in PC games, then Left 4 Dead explodes in popularity, and the AG platform rises... Every work embodies the hard work of her and her staff.

Today, the promotional video brought by Kang Ming and Yu Lili, although its direction needs to be adjusted, still demonstrates that the excellent production and the enthusiasm to present the best aspects of the game to the players prove that the staff of Avalon are becoming more and more capable and mature.

They are no longer merely executors of her past life experiences.

They are also growing, reflecting, and using their talents to understand and shape games.

The independent production of this promotional video is a clear signal.

They simply lacked experience, and Tang Yao, who led the game development department, wielded immense power, leading to some risky decisions.

They may not yet have her timeless reference answer, but their intuition, their technical skills, and their passion are bridging the gap at an astonishing pace.

"Perhaps... one day, this company will no longer need my experience to navigate smoothly, and may even become a truly great game company?"

The thought suddenly popped into my head.

Tang Yao has seriously begun to consider the possibility of letting go.

The main issue is that Avalon is essentially her personal fiefdom. Aside from the equity incentive plan, the company's equity is highly concentrated in her and Li Xue's hands, and the latter's share is, in a sense, an extension of hers... Therefore, almost every major creative decision, from project initiation to core gameplay, originates from her inspiration or final approval.

She also controls the company's development direction.

This approach has yielded remarkable results, but... it's exhausting.

The mental and physical exertion was truly enormous.

After all, every decision we make carries pressure. We must guide the direction, avoid forcing things to grow too fast, and always be wary of the mindset that past experiences might bring.

More importantly, Tang Yao had already vaguely sensed that this model, to some extent, might also be suppressing the full bloom of the team's own creativity.

They were all used to looking at her and waiting for her answer, rather than boldly exploring the unknown possibilities.

Moreover, the gradual expansion of capital is also a very troublesome thing.

As Avalon's earning power skyrocketed, its online game revenue continued to grow, and several single-player games achieved phenomenal sales. With the rise of the AG platform, the company's cash flow had ballooned to an astonishing level.

This is certainly a good thing, but it's also like a huge cake that smells incredibly tempting.

Although Tang Yao's memories from her past life did not include this kind of experience.

But she could foresee that trouble would soon come knocking.

She was very afraid of trouble.

Originally, her motivation for founding Avalon was simply to make her life more comfortable.

The current Avalon has a simple shareholding structure and efficient decision-making, but this also means that it lacks buffers and checks and balances when facing the impact of external capital. If she continues to firmly control all power, then all the pressure and all the open and covert attacks will eventually fall precisely on her shoulders alone.

Perhaps it's time... to consider a change.

Tang Yao looked at her palm and thought to herself.

For example, the company's internal structure could be modified appropriately.

For example, you can let go in a planned way...

Of course, letting go doesn't mean abandoning responsibility, but rather temporarily stepping away from the front lines of production.

She needs to transform from a dictator to a leader and founder.

For example, she could build a healthier, more resilient platform that better stimulates internal creativity, setting a clear vision and boundaries. Then, she could trust her team and let them fully unleash their talents on this platform. She, in turn, could free up more energy to take a good rest and then think about the more distant future, or try some more imaginative, riskier, but potentially more groundbreaking seed projects.

However, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight... Perhaps after these two major projects are completed, we can come up with the concept for the next game and let the staff develop it themselves?
Should I take a good rest myself? Let them get used to being on their own for a while?
Even if they mess things up, Tang Yao has a way to cover for them.

Moreover, Li Xue had wanted to get her to rest for quite some time...

Ok.

Once the thought arose, it spread through her mind like vines.

Tang Yao let out a long sigh, then gently rubbed her fingers together, trying to wipe away the ink stains on her hands, but only made the color spread more. Looking at these indelible marks...

Tang Yao laughed instead.

These marks are proof of her journey. Starting from scratch and building it herself, it's time for this ship to sail towards a wider world, relying on the strength of more people.

She turned around, picked up a wet wipe from the conference table, and carefully wiped her palms. The ink faded, but her thoughts about the company's future gradually took shape in her mind.

The next step, perhaps, is to have a proper discussion with Li Xue about this idea.

……

Tang Yao wiped the ink off her hands, gathered her thoughts, and returned to her office.

It's lunchtime.

He pushed open the door to his office.

really.

Li Xue was already waiting for her.

Under the soft light, Li Xue was sitting on the sofa in the reception area waiting for her—actually, it was specially bought by Tang Yao so that she could lie down and slack off, but to make it sound better, it was for receiving guests.

She seemed to have been waiting for quite a while, and her usual dignified elegance had relaxed considerably. Her body sank slightly into the soft sofa, and her long, snow-white legs, clad in delicate stilettos, were crossed. She was idly flipping through Tang Yao's drawings. As her fingertips turned the pages, her plump, rounded legs swayed gently, and even the high heels that seemed about to fall off her toes swayed slightly, exuding a lazy yet alluring charm.

Hearing the door open, Li Xue immediately looked up.

Then a smile immediately bloomed on her beautiful face, like a docile dog waiting for its owner to return: "Finished talking? Are you starving? I'll have the restaurant bring you some food?"

"Hmm, no rush, I have an idea..."

Tang Yao sat down next to her, then turned to look at her and said seriously, "Ms. Li, I've made up my mind. After the two big projects, 'Wanderer' and MOBA, are completed, I want to make the next new project in a different way. I will propose the core concept and direction, and then let the project team develop freely. From gameplay design and art style to specific content filling, let them take the lead."

"what?"

……

Time slipped by quietly, and the summer heat, along with the carnival at the AG platform, gradually came to an end.

Inside Avalon, the revised promotional video is undergoing intensive review. Kang Ming's team is focused on the desolate, lonely, and blood-stained world atmosphere of "Rogue," striving to directly convey the heavy sense of destiny and struggle to the players' hearts in the first concept PV.

Yu Lili led the MOBA project team to carefully refine the essence of the world view that blends Eastern and Western fantasy elements, focusing on portraying the unique temperament and background stories of several core heroes, attempting to anchor a captivating battlefield legend in the debut.

Meanwhile, Rusty Lake, a small-scale puzzle game with a somewhat mysterious and eerie atmosphere, is also preparing for its launch.

In the player community, the discussion about the Summer Festival has begun to naturally subside.

Many players have already begun to reflect on their purchases, reminiscing about the joy of Plants vs. Zombies and the emotion of To the Moon.

Of course, there are also many third-party games...

"AG platform's summer promotion this time was absolutely insane! My wallet is completely empty!"

"Plants vs. Zombies has such a lasting impact! My parents are playing it too..."

"To the Moon...it has an even stronger aftertaste, it made me cry so much, Avalon knows how to cut to tears."

"Next, we should be waiting for a new game. I wonder what Avalon's next big title will be?"

"This AG platform event was absolutely insane, it really drained my wallet, but it was worth it..."

"Avalon is really amazing, they even managed to build this online game distribution platform..."

soon.

Many players have been discussing and summarizing Avalon's summer gaming festival on various forums and communities.

After all, almost everyone believed that this gaming extravaganza, ignited by Avalon and lasting throughout the summer, had come to an end.

However, they were wrong.

Backstage at the AG platform, in Avalon's brightly lit offices, final preparations are in full swing.

New small-scale game! Trailers for two big titles! Coming soon!
Goal! The ultimate climax of the Summer Game Festival!
(End of this chapter)