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

Chapter 503: "Ape God" overturns, Cai Yuhao breaks the defense

Another film that failed was "Monkey God" by Mileyou.

When the trailer for "Ape God" debuted at Milegame's press conference, the gaming community was captivated. The stunning visuals, captivating worldview, and endlessly possible gameplay had countless players eager to explore the mysterious continent of Teyvat.

However, there is often an insurmountable gap between dreams and reality.

On the day the game was released, enthusiastic fans flocked to the game, eager to immerse themselves in this highly anticipated virtual world. However, the moment they put on the motion sensing equipment and entered the game, their dreams began to collapse.

Li Ming, a devoted gamer, had high hopes for Ape God. He took a week off, stocked up on snacks and drinks, and planned a hearty gaming marathon. However, just a few hours later, he collapsed on the sofa, his face etched with disappointment and confusion.

"Is this really the same game?"

Li Ming muttered to himself, staring at the scene in disbelief. The vibrant, vibrant world depicted in the promotional videos now appeared as a dull, monotonous scene. The faintly visible mountains in the distance seemed like a deliberately blurred backdrop, impossible to approach. The supposedly pristine jungle was nothing more than a series of repetitive, low-resolution tree models.

Li Ming attempted to run forward, exploring this so-called "open world." However, he soon discovered that his movements were constrained by invisible walls. Those seemingly vast plains and forests were actually just narrow, pre-defined paths. The term "open world" became ironic in his mind.

Unwilling to give up, Li Ming decided to try out other features in the game. He followed the tutorial and began collecting resources and building shelters. Initially, these tasks offered a sense of novelty. But he soon realized how repetitive and boring they were. Collect, build, upgrade, then collect again, build again, upgrade again. The cycle seemed endless and yet pointless.

"Maybe the combat system will have some highlights?"

With a last glimmer of hope, Li Ming controlled his ape character and launched an attack on a beast. However, this time the disappointment was even more severe. The motion control system repeatedly failed. He intended to swing his weapon, but the character performed completely unrelated movements. Finally, Li Ming had to switch back to traditional button control, but this time, the "immersive experience" that the game touted was completely gone.

Even as Li Ming struggled, the entire gaming community was in a state of mourning. Negative reviews of Ape God flooded in on major forums and social media platforms.

"This isn't a 'monkey god,' it's a 'trap god!'" a player with the ID "Angry Banana" roared on the forums. He detailed numerous issues with the game: poor graphics, frequent freezes, illogical plot development, and ridiculous AI.

"I saw a group of so-called 'highly intelligent' apes fall from a tree while picking bananas! Is this something highly intelligent creatures would do?"

At the same time, a player who called himself a "script analyst" published a long article, ruthlessly criticizing the game's story setting.

"The entire plot is a tired old 'outsiders vs. natives' trope, devoid of any originality. The so-called suspense elements are child's play for any player with even a modicum of common sense. Even more ridiculous is the game's attempt to portray a unique ape civilization, yet the apes' thinking and behavior patterns are indistinguishable from those of ordinary humans. Where's the uniqueness in this?"

However, what infuriates players the most is the ubiquitous pay-to-win traps in the game. One player lamented on social media: "I paid a hefty price for this game, only to discover, after entering, that I can't even experience the most basic gameplay without paying extra! This isn't a normal game; it's simply a pay-to-win mobile game disguised as a AAA game!"

Faced with overwhelming criticism, Milegame's response only intensified the fire. They initially issued a vague statement claiming they were "listening carefully to player feedback" but avoided addressing specific issues. They then rushed out several small patches that merely fixed minor issues while ignoring the core concerns raised by players.

Even more unacceptable is that while players were eagerly awaiting game improvements, Milegame launched a series of paid DLCs and krypton gold activities. This move triggered a new round of criticism, with many players voicing their intention to boycott the game and calling for refunds.

……

Over time, the number of players in Ape God has plummeted. Those who once held high hopes have either left in disappointment or become angry trolls. The once lively discussion areas on the game's forums have become deserted, and the few remaining posts are mostly complaints and rants.

Li Ming, the player who once had such high hopes, now smiles wryly every time he thinks of Ape God. His motion-sensing device is gathering dust, and the continent of Teyvat, which once haunted him, is now filled with disappointment and helplessness.

……

Yet, amidst this pessimistic atmosphere, some tenacious players refused to give up hope. They launched a "Save the Ape God" initiative on the forums, calling on the development team to listen carefully to player feedback and work hard to improve the game. They outlined a detailed list of suggestions, including optimizing graphics performance, redesigning game mechanics, and refining the plot.

"We know how difficult it is to create a truly great game," the petition reads, "but we still believe in the potential of Ape God. If the development team can humbly accept criticism and have the courage to correct its mistakes, perhaps this game will have a chance to be reborn."

This initiative has received responses from many players. Although they are extremely disappointed with the game, deep down, they still hope to see this grand concept can be truly realized.

However, Milegame's response was once again disappointing. Instead of directly addressing players' concerns, they announced they would shift their development focus to other projects, leaving only a small team to maintain Ape God.

This decision was undoubtedly a death sentence for Ape God. The gaming community was filled with lamentations, and many began to reflect on why such a promising project ultimately became a farce.
Some blamed the overly exaggerated marketing campaign, arguing that it was these false promises that inflated player expectations and ultimately led to huge disappointment. Others criticized the development team for being overly ambitious, trying to cram too many elements into a single game, only to end up with nothing working well.

A deeper analysis suggests that the failure of "Monkey God" exposes the shortcomings of the domestic gaming industry in terms of innovation and quality control. Over-reliance on imitation and following trends, coupled with a lack of in-depth consideration of the essence of gaming, ultimately resulted in products that were superficial and lacked substance.

Over time, Ape God has become a cautionary tale for the industry, reminding developers that a successful game requires not only a grand vision but also solid technical skills and a deep understanding of the player experience.

The failure of Monkey God was undoubtedly a huge blow to players who had been full of expectations. However, just as the game advocates "growth through setbacks", perhaps this experience can also become a driving force for the progress of the entire industry.

On the first anniversary of the release of "Ape God," Li Ming reopened the long-forgotten game. Watching the familiar opening animation, he felt a mixture of emotions. The continent of Teyvat, which had once excited him, was now a desolate wasteland. However, just as he was about to quit the game, a small system prompt popped up:

"Dear adventurers, thank you for your continued support and suggestions. We're working hard to improve the game and hope to bring you a truly exciting world of adventure. Stay tuned." Li Ming paused for a moment, then let out a wry smile. He knew this was likely just wishful thinking on the part of the development team. But for some reason, deep down, a tinge of anticipation welled up in his heart. Perhaps, in the near future, the longed-for continent of Teyvat would finally appear before us.

……

Cai Yuhao sat in the leather chair of his plush office, his hands gripping the armrests tightly, his knuckles white from the strain. His face, usually adorned with a confident smile, was now twisted, his brow furrowed, the veins bulging across his forehead visible. His eyes burned with rage as he darted around the office, as if to incinerate everything around him with his gaze.

"What a bunch of rubbish!" Cai Yuhao suddenly roared, his voice filled with anger and frustration. He stood up, grabbed the folder on the table, and slammed it against the wall. The papers scattered to the ground like snowflakes, but this did nothing to calm his anger.

He strode to the French window, put his hands on the windowsill, and looked down at the bustling city below. In the past, this view always made him feel proud and satisfied, but at this moment, he only felt that everything was extremely ironic.

"Five years! Five whole years of hard work!" Cai Yuhao muttered to himself, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. He turned to face the empty office, as if accusing an invisible audience, "How much money and manpower did we invest? And the result? Ruined by a bunch of players who didn't appreciate it!"

He walked to his desk, grabbed his phone, and quickly scanned the latest game reviews and sales data. Every negative review, every refund request, felt like a sharp knife stabbing into his heart. Cai Yuhao's face grew increasingly uglier, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, he slammed his phone to the ground.

"What do they know?!" he roared, his voice filled with resentment and resentment. "These so-called players, they don't even know how to appreciate true art! We created such a grand, unique world, and all they can do is complain about the graphics and controls!"

Cai Yuhao stumbled over to the nearby liquor cabinet and, with trembling hands, poured himself a glass of whiskey. He downed the liquor in one gulp, letting the alcohol burn down his throat. However, even the liquor couldn't quench the rage within him.

He turned to face the floor-length mirror in his office, looking at his disheveled self. His once meticulously styled hair was now a mess, and his shirt was wrinkled from his intense emotional fluctuations. Cai Yuhao stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes filled with self-pity and resentment.

“No, I can’t just give up like this,” he muttered to himself, a hint of madness in his voice. “I’m going to show them what the true art of gaming is!”

He grabbed his phone and, with trembling fingers, dialed the PR department. "Hold a press conference for me," he ordered, his voice thick with urgency. "I'm going to personally explain to the world the greatness of Ape God. I'm going to show those foolish players what they've been missing!"

After hanging up the phone, Cai Yuhao slumped in his chair, covering his face with his hands, letting out a sound somewhere between a sigh and a sob. He knew that this battle had just begun, and he had no way back.

……

Faced with the huge success of the project, Lu Yu felt a little unwilling. He clearly wanted to lie down and let things go.

So, he took his girlfriend Liu Mengyuan and company employees to the countryside to experience farm life and relax!
On a sunny weekend, Lu Yu drove with Liu Mengyuan and the company's employees to a farmhouse in the suburbs. The car slowly moved along the winding country road, flanked by endless golden rice fields. The autumn wind blew, and the rice paddies rolled like a golden ocean.

Liu Mengyuan was sitting in the passenger seat, pointing excitedly at the scenery outside the window. "Lu Yu, look at the sunflower field over there! It's so beautiful!" Lu Yu glanced at it with a smile and said softly, "I'll take you to take pictures later. I guarantee that the most beautiful you will be photographed." Liu Mengyuan blinked playfully when she heard this, "Then I'll have to dress up nicely!"

The convoy finally arrived at its destination, where a quaint farmyard came into view. The yard was filled with a variety of seasonal vegetables and flowers, a few chickens strolled leisurely around, and the bleating of sheep could be heard in the distance.

Lu Yu got out of the car first, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for Liu Mengyuan like a gentleman. "Watch your step," he said gently, reaching out to help Liu Mengyuan out of the car. Liu Mengyuan said mischievously, "Lu Yu, I'm not an old lady. There's no need to be so careful." Lu Yu smiled and pinched her nose. "In my heart, you will always be my little princess who needs my protection."

The owners of the farmhouse, a amiable elderly couple, greeted us warmly. They led us on a tour of the farm, introducing the various crops and livestock. Lu Yu and Liu Mengyuan, holding hands, walked slowly behind the group, chatting quietly from time to time, their faces filled with happy smiles.

After the tour, the boss suggested that everyone could experience farm work.

Lu Yu immediately and enthusiastically dragged Liu Mengyuan out to pick strawberries. The two squatted in the strawberry patch, carefully selecting the ripe fruits. Lu Yu suddenly picked up an exceptionally rosy strawberry and gently placed it to Liu Mengyuan's lips. "Try it, is it sweet?" Liu Mengyuan shyly glanced around, and seeing no one was paying attention, she took a small bite. "Hmm, it's really sweet!" she said with a smile, a faint blush on her cheeks.

At noon, everyone started preparing lunch. Lu Yu and Liu Mengyuan were in charge of washing and chopping vegetables, standing by the sink, busy side by side. Lu Yu would occasionally steal glances at Liu Mengyuan's profile, and when she noticed, he would always pretend nothing happened, which made Liu Mengyuan laugh.

After lunch, Lu Yu suggested taking a walk to the nearby stream to help digest the food. The two walked slowly along the path beside the stream, stopping from time to time to admire the wildflowers on the roadside. Lu Yu suddenly squatted down, picked a small daisy, and carefully pinned it to Liu Mengyuan's ear. "It's beautiful," he said softly, "but it's still not even one-tenth as beautiful as you." Liu Mengyuan was a little embarrassed by this sudden love talk and gently patted Lu Yu's shoulder. "You're so smooth-talking!"

In the afternoon, the farmhouse arranged a tug-of-war competition. Lu Yu and Liu Mengyuan naturally stood together. Once the game began, the two of them were in perfect sync, tugging in unison as the slogans went. During one particularly forceful tug, Liu Mengyuan stumbled backward. Lu Yu immediately reached out to support her waist, asking with concern, "Are you okay?" Liu Mengyuan shook her head, glanced at Lu Yu gratefully, and the two of them returned to the intense competition.

In the evening, the boss organized a barbecue in the courtyard. Lu Yu took the initiative to take charge of the grilling, while Liu Mengyuan helped prepare the seasoning. Lu Yu carefully turned the skewers on the grill, and from time to time he asked Liu Mengyuan, "Do you want to taste it to see if it's done?" Liu Mengyuan would come over, open her mouth and take a small piece of meat from Lu Yu, then seriously comment on it.

As night fell, a bonfire lit in the courtyard. Everyone gathered around it, chatting, singing, and enjoying themselves. Lu Yu put his arm around Liu Mengyuan's shoulders, and she nestled in his embrace. The firelight reflected on their faces, adding a touch of warmth and romance to their relationship.

"Lu Yu," Liu Mengyuan said softly, "I'm really happy today." Lu Yu looked down at her and replied softly, "As long as you are happy, I am happy." As he said that, he gently kissed Liu Mengyuan's forehead.

After the bonfire party, Lu Yu and Liu Mengyuan walked hand in hand on the way back to their room. The night sky was dotted with stars, and the chirping of crickets echoed one after another. Lu Yu suddenly stopped and said to Liu Mengyuan, "Mengyuan, thank you for always being by my side. With you around, I feel I can withstand any pressure." Liu Mengyuan smiled and held Lu Yu's hand tightly, "Silly boy, didn't we agree to face everything together?"

The two smiled at each other and continued walking forward. This day's farm trip not only allowed Lu Yu to temporarily forget the pressure of work, but also made him cherish the girl who had always supported him. On this quiet rural night, their love seemed sweeter than ever.

(End of this chapter)