Building a Gaming Empire From Scratch

Chapter 29: Decline in Reputation?

These players immediately raised questions online, and soon came across others with the same experience.

After comparing with players using other devices, they quickly figured out what had happened.

NetDragon's devices refused to be compatible with "Traveler of the Wind".

Those who realized this immediately started cursing, and already rushed into the comment section of NetDragon's latest post, adding more saliva to the already heavily-attacked comments.

However, NetDragon's Spiritual Rhinoceros account, since being ridiculed last time, had no movement nor response to the taunts, acting as if they knew nothing.

As long as I don't see it, nothing has happened.

Players using NetDragon devices were furious but helpless, so they could only log in to various live streaming platforms to watch the streamers' trial games.

Meanwhile, other players had already entered the revelry phase.

They opened the game, entered the Sand Sea; they found the runes, got the scarf; they saw the murals, and flew around wildly...

But their excitement soon cooled down.

They were a bit confused: "What's the point of this game? Just finding runes, looking at scenery, and then climbing up the distant Sacred Mountain?"

After a group of powerful streamers rushed through the broken bridge non-stop and finished the trial level, they fell silent.

Millions of scattered audiences in different live stream rooms also fell into silence, even feeling puzzled.

They didn't understand what was fun about this game. It's just a little cloaked figure, walking around, finding runes, touching red cloth, and then clearing the level.

How does this compare to the thrill of sweeping enemies with a submachine gun and watching them fall like cutting grass?

They had never played, or even seen, a game with such a slow pace and no competitiveness.

As for the streamers who played it themselves, they didn't claim the game was bad.

They did have fun when playing, but that joy was too short-lived and not intense at all, and the worst part was that it suddenly stopped just as it began.

So they awkwardly joined the audience in the strange silence.

Is this the next-gen game that Lincoln had high hopes for? Is he really not fooling us?

Not only the players, but the industry insiders were also puzzled after the trial play ended.

Is this the game to be launched with Virtual Reality Devices?

A game with no sensory stimulation, no intense confrontation, and pitifully limited interactive elements for players—a travel simulator?

Although they knew that their devices must be inferior compared to Virtual Reality Devices and not able to display the full charm of the game.

But no matter how they thought, even if it was real consciousness immersion, wouldn't it still be traveling to a desert?

Well, there's a mountain behind it, so there might be different scenery.

However, they still kept the players constantly walking, doing desert treks and mountain climbing.

Is this really... interesting?

If the game itself is uninteresting, will players be eager to buy his devices?

Indeed, many people would buy it just to experience the true virtual environment, but such people, compared to the vast player base, will ultimately be the minority.

After all, there would not be that many people willing to pay so much money just to play in a virtual desert.

Virtual reality devices wouldn't be cheap anyway, and with that kind of money, it would be enough to take a real desert trip.

But how many people are actually interested in taking a trip to the desert? Do they really think everyone is Sanmao?

They were puzzled, but NetDragon was overjoyed!

They even felt a bit of regret. If they had known that the game Lincoln produced was so terrible, there would have been no need for such a big fuss to block it in the first place! They had just damaged NetDragon's brand image for nothing.

However, at this point, it was impossible to lift the ban and revert everything. What would other people think then?

Oh, when Lincoln released the trial version of his new game, NetDragon got scared and immediately issued a ban. Later on, when they found out that it posed no threat, they had the confidence to let it go.

In comparison, they'd rather let players think, "NetDragon is too overbearing and can't tolerate any competition."

However, all these were minor details. They needed to seize this rare opportunity to attack the sales plan of Lincoln's new device.

"Gary!" NetDragon's young boss, Richard, called out on the spot, "I'll leave the task of contacting the media to you! Arrange it as soon as possible and let the various game media outlets give him a low score! Make it as low as possible!"

"It's difficult. The game media's rating is what they value the most." Gary was at a loss, didn't his boss understand this at all?

As long as a game with a certain reputation is rated by gaming media, not only is it their major source of revenue, but to some extent, it is also their livelihood.

If you want a full score, it's not a problem as long as you pay enough.

At most, they can explain it later: "Everyone's aesthetic tastes differ, the editor who rated this game just really liked it and therefore had a certain level of subjective favoritism."

It's not a big issue, players may complain for a few days, but afterwards things will go back to normal.

But if you dare to give an excellent game an overly low score, it's a whole different story.

Giving ordinary games high scores might just be due to different tastes, or even taking money, and players won't take it to heart or doubt your professionalism. After all, everyone needs to make a living!

But if you give an excellent game an overly low score, players will directly question your professional competence, suspecting you of having no respect or passion for the game, and that you're just a money-grubbing merchant.

This is a quite significant blow to the image and authority of gaming media!

"So, is it impossible?" Richard stared at him.

"It is possible, but -" Gary explained, "We need to increase the payment."

"Then add more!" The young boss waved his hand, "Money is not an issue!"

At this moment, Planning Director Henry suddenly interjected, "Lincoln's game might not be good, but its popularity is undeniable. Since that's the case, why don't we ride on their coattails and promote 'Blaze 3' while attacking 'Traveler of the Wind'?"

Of course, he had a reason to be so proactive.

After Randall's resignation, the planning of 'Blaze 3' should have been handed over to the next planner in line from the Flame Group, but Henry had snatched the opportunity due to his seniority, and now had the title of Chief Planner for 'Blaze 3'.

Seeing an opportunity for promotion, he immediately stepped forward.

One investment serving two purposes, Richard thought it was a good deal, so he agreed.

Gary had no choice but to follow his boss's orders and get to work. He didn't even know how many times he had been through this routine, but it had become very familiar.

With money paving the way, the results appeared quickly.

"Lincoln, a failed game developer?" had become a hot topic, showing up on Spiritual Rhinoceros' trending list.

This was a post from "Game Starry Sky": "Lincoln, a undoubtedly genius scientist, but a mediocre game developer?"

Initially, the ranking of this hot topic wasn't high, but as more media and Water Armies joined, the ranking quickly climbed.

Compared to the previous instance, the players didn't flock to defend Lincoln.

It was because they had indeed developed such doubts.

Nobody said that a genius scientist must also excel as game developers, right?

Perhaps Lincoln is just a genius scientist, even capable of achieving world-renowned technological breakthroughs within a week, thereby opening the door to a new era for global gamers.

However, his contribution might end there, and the path beyond the door may not be his forte.

This job might need another genius game developer to undertake?

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