Started as a comics editor

Chapter 54 Sorry
Li Xue noticed Lin Shuang's gaze, didn't say anything, just nodded at her.

Tang Yao also spoke at this time: "Ms. Lin, please come over."

"It's okay. I still have to meet the person my cousin introduced me to."

Lin Shuang looked at Tang Yao again, smiled politely, and continued: "So the specific project you are talking about is..."

Although I don't quite understand.

But come all come.

Just say a few words.

the other side.

Tang Yao knew that the other party's identity had changed and he was no longer asking her as Li Xue's cousin.

So she didn't continue to be polite, but replied directly: "Game."

"This one……"

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuang immediately deducted a few points from Tang Yao in her heart.

After all, Tang Yao looks like... someone who can't play games at all.

What's more... who doesn't know that online games can make money?
But this kind of money is not something that anybody can earn...it's a complete red ocean.

"But not traditional games, but mobile games."

Tang Yao continued, "I know online games are a huge market right now, but mobile games are still in their infancy...and the portability and ability to utilize fragmented time on mobile phones are unmatched by traditional online games. I think this is a good direction."

"Oh?"

After hearing this, Lin Shuang finally became interested, as she was optimistic about the mobile version. "So you're planning to imitate the two games, Run Run and Bird Fly?"

The two examples she cited are both small-scale buyout games that have achieved good results on mobile devices.

"No."

Tang Yao shook her head. "There is indeed a market for buy-to-play games... but I don't think buy-to-play games will be the mainstream on mobile devices."

"Then what you are saying is..."

"Well, online games are going mobile."

"..."

Lin Shuang glanced at Tang Yao again, then nodded. "That's true. As far as I know, those big companies are also developing in this direction..."

"..."

Tang Yao understood the hidden meaning of Lin Shuang's words. To put it simply, it means - I know everything you said, and all the big companies are doing it. Why do you think you can beat them?
"But those big companies...most of them are still considering mobile versions of their existing PC games, right?"

Tang Yao organized her words and replied, "I think the current mobile hardware isn't strong enough to support overly complex games. Lightweight games are best suited for mobile devices. In other words... they need to be tailor-made."

"Oh?"

Lin Shuang frowned slightly, but followed Tang Yao's lead and asked, "Tailor-made? Do you mean you're not considering a PC port? Have you seen last year's domestic gaming industry report? PC gaming continues to see significant growth, and the PC gaming IPs owned by various gaming companies are still valuable. As for mobile gaming... to be honest, it's lackluster."

"Personally, I think it's impossible to consider PC, because the hardware gap is too big... Of course, I don't mean to completely abandon the PC game IP, but I mean not to be obsessed with making the gameplay close to the PC game."

"..."

Lin Shuang frowned again. "You mean to create a different gameplay for mobile devices? Will PC game players accept that?"

"..."

Tang Yao was stunned by the question because she had noticed it.

The two people's starting points... seem to be different.

Obviously, Lin Shuang thinks that the mobile version is just a supplement to the PC version, and is just an accessory to the PC version that is making a lot of money now.

She, on the contrary, thinks it is a completely different track.

"In fact, it is not necessary to make PC game players accept it, or rather...it is precisely because of the existence of PC games that we need to differentiate ourselves."

Tang Yao thought for a moment and replied, "Because there's a difference in hardware. If it's a mobile game with the same gameplay, PC game players definitely won't choose to play it... The same goes for 'mobile games' that are cut down on PC games. They're naturally at a disadvantage."

Lin Shuang remained silent, her face expressionless. "So, what exactly are these lightweight games tailored for mobile devices?"

Tang Yao's heart sank when she saw Lin Shuang's expression, but she didn't show it. She replied seriously, "I call it a two-dimensional mobile game... The characteristics are relatively simple gameplay, the visual effects borrow from the art style of traditional animation and comics, and they focus on the storyline of the playable characters. You use a card drawing method to obtain in-game props."

"Second dimension?"

"..."

Tang Yao hesitated for a moment and didn't give a verbal explanation because it was not accurate enough and a bit long-winded.

and so.

She directly handed over the business plan she had brought with her: "Actually, I wrote a business plan. If you have time... could you please take a moment to read it?"

Lin Shuang looked at Tang Yao, then looked at the plan in her hand, hesitated for a while, and finally reached out to take it.

Subsequently.

She began to look through it.

From beginning to end, Li Xue sat next to Tang Yao and did not say a word.

There was no support and no chat.

until.

Lin Shuang lowered her head to read the plan, and then Li Xue turned to look at Tang Yao.

But Tang Yao didn't notice her gaze.

She just looked at Lin Shuang calmly, as if she was not affected at all by the other party's implicit attitude.

Li Xue smiled softly.

Lin Shuang turned the pages very quickly.

I don’t know if it’s a natural talent or if I just see it too much.

Less than twenty minutes.

She turned the thick plan to the last page. Then.

She closed the plan, handed it back to Tang Yao, and commented: "Very thoughtful."

Tang Yao took the plan but didn't speak immediately.

really.

next second.

"However, I have a few questions to confirm with you."

Lin Shuang tapped the table lightly with her fingers and said calmly, "Your game only has a PVE mode, right?"

"Yes, for lightweight considerations, there is only PVE mode."

"Then the characteristics of your game can probably be summarized as anime-style, weak social interaction, weak competition, light gameplay, and heavy focus on plot and character design."

Lin Shuang couldn't help herself and shook her head slightly. "Honestly, this doesn't feel like an online game at all. How are you going to guarantee revenue in the future? To be frank, online games encourage players to compete with each other and to compare with each other... These are all important means to ensure revenue, but your mobile game is more like a visual novel than a game.

Can such a game really be profitable?

And how do we ensure there are enough players?"

Tang Yao was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and replied, "As for how to ensure there are enough players, I've made some preparations. Simply put, it's relying on comics..."

She talked about "Fate/Zero".

But after hearing this, Lin Shuang showed an apologetic expression. "Sorry, I've never been into comics, so I don't know much about this area... But even if everything goes well as you said, how will we make a profit later? Is there the card drawing mentioned in the business plan?"

"Correct."

“Are there any successful examples on the market?”

"……No."

Tang Yao shook her head and replied softly.

At the same time, my heart sank to the bottom.

But she still didn't show it, nor did she mention the connection between comics and games again.

Because this Miss Lin Shuang obviously doesn't read comics normally.

Tang Yao changed her perspective and explained, "Currently... mobile phones lack the storage and performance to store and run highly realistic 3D games. Even if PC games are simplified and ported, the visual quality can only be described as passable.

In this case, if the game is forced to be ported, PC game players will not choose mobile games. However, the same is true for lightweight 2D games that do not consume performance... Regarding the profitability issue you mentioned, I don't think it is necessary to encourage players to compete with each other, because after all, games are entertainment products. The visual novel game you just mentioned is an example, and there are people who pay for it.

This game can be deeply linked to the two-dimensional world, using..."

"Ah."

Lin Shuang nodded, then interrupted directly, "That's a great idea, but... your game's profit point isn't very clear, the investment return isn't very high, and there aren't any successful cases on the market... so I'm sorry."

"..."

Tang Yao's delicate body stiffened and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

But next second.

She smiled again: "So... then thank you for taking the time, thank you for bothering me."

"It's okay, you are Li Xue's friend."

Of course Lin Shuang noticed Tang Yao's loss.

Lin Shuang was actually quite surprised at her ability to regain her composure in an instant... But she didn't say anything, only asking, "You quit your job to start a business? You were an editor before?"

"Correct."

Tang Yao said politely, "I'm usually well taken care of by Miss Li."

"Have you known each other for a long time?"

"Not long, actually."

The two chatted for a while.

Then, Lin Shuang looked at Li Xue again: "How are you doing at the magazine lately?"

"good."

Li Xue finally spoke: "It's still the same as before, how about you?"

Next.

The three of them chatted.

The topic has absolutely nothing to do with the game.

Of course, we didn’t talk for long.

soon.

Lin Shuang raised her hand to check the time and said apologetically, "It's almost time for me to leave..."

then.

She paused, hesitating for a moment, as if she felt it was not a good idea to leave like this, and looked at Tang Yao again: "I will keep an eye out for any angel investors interested in your project. If there are any, I will try my best to recommend it to them."

"Okay, thanks."

Tang Yao smiled and thanked him.

"fine."

Lin Shuang was a little surprised to see the smile on Tang Yao's face.

Although he looks young... he is quite polite and has a good attitude.

But a pity.

The idea is a bit naive.

I am still at the age of dreaming.

(End of this chapter)