Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts
Chapter 156: Mei Fangs Painful MemoryIt was already dusk when Mei Fang returned from practicing guitar outside.
He noticed Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan sitting together, playing a game. The sound of their keyboard typing was lively and energetic.
“Oh no, oh no, Youxi, I’m going to die! Help me, help me! Taunt for me!”
Xia Yuan shouted loudly while playing the game, being casual and carefree. Lin Youxi, on the other hand, remained calm and composed throughout, displaying the demeanor of a skilled player.
Watching the two of them having a great time, Mei Fang changed his shoes and asked them:
“Are you two playing Dota or Dragon Nest?”
“The games you mentioned are too exhausting to play. We’re playing La Tale[1]!”
“You’re actually playing that?! Have you forgotten about the time you got scammed while playing MapleStory?”
Mei Fang, Lin Youxi, and Xia Yuan used to play MapleStory together. Xia Yuan loved the game so much that she asked her father to help her top up her account.
During the Lunar New Year, Xia Yuan saw a message on the public chat saying that they were giving away 5E adventure coins. Naively, Xia Yuan happily went to the website to claim the reward, only to have her account stolen.After that incident, Xia Yuan uninstalled MapleStory and Mei Fang and Lin Youxi didn’t continue playing either.
The overall art style of La Tale was similar to MapleStory, and the gameplay was also a 2D side-scrolling MMO.
However, during its early operation, La Tale had a fair gameplay system. The items sold in the in-game store didn’t significantly affect the game balance, and players had to rely on monster grinding and dungeon runs to obtain equipment.
Mei Fang stood behind Xia Yuan and watched the two of them play for a while, reminiscing about the youthful days when he played MMOs with Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi. Suddenly, he felt the urge to play games as well.
“I want to play too! Which server are you in?”
“Server 3. But it’s too late for you to start now, we’ve already finished the beginner’s quests!”
“That’s not a problem… Watch me catch up to you in no time.”
While registering his account, Mei Fang dialed the number to top up his account using his kidney phone[2]. Mobile payments had just become popular in 2011, so many online games still relied on prepaid cards and phone payments.
To make it more convenient, Mei Fang topped up his account with a few thousand yuan worth of in-game coins. He had no reservations about spending money on games.
“Do you want me to give you some La Tale Coins (LTC) to get through the beginner stage?” Lin Youxi raised her head and asked Mei Fang, but he shook his head.
“No need, I’ll just buy them directly from the trading market.”
Xia Yuan seemed to understand something and quickly got up from her seat to see what Mei Fang was doing.
“Ah Fang, you’re like a little dog! Why are you spending money on this game as soon as you start playing?!”
“How can I not spend money on a game like this? Instead of mindlessly leveling up and grinding monsters, I’ll just make a one-time payment. We’re game developers ourselves, how can we let other game developers use us to become playthings for the pay-to-win whales?”
Xia Yuan pushed Mei Fang’s shoulder back and forth, saying, “Ah Fang, you’re so boring. You can’t experience the true joy of the game like this.”
“Wow, this person is selling an amazing Ice Lady Bow. It’s currently only selling for 5,000 LTC. Yuan Yuan, I remember you’re an archer, do you want this weapon? I have over a billion on me right now.”
Upon hearing it was her exclusive weapon, Xia Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
“Let me see! Wow… the stats are incredible! I’ve been farming for hours and still haven’t found an Ice Lady Bow!”
“Do you want it? If not, I’ll cancel the trade.”
“Yes, yes, yes, Ah Fang! Buy it for me! I beg you! I’ll give you a massage and foot rub tonight!”
Xia Yuan clung to Mei Fang’s arm, acting spoiled and cute, and Mei Fang couldn’t resist.
“Fine, fine, fine, I’ll buy it for you… By the way, do you want to check the market for equipment, see what you’re missing?”
“I’ll go to the market and browse myself. Just give me the LTC.”
In the early days of MMOs, having money really made the game more enjoyable.
Players who grinded relentlessly were happy, and the wealthy players had fun too. Everyone traded with each other and enjoyed the social aspect of the game.
Until later, developers kept cutting off opportunities for free-to-play players to get free items and put them up for sale in the in-game store.
It was during that time these games slowly started to lose their original appeal.
All players became servants and cash cows for the developers.
Mei Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi played until after 7 p.m. before they remembered to cook dinner.
They divided the tasks clearly: Mei Fang washed the rice, Xia Yuan prepared the vegetables, and Lin Youxi took charge of cooking.
During this time, Xia Yuan couldn’t help but sigh, “It would be great if we could also make an MMO PC game that’s as fun as this.”
“Making an MMO PC game, huh…”
Mei Fang never even considered the idea of developing an MMO PC game. After all, it required a large investment, a well-coordinated team, high maintenance costs, and was prone to criticism. By 2018, when the last MMO PC game that was still alive was released, there were really not many people making MMO PC games anymore.”
“Well, it may seem quite fun, but in reality, it can be quite hard to make, you know?”
“I’m just casually talking. But, developing such a large-scale game on our own would give us a great sense of accomplishment.”
Xia Yuan murmured while picking vegetables, “If we made a game like that, I would be the Game Master and bully those big shots whales every day, charging them money just to crush them. It would be so satisfying!”
“Look at your aspirations. Is that the only reason you want to make games?”
“Ehehe… When game developers create their own games, they must have fantasized about being powerful and influential characters in the game world.”
“But usually, game developers don’t play their own games much.”
“Ah, is that true? I don’t believe it.” Xia Yuan frowned, “If that’s the case, then it can only mean the games they make are really trash.”
“But if even the game developer doesn’t enjoy playing their own game, how can they expect players to like it? Seriously, what are these game designers thinking? Are they just want to get abused?” Xia Yuan expressed her confusion.
“Okay, okay, let’s not talk about it anymore, please…”
Xia Yuan’s thoughtless words triggered Mai Fang’s painful memory, and the memories of his previous lifeless life haunted him relentlessly.
When he was the lead developer, he had been working on garbage pay-to-win games that he didn’t even enjoy playing, all for a meager salary.
This was a far cry from his childhood dream of becoming a renowned game producer like Hideo Kojima, Hironobu Sakaguchi, or Shigeru Miyamoto.
“I-I didn’t say that the games you made weren’t fun, Ah Fang. I’ve played all those small games you made, including the ones we developed ourselves. The lifespan of my Reigns was the highest among my friends! If you don’t believe me, look at my phone, look, look…”
Mei Fang patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder, his expression firm and resolute.
“One day, we will definitely try to make an MMO PC game.”
“We’ll make an MMO PC game that everyone loves, one that is truly conscientious and won’t be criticized as a garbage pay-to-win game.”
Mei Fang wanted to make up for his long-standing dissatisfaction in making games.
“As long as we let go of the urge to make money and focus on developing and designing games that are fun, it will surely rekindle everyone’s love for MMORPG and protect our own paradise!”
Lin Youxi, who was silently listening to their conversation was puzzled. “Rekindle? Aren’t people already enjoying playing MMOs now…”
“I-In the future! I’m talking about the future!”
“Ah Fang, you have such foresight. Now I’m starting to itch for it too! Ah Fang, hurry up and grow up so you can make games for me to play!”
After finishing their meal together, Mei Fang took care of the dishes while Xia Yuan cut apples and distributed them to everyone.
She started by feeding Lin Youxi the apple in the living room, then ran to the kitchen to feed Mei Fang.
“Okay, okay… Don’t force-feed me.”
“Hmph… You need to eat more fruits.”
Xia Yuan reached out to put an apple into Mei Fang’s mouth.
“By the way, speaking of which, which song are you planning to sing at the upcoming Autumn Art Festival?” Mei Fang asked.
Xia Yuan made a hushing gesture to Mei Fang.
“Well, this time… it’s a secret. I can’t tell you yet.”
“Still being secretive…”
“Tsk, Ah Fang, you’re the same.”
Xia Yuan stuck her tongue out at Mei Fang. “You’re saying you’re preparing a performance for the Autumn Art Festival, but we still don’t know what song you’re going to sing. We haven’t even seen the lyrics.”
“Oh, well…”
Mei Fang scratched his head. “Actually, I’m almost done with the preparations. I can play it for you girls tonight. If you think it’s not good enough, then I won’t sign up.”
“Really? Really?”
Xia Yuan excitedly linked her arm with Mei Fang’s. “Since you’re already prepared, let me and Youxi listen to it. We’ve been looking forward to it for so long!”
Translator's Notes:
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