Let’s pick something that can lose money at the exact hour!

Shen Miaomiao shouted inwardly.

Please have some mercy on me!

Yes, back then I always hoped to stir things up, thinking of taking a huge loss.

That was only because our company was weak, small in scale, with low investment and an insufficient player base!

Take our first game, Cat Mario, for example—it had a total investment of only ten thousand yuan. Losing ten times that amount was just one hundred thousand yuan.

Only if I sold none of it could I get a full rebate and make a little profit.

But now!

Our situation has improved!

With investments easily reaching hundreds of millions or even billions, I don’t need to suffer massive losses or let the game lose all its capital to get massive rebate funds!

Take Garden Warfare, for instance.

It sold 718,900 copies in a single week, just a little less than the expected 731,000 copies, and already returned nearly ten million yuan to me!

Although everyone says you’ve fallen from grace, that your glory days are over, anyone knows that’s just players’ teasing.

After all, which game recoups its investment in half a month or even a week?

In terms of sales and capital recovery speed, we are already in a unique global tier!

This isn’t just me, Shen Miaomiao, talking nonsense; you can check yourself—since the concept of “game companies” began, who else has grown from a starting capital of 500,000 yuan to a disposable net asset of one billion in just three years?

That’s why we don’t go public; otherwise, our market value would definitely reach tens or even hundreds of billions.

And this time!

With my thousandfold rebate card in hand, financial freedom is right before my eyes.

Just a quick calculation: even if we produce only one game with a one-billion-yuan investment, and lose a tenth of it within the specified time.

Ten million, multiplied by a thousandfold.

That’s one hundred billion!

One hundred billion!

Spending thirty to forty billion to buy a private luxury yacht, the rest is enough for us to live extravagantly for generations!

Moreover!

This won’t harm your reputation as a supernova or the company’s quality image too much!

After getting this money, I can even be honest with you and say, “Let’s drop this system; from now on, you can produce whatever you want!”

We’ll do promotion and marketing loudly and proudly, with drums and gongs blazing!

Isn’t that sweet?!

Isn’t it a win-win?!

Take a loss! Take a loss! I want you, the cute and kind-hearted boss who just wants to lie flat and be a beautiful salted fish, to take a loss!

Thinking this, Shen Miaomiao took a deep breath, praying that Old Gu would give an answer she was satisfied with.

And her so-called “satisfactory answer” was simply to pick one of the five previously losing games and develop a derivative sequel.

Among those five games, there was only one she truly favored.

That was—

“I plan to develop a first-person shooter based on Garden Warfare as the prototype.”

Gu Sheng said.

Exactly!

Gu Sheng had long been preparing for this next game.

In fact, Garden Warfare was made as a preliminary experimental version for it!

In Garden Warfare, Gu Sheng specifically included two innovative FPS competitive modes: “push the cart” and “capture the point.”

These were meant to pave the way for the upcoming game.

Notably, in Garden Warfare, Gu Sheng also experimented with an alternative second-generation FPS design—

He likewise canceled the virtual crosshair and replaced it with a fun, mechanical-style aiming system.

For example, the Peashooter’s pea sprout sight and Corn Captain’s leaf-shaped optical sight.

However,

It turned out that this kind of game was ultimately not suitable for mechanical aiming design.

After all, players’ weapons are so varied. While rifle-type guns can still use mechanical aiming, grenade launchers or launcher-type weapons don’t work well with it.

This affects the game’s overall smoothness and immersive fun.

To let players better experience the balance between skills and shooting, stubbornly sticking to our “second-generation FPS” system, which we pioneered in this world, was definitely not the way.

Although Golden Wind’s shooting games never used virtual crosshairs,

and from the outside, virtual crosshairs seemed like relics of an old era, unworthy of modern motion-sensing pod games.

But this time!

Gu Sheng hesitated a moment and then said:

“Also, to balance gameplay and player experience, I plan to cancel our usual second-generation FPS mechanical aiming design and enable virtual crosshairs, making the game’s rhythm smoother.”

Shen Miaomiao was about to lose her mind.

This was why Gu Sheng was far away in Neon, not by her side!

Otherwise, she definitely would have flown to his side on the spot!

Fortune favors the prepared!

How perfectly in sync!

Yes!

The loss-making sequel Shen Miaomiao had always dreamed of was this Garden Warfare!

After all, this was the project she had lost the most on in history.

In the specified single week, it netted a loss of 617,200 yuan.

And in terms of rebate, it was also the second-largest loss rebate she had ever received from the system!

Although compared to others, both the final rebate amount and the base multiplier on the documents were higher for Left 4 Dead (which had a loss rebate of 10 million yuan, with a 100x multiplier).

But the problem was, judging by Left 4 Dead’s current position and reputation in the gaming circle,

if Old Gu really released Left 4 Dead 2, the game’s sales would likely be unstoppable!

Looking back at Garden Warfare,

this was the game that had earned Old Gu the teasing title “fallen from grace.”

It was also the only Golden Wind game not rated “universally acclaimed.”

Most importantly!

This time, Old Gu was actually giving up the second-generation FPS system they had always been best at and which was Golden Wind’s hallmark!

What is this called, my friends?

Shen Miaomiao almost burst out laughing!

Self-sabotage!

Golden Wind’s shooting games not using second-generation FPS settings is like Li Tanhua losing his sword, Guo Xiaoge missing his eagle, Guo Jing forgetting the Dragon-Subduing Palm, or Leader Qiao forgetting to bring the big speaker!

Reinstating virtual crosshairs?

Thank goodness they aren’t a public company.

Otherwise, just this news alone would send their stock price plummeting!

Since Golden Wind’s second-generation FPS went viral three years ago,

the number of virtual crosshair games on the market has only decreased.

First-generation FPS games, except for games like Fireline Shuttle, have basically been phased out by the market.

But Old Gu?

Clearly, it was his own innovation, yet now he’s abandoning his strength and embracing his weakness!

Heaven helps me; if I don’t lose, who will!

“Great! Great great!”

Shen Miaomiao was overjoyed, her heart bursting with happiness, thumbs up nonstop, showering praise:

“This idea is great! Fall down, then get back up exactly where you fell!”

“And this decision to reinstate virtual crosshairs fully shows that Golden Wind doesn’t stick to old ways and bravely breaks market stereotypes, showing the gaming circle that whether a game is fun or not depends not on the game mode but on creativity and playability!”

Tsk tsk tsk!

Hearing this, Gu Sheng clicked his tongue repeatedly!

Look at our CEO Ou!

This awareness, this realization, this mindset and openness!

Over three years, Little Nezha’s understanding of games has improved—he’s witnessed it all.

From knowing nothing at the start to now speaking expertly.

Now, Shen Miaomiao can say “whether a game is fun depends on creativity and playability,” which truly pleases Gu Sheng.

Our CEO Ou has grown up. Although not very sharp, her understanding of the gaming market and game essence has made great progress.

“Director Shen, your justice!”

Gu Sheng clasped his fists and bowed:

“So, this project is decided?”

Naturally!

Shen Miaomiao nodded repeatedly, afraid Gu Sheng would go back on it: “Decided! Decided! We’ll start the project as soon as you return!”

I can’t wait another minute!

Loss! This time I want a huge loss!

“Please, alright!”

Gu Sheng nodded seriously!

With that, the two hung up the phone, Gu Sheng excited at heart!

Although Blizzard, owned by Activision Blizzard, is a top-tier global company comparable to Konami and Vivendi,

there’s no denying that Blizzard’s games were once among the world’s best!

Especially now, with the motion-sensing pod game market booming.

With full-sense assist and upgraded action assist, just the thought of being able to touch my own butt in the game—not that, being able to flash around and fight fiercely in the game—made Gu Sheng truly excited!

“Huff—”

Thinking of this, Gu Sheng took a deep breath and said:

“System, unlock for me—Overwatch.”

[Beep beep, insufficient emotion points, 168,992 emotion points short]

Gu Sheng: …

Alright, not too far off.

Probably enough once players reach Chained Ogre...

…

“Golden Wind’s booth popularity hits a new high!”

“Add more! Add more! Despite three rounds of replenishment, Golden Wind’s booth motion-sensing pods remain in short supply!”

“‘Wolf-type games’ have become this week’s hottest game buzzword!”

“Several well-known game review media have given Sekiro nearly perfect scores!”

“Torii is struggling to survive, while Sekiro breaks through!”

“…”

Two days flew by in a flash.

As predicted.

Since the turmoil on the second day of the expo, no one dared to cause trouble at Golden Wind’s booth again.

Even the queues formed by attending players became more orderly.

With all data continuing to rise, the terrifying “heat index peak: 277%” at the end undoubtedly made Golden Wind the brightest rising star at this Higashitsu Gaming Festival.

The calls of “fallen from grace” grew louder.

Media hailed Sekiro as “the most anticipated game of the year, comparable to or even surpassing Escape from Hell.”

Review media busily praised the game’s action system as stunning, refined, and captivating.

Players chanted “MAGA (Make ARPG Great Again),” treating it as another full innovation of the motion-sensing pod game mode after Left 4 Dead.

The call for “Wolf-type” games was overwhelming.

Just as pew said in his post on the first day of the expo:

What Sekiro created was not just an Action Role-Playing Game that runs smoothly in motion-sensing pods with more moves.

Its levels, narrative, combat logic, and game presentation were unprecedented in this era, even in all history.

It is the future of motion-sensing pod action games.

And now, the future has arrived.

“‘Wolf-type’ games will inevitably become a major sub-branch of motion-sensing pod action games.”

Near the headquarters of Komera, at a small Teriyaki Eel Rice restaurant, Moriya Tetsuya took a sip of oolong tea and said:

“Here’s to the great sales of Sekiro. May Mr. Gu and Golden Wind take another step forward.”

“Thank you, Moriya-san,”

Gu Sheng smiled and nodded:

“But speaking of which, this time you really helped us a lot, not only connecting with the motion capture team but also dealing with the troublemakers at the expo…”

“Ah—don’t mention it, don’t mention it,”

Moriya waved his hand, signaling no thanks necessary:

“Mr. Gu trusted me with such an important plan, so I naturally must give my all.”

“As for the incident at the expo…”

Moriya sighed, clearly still uneasy and helpless:

“That was what I should and had to do.”

“Even if it sounds harsh, for Komera’s sake, I had to step in to stop that malignant event from happening.”

“Speaking of which, I still have to thank you, Mr. Gu, for your magnanimity in letting us off.”

“Haha,” Gu Sheng waved his hand: “Others might be petty, but Moriya-san is not one of them.”

With that, the two finished eating and drinking, stood up, and walked side by side outside the restaurant.

Moriya offered to send Gu Sheng back to the hotel, but Gu Sheng politely declined.

His place wasn’t far; he figured a short walk would do.

So, they shook hands and said goodbye.

“Take care, Mr. Gu. When you come back to Neon, be sure to call me.”

Moriya shook Gu Sheng’s hand.

Gu Sheng laughed:

“Definitely, definitely. When you have time, come visit China and also inspect Golden Wind.”

“Sure,” Moriya showed interest: “Once this period is over, I’ll apply to the company to visit under the pretext of inspection, and learn from your management experience and working model.”

“So I’ll await good news?”

“Yes!”

With that, they waved farewell.

Moriya started his car, while Gu Sheng strolled toward the hotel.

However,

They didn’t know that at the same time, inside a coffee shop across the street, a man in a black trench coat with an unremarkable and inconspicuous appearance silently put away his phone.

Before locking it, the screen clearly showed a photo of Gu Sheng and Moriya standing on the street shaking hands and laughing happily…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com