You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 501

As the popularity of "氪金测试: 平平人生" continues to grow both domestically and internationally, major mainstream media outlets have conducted in-depth coverage of the game, analyzing the game's success and the significance behind it from different perspectives.

The New York Times published a long report in its technology section titled "China's VR game "氪金测试: 平平人生": A mirror reflecting social reality."

The article details the game's background and gameplay, and offers an in-depth analysis of how the game reflects real-world social issues through its virtual world. The report specifically mentions the game's satirical depiction of the "996" work schedule, suggesting it reflects the younger generation's pursuit of work-life balance. The article also interviews several "Big Beautiful" players, exploring how the game can help Western players understand Chinese society and culture.

The Guardian reported on the issue from the perspective of cultural export. Its article, "From Kung Fu Panda to Lying Down: A New Peak of China's Cultural Soft Power," analyzed how the game "Krypton Gold Simulator: Lying Down" has become a new vehicle for Chinese cultural export.

The article points out that this game is different from traditional Chinese cultural symbols. Instead, it shows the social outlook of contemporary China through the depiction of modern urban life, making international players' understanding of China more three-dimensional and real!
The weekend edition of the Island Economic News featured a special report titled "'Krypton Gold Simulator: Life on the Lay Flat': Decoding China's Gaming Industry's Overtaking." The report analyzed the rapid development of the Chinese gaming industry, particularly VR gaming, from an industry perspective. The article concluded that the game's success signals that China's gaming industry has transitioned from imitation to innovation, and is beginning to gain a significant foothold in the global market.

The French newspaper Le Monde focused on the philosophical reflections within the game. Its article, "From Socrates to Confucius: The Clash of Eastern and Western Philosophy in 'Krypton Gold Simulator: Lay Down Life,'" delved into the philosophical ideas embedded in the game. The article noted that the game, through its contrast between "laying down" and "struggle," reflects the differing perspectives of Eastern and Western philosophy on the relationship between the individual and society, offering players a space for profound reflection.

The Verge, a popular tech website, published a review titled "'Krypton Gold Simulator: Lying Down Life': A New Height of Gamified Narrative." The article highly praised the game's narrative techniques, arguing that it successfully gamified social issues, making serious themes accessible and accessible. The article also specifically mentioned the game's "meta-game" design, arguing that this self-referential narrative method is highly innovative.

The BBC produced a special documentary in its documentary program titled "Real Life in a Virtual World: Analyzing the Phenomenon of 'Krypton Gold Simulator: Life'." The program interviewed game developers, sociologists, and gamers, exploring the game's development process, social impact, and real-life player experiences. The program focused specifically on how games influence young people's attitudes and values, sparking widespread social discussion.

These in-depth reports from around the world not only increased the international visibility of "Krypton Gold Simulator: Life on the Lay" but also interpreted the game's connotations from different cultural perspectives, making it a cultural phenomenon that sparked global dialogue. These reports not only affirmed the game's artistic value and social significance, but also pointed the way forward for the future development of the gaming industry.

……

Producers Wan Xiaotong, Hua Wu, and Mo Xiaoxuan appeared on a game production talk show.
Following the phenomenal success of "Krypton Gold Simulator: Lying Down," game producers Wan Xiaotong, Hua Wu, and Mo Xiaoxuan were invited to participate in a popular gaming talk show. While the show is known for its sharp questions and in-depth discussions, this episode had a somewhat unusual atmosphere.

At the outset of the program, host Zhang Li jumped straight to the point, asking about the inspiration behind the game. Wan Xiaotong smiled and said, "Speaking of inspiration, we have to mention our CEO, Lu Yu." She vividly described how Lu Yu came up with the concept of "氪金测试" (Krypton Gold Simulation) during a lunch meeting.

Hua Wu took over the topic and added, "Mr. Lu's foresight is truly amazing. At the time, we all thought the idea was too crazy, but Mr. Lu insisted that this would be an innovation that would change the gaming industry. As it turned out, his vision was amazing!"

The host, Zhang Li, raised an eyebrow, seemingly uncomfortable with the excessive praise, but continued to ask, "So, what difficulties did you encounter during the game development process?"

Mo Xiaoxuan immediately chimed in, "Of course there are difficulties, but every time we hit a bottleneck, President Lu always comes up with amazing solutions. Once, when we were stuck designing the 'lying flat' mechanism, President Lu, without a word, lay down on the office floor, closed his eyes and meditated for half an hour. Then he stood up and spouted off a dozen brilliant ideas. At that moment, we were all stunned."

Wan Xiaotong added with a smile, "Yes, Mr. Lu's creativity is like an inexhaustible spring. Sometimes we joke that Mr. Lu must have a supercomputer hidden in his head."

The host, Zhang Li, tried to steer the conversation in a more professional direction: "Regarding the technical implementation of the game, can you talk about your innovations?"

Hua Wu immediately said, "Speaking of technological innovation, I have to thank Mr. Lu again for his foresight. He foresaw the potential of VR technology three years ago and resolutely invested significant resources in research and development. It is precisely because of this decision that we are able to lead other teams technologically."

Mo Xiaoxuan continued, "That's right. Mr. Lu is not only a visionary leader, but also a technically gifted person. One time, our programming team encountered a difficult bug and couldn't solve it after days of struggling. Mr. Lu immediately rolled up his sleeves, got to his computer, and identified the problem in just two hours. That scene is truly unforgettable."

The host, Zhang Li, seemed somewhat frustrated, but still managed to steer the conversation: "There are many satires of hot social issues in the game. How did you come up with these ideas?"

Wan Xiaotong immediately said, "This is also thanks to Mr. Lu's keen social insight. He always captures the latest social hot spots and incorporates them into the game in a humorous way. For example, the 'Involution Planet' level in the game was a flash of inspiration that Mr. Lu came up with while working overtime late one night."

Hua Wu added, "Yes, Mr. Lu is not only a genius in the gaming industry, but also a philosopher who is adept at observing life. He often says that a good game should be a mirror of reality, allowing players to reflect while entertaining themselves. This philosophy has deeply influenced our creations."

As the show progressed, the three producers seemed to enter a state of ecstasy. No matter what questions the host asked, they always cleverly steered the conversation towards praising Lu Yu. They described Lu Yu as an all-around superhero: a visionary leader and a technical jack of all trades; he possessed both insight into social realities and the ability to lead his team in innovation. Even his daily habits were described with near-perfection.

As the show drew to a close, host Zhang Li asked, somewhat helplessly, "Finally, could you three share your perspectives on the future of gaming?"

The three of them smiled at each other and said in unison, "Our future lies in following Mr. Lu's footsteps. I believe that under his leadership, we will be able to create more works that will amaze the world!"

When the show ended and the cameras were turned off, host Zhang Li breathed a sigh of relief, a look of uncertainty and amusement on his face. The three producers, on the other hand, smiled at each other, as if they had accomplished a crucial task. This interview, brimming with "Versailles" flair, will undoubtedly become a hot topic of discussion within the gaming community.

……

Major commercial, financial, and management media outlets began to praise Mr. Lu from Taoyuan Township:
1. Media Name: Fortune Chinese Edition
Title: Lu Yu: The Steve Jobs of the VR gaming industry, revolutionizing the industry with humanistic management
2. Media Name: Harvard Business Review

Title: Taoyuan Township Lu Yu's Business Strategy: How to Stay Calm in the Fiercely Competitive Gaming Market

3. Media Name: Forbes

Title: Exclusive Interview: Lu Yu reveals the business wisdom behind "My Wife is the Savior"
4. Media Name: The Economist

Title: China's Hidden Champion in Gaming: How Lu Yu Used His Astuteness to Conquer the Global Market
5. Media Name: MIT Technology Review

Title: Peach Blossom Land VR: How Lu Yu Uses Technological Innovation and Humanistic Management to Lead the Next-Generation Gaming Revolution

6. Media Name: The Wall Street Journal

Title: Making Light of Heavy Matters: Decoding Lu Yu's Steady Progress in the Turbulent Tech Market

7. Media Name: Business Weekly Title: Amidst the Calmness, a Deeper Scheme: How Lu Yu's Gaming Empire Survived

8. Media Name: Fast Company

Title: From Zero to Hero: How Lu Yu Built Taoyuan Township into an Innovative Benchmark in the Gaming Industry
9. Media Name: Bloomberg Businessweek

Title: Beyond Silicon Valley: How Lu Yu's Management Philosophy Reshapes China's Tech Entrepreneurial Culture
10. Media Name: Inc.

Title: The Art of War in the Gaming World: How Lu Yu Used Strategic Thinking to Conquer Players Around the World.

……

On a sunny afternoon, the Taoyuan Township office was bustling with activity. However, at a workstation in the corner, CEO Lu Yu was quietly playing a mobile game. His screen displayed a pig farming game, and Lu Yu's fingers swiped rapidly across the screen, his face a look of concentration and delight.

Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated and an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. Lu Yu frowned and picked up the phone reluctantly.

"Hello, is this Mr. Lu Yu?" A vibrant female voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Uh, it's me." Lu Yu answered cautiously, afraid that someone would find out that he was slacking off.

"Great! I'm Xiao Li from the "Game Era" program team at Donghai Radio Station. We'd like to invite you to our program right now, by phone. Is that convenient for you?"

Lu Yu was stunned for a moment, his brain working rapidly, thinking about how to decline this sudden invitation. But before he could come up with an excuse, the person on the other end of the phone continued enthusiastically:

"Mr. Lu, we all know you're very busy, so we've arranged a phone interview. Now that the recording has started, let's introduce you to the audience!"

Lu Yu's eyes widened, and he was at a loss for a moment. He subconsciously sat up straight, as if he were really sitting in a recording studio.

The host's excited voice came over the phone: "Dear listeners, today we are honored to have invited Mr. Lu Yu, the producer of the most popular VR game "氪金测试: 平平人生" and CEO of Taoyuanxiang Company. Mr. Lu, first of all, congratulations to you. Your game has been a huge success. How are you feeling now?"

Lu Yu swallowed his saliva and tried to make his voice sound calm: "Well, to be honest, I didn't expect it to be so successful."

The host didn't seem to notice Lu Yu's hesitation and continued enthusiastically, "How modest! Your game is not only very popular in China, but it has also caused a sensation overseas. How did you come up with this unique game concept?"

Lu Yu scratched his head, his eyes drifting to the mobile game he had just been playing: "This is actually just a random idea. You know, sometimes inspiration comes so suddenly."

The host smiled and said, "It seems that Mr. Lu is really full of inspiration! So what difficulties did you encounter during the game development process? How did you overcome them?"

Sweat began to form on Lu Yu's forehead. He looked around and saw that his colleagues were all focused on their work, no one paying any attention to him. He murmured, "It was difficult, but it wasn't particularly difficult. Everyone worked hard, and somehow we got the game done."

The host seemed a little surprised by this answer, but quickly adjusted his tone: "It seems that Mr. Lu and the team have a very good understanding! So, what do you think is the key to the success of the game?"

Lu Yu took a deep breath and tried to recall some of the "high-sounding" words he had heard in other interviews before: "Maybe it's because we grasp the psychology of young people. You know, young people nowadays are under a lot of pressure."

The host immediately responded, "That's right! Your games are truly popular. So, can you share with us how you, as a successful entrepreneur, manage your team?"

Lu Yu looked at his busy colleagues and said guiltily, "Actually, the atmosphere in our company is quite relaxed. Everyone is very self-disciplined, and I basically don't care about them."

The host continued to ask, "It sounds like your management style is very open! So, how do you usually maintain innovation?"

Lu Yu's eyes drifted to the phone screen again, and he said softly: "Just... play more games."

The host seemed very interested in this answer: "I see! It seems that Mr. Lu draws inspiration from practice. So, one last question, what are your plans for the future?"

Lu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, finally waiting for the last question: "We will continue to work hard in the future. It's hard to say what the specific plans are right now."

The host concluded enthusiastically: "Thank you, Mr. Lu, for your wonderful sharing! I believe that many young entrepreneurs will be inspired by your story. We look forward to you and Taoyuanxiang Company bringing more excellent works!"

After hanging up the phone, Lu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and slumped in his chair. He looked around and found that his colleagues were still busy and no one noticed what had just happened. He shook his head and muttered to himself: "What the hell is going on?"

Just then, his phone lit up again. It was a message from the company's marketing department: "Mr. Lu, I just heard your interview. It was fantastic! We've compiled the key points and are ready to post them on the company's official account. Please take a look!"

Lu Yu stared at his phone screen, feeling both amused and embarrassed. He scratched his head, debating whether to tell the marketing department the truth. In the end, he decided to let it slide and replied, "Okay, thanks for your hard work."

Then, he took a deep breath, reopened the pig farming game, and muttered to himself: "Let's continue raising pigs. At least I really understand this."

(End of this chapter)