Since yesterday!

After the first half of Titanfall was released, its overwhelming popularity has dominated the gaming market with terrifying momentum!

Players flooded Yiyou X2 with perfect ratings, showering it with praise!

Meanwhile, media outlets led by Daily Gaming News unanimously awarded unprecedented perfect scores!

Daily Gaming News (10/10):

"In just three hours, Titanfall's unparalleled quality proved rules can be broken. It demonstrated how mech games can thrive against all odds - by pioneering new ground. And the first to wield this pioneering shovel is Golden Wind's Chief Game Director, Gu Sheng."

SNG Review (10/10):

"Stunning visuals, solid storytelling, and jaw-dropping gameplay design deliver a ceiling-shattering punch that leaves us breathless. Clearly, 10/10 represents our rating system's limit, not Titanfall's."

Player Campfire (10/10):

China Gaming Forum (5/5):

"They inserted a movie trailer into the game! Undoubtedly another bold attempt from Golden Wind! Facing overwhelming competition, they concentrated all their strength for one devastating strike - like activating overloaded core systems!"

From Black Box Forum to Console Kingdom to VR Base...

Media outlets everywhere praised TTF!

Even the China Digital Entertainment Association (CDEA) officially published a featured review:

"Breaking Chains to Uphold the Golden Spirit - Reflections on Titanfall's Industry Impact"

What is CDEA?

The undisputed authority in China's gaming industry!

Though avoiding front-page placement to prevent bias, this feature carried heavyweight significance!

Players celebrated! Media raved! Official endorsement!

In today's globally connected internet era, news of this magnitude from China - the world's most fertile gaming market - spread worldwide instantly!

"...And Thomas Tull, Legendary Pictures' CEO and co-founder, happens to be an avid gamer,"

Yan Sheng explained over the phone:

"Even more coincidentally, their upcoming film is also mech-themed -"

"Pacific Rim,"

"Reportedly adapted from a comic with a $170 million budget,"

"Exactly seven times your budget, amusingly enough."

Yan Sheng chuckled at his own joke.

But!

Gu Sheng on the other end wasn't sharing this lighthearted mood!

Right now!

Excitement and astonishment overwhelmed him!

Just last week, he'd seen news about this classic mech film from his past life getting a global VR theater release!

Yet in mere days, its producers had extended a collaboration offer!

Indeed!

Months ago, Legendary Pictures partnered with Warner Bros and director Guillermo del Toro.

Adapting the Pacific Rim comic with nearly $200 million, they'd greenlit this VR sci-fi blockbuster!

Now completed and approved for domestic release, Legendary and Warner began promotional preparations.

Since it would premiere in China's VR theaters, Legendary naturally approached XunTeng and Yiyou first.

These two dominant VR headset manufacturers also operated mature streaming platforms.

Coincidentally, both had recently launched new-generation headsets.

Thus, Legendary sought partnerships with both for platform distribution - standard practice in VR cinema.

Yiyou easily secured the platform deal with Legendary.

But that wasn't the main point.

The real bombshell?

After securing Yiyou's partnership, Legendary proposed cross-promotion with Yiyou's flagship title to amplify publicity!

Game-movie crossovers weren't uncommon.

For Pacific Rim's China release, stronger promotion meant better results.

"So Chairman Yan recommended me?" Gu Sheng asked.

"Not recommended,"

Yan Sheng corrected:

"Legendary Pictures - more precisely, CEO Thomas Tull himself - specifically requested Titanfall for promotion."

"Both share mech themes, and your interactive movie-game concept intrigued him."

"Plus Titanfall's current explosive popularity..."

"If they wanted game collaboration, Titanfall was the obvious - no, the only choice."

Gu Sheng inhaled sharply.

He understood Legendary's clout.

A top-tier global studio and key Warner Bros partner.

Massive influence and resources.

Refusal made no sense from any perspective.

"And their crossover terms?" Gu Sheng inquired.

Objectively,

Golden Wind and Legendary operated on completely different scales.

Normally, such an offer would have smaller studios groveling with gratitude.

But Gu Sheng wasn't some sycophantic underling.

Collaboration meant payment.

This was China - his gaming turf where he currently shone brightest.

They wanted his heat? Legendary status be damned!

Even if god himself came knocking, the answer remained:

Pay up!

Yan Sheng admired Gu Sheng's principled stance.

Neither subservient nor arrogant, Golden Wind under Gu Sheng's leadership consistently maintained dignity against all odds - whether facing domestic rivals or now, a global entertainment giant.

"Director Gu needn't worry,"

Yan Sheng anticipated this query:

"Legendary proposes crediting you as Pacific Rim's Special Art Consultant,"

"Compensating Golden Wind $500,000 at market rates."

Not bad.

Gu Sheng mentally nodded.

"Special Art Consultant" was honorary - the film was already complete with Chinese distribution secured. No actual work required.

Just lending his name for $3.5 million RMB.

Legendary wanted his prestige and influence.

A no-lose proposition, especially knowing Pacific Rim's quality.

Nodding, he asked:

"What form does Legendary expect from our side?"

"Quite simple,"

Yan Sheng replied:

"They just want credit in Titanfall Part 2's closing scroll."

Clearly, Pacific Rim sought to ride Sam Gu's coattails.

But Gu Sheng felt this arrangement didn't maximize potential benefits.

After brief contemplation...

Suddenly recalling Pacific Rim's trailer, inspiration struck!

"Chairman Yan, please arrange a call with Legendary. I'd like to discuss deeper collaboration -"

"Perhaps..."

"Music integration for stronger crossover synergy..."

Meanwhile...

Nothing...

Still nothing...

Shen Miaomiao had scoured every news source all day.

From gaming to film circles, domestic to international.

From heaven's gate to earth's end.

Not a single film industry heavyweight criticized Gu Sheng's "interactive movie-game" concept.

The sole film-related comment came from an obscure new director named Frant Gwo:

[Frant Gwo: Interactive movie-games - an exciting concept that might influence sci-fi cinema...]

That's right.

The only commentary supported Gu Sheng.

Depressing.

Sighing, seeing night fall and employees leave empty-handed, Shen Miaomiao prepared to depart.

One final hopeless Weibo refresh before leaving.

Click.

The refreshed page updated trending topics.

Her absentminded glance almost missed it until—

Wait?

What was that hashtag?

Something about mechs...dream crossover...?

Heart pounding, Shen Miaomiao collapsed back into her executive chair.

Focusing on:

[#8 Mech x Mech Dream Crossover]

Clicking revealed a top post from @PacificRimMovie:

[@PacificRimMovie: The ultimate manly crossover! Pacific Rim x Titanfall collaboration confirmed! We've invited @GuShengSam as Honorary Art Consultant! New star recognition! June 10th - VR theaters await!]

Top comment came from Gu Sheng himself:

[@GuShengSam: Honored to serve as @PacificRimMovie's consultant. Titanfall Part 2 will carry the震撼ing winds from across the Pacific!]

Followed by Yiyou's official accounts:

[@YiyouX2: Celebration!]

[@YiyouFilms: (Trumpets) (Trumpets) (Trumpets)]

[@YiyouGamePlatform: Dream collaboration! (Anticipation)]

[@YanShengYiyou: Supporting my guy...]

For thirty seconds, Shen Miaomiao sat petrified.

Then—

A trembling "Huh?!" echoed through the office.

What the hell?!

Titanfall...crossover...with a sci-fi movie?!

Trending top ten?!

Researching Pacific Rim nearly gave her a stroke.

[Production: Legendary Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment]

Game over.

Shen Miaomiao flipped her keyboard and reclined her chair dramatically.

Life's meaningless.

After prolonged silence, anger resurged. She slapped the chair and sat bolt upright!

"This is MY company's game! How dare they— oh right, I authorized this."

Mid-outburst, she remembered her own policy:

After project approval, Gu Sheng held full decision-making authority over all Golden Wind games.

Only budget changes required her approval.

Originally designed for carefree delegation!

Now this self-made policy backfired spectacularly!

Checking the five-minute-old post already boasting thousands of comments, she despaired.

Not about profits - system rules excluded post-countdown revenue.

What devastated her was Titanfall's skyrocketing exposure!

One wave hadn't crested before another arrived!

First came perfect scores and player devotion.

Now Gu Sheng capitalized instantly, partnering with fucking Legendary and Warner Bros!

Pouring fuel on the raging fire!

Recalling last night's naive anticipation for Titanfall's collapse brought utter despair.

The pain...too much.

What monstrosity had she hired as system-bound director?

Originally just game-making talent?

Now he's...evolved?!

How'd he connect with Legendary and Warner Bros?!

This realization choked her.

Damn it!

My game director turned out to be the industry's social butterfly...

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com