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

He slowly raised his head and glanced at the executives sitting there.

"Everyone, it's not just us. Global gaming giants have already started to enter the market."

After he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it. The projection screen on the wall instantly switched to show a map of the industry's competitive situation.

Several of the top ten game companies in the world are listed above. Each of them has launched new projects, aiming directly at "immersive open world games."

Galaxy Entertainment, Neon Interactive Entertainment, Tyranny Technology... Each of these names is a leader in the gaming industry!
There was dead silence in the conference room.

Everyone felt the oppression of this war.

"Their goal is the same as ours." Pei Shengnan said slowly, his voice low and intimidating, "They will either climb to the top by stepping on Taoyuan Township, or... step on us."

"So, we must win!"

Galaxy Entertainment Headquarters, San Francisco

"If Longteng Group wants to dominate the market, they should first ask us if we agree."

Robert Smith, CEO of Galaxy Entertainment, stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the entire San Francisco, with a confident smile on his face.

The world's largest gaming company has the most advanced technology, the most abundant capital, and the largest user base.

"Launch the Void Border project!"

He turned around, looked at the executive team behind him, and said in a powerful voice: "We want to create a true 'interstellar open world'!"

The screen on the wall lit up, and a shocking concept map was displayed before everyone—

In the vast universe, with stars shining, a futuristic battleship shuttles through the asteroid belt. In front of it is a huge city floating in space, full of lights and colors, like an interstellar paradise.

"We won't compete with them for cyberpunk or the data world. What we want is the entire galaxy!"

"Players can pilot spaceships, freely explore countless planets, build their own interstellar empires, participate in interstellar wars, and even... become gods!"

“This is the ultimate form of the open world!”

【Tokyo Neon Interactive Entertainment】

"We don't need to make a star-studded game. What we need to make is a work that truly touches people's hearts."

In the planning meeting room at Neon Interactive Entertainment's headquarters, Chief Planner Kei Fujiwara held a laser pen and wrote four words on the whiteboard:

"Quantum Rift"

"This will be a game where 'reality x virtuality' interweaves."

“Players enter the game from the real world, and everything in the game affects reality.”

“Each NPC has ‘multiple personalities’, and they will evolve into completely different characters and destinies depending on the player’s actions.”

“You think you’re playing a game, but in reality, you’re changing another ‘real’ world.”

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the planning, art, and technical teams present, his lips curled up slightly. "This is the style of Neon Interactive Entertainment—ultimate immersion, ultimate storytelling, and ultimate emotional impact."

"Longteng Group? Galaxy Entertainment? Do they understand what a 'story' is?"

……

As night falls, the skyscrapers of Shanghai glow coldly in the rain. The streets are bustling with traffic, and neon lights shine on the wet asphalt road, reflecting a hazy color.

The office of Taoyuan Township Studio is brightly lit, the air is filled with the faint aroma of coffee, and the crackling sound of programmers typing on their keyboards.

Lu Yu stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of cold coffee in his hand, looking quietly at the rain outside the window.

There was no expression on his face, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Just now, he received the latest information from the marketing department——

All major media outlets have almost unanimously voiced pessimism about Taoyuan Township.

[Public opinion storm: pessimism, distrust, contempt]

"Faced with the encirclement and suppression of giants like Longteng Group, Galaxy Entertainment, and Neon Interactive Entertainment, does Taoyuan Township really have a chance of success?"

"Lu Yu's 'era of miracles' is probably over. The power of capital is ultimately invincible."

“No matter how unique a small company’s creativity is, it can’t compete with the overwhelming resources of a large company.”

"Taoyuanxiang may be able to make excellent independent games, but in this massive 'open world war', they are just a dying firefly."

Almost all major gaming media, financial magazines, and industry commentators are pessimistic.

Some media have even begun to predict the "collapse timetable" of Taoyuan Township.

"Modu Finance": How long can Taoyuan Township hold out? It may be eliminated by the market within three months! "Global Gaming Observation": Lu Yu's legend ends! Facing industry giants, can he still create miracles? "Gaming Circle Insider": Taoyuan Township is under siege, can Lu Yu still hold out?
On social media, players' discussions are overwhelming.

"To be honest, I really like "The Mystery of the Hidden Mist Village", but this time... Taoyuan Township is really too difficult."

"Abyssal Vision, Void Frontier, Quantum Rift, Data Temple... Any one of these games seems to be a crushing existence. How can Lu Yu compete with them?"

"Lu Yu is indeed very strong, but this time his opponent is not an ordinary gaming company, but a top giant in the entire industry!"

"In the era of capital, an independent studio will not be allowed to continue to thrive."

For a time, the entire industry was shrouded in the argument that "Taoyuan Township is bound to fail."

[The sneer of industry leaders]

Longteng Group Headquarters, Chairman’s Office.

Pei Shengnan sat behind the large desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Lu Yu... How can you turn the tables this time?"

He slowly put down the report in his hand and his eyes fell on the screen - it was negative reports about Taoyuan Township from major media outlets, one after another, almost pushing Lu Yu to the forefront.

"The game of capital is not something a small studio like you can afford to play."

He smiled slightly, picked up the red wine glass and shook it gently, as if he was enjoying a game that was about to end.

Galaxy Entertainment headquarters in San Francisco.

Robert Smith stood in the middle of the conference room, his eyes scanning the market data on the big screen with indifference.

"The popularity of Taoyuan Township is declining, and capital is swallowing up their living space."

He clapped his hands lightly, his tone calm, "Very good. In the next stage, what we need to do is to crush them completely."

"All advertising on all platforms will be focused on Voidbound. We want players to completely forget the existence of Utopia."

"Lu Yu? He's no longer a threat."

Tokyo, Neon Entertainment.

Fujiwara Keiichi pushed his glasses up, a scornful smile on his lips.

"The Japanese market has completely shifted to Quantum Break. Taoyuan Township doesn't stand a chance." He gently closed his notebook and said indifferently, "A small company without capital support will not survive in this era."

London, Tyranny Technology.

Adrian Reynolds was sitting in a leather chair with his legs crossed and a sneer on his face.

"Lu Yu? Haha... a genius, but geniuses always fall one day."

He raised his wine glass, gently touched the table, and whispered, "Let's see how he can still struggle."

[Inside Taoyuan Township: Silent Night]

Late at night, Taoyuan Township Studio.

In the meeting room, team members sat together in a heavy and depressing atmosphere.

“Everyone is saying bad things about us…”

"Even the cooperating investors are beginning to waver..."

"Can we really... still win?"

Planner Mo Xiaoxuan said in a low voice, his eyes full of worry.

Zhang Qiqi crossed her arms, bit her lower lip, and said in a somewhat unwilling tone, "Those media outlets just follow the trend. They don't understand the game at all. They just follow the investors' wishes!"

Program Director Chu Xiong sighed, crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and said calmly, "But to be honest... this opponent is really too strong."

Everyone was silent.

This time, they are not facing a single company, but the siege of the entire industry.

Do they really still have a chance?

In the corner of the conference room, Lu Yu sat quietly, his hands crossed, his eyes calmly scanning everyone.

He didn't say anything, but slowly picked up his phone and looked through the news that was badmouthing Taoyuan Township.

Then, he suddenly smiled softly.

"They all think we will lose?"

His voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry a hint of smile.

Everyone looked up and looked at him.

Lu Yu gently put down his phone, narrowed his eyes, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

"very good."

His voice was soft, but it held a cold edge.

"A real war is finally about to begin."

It’s a rainy night outside the window, and the rain is still drizzling.

But in Lu Yu's eyes, the storm in the world has just begun to brew.

……

Late at night, the lights of the Magic City are still bright, and the hustle and bustle of the streets are stretched into blurry strips of light outside the glass windows.

In the meeting room of Taoyuan Township Studio, the air seemed to be frozen.

The large conference table was filled with draft papers, design drawings, and model presentation files, and the electronic screen on the wall was projecting an unfinished game interface.

Lu Yu stood in front of the screen, his brows slightly furrowed, his hands folded across his chest, his eyes fixed on the character model on the interface.

"Something's wrong."

He whispered, his voice not loud but very clear in the silent conference room.

Planning Director Mo Xiaoxuan, who sat at the other end of the conference table, pushed his glasses up, a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but he still managed to muster up some energy and said, "Brother Lu, we've adjusted the plot framework three times. The current version's worldview, quest system, and character settings are basically complete... What do you think the problem lies?"

Lu Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Soul."

Everyone was stunned.

"This game doesn't have a 'soul' yet." Lu Yu's voice was low, but with a hint of certainty. "Its settings, gameplay, and technology are all very advanced, but it lacks the most core thing - a reason for players to immerse themselves in it."

He turned around and glanced at the team members in the conference room, his eyes sharp and penetrating. "Do you really think that this version of the game can compete with giants like Abyssal Vision, Void Frontier, and Quantum Rift?"

The conference room was silent.

No one dares to say "yes".

Because they all knew that Lu Yu was right.

[Creative Dilemma: What is the core of the game? ]

Planner Zhang Qiqi said somewhat unconvincedly, "But we've already made a lot of innovations! The game's worldview is unique, the AI ​​system is powerful, there are thousands of quest branches, and every NPC has its own independent consciousness... Isn't that enough?"

Program Director Chu Xiong also frowned, his voice low, "Technically, we've already surpassed 'The Hidden Mist Village' by more than a level, and some of our gameplay is even ahead of the industry... If that's not enough, then what exactly are we going to do?"

Lu Yu didn't say anything. He just walked slowly to the conference table, picked up a pen, and wrote a big question on the whiteboard -

"Players, why do you play our games?"

Everyone stared at the line of words, and the expressions on their faces gradually became complicated.

"This is the core of the problem." Lu Yu gently put down his pen, his voice steady but with unquestionable power. "A game can have complex gameplay and advanced technology, but if it can't resonate with players emotionally, it's just a cold product, not a world that people can immerse themselves in."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over everyone present. "Our current games lack a compelling reason for players to play them."

[Plot Conflict: Loss of Immersion]

Mo Xiaoxuan frowned, opened his notebook, and said thoughtfully, "If the problem lies in immersion, then shouldn't we focus on the plot?"

"The problem isn't just the plot." Lu Yu shook his head. "Our current game worldview is very grand, and the story branches a lot, but it still lacks the emotional driving force that makes players feel immersed in the game."

He pointed at the game interface on the screen. "For example, in this main quest, we've set it up so that players take on the role of an exile, searching for their lost memories amidst the ruins... But the question is, why should players care about this character's memories? They don't relate to them, and they might not even bother to complete the quest."

Planner Zhang Qiqi said unconvincedly, "But we have many side plots, and each NPC's story is very rich..."

"That's right, but they are 'stories', not 'experiences'." Lu Yu interrupted her, his tone firm, "We can't just 'tell stories', we have to let players 'experience' the stories."

"If players just passively accept the plot, then the game is no different from a movie, and players lack a real sense of participation."

He paused for a moment and then said slowly, "We need to rethink how to make players not just 'spectators' but truly become part of the story."

[Gameplay Conflict: The Conflict Between Freedom and Guidance]

In addition to the plot, the degree of freedom of the game is also a tricky issue.

Chu Xiong frowned and said, "Brother Lu, you've always emphasized the high degree of freedom in games, so we've given players a lot of room to explore. But the problem is, if the degree of freedom is too high, many people will get lost and even not know what to do." (End of this chapter)