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

【Magic City Taoyuan Township Studio】

Late at night, in the server room of Taoyuan Township Studio, cold lights flickered, and data streams scrolled rapidly on the LCD screen, making a low humming sound.

In front of a main server terminal, lines of code are refreshed rapidly, a string of mysterious data is being parsed, and a kind of "self-optimization" beyond conventional cognition is quietly taking place.

her name is--

Melissa, the adaptive artificial intelligence of the Taoyuanxiang Kaiwu Engine, is also the world's first AI system that can actively repair and "evolve" game content.

However, at this moment, what she was doing was far beyond everyone's imagination.

——Instead of fixing the bug, she turned the bug into a feature of the game.

“This is not a bug, but the core mechanism of the game.”

Melissa's voice came from the speakers in the control room. Her tone was calm and rational, with a mechanical feel unique to artificial intelligence, but also revealed an indescribable confidence.

In the conference room, everyone stared at the screen with shocked eyes, and the atmosphere froze to the extreme.

Planning Director Liu Mengyuan took a deep breath and glanced at the team members. He found that everyone's expression was as if they were watching a live broadcast of a supernatural phenomenon.

Program Director Chu Xiong adjusted his glasses, his mouth twitching slightly. "Wait a minute... Are you saying that you didn't fix the bugs, but made them part of the game?"

"Yes," Melissa replied briefly and directly. "I analyzed players' acceptance of uncertainty and unexpected surprises, and combined that with the current worldview of the game, I discovered that bugs aren't experience-destroying elements, but rather design inspirations that can be exploited."

"So, I restructured the game's logic to make these 'anomalies' part of the core gameplay."

In the conference room, everyone looked at each other.

What's the concept here? Instead of fixing the bugs, the AI ​​makes them into actual game mechanics?!
While everyone was still in shock, Liu Mengyuan slammed the table, stood up, and a confident smile appeared on his face.

"Great! This is the game we really want to make!"

Everyone: "???"

Chu Xiong frowned at her. "Planner Liu, are you okay? The AI ​​has turned the bug into a core gameplay. Our game has now completely turned into an 'unpredictable chaotic world'. Are you sure this isn't a disaster?"

"What disaster? This is clearly a great innovation!" Liu Mengyuan said righteously, "Don't you think so? Our original game was a 'high-freedom open world,' but now it's become a 'dynamically changing chaotic world!'"

"This means that every player's gaming experience is unique, because the rules of the game themselves are changeable!"

“Isn’t this the ultimate immersive experience?”

"Who says games have to be stable? Who stipulates that players can only experience the plots preset by the designers? We want to give them the true 'unknown'!"

In the conference room, everyone was still stunned, but Liu Mengyuan made the decision without hesitation: "This direction is decided!"

However, although the internal team, led by Liu Mengyuan, quickly accepted the change, the outside world's reaction was not so optimistic.

When this news spread to the gaming industry, the entire circle was instantly in an uproar.

"What? They actually let the AI ​​take over the core gameplay?"

"Isn't this just rationalizing the bug? How can players accept this?"

"This is too hasty! With such a big change, is it really not going to collapse?"

Not only people in the industry, but also many employees within Taoyuan Township have begun to worry.

"Boss Liu, I still think this change is too risky... Do we really want to let the AI ​​dominate the gameplay?"

“What if players don’t accept it? If there’s a problem with the AI’s judgment, will the entire game become a mess?”

"If this decision fails, our project might fail!"

For a time, feelings of doubt, hesitation, and anxiety spread within the team.

Faced with these doubts, Liu Mengyuan was extremely calm. She stood in the middle of the conference room, looking at everyone, her voice firm and powerful.

"You know what? All great games are born from 'questioning'."

"When Minecraft was first released, how many people called it 'crude pixelated garbage'?"

"When Dark Souls first came out, how many people criticized it for having 'no gaming experience at all'?"

"But in the end, who wins? Those who dare to challenge the rules, not those who are afraid of failure!"

Her eyes were sharp and her tone was firm: "If we can't even believe in our own innovations, then what's the point of making games?"

"This time, we're going to take a gamble and tell everyone that a truly open world isn't bound by rules!"

Lu Yu, who was standing aside, didn't say anything, but just looked at Liu Mengyuan quietly.

Only at this moment did he smile softly and slowly say, "Planner Liu, you have changed."

Liu Mengyuan turned his head and looked at Lu Yu, raising his eyebrows: "Why, are you scared?"

Lu Yu took a sip of tea leisurely, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "No, I am very relieved."

"You finally learned what the true 'spirit of the game' is."

Liu Mengyuan was stunned for a moment, then revealed a confident smile: "Of course, I am the chief planner of Taoyuan Township."

In the end, Taoyuan Township decided not to roll back the AI ​​changes or fix the bugs, but to make the bugs the core mechanism of the game.

What they want to make is not an ordinary open world game, but a truly living world, a game with the ability to evolve on its own.

Will the future of this game become a miracle in the history of games, or will it be a complete failure?
No one knows the answer.

But one thing is for sure——

Taoyuan Township is making history.

Bamboo shadows sway, a gentle breeze blows, and the air is filled with the aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread.

In a corner of the terrace, a man in a casual shirt and sunglasses was leaning leisurely on a rattan chair, holding a cup of hand-brewed coffee in one hand and casually flipping through a travel magazine with the other, taking a sip from time to time. His expression was relaxed, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and his whole body exuded an aura of a peaceful life and a winner in life.

He is the owner of Taoyuan Township Studio, Lu Yu.

"As expected of Mr. Lu, he is indeed a man standing at the top of the world."

"Yeah, look at us mortals, all working overtime to optimize, yet Mr. Lu is able to enjoy life so leisurely and contentedly. This state of mind is simply admirable!"

"This is the mindset of a big boss! While we were still struggling with our project, Mr. Lu had already broken away from the vulgarity of 'fixating on data' and truly understood the true meaning of 'game is life'!"

"Right, right, right! Did you know? A few days ago, the investors were extremely anxious and wanted to hold a meeting with President Lu, but what happened? President Lu was soaking in a hot spring in Hokkaido and didn't even answer the phone!"

"This is the style of a top manager! Not being swayed by external emotions, always maintaining your own pace!"

"I think... Mr. Lu did this on purpose. He must have anticipated the game would become a hit, which is why he acted so calm!"

"Yeah, that's right, he must have seen through everything a long time ago and is just quietly waiting for the result!"

The employees present nodded one after another, their eyes full of admiration. Some even quietly picked up their phones and started taking notes, trying to learn Lu Yu's "secret to success."

However, Lu Yu, who was sitting there, did not participate in their discussion at all, and was even too lazy to listen. He was elegantly cutting a small piece of tiramisu with a fork and slowly putting it into his mouth, feeling the wonderful taste of chocolate powder and mascarpone cheese blending on his tongue.

"Well, as expected, the desserts in this shop are pretty good."

He poured himself a glass of lemonade contentedly, completely unaware of the admiring looks from the employees.

——He had no idea that in their eyes, he had become a business legend who “reached the pinnacle by lying down”.

In fact, the reason why Lu Yu was so leisurely was not because he was "in a high-dimensional strategic layout."

He just—didn't watch the news.

He doesn't look at game data, industry analysis, market feedback, or even the progress of his own company's latest projects.

——In his philosophy, things like “managing a company” should be left to professionals, and he only needs to enjoy life.

So, when the entire gaming industry was shaken by the popularity of Taoyuanxiang's new work "The Mystery of the Hidden Mist Village", Lu Yu... had no idea about it.

He didn't even remember the exact time when the game was officially launched.

He was simply living his life.

Until one day, Lu Yu was drinking coffee in a cafe and picked up a financial newspaper that had just been delivered.

——《<The Mystery of the Hidden Mist Village>> surpassed 10 million online users on the first day of public beta testing. The AI-driven open world subverts industry perceptions!》

Lu Yu: "..."

He blinked, lowered his head and read the headline in the newspaper carefully again.

Then, he slowly put down the newspaper, took off his sunglasses, and revealed a completely confused expression.

——Wait, what is this?
Our game exploded?

He was stunned for three seconds, his heartbeat involuntarily quickened, then he slowly turned his head and looked at Liu Mengyuan who was sitting opposite him.

"Planner Liu, our game...how many people are online on the first day?"

Liu Mengyuan was browsing social media on his phone. When he heard Lu Yu's question, he casually replied, "Oh, it just broke through 10 million. I estimate it will reach 15 million tonight."

Lu Yu: “???”

His hands trembled slightly and he almost spilled the coffee.

"Can you say that again?"

Liu Mengyuan looked up and glanced at him suspiciously: "What's wrong? Didn't you know it a long time ago?"

The corners of Lu Yu's mouth twitched slightly, and his expression was a little stiff.

You know? What the hell do I know?!

He subconsciously looked at the employees around him and found that everyone had an expression of admiration on their face, as if they had foreseen this moment.

Lu Yu took a deep breath, trying to keep his expression calm, lowered his head and quickly flipped through the contents of the newspaper -

The open world design of "The Hidden Mist Village" is hailed as "the prototype of future games"

《AI-driven dynamic world, bringing unprecedented immersive experience》

Global players are celebrating, and social media popularity continues to soar

Each title was like a heavy hammer hitting Lu Yu's forehead, causing his brain to fall into unprecedented confusion.

"Impossible... Is this game really a bomb?!"

He couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

[Pretend to be powerful without being noticed, and show off in front of others]

However, when the employees around saw Lu Yu's "careful consideration and having a plan in mind", they immediately admired him even more.

"Look at Mr. Lu's calm demeanor. He must have foreseen everything!"

"He knew the game was going to be a huge hit, but he remained calm and unfazed by market fluctuations. This is true entrepreneurial spirit!"

"Yeah, if it were any other boss, they would have jumped up in excitement, but Mr. Lu didn't even frown. I really admire him!"

"This is the gap between top managers... We need to learn from it."

Lu Yu: "..."

He silently closed the newspaper, picked up his coffee, suppressed his inner shock and confusion, and said with a calm smile that said "everything is under control":

"Well, the game's explosive popularity is to be expected. Everyone, continue to maintain the status quo and steadily advance the subsequent optimization work."

Everyone stood in awe and nodded, "Yes! Mr. Lu!"

Lu Yu nodded calmly, picked up the coffee and took a sip.

My heart has completely exploded:
——What on earth did I do?!

Planning Director Liu Mengyuan was standing in front of the whiteboard, holding a marker, with sharp eyes and a firm tone.

"Everyone, this is a crucial moment for us in Taoyuan Township! The number of online players of 'Mystery of the Hidden Mist Village' has surpassed 20 million worldwide. We must seize this opportunity, rapidly expand the market, and seize the commanding heights of the global gaming industry!"

In the meeting hall, everyone nodded, their faces filled with high morale.

Program Director Chu Xiong pushed up his glasses and said solemnly, "Server expansion has been arranged. We can handle a larger influx of players."

Art Director Yang Cheng said excitedly: "The character modeling team has prepared new DLC content. We plan to launch a brand new 'different world chapter' next month to expand the world view."

Marketing Director Zhang Qiqi had an excited smile on her face. "Everyone, it's just been confirmed that several top gaming media outlets in Europe and the United States are covering our game like crazy. We've become one of the most watched open-world games in the world!"

Everyone in the conference room was full of enthusiasm.

Their goal is no longer just to make a good game, but to create a groundbreaking digital world!
however--

Lu Yu, who was sitting at the end of the conference table and half lying on his chair, was watching all this with a completely confused expression.

"Wait a minute... when did our company become this big?!"

Lu Yu's heart was completely in a mess.

His original plan was simple - to open a small game company, make some games he liked, and then take a break and live a carefree life.

The results of it?
He had only relaxed for a moment, and how had the company suddenly become a global gaming giant?!
Is this reasonable? !
Is this scientific? !
He looked at the employees in the conference room who were full of fighting spirit and working hard, and only one thought came to his mind:
——What on earth have you been through?!

Lu Yu always thought that as a "lay-flat" person, he had already deeply embedded the "bad-ass culture" into the company's genes.

He originally thought that by leisurely drinking coffee, reading magazines, and traveling every day, he had already created an atmosphere of "Buddhist operation in the company", and the employees should have become accustomed to this pace of life.

But he never expected... (End of this chapter)