Sun Xi nodded. "I see, I understand.
However, I have another question: the price of the skin. "
"Boss Pei, if you can charge for the skin, why not set the price higher? Bullet Hole 2 is not competing with GOG. It's not strange that the skins of two different games would be priced differently. "
"As an FPS game, Bullet Hole 2 has very few players to begin with. If the skin price is low, the profits would naturally be low as well. If the sales don't pick up, wouldn't that be a vicious cycle?"
"I think it's better to set the skin price higher from the start. If the profits are good, we can slowly discount and reduce the price. That would also stimulate consumption. What's more, it would be more stable."
Pei Qian, "…"
Man, it's not easy to fool outsiders.
Although the people in Tengda Games were very professional, they had too much trust in Boss Pei. That was why they would not ask questions even if they had questions. Instead, they would think about it themselves.
The people from Sun Strike Studios were obviously much sharper.
However, this small problem was not enough to stump Pei Qian.
If he could fool even a senior in the gaming circle like Old Master He An, wouldn't it be a piece of cake for him to deal with a few youngsters?
Pei Qian pondered for a moment and said, "I think this is a chicken or egg problem."
"Players say: I'll buy more if you sell the skin cheaper."
"Game merchants say: Buy more first, and then I'll discount my skin."
"No one is willing to compromise first. That's a vicious cycle."
"If it's as you said, sell the skin at a high price first and then slowly discount it later, let me ask you: If the skin sells well at a high price, would you still be willing to discount it? If you want to discount it, would it be 50%, 30%, or even lower? I'm afraid it would be 20% or 30% at most to fool people. "
"If the skin doesn't sell well, wouldn't the price seem too high if you discount it? That would make players gloat and be even more unwilling to buy it?"
"That's why your thinking is optimistic and beautiful, but it's not practical."
"If you don't do it from the start, you can't imagine how difficult it would be to do it halfway."
"As for the gamers …"
"This is also a question of which came first, the chicken or the egg."
"If a game isn't attractive enough to players, then there will naturally be fewer players. With fewer players, the game's income will be low, and there will be no money for subsequent updates. The game's attractiveness to players will be further reduced.
"Over time, this is a vicious cycle."
"That's why it's either succeed or die trying. Since we're going to do it, we'll do it to the best of our abilities. We'll lower the price from the start so that players will feel embarrassed not spending money. We'll make them feel like they're not human if they don't buy such a cheap skin. Only then will we be able to form a virtuous cycle!"
Pei Qian looked very serious. His aura had conquered everyone.
Sun Xi nodded. He had nothing else to say.
What Boss Pei meant was that although there were not many players now, as long as Bullet Hole 2 was done well and had a conscience, there would be more players in the future.
This was something that would happen in the future. No one could tell for sure, so there was no way to deny it.
Otherwise, wouldn't he be singing down on himself?
The game hadn't even been released yet. It would be too discouraging to think about what would happen if there were no players to play.
Therefore, the topic also stopped in this direction.
Zhou Muyan coughed softly. "Yes, let's set the charging model then."
"However, I think Long Yu Corporation would have some complaints about this charging model …"
The cheap price of the skin was obviously not beneficial for Long Yu Corporation to earn money.
Sun Strike Studios was a research and development company while Long Yu Corporation was an operation company. Obviously, the operation company was more concerned about this.
Pei Qian chuckled. "Why should we care so much about what they think? We can't let the operation company set the price of the game. It's like asking a cat if it wants to eat dried fish. There will only be one answer. "
To put it nicely, the goal of the operation company was to 'make the game better'. To put it bluntly, it was to 'earn more money'.
These two statements looked the same on the surface, but there was often a huge deviation in actual operation. They were getting closer and closer to the latter while getting further and further away from the former.
Zhou Muyan nodded and gave Boss Pei a thumbs-up silently.
Indeed, an awesome game designer like Boss Pei could completely ignore the views of the operators.
In fact, Boss Pei's own skills in operations were unparalleled in the world. Why should he consider what Long Yu Corporation would think? The fact that GOG could beat IOI to a pulp was enough to show the problem.
"Alright, the problem of the charging model has been resolved. Now, all that's left is the problem of the art style."
"Boss Pei, what style do you think is more appropriate?"
Pei Qian smiled. "Let's listen to everyone's opinions first."
Zhou Muyan looked at Sun Xi.
Sun Xi pondered for a moment and said, "The success of Ocean Stronghold lies in the relatively exaggerated and cool appearance of epic weapons like the Red Kilin and Barrett. It can be seen that most players say that they want it to be realistic, but after adding special effects, it will be really good. "
"I think we have to work hard in this direction as well. We have to make it more exaggerated and cool."
The designers, including Zhou Muyan, nodded.
This was what they had analyzed when they were summarizing the failure of Bullet Hole. It could be said to be the consensus of Sun Strike Studios.
However, at that moment, a voice said faintly, "Is that so? I think there's nothing wrong with weapons being low-key, plain, and realistic. "
Everyone turned their heads in unison and realized that it was Boss Pei who had spoken.
The conference room fell silent.
Did it feel like … their roles had been swapped?
Shouldn't it be Tengda frantically talking about the success of Ocean Stronghold and then Sun Strike Studios saying that they should stick to their own ideas?
Why was it the other way around?
Now, Sun Strike Studios was trying to use the success of Ocean Stronghold, but Boss Pei was vehemently denying it.
That was ridiculous!
Sun Xi probed, "Boss Pei, are you saying that we intend to sell the skin to earn money and make the skin of the gun low-key, plain, and realistic …?"
Pei Qian nodded. "Why? I think that low-key, plain, and realistic doesn't conflict with making it look good and unique. "
Everyone fell silent once more.
Good fellow, you've said all the right things and the wrong things!
Boss Pei's words made everyone think of unscrupulous clients. The moment they opened their mouths, they would say 'colorful black' and 'colorful white'. They would directly give contradictory requirements. In any case, no matter what the final product looked like, they would be able to find fault with the other party.
Zhou Muyan sighed. "Boss Pei, you really do whatever you want just because you have Big Boss Ruan …"
"Can you lend Big Boss Ruan to us for two days? I think he's the only one who can fulfill such a request. "
Get Ruan Guangjian to draw?
How could that do!
Pei Qian shook his head immediately. "Ruan Guangjian might not be able to leave and Tengda has handed many projects to him as well."
"What's more, doesn't Sun Strike Studios have their own artists and modelers? There's no need for you to go so far. I think that your artists are pretty good as well. "
Zhou Muyan was exasperated. "But they're only good at writing essays with questions!"
The artists in Sun Strike Studios basically worked strictly according to the designer's requirements and were already used to such a working style.
Should he directly give a broad concept and then let the painters freely express it?
That would be too difficult for them.
Ruan Guangjian had been designing from the start and had been working with Tengda for such a long time. That was why his control over the style was not something that ordinary artists could compare to.
Pei Qian smiled. "There's always a first time for everything."
"I think that the artists in Sun Strike Studios are all rather outstanding. Since we've been working together for such a long time, they're all trustworthy. Let them give it a try. Who knows, there might be some eye-catching results. "
Zhou Muyan and the designers exchanged glances – they could see the same expression on one another's faces.
Boss Pei, do you think that everyone is Big Boss Ruan?
We really can't trust the standards of the artists in our company!
The requirements were already very clear and yet, it was still easy for them to wrangle. If they were allowed to design on their own, wouldn't the wrangling be even worse?
However, he could not say that out loud or the art director would fly into a rage if word of it got out.
If the art team were to protest at that time, they would definitely not be able to take it.
So everyone looked at each other, but no one said anything.
That was exactly what Pei Qian wanted.
Since you guys have no more questions, I'm going to leave!
He looked at Min Jingchao. "How is it? Do you have a rough idea?"
Pei Qian did not want to say much because he was bound to slip up.
What if there was a contradiction in what they were saying? What would they do then?
Therefore, as long as Min Jingchao said that it was about time, he would leave immediately.
Min Jingchao looked at the contents of the little notebook, recalled Boss Pei's intention analysis method and Hu Xianbin's previous design experience, and said, "Hmm … I have some ideas."
Upon hearing that, Pei Qian immediately stood up. "Alright, that's it!
"Everyone, let's disperse for now. Min Jingchao will come up with the game's overall plan in two days, and then I'll assign you tasks.
"Boss Zhou, you can slowly decide on the chief planner for Bullet Hole 2. If you can't make up your mind, you can discuss it with Min Jingchao."
Zhou Muyan was stunned. The series of words made him feel genuinely lost.
What the heck was this? Disperse just like that?
Nothing had been decided yet!
At this point, all they knew was that the game's feel was similar to Bullet Hole's. It would be paid to sell skins, and the art style would be 'simple, realistic, and unique'.
Even the prototype of the game had not been decided.
As for the chief planner who would be Min Jingchao's assistant, they had no clue at all.
Zhou Muyan had originally wanted to let all the designers listen and give their opinions during the meeting. He wanted to see who was more confident about the project and whose resume was more suitable for it. Then, he would assign them to do it.
But now, these designers were just like him, listening to it and feeling lonely.
They had not even found a chance to speak, and the meeting was already over.
These people must have looked lost as well. They had no idea how the project was going to be done, and it would be a waste of time to ask.
Everyone turned to look at Min Jingchao.
Their meaning was clear: it's fine if we don't understand, but if you don't, hurry up and make Boss Pei stay!
After all, you're the chief designer. You have to develop the game when the time comes.
However, Min Jingchao nodded. "Alright, Boss Pei. I think it's about time."
"…" Everyone fell into silence.
This kind of superior-subordinate relationship was incredible.
One dared to assign tasks, and the other dared to accept tasks!
Wasn't this too rash?!
— — — —
PS: I spent a lot of effort to squeeze out this extra paragraph a few days ago. It's a total of 6,000 words. I'm quite satisfied with it. Those who haven't read it, don't miss it ~
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