At this moment!

The entire venue's focus converged onto the stage!

As one of the global four major gaming awards, GDCA is both one of the most prestigious awards in today's world gaming circle and the longest-running game industry awards event.

Over the previous twelve years, GDCA has been committed to awarding games with unique innovative significance, excellent reputation, and outstanding design sense.

"And this year is no exception!"

The host spoke:

"GDCA always adheres to the principles of fairness, justice, innovation, and comprehensiveness, selecting games beloved and praised by the player market, media colleagues, and committee judges to compete for this year's 【Game of the Year Award】!"

"Then I announce! The games nominated for the 【Game of the Year Award】 at the 13th GDCA Game Awards are:"

"Komera Game Group's 《Night Owl》—He is the night owl amidst raging battles, crying out amid the rolling tides of history, where extremely high difficulty and rich storyline complement each other perfectly, winning Best Action Game of the Year!"

Amid the applause, Komera's award recipient representative stood up and acknowledged the entire venue.

The host's voice continued:

"Nuyan Game Technology Co., Ltd.'s 《Passionate F1》—The intensity of the racetrack is the scorching storm whipped up by rapidly spinning turbines, it's the passion of brave drivers surpassing life-threatening speeds, experiencing the thrill of adrenaline rush in unprecedented velocity, winning Best Racing Game of the Year!"

"Arnori Game Studio's 《White Scheme》—A unique Germanic perspective, as one of the instigators' pawns triggering a world war, when you first have to point your gun at civilians, the immense trauma of war has never been so concrete, winning Best Shooter Game of the Year!"

"..."

As the host introduced each nominated game one by one, continuous applause filled the venue.

And as the final game nomination was announced, the enthusiastic applause and cheers in the venue reached their peak!

"Golden Wind Game Company's 《Overwatch》—The descent of golden holy light brings immortal hero monuments, the unprecedented combination of skills and shooting finally meets its most successful standard answer, it's a new trend, and the pioneer opening the curtain for a new generation of multiplayer online battle shooter games, with global simultaneous player numbers reaching millions at launch already declaring its undeniable success, winning Best Online Game of the Year!"

Amid enthusiastic applause!

Gu Sheng was the last to stand up, acknowledging all the applauding audience members present, enjoying the final wave of honorary nomination cheers at this awards ceremony.

Four major awards, one nomination, and one successful promotion.

Not in vain for me and Little Nezha, the two core executives, to personally attend the event.

Gu Sheng sat down and exchanged a glance with Shen Miaomiao.

Little Nezha smiled, leaned close to Gu Sheng's side and teased:

"Interviewing President Gu, what does it feel like to have four trophies from one of the global four major gaming awards suddenly appear in your trophy cabinet overnight?"

"Ahem, the experience is..."

Gu Sheng put on an interview expression, holding his hands formally in front of his chest, speaking seriously:

"Not enough, hoping to increase efforts in the future, striving for a grand slam as soon as possible."

Seeing this, Shen Miaomiao lightly patted Gu Sheng, laughing and scolding: "Silly look..."

As the two joked in the company seats, on stage, the final award presenter of the evening also took the stage—United Business Media founder, former board chairman and CEO Al Torres.

Torres was already seventy-five this year, slightly overweight, full white hair, not tall, looking a bit like old Hannibal Anthony Hopkins.

Though not young, he was spirited, walking onto the stage, politely nodding to the host, then taking out the envelope that had been sealed early and waiting to be opened now.

Instantly, the venue fell silent, everyone's gaze focused on the stage, waiting for the final major award announcement.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, old Torres opened the envelope, pulled out and unfolded the winner list inside, speaking slowly:

"I announce, the game winning the 13th GDCA Game of the Year Award is—!"

As these words were spoken!

Whoosh—!

The venue immediately erupted with soft exclamations!

【They?】

Two?

The audience stirred slightly, various media looked at each other in shocked confusion!

Tonight's final major award was actually a double winner?!

This was an unprecedented situation!

At this moment, the chat barrage was filled with heated discussion—

Holy shit! Two!

'How difficult was the judging, that it actually resulted in a tie for first place!'

"Holy crap.... holy crap holy crap holy crap..... I suddenly feel like a surprise is coming..."

'Me too!'

"Damn! No way...... could someone really achieve one through five?

That would be too terrifying..."

'Hot damn, twelve years of death list, getting broken tonight?'

"Shh— shh— coming coming coming!!!'

......

Amid everyone's anticipation!

Old Torres announced facing the winner list card:

"The games winning the 13th GDCA Game of the Year Award are respectively—

"Arnori Game Studio—《White Scheme》"

"And!"

Reaching here, old Torres put down the card, smiling slightly:

"Golden Wind Game Company—"

"《Overwatch》"

Boom—!!!

The venue instantly exploded!

This year's Game of the Year Award having two works tied for first was surprising enough!

Even more shocking was that Overwatch had already entered what almost everyone considered the "death list," having won Best Online Game of the Year, theoretically already ineligible for the Game of the Year award.

But relying on its excellent quality and groundbreaking performance, it forcefully fought its way out from the death list, joining this year's GDCA biggest award, the Game of the Year Award, becoming the first multiplayer competitive online game in thirteen years to win this honor!

The audience was shocked, the media was shocked, even Shen Miaomiao and Gu Sheng were shocked!

Especially Gu Sheng.

Holy shit?!

I already took off my suit jacket, and you're telling me I have to go on stage again to receive an award?!

So, when the live broadcast camera cut over, the audience saw Gu Sheng putting on his jacket with a completely surprised expression.

For a moment, the venue's good-natured exclamations and the livestream chat's excitement echoed each other, like waves higher than the last—

"Hahahaha Old Thief is stunned"

'One through five! One through five!'

"So fucking awesome holy crap! Five major awards in one evening! This directly creates history, right?!"

'Not to mention this being an unprecedented peak for Huaguo game companies, even looking globally at the gaming circle, companies that can achieve one through five at the four major awards, only Little Yellow alone!'

'Little Yellow awesome! Old Thief awesome! (voice cracking)'

'But to be fair, the GDCA committee is indeed fair and just, after all if you don't wear online gaming tinted glasses, Overwatch's game quality or influence, winning Game of the Year is well-deserved'

'The only flaw is no storyline, but other aspects exceed opponents by too much'

'Old Thief is really a game circle disruptor, this guy's insights and creativity in gaming are seriously overpowered...'

'GDCA this bro can be friends, when quality is there he really gives awards, not considering monopolies at all'

'No wonder they can run continuously for thirteen years and remain among the four major awards, as long as qualified to win, they give awards'

'Awesome—!!!'

......

Amid the excitement!

On both sides of the stage!

From Huaguo, Gu Sheng, and from Eastern Europe, Arnori Studio director Ivan Arnori took the stage together.

Arnori wasn't old this year, around thirty-four or thirty-five, typical Eastern European appearance, tall and strong, deep-set eyes, brown hair, looking less like a game designer and more like a boxing athlete.

Here, as soon as Gu Sheng stepped on stage, Arnori strode over quickly in three steps, looking like he wanted to fight.

Even Gu Sheng couldn't help but pause.

Then, Arnori grinned widely, excitedly extending both hands toward him:

"Hello hello, Sam, long heard of your great name, finally meeting you in person today, I'm so excited."

Saying this, he even gave Gu Sheng an excited hug, rather like successfully meeting a celebrity.

"Hello hello,"

Gu Sheng was somewhat amused by this sudden enthusiasm, repeatedly shaking hands and hugging with Arnori:

"Congratulations to your company, let's receive the award together over here..."

Saying this, the two finally walked together to the center of the stage, with the help of the hostess, receiving the crystal trophies presented by old Torres.

And as the two stood left and right, raising their trophies beside old Torres, the flashing lights below instantly became a sea of stars.

Next, at old Torres's indication and Arnori's frequent deference, Gu Sheng stepped up first to the podium to give an acceptance speech.

For eloquent Gu Sheng, this wasn't difficult.

Though unprepared, a smooth talker like Gu Sheng could still win wave after wave of laughter and enthusiastic applause through perfect improvisation:

"..... then finally, once again thanking the GDCA committee for awarding us this award,"

"Your professionalism has given us affirmation, and bestowed upon us the courage to continue moving forward bravely,"

"At the same time, also once again thanking all Overwatch players globally."

Reaching here!

Gu Sheng raised the trophy in his hand:

"This is your collective honor,"

"This world needs more heroes!"

Whoosh—!!!

The venue erupted with thunderous applause!

And in the live stream's chat barrage, 【I'm called, I must answer, always!】 was being spammed like crazy!

From here!

The shadow of Garden Warfare's defeat that once greatly frustrated the Golden Experience team was completely washed away.

From two million people globally witnessing the promotion!

To launch day with millions of players globally simultaneously online playing!

To single-week sales breaking motion-sensing pod competitive online game sales records, reaching terrifying single-week three million copies!

Until now!

Consecutively winning 【Best Online Game of the Year】 and the final major award 【Game of the Year Award】!

Dual platforms exceeding 95% overwhelmingly positive reviews, and player popularity exploding Overwatch, like a new emperor ascending the throne, instantly became the undeniable king of global shooter competitive online games, from then on opening a new ruling era!

Gu Sheng's speech won continuous applause and screams.

And Arnori speaking after him was even more shocking, his first words on stage being "I'm so excited to stand on the same award stage with Sam, because I'm his super fan."

These words spoken, the venue immediately erupted with exclamations, whistles ringing out one after another.

You should know, though Arnori Studio wasn't an old-school team in the gaming circle, it was after all a medium-sized game production group, established for nearly ten years now.

But even such a studio regarded Gu Sheng, who debuted less than five years total, as a super idol, this was truly unexpected for the gaming world, even somewhat laughable.

However, Arnori didn't seem to be joking.

According to him, about two or three years ago, Arnori Studio was in deep trouble then.

Having just reached medium-sized company status then, they urgently sought rapid growth, invested heavily in creating a motion-sensing pod game, but suffered disastrous failure, the huge loss almost making it difficult to maintain team operations.

However, right at this desperate moment, Golden Wind emerged suddenly, with 《Left 4 Dead》 refreshing the market's long-held perception of shooter games.

And its chief designer Gu Sheng's phrase "MFGA" was even more memorable, deafeningly loud.

So, Arnori decided to lead the team in a desperate gamble, using all remaining resources to create a storyline-oriented second-generation FPS indie game.

And it was this game that saved them from deep trouble.

So, even calling Gu Sheng Arnori Studio's savior might not be an exaggeration.

And afterwards, with Golden Wind's rapid growth, appearances of works like 《PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds》《Titanfall》《Escape》《Sekiro》《Peak Kingdom》, made Arnori become Gu Sheng's hardcore fan.

Even!

Today's 《White Scheme》 was also Arnori's realized story mode after deep analysis of 《Sekiro》's storyline:

"Actually, what attracted me most about Sekiro was the story perspective, if in past games, our main perspective would actually be on Genichiro,"

"Because he is truly the patriotic ruler who would spare no cost for national righteousness, even sacrificing his life without hesitation,"

"But Sekiro didn't make him the protagonist, instead using a loyal ninja as protagonist, thus entering this war-torn fictional world,"

"This felt very novel to me,"

"So I turned my attention to modern warfare,"

"All along, regarding modern warfare games, we always focus on the invaded side,"

"To reflect their resistance, reflect their anger, reflect their tragedy,"

"But this time, I wanted a different approach, so I placed the perspective on the Nazi Germans then,"

"Under this unique perspective, players will act as executioners, witnessing countless lives disappearing, countless families shattered, personally witnessing war's cruelty from another angle, and thereby reflecting on the indelible massive trauma war causes humanity,"

"Though this work has been controversial since its release, our intended anti-war determination has never changed,"

"Also thanking the GDCA committee, and thanking all players,"

"Your recognition is what brought this work to such heights,"

"After this, we will continue to deeply cultivate in this aspect,"

"May world peace, may war never come again,"

"Thank you..."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com