Started as a comics editor

Chapter 327 Want to Play
AG Summer Gaming Festival... is coming to an end.

All preparations for Avalon have been completed, much faster than expected.

So, just when all the players thought the party was over and were preparing to leave,

Avalon has suddenly announced another new game...

It was really sudden.

Just like the AG Summer Game Festival that was suddenly announced before.

"..."

the other side of the city.

Sitting in his computer chair, Zhang Da almost spat out his coffee when Avalon suddenly released another game. Looking at the concise description on the screen and the game icon with its gloomy and somewhat surreal style, he was struck by its absurdity.

"Again?! Avalon, are you ever going to stop?! Are you all donkeys from the production team? Aren't you going to take a break?!"

He couldn't help but wail at the screen: "Wasn't the summer festival over?!"

There's a reason Zhang Da was so excited...

no way.

He just posted his review of To the Moon... He thought he could finally catch his breath, savor the afterglow of this gaming extravaganza, and perhaps mourn his empty wallet.

But Avalon's familiar official announcement push came again.

He really wanted to play fun games, but he didn't want to write any more reviews... he was just burnt out.

I'm completely out of inspiration!
Especially the Avalon game! It's such a hassle to write about!

Given Avalon's current reputation, why don't they write reviews for their games?

How can it be!

That's a massive amount of traffic!

So he's currently feeling conflicted yet hopeful.

It was a mixed bag of emotions.

but.

Although he complained, Zhang Da's actions betrayed his true feelings.

As a professional media person and a loyal gamer, how could he possibly overlook a new Avalon product, especially one that is... a mystery puzzle game with a completely different style and an air of mystery!
A puzzle game made by Avalon!
curious.

"Rusty Lake? Deciphered?"

Zhang Da stared at the game icon, very curious: "What a strange name..."

He muttered to himself, already used to Avalon's games' extremely high frequency of innovation in terms of themes and gameplay.

After all, the games they made before were all about being unpredictable.

For example, at this summer game festival, they brought out two games with completely different styles.

wrong.

That makes three models.

And obviously.

This time, they took on a puzzle game.

"...It shouldn't be too big, right? The evaluation shouldn't be too troublesome, right?"

Zhang Da, clinging to the hope that the game might be simple and easy, clicked to purchase and download.

The game is not expensive, it's even a bit too cheap for some people to be apprehensive about.

The game doesn't seem very big, and it's presented with hand-drawn 2D graphics. When Zhang Da first opened it, he thought it was a cute and refreshing game full of fairy tale charm.

But he soon realized he was wrong, terribly wrong...

This thing... is far more complex and fascinating than it appears on the surface.

The game's plot is clearly influenced by dark fairy tales. As the initial peaceful phase passes, various ominous signs begin to appear. In six rooms filled with puzzles and clues, players need to conduct a series of investigations and explorations to gradually uncover the truth behind the events.

Take your time playing.

The game fully embraces a gloomy aesthetic, with hand-drawn scenes and eerie background music creating a subtle atmosphere of horror.

The puzzles are ingenious.

Unlike many traditional puzzle games, this game doesn't seem to rely on complex mechanisms or a pile of puzzles to test players. On the contrary, it seems to focus more on the logical connections between puzzles and the discovery of details in the scene.

Completely without hints, players must dig out and collect clues on their own, then use logical reasoning to solve the puzzles.

...a unique game style and world view, a profound plot and allegorical nature, ingenious puzzle design and non-linear narrative, and a perfect combination of art and technology.

These factors contribute to the game's unique charm.

So, while playing,

Zhang Da got carried away.

Fortunately.

crucial moment.

He came to his senses and, with immense willpower, shut down the game.

"call……"

After closing the game, Zhang Da immediately wiped his forehead as if to wipe away non-existent sweat, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

I almost fell for it!
He turned off the game not because he was bored... quite the opposite, he found it very interesting.

But he felt that if he kept playing, he would get hooked, and then just like when he played the two games Avalon had released before... he got completely hooked, and after finishing the game, he was immediately excited to write a review.

He wrote without sleep or rest.

They want every player to know how awesome the game is...

He had a premonition.

As long as I keep playing, this is how things will inevitably develop.

Avalon's games... truly have that kind of charm!
He wanted to rest for a few more days...

"That's awesome..."

Although the game was closed.

But Zhang Da looked at the icon with a look of unfinished business.

Avalon has once again proven that even with small-scale works, they can create truly amazing results.

But... this is the third one, right?

From the lighthearted strategy of Plants vs. Zombies to the emotional impact of To the Moon, and then to the uniquely atmospheric dark puzzle game Rusty Lake... the three releases of the Summer Festival are simply incredible in their breadth of themes and gameplay, and their high quality.

but……

"...This is the third small-scale single-player game, right?"

Zhang Damo stroked his chin, looking at his AG platform library of "Plants vs. Zombies," "To the Moon," and the newly purchased "Rusty Lake," when a thought uncontrollably popped into his head: "Could it be... that Avalon has shifted its internal strategy? Temporarily shelving high-profile AAA projects? Starting to bet everything on these creative little gems?"

This guess seems to make some sense.

After all, developing AAA games requires huge investments and carries extremely high risks. Avalon, on the other hand, has already made a fortune from its successful online games and platform business. Launching smaller, high-quality games and then taking a steady and pragmatic approach seems to be more in line with business logic.

"No way……"

Zhang Da thought to himself, feeling a little regretful.

Deep down, as a domestic gamer and reviewer who loves games, he still hopes that this company can make a name for itself again.

Because Avalon has indeed demonstrated ambition to reach even higher levels!

While releasing three small-scale games in quick succession is quite remarkable, but...

However, if it is indeed as he guessed, that Avalon chose to temporarily shelve the development of larger, riskier projects in the face of huge success and a relatively safe path, and instead focus on developing smaller, more niche projects, then he could understand, because that would be quite normal.

...It's just a bit of a pity.

It just feels like it lacks that heroic spirit of facing the peak head-on!
"I hope I can see it in the future..."

Zhang Da sighed softly, feeling a little resentful, and prepared to shut down the AG platform and force himself to take a break.

He didn't want to touch any Avalon games for at least the next few days.

He needed to slow down and take time to think about how to capture the unique charm of Rusty Lake in words—because she felt that it was not an easy review to write.

But just as he moved the mouse towards the close button, his fingertip about to touch it—

Ding dong.

Suddenly, a notification sound effect for a special notification from the AG platform client rang out.

Followed by.

Two brand-new announcements with weighty titles were simultaneously pushed to all players by Avalon's official team and pinned to the top of their feeds.

[Avalon's brand new masterpiece! The Legend of the Condor Heroes – Concept Trailer: Lone Shadow, officially released!]

[Avalon's brand new PC game! League of Legends – First look at its world: Runeterra and magic!]

"……Eh?"

When Zhang Da saw this, he froze instantly, blinked subconsciously, and looked at the text on the screen again.

"Vagabond"? "League of Legends"?
Two games he'd never heard of before?! Avalon?! A brand new game?! Just a second after he was lamenting Avalon's potentially conservative strategy, it was suddenly revealed?!

"No way……?"

Zhang Da muttered to himself, his body moving faster than his mind. He suddenly sat up straight, all his plans to rest and his lingering resentment instantly forgotten.

With a hint of eagerness and curiosity, he clicked on the first announcement without hesitation!
Page jump.

The game details page for "Rogue" appeared on the screen, with a title consisting of only two Chinese characters—"Rogue." The brief description was shrouded in mystery.

Aside from that, there's only a newly released concept trailer, and no further information.

But Zhang Da became subtly excited and immediately clicked on the promotional video.

The screen went dark instantly.

Then it lit up.

Avalon, the logo of Morning Heart Engine, flashes by.

then.

The deep, melodious sound of the shakuhachi rose and fell, carrying a sense of ethereal yet solemn Zen.

What comes into view is a vast expanse of reeds swaying in the wind, stretching as far as the eye can see. The soft morning light shines down, turning the reeds into a warm golden hue. The wind is the only sound in this world, rustling softly as it blows through the reeds, creating a strange, calm before the storm.

...The sheer amount of art resources is outrageous! It makes the visuals breathtakingly beautiful! It carries a sense of desolate loneliness and melancholy.

The camera slowly zooms in.

A figure gradually came into focus. He was kneeling on the ground in the reeds with his back to the camera. He was wearing a dark blue, slightly worn-out jinhaori, with two samurai swords, one long and one short, at his waist. His back was tall and lonely, and his tied-up hair remained motionless in the wind.

We were born warriors…

A rough, scarred hand slowly gripped the hilt of the long sword at his waist.

His movements were steady and firm.

Loyalty, honor... these were the principles that guided our character...

The samurai slowly stood up, still with his back to the camera. The wind picked up and blew the hem of his kimono and the surrounding reeds, making a louder whistling sound.

Then the camera quickly switches to a long, fast-paced montage.

Beside the campfire, a flash of cold light appeared! The samurai drew his sword with lightning speed! The movement was so fast that the blade was invisible, only a cold arc of light remained! The blade sliced ​​through the air with a sharp screech!

In the next instant, he was already speeding through the bamboo forest. With the bamboo leaves fluttering, his figure moved like a ghost through the dense bamboo sea, his clothes billowing, his movements fluid and natural, carrying a predator-like elegance and lethality.

A white man rushed out from the bamboo grove on the side, raising his sword to slash! The samurai slightly turned his body, and swung his long sword with an extremely simple, precise, and powerful diagonal slash! The sword flashed, the enemy froze, and then fell down.

The samurai's action of sheathing his sword was clean, swift, and fluid.

Then the next scene.

Open area.

The samurai slightly turned to the side, confronting several enemies wielding long spears in an open area.

The atmosphere was tense.

The samurai gently pushed the hilt of his sword with his left thumb.

The long sword was slightly drawn from its sheath by a push from the thumb! A cold glint flashed in its eye!
The scene freezes at this moment! In an environment brimming with atmosphere! The samurai's figure, surrounded by enemies, a close-up of his thumb pushing his sword, the tense posture of the enemy as if facing a formidable foe, and that chilling, deadly light shining through the gap in the scabbard! The setting sun, like blood, reflects this moment of utter desolation!

The narration sounded again.

Then the screen went dark and then lit up again.

The samurai's figure stood amidst the boundless golden reeds, as if bearing the weight of the entire fallen world on his shoulders. The fierce wind whipped at him and the reeds, creating a scene of desolation and tragic grandeur.

Finally, a jet-black crow, like an ominous messenger, silently took flight from the branch, disappearing into the gray sky. It looked down at the reeds below, leaving behind a few mournful cries that echoed in Zhang Da's mind for a long time...

The screen went completely dark.

The game title appears.

【Vagabond】

(Ghost of Tsushima)
The trailer has ended.

There is no specific UI shown, no explanation of any gameplay details, only an extreme art style, a deep, oppressive and turbulent atmosphere, a protagonist full of story, and a fleeting glimpse of realistic and sharp action tension that makes your scalp tingle.

Zhang Da sat blankly in the computer chair, his mouth slightly open, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp.

This absolutely cannot be small! Absolutely not!!

Masterpiece!

An absolute masterpiece!
And it's a major action game!
Avalon! So that's what you've been holding back all this time!
The overwhelming aura of solitude, pathos, and chilling killing intent...

The visual quality, the action choreography, the atmosphere...

Wow! ! !
What rest? What burning out? What lingering resentment? All of it was crushed to dust in the face of that brief two-minute visual and auditory storm.

Zhang Da has only one thought right now—

I want to play! I want to play! I want to play!!!

"3A! This is absolutely top-tier 3A!"

Zhang Da slammed his fist on the armrest, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented brilliance. His previous fatigue vanished, replaced by a surging creative impulse and an eager desire to explore.

Wow! ! !
But before he could even savor the shock, his finger was already being pulled by an invisible thread, filled with pure, almost overflowing excitement and anticipation, as he clicked on the second announcement—"League of Legends".

There's a second one!
The page jumps again.

Runeterra, the cradle of magic and conflict, where heroes rise and legends are written. Choose your hero and join this epic war!

The introductory text carries a grand, epic feel.

Zhang Da took a deep breath and clicked on the trailer again.

The screen goes dark.

When it lit up again, the scene that came into view was completely different from the desolate and melancholic atmosphere of "Vagabond"!
Magnificent! Fantastic! Conflict!

The camera sweeps across an incredibly vast continent—Runeterra—from a breathtaking bird's-eye view.

The towering Freljord Mountains, covered in snow that never melts; the magnificent, orderly city of Demacia, shimmering with silver light; Ionia, covered in lush rainforests and exuding a primal magical aura; the Shadow Isles, shrouded in ominous purple mist… The richness of the landscapes and the diversity of the styles instantly create a grand, vibrant, and infinitely possible fantasy world!

The background music also changed to a grand symphony, mixed with ancient and mysterious chants and the hum of magical energy, instantly igniting a sense of epic grandeur.

Runeterra...

The narration began, deep and magnetic, as if telling an ancient prophecy.

The camera suddenly zooms in!

The heroes are about to make their appearance!
On the majestic walls of Demacia, a burly figure clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding a massive broadsword stands proudly.

The frozen plains of Freljord! A lithe female archer, clad in icy blue leather armor, stands amidst the snowstorm.

Within the ruins of an ancient library, a blue-skinned mage carrying a massive scroll and with arcane runes flowing across his skin slowly raised his head.

In the gloomy ninja dojo, shadows twisted and blurred! A figure wearing a hideous mask emerged from the darkness like a ghost! In an instant, he flung out several spinning, sharp shuriken with both hands, tearing through the air with a deathly shriek!
The pace of the scenes suddenly quickens! An epic battlefield montage!
Beneath the magnificent gates of Demacia, heavily armored soldiers formed an ironclad defense, their spears like a forest, to meet the onrushing, grotesque creatures!
In the lush forests of Ionia, agile swordsmen fight side by side with spirit beasts that control the energy of nature, where swords flash and magic flies together!

Piltover, where steampunk-style mechanical creations clash fiercely with alchemically enhanced monsters, amidst deafening explosions and the roar of gears!
Magical energy rages and explodes across the battlefield, the clanging of swords, battle cries, the bursts of magic, the howls of monsters... all blending into a breathtaking symphony of war! Every shot is brimming with power, conflict, and visual spectacle!
In the end, all the scenes of the fierce battle were wiped away as if by an invisible hand, quickly fading and coalescing!
In the center of the screen, a huge, heavy scroll exuding an ancient magical aura slowly unfurled.

On the scroll, complex and mysterious runes flowed and combined as if they possessed a life of their own, ultimately settling into a powerful word:

League of Legends.

The promotional video has ended again.

But this time, Zhang Da didn't freeze up.

He kept staring intently at the now-black screen, his chest heaving violently. Although the trailer left some people wondering about the specific gameplay, the top-notch art style and cinematic visuals clearly indicated that this was no small-scale game!

Two... high-spec masterpieces!

And before that! They had just announced three small, high-quality games! The last one, Rusty Lake, had just been released!

If it were any other game company...

Zhang Da would think! They must be fucking crazy!
But if it were Avalon! Zhang Da actually thought it made perfect sense... a perfectly reasonable and divinely ordained reason!!
He's fucking excited!!!

Because this was made by Avalon!

Wow……

Just minutes ago, I had been foolish enough to doubt that they had lost their ambition?

That's absolutely brain-dead!!

This doesn't seem like someone without ambition at all!

Zhang Da's mind was buzzing, a complete mess.

But this chaos lasted only a fleeting moment before being completely replaced by an incomparably pure and fervent thought—

I want to play! I want to play! I really want to play!!
Zhang Da's CPU got overheated... Actually, it wasn't just him; when two promotional videos with very different styles but equally top-notch quality were released...

Many players' CPUs were also overheated. One second they were immersed in the loneliness and desolation of the wanderer, and the next second they were overwhelmed by the gorgeous heroes and epic battlefields of LOL.

Isn't the Summer Game Festival coming to an end?
what is this? !

Just before it's all over, how about a big one?!

The players, thinking the feast was over, contentedly put down their knives and forks, only to have Avalon flip the table and, to everyone's astonishment, serve up two elaborate dishes worthy of a Manchu Han Imperial Feast?
Who can stand this!

So after a brief silence, forums and social media exploded!

"Holy crap!!! 'Rurouni'!! The visuals! The atmosphere! The swordplay! I'm getting goosebumps all over!!"

"I'm bowing down! I'm bowing down to the Avalon art team! Is that scene from 'Rurouni' real? It's so beautiful! It's so evocative!"

"Bring it here quickly!!! Bring it here quickly!!!"

"What's the second game? The hero designs are so appealing!! Tell me!! I want to know!"

"That League of Legends game has such a grand world view! The fusion of Eastern and Western fantasy feels so seamless! Knights vs. ninjas? Assassins vs. mages? Just thinking about that battlefield is exciting!"

"Avalon understands players! One is an aesthetically pleasing, artistic style, the other is an epic clash of gorgeous styles! I want both!!"

"I was completely engrossed in Rusty Lake and wanted to take a break, but then I saw this... Avalon, are you a devil?! Just serve it up already!!! Why are you tempting us if you're not going to let us play it?!"

"Avalon is awesome (voice cracks)!!!"

(End of this chapter)