Regarding the next arrangements for the PC department.
Lin Yao fell into a dilemma.
In fact, it is really not easy to manage a company. Even if Mu Wanqing and her team help with specific matters, just formulating strategies would give Lin Yao a headache...
Because with the expansion of the company, she has passed the stage of making whatever game makes money...
For example, online games are now possible, and Lin Yao actually has ideas.
But now the online game that Lin Yao wants to make is too big... Once the project is launched, it means that a large number of staff in the PC department will be completely locked into one project.
Nowadays, a lot of staff are locked in the PC department. Two MOBA game projects, "Fantasy OL", "Breakout", "Battle Royale"... The staff of these departments have been transferred twice, but they are still very large.
, accounting for almost half of the entire PC department.
After all, online games are long-term operations. Maybe this version has just been updated, and the next version will be on the schedule before a few days of rest.
And then the cycle repeats.
The staff of these project teams cannot do anything else at all. Even if Lin Yao mobilizes these skilled staff, he must immediately add the corresponding number of people to the project team.
Otherwise, online games will collapse.
If Linmu Studio insists on developing an online game project now, it is not impossible, but stand-alone and vaporwave game platforms will definitely be greatly affected.
After all, half of the PC staff who were finally squeezed out will be locked up again...
The era of mobile Internet is approaching, the Switch has been released less than a year ago, and the vaporwave game platform has to prevent backstabbing from major companies such as Gibbs and Dreamland. Lin Yao has just decided to try to gain as much chips as possible during this period.
In this case, it is really not a good choice to make online games and reduce the number of available project teams in the PC department of Linmu Studio.
If it were just an online game company, then Lin Yao wouldn't have to think so much and just make online games, and it wouldn't be unprofitable.
But now she has to consider the vaporwave game platform, the impact of the mobile Internet era, and even switch. After all, she relies entirely on the console product department to produce first-party masterpieces. The pressure is too great. She also has to consider the PC department to supplement the console.
A first-party masterpiece...
It's quite distressing.
"...Headquarters."
Lin Yao looked around at the current location of Lin Mu's studio, then gently picked up the pen and tapped on the table.
She actually wants to change this situation.
But the venue is too restrictive...
However, the headquarters construction has been in preparation for so long, and it is estimated that it will be put into use by the end of the year or early next year. By then, she will probably be able to integrate the departments more easily, and it will be possible to develop single-player online games and even multi-line mobile games.
Of course, the premise is.
There must be enough staff.
Otherwise, once the venue problem is solved, the personnel will have to be trained all over again, which will probably still be very painful.
Where will that person come from? Expansion of recruitment?
How to train them after the enrollment expansion?
The people in the host product department must not be moved.
At present, the remaining available project teams in the PC department include staff who are locked into online game projects, staff who maintain the vaporwave game platform, and various miscellaneous staff such as plug-ins, Greenlight, and third-party game approval departments.
At most, it can support the development of three games at the same time. If it is a large-scale 3a game, it is estimated that there will be at most two games.
This is the current team of Linmu Studio.
Therefore, in addition to expanding recruitment, ready-made foreign aid is also very important.
For example, the two studios Conglong and Xihan acquired last year...
But these two studios have a problem.
That means they can't take the lead yet.
After they joined Linmu Studio last year, although they were said to be independently responsible for game production, in fact, 80% of the core personnel of the two game projects they were responsible for came from within Linmu Studio.
Moreover, Lin Yao's intervention was all included in the artistic settings and visual effects.
"Dark Soul" and their two studios are also involved, but the main force is within Linmu Studio. They are only responsible for some modeling and map production.
Not to mention the first party, I am just a handyman at the moment.
Now it’s time to give them some exercise…
Lin Yao lowered her head slightly and her thoughts began to wander.
From what the PC department should do, it jumped to the two acquired studios.
After all, these two studios have been proposing to take charge of projects, and Linmu Studio does need more manpower.
certainly.
Since we want to train them, we must try to avoid the situation like last time where 80% of the core personnel responsible for making games came from within Linmu Studio...
That won't train them, and it's unrealistic for them to make masterpieces independently in the first place. Although there is a plan to complete the mechanism, the development process of the masterpiece, the control of the project progress, and the various trade-offs during game development are all important.
Exercised.
Although Linmu Studio seems to have made great strides, Linmu Studio has made its fortune step by step from online games... Game development experience has been accumulated step by step, and Lin Yao has been watching the whole process. There are two completely different situations.
Um……
Lin Yao stopped typing the pen, paused, her eyes lit up slightly, and she suddenly had a good idea!
A mystery game, or in other words, an action-adventure game.
Also, 2d games.
The former can mainly train the acquisition studio's 3D game production capabilities. As for why I chose a mystery game, it is because Lin Yao has a ready-made story, and this type is the least prone to mistakes. Lin Yao can even let go of how to design the gameplay.
The two studios of Long and Xihan can play freely.
As long as the story is interpreted according to her instructions, that's fine.
In this way, no matter how the gameplay is, at least the story should satisfy players.
Because the most important thing about a mystery game is the story! As long as the story satisfies the players, the gameplay can be used as a training point for Conglong and Xihan Studios.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! This kind of experience of making a 3D game product in-house without relying on support is very precious. You can not only be completely familiar with the engine from scratch, but also learn to think independently.
And the pressure is not that great.
In addition, the graphics of this kind of reasoning game do not need to be too good, and it can help the console complement the first-party masterpieces...
And most importantly, it can also support IP.
As for the latter 2D game, it is a supplementary option.
It is possible for the PC department of Linmu Studio to make such a small game, but it feels a bit inappropriate and feels like killing a chicken with a bull's-eye.
For example, those great independent games... "Overcooked", "Dead Cells", "Hades" and "Hollow Knight" can be used as a genre extension after the release of Dark Souls.
All of these can be considered for the acquired studio.
As for the project team at Linmu Studio's headquarters, if they acquire a studio to produce games... they can loosen their shackles a little and make some masterpieces that don't consider the switch at all.
Um.
That's probably it!
Lin Yao sorted out her thoughts, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it became!
…
In the afternoon, Lin Yao found Mu Wanqing and told her her thoughts.
"Mystery game?"
Mu Wanqing held the information she was going to take to the finance department in her arms. After hearing what Lin Yao said, she was slightly surprised.
"Yeah." Lin Yao nodded.
"This type of game... doesn't seem to be available on the market yet. What exactly should it be made into?"
Mu Wanqing thought for a moment and asked.
"I only have one idea about what I want to do. I plan to only give the story, and leave the rest to the two acquired studios first. If it doesn't work, I won't get involved."
Lin Yao was stunned when she heard Mu Wanqing's words, and then she remembered that there seemed to be no such mystery-type game on the market here.
In other words, there are no games that specialize in this type of game. Many games have reasoning content, but there are indeed no games that specialize in this type of game.
"ah?"
Mu Wanqing was even more surprised when she heard Lin Yao's words.
"In order to train them and improve the quality of the final game, of course our headquarters will check it and provide relevant support, but I hope they can complete the game independently."
Lin Yao explained: "Because we will be even more short of people in two years at most. It will be too slow to train developers at that time. We need to prepare in advance to avoid losing the developer generation."
Lin Yao does have such worries.
The Blue Star engine is currently being updated with the efforts of the engine team.
But no matter how awesome the engine is, if there are no skilled developers, it will be useless. No one will use it. In the end, no matter how good the concept is, the game will become "Battlefield 2042"...
"I understand...so what do you need me to do?"
As the chief steward of the entire Linmu Studio, Mu Wanqing certainly knew what Lin Yao was worried about, so she quickly nodded lightly and asked.
Lin Yao thought for a while and said: "Help me make an appointment with the heads of two studios, and then look for some mature studios. This time I plan to make the mystery series a long-term one, and then there will be supplementary 2D games, so
There are a lot of people in need... On the one hand, Linmu Studio is expanding its recruitment, but on the other hand, I hope you can find some studios who are willing to join us. As the first party, this is slightly faster than recruiting people."
"I see……"
Mu Wanqing nodded slightly again, and then asked with some curiosity: "But I also have a question."
"Huh? What?"
"What kind of mystery story do you plan to tell in the mystery game?"
Mu Wanqing looked really curious.
After all, the girl in front of me has nothing to do with the word reasoning...
"I'm thinking."
Lin Yao flicked her ponytail lightly without giving a clear answer.
She was really thinking.
When it comes to reasoning, there are really many factions, such as the originality faction, the social faction, the tough guy faction, the court faction...
Among them, there are a number of sub-sects of the original sect.
Lin Yao actually didn't quite understand that she was most familiar with the most classical genre, namely Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, Agatha Christie's Poirot series, etc.
She barely understands the court assignment, Ace Attorney.
Oh, there was also a social mystery film that impressed her deeply, and that was Detective Dee Renjie.
No joke.
Although there can be quarrels just by discussing what kind of reasoning faction Detective Dee Renjie is, you have to admit that in the first part of this TV series, the case solving evolved completely according to a structure similar to Sherlock Holmes, focusing on reasoning.
Then there are some martial arts elements and conspiracy theories mixed in as a gimmick.
The suspense setting is very successful and fascinating.
Hmm...it seems to work really well!
Lin Yao thought of Di Renjie, and for some reason, she suddenly felt that it would be quite interesting to restore the most special dynasty Wu Zhou in the game...
And this can also export a wave of culture...
Sherlock Holmes, Dee Renjie.
One uses the Wu Zhou era, which is known as the legacy of Zhenguan in Eastern history, as the background of the story, and the other uses the Victorian era, which is known as the golden age in the West, as the background of the story. As long as the game is not made into a text AVG, it feels really interesting.
I just don’t know how the gameplay is...
But forget it!
Give it a try to the acquired studio, give it a try!
Maybe it will have miraculous effects and become a new game series of Linmu Studio.
Lin Yao thought about it, but the girl with black glasses didn't even care. She turned around, opened the computer document, and started typing.
Mu Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then looked at the girl's back, smiled gently, and turned to leave.
…
June 18th.
Lin Yao met with the heads of Conglong and Xihan studios as promised and told them her story.
"Ah? Mystery game? How to play a mystery game?"
After hearing what Lin Yao said, the two people in charge were ecstatic at first, because Lin Yao was finally willing to give them a chance... But then, they were a little confused.
According to Lin Yao, the two games this time will be developed by their studio with complete freedom, and will be positioned as mystery games.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The time span between the two games is quite large.
One story is set in the Wuzhou period, and the other is in the Victorian period... but they feel very inconsistent.
"..."
Lin Yao was silent for a moment after listening to the words of the two leaders. Although it was said that they would be allowed to play freely, there was no game type for them to play freely, so it was still a bit difficult for them...
She thought for a while and then said: "I will give you the script of the game first, and then after you read it, you can first think about the type of game you want to adapt. Don't worry, try to think about it yourself first. I have three requirements.
.
First, pay attention to characterization.
Second, action gameplay and even shooting gameplay can be added to the game, but the game must focus on solving puzzles and not put the cart before the horse.
Third, the game performance and storytelling should be given top priority, and don’t overly embarrass players. Player experience is the most important.”
Lin Yao explained her request, and then said: "As for the direction, I can also give one, but if you have different opinions, you can also mention it - the direction I think is like this, the main line of the script is the main line of the game, with the case
It serves as a lead to connect the entire game together, and the player's troubles can be set on the way to obtain clues, adding some difficulty at this level."
"On the way to get clues?"
After hearing Lin Yao's words, the heads of the two studios were thoughtful.
Lin Yao added: "Well, these two games will have the concept of criminal groups, do you understand?"
"..." The two responsible persons looked at each other and nodded reluctantly.
"That's good. You should read the script and think about it first. Don't put too much pressure on this game. While ensuring the story, just let it go. The most important thing is to be familiar with a 3D game.
The production process of a masterpiece.”
"..."
After hearing this, the two persons in charge had strange expressions.
Seems a little disappointed.
Because according to Lin Yao, these two games seem to be for them to practice their skills, and they belong to the group that was sacrificed...
Moreover, the story comes first, which really has nothing to do with the concept of the game.
It just... doesn't feel like it will be too popular with players.
Lin Yao also saw their thoughts, but didn't say much. After they read the story, they understood why she wanted to put the story first.
This training is indeed the main purpose, but it is really not a sacrifice. Mystery games don’t rely on stories, do they rely on gameplay?
"Can it be as difficult as "Dark Souls"?" Suddenly, Wang Mang, the head of Conglong Studio asked.
"Can't!"
Lin Yao immediately replied: "Are you asking the players to solve the case or to let the players die... The point is the story! Player experience!"
"I understand, I'm sorry, I got a little carried away playing "Dark Souls". It's really fun..."
Wang Mang said somewhat sarcastically.
"Okay, I've finished my words. Now there is only one question left, which one do you want to be responsible for?"
Lin Yao picked up the script she had written out in the past two days from the table in front of her: "Victorian period? Or Wuzhou period?"
The heads of the two studios looked at each other.
Each of them talked about the era that interests them.
Just missed it.
fine.
Lin Yao handed the scripts to each other, and then said: "Okay, you guys go back and have a look, and then write a plan."
"OK."
The two people stood up, then looked at the script in their hands, and left the conference room slightly disappointed.
Lin Yao watched the two people leave, raised her hands, stretched hard, smiled, and then left the conference room.
alright.
Now that the arrangements between the two studios are settled, it’s now time for the most important production work—well, Kirby’s game plan.
Lin Yao returned to her seat, opened a new document as soon as she sat down, and then typed in the words Kirby.
Kirby was a very famous image in her previous life.
After all, he has seniority, and his image is really cute, the kind of cuteness that you can feel even if it's just a pixel.
There are many Kirby games, but she only had one 3D work in her previous life, and that was "Kirby Discovery".
Tell the truth.
Lin Yao has played many games.
But the game "Kirby: Discovery" is still the most special experience among the games she has played.
Many people like to compare this game with "Super Mario Odyssey", but in fact the two are not comparable at all.
The most conspicuous label of the Super Mario IP is platform jumping, which is destined to ensure that the difficulty of the game will not be low... Maybe in the eyes of many players, Odyssey is not difficult, but for ordinary players, it is really difficult.
Moreover, in Odyssey, when Mario dies, he will usually be resurrected at the last resurrection point. In the early stage, Mario only has three bars of health, so it is easy for him to pass a very long level after death. If you are an impatient player,
It can be really uncomfortable.
But "Kirby", it's hard to say about previous games, but "Kirby: Discovery" is really not difficult at all...
First of all, this game has difficulty options, namely Spring Breeze Mode and Wild Mode, but even the Wild Mode is not wild. Players who have played some games can easily pass it.
Moreover, in the wild mode, as long as the player dies three times, the game will immediately prompt the player to switch to the spring breeze mode, looking very worried about the player's frustration.
In addition, in the game, Kirby's health bar is not like Mario's, which has three bars of blood, but a large health bar... and there are really many resources to replenish blood on the map.
The most important thing is that Kirby can breathe in and float, which almost completely avoids falling damage.
All these settings to prevent players from being frustrated, combined with Kirby's gameplay of devouring and copying enemies, make the player's gaming experience very wonderful.
Lin Yao originally played the Spring Breeze mode, and she really didn't encounter any difficulties at all!
She received the game on the same day and completed it in one night. The whole process only took ten hours...
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! But in these ten hours, she gained a lot of happiness, because Kirby is cute, because the levels are well designed, and because it feels very interesting
, because the game... is fun.
It can be said that the design concept of this game is completely opposite to that of "Dark Soul".
Relaxing, enjoyable, and just plain fun!
This is also the reason why Lin Yao chose to use this game to succeed "Dark Soul".
Just think of it as...comforting a group of players.
While Lin Yao was thinking, she lightly tapped the keyboard and typed out the first word of the new game plan.
…
June 19th.
The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
no way.
Summer has arrived.
The hot weather will definitely make players feel irritable. At this time, "Dark Soul" can be used to cool down... which is perfect.
After all, being so angry that your hands and feet are cold can be considered a cooling experience.
And this day.
The sales volume of "Dark Soul" has also officially exceeded 3 million...
As more and more players clear the game, there are more and more discussions about the gameplay and plot.
Especially the plot.
Although in "Dark Souls", most of the stories only have fragmentary information, and the game does not even have a clear main story.
But as long as players play games, they will inevitably come into contact with fragmentary information, such as seeing the name of a certain boss, seeing the description of a certain prop, seeing a flooded city, seeing a battlefield with scattered limbs...
Players may not care most of the time and choose to ignore the story countless times, but there will always be one time when the player finally finishes pushing the map, sits on the campfire, and checks the equipment, and suddenly thinks-'Why?'
Why is Little Lund flooded? Who is the creature that continues to fester? Why does the giant wolf Sif fight with him?
Once these questions arise, it is basically impossible to disappear because the player's curiosity has been aroused.
After all, the same things, those obtained through hard work and hard work, will make people feel that they have higher value subjectively... And in "Dark Soul", it is not easy to collect the fragments of the whole story.
These factors, plus the world view of the game itself is very large and dark...
It makes players more curious, what is happening in this world?
Then.
This is where spiritualists were born...
They worked tirelessly to collect various props in the game, and then tried their best to figure out the complete story line of the game.
And more and more players, after clearing the game, saw related discussions and joined in.
In the end, relying on brainstorming and certain associations, the players restored the stories of most of the popular characters in the game.
but.
Many players are still a little confused about the complete story line of the game.
Because I feel that whether it is the ending of spreading the fire or the ending of putting out the fire, it seems... a bit unfinished.
It always feels like there is still a story.
So after sorting out this conclusion, many players are discussing whether Lin Yao is preparing for a sequel...
"Dah! Don't want a sequel!! Even though I want to say this...but I still want to play it."
"Me too, I seem to have been tricked by Lin Yao..."
"Just take a look at overseas forums. Overseas players have begun to petition for a sequel. It's not just us who want to play."
"Lin Yao does seem to be hiding something. Let's continue the sequel. Can't I buy it..."
"It's over. Everyone on the forum is upset. They are actually looking forward to the sequel of Dark Souls. What's wrong? Are you suffering too much?"
"Many of them suffered lightly... Hey, forget it, it doesn't make sense to those of you who don't play games. You will know after you have played."
"I guess Linmu Studio's next game will be a sequel...Lin Yao has become dark and there is no way back."
"..."
on the forum.
Not long after the game was released, players began to discuss the sequel...
When Lin Yao saw it, she really couldn't laugh or cry.
What the hell...
"This is the planning book for "Kirby". Take a look at it and tell me if you have any questions." Lin Yao handed the planning book for "Kirby" to Zhu Nianqiao.
I have to say, the completion mechanism is really easy to use... faster than writing a script.
When Zhu Nianqiao heard Lin Yao's words, he immediately took it over and quickly flipped through the planning book. As he flipped through it, he sighed: "It's so cute!!!"
"Hmm." Lin Yao was absent-minded.
“It’s completely impossible to tell that this is something drawn by a senior who draws creatures like a gluttonous dragon!”
"Um."
“I really want to see the players’ reactions!”
"Um."
"Senior, please marry me!"
"Hmm...huh? Get out!"
Lin Yao suddenly reacted mid-sentence, her voice suddenly rose in pitch, and then she gave Zhu Nianqiao a chestnut, flicked her ponytail, and turned away.
Zhu Nianqiao looked at Lin Yao's back and smiled softly. The senior sister is so cute!
…
Although Lin Yao is also looking forward to the players' reaction.
But game production takes time...
There is no point in thinking more before this. If you have this time, it is better to think about what the PC department of Linmu Studio headquarters will do.
Yes.
After going around in a circle, Lin Yao went back again...
Although the idea of a mystery game was finalized, it was the work of two studios, Conglong and Xihan.
The next development plan of the project team of Linmu Studio headquarters has not yet been determined.
Lin Yao has some ideas, but she still needs to think about it.
In the second half of the year, she plans to start working on two games at the same time.
A "Civilization" that focuses on turn-based strategy.
A "Long 4 Survival" game that focuses on multiplayer cooperation.
As for why I chose these two games, it’s very simple.
This kind of game... there is basically no such game on the market, and even if it does exist, it is very old and there are almost no substitutes.
Lin Yao wants to build a game moat for the vaporwave game platform to prepare for possible backstabbing in the future.
These two games plus the mystery game, which is unique in this world, are expected to attract many players.
certainly.
If this combination of punches continues, Linmu Studio will probably be very busy.
By the way...
How do you read the script from the directors of Conglong and Xihan studios? Why haven't you responded yet?
Lin Yao walked out of the elevator, suddenly thought of this, and felt a little confused.
…
at the same time.
Just when Lin Yao was thinking about Cong Long and the heads of the two first-party studios in the Western Han Dynasty...
From Dragon Studio.
The person in charge, Wang Mang, slowly closed the script in his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.
then……
A loud roar rang out.
"What the hell!!? Boss, why don't you write it!!?"
at the same time.
Western Han Studio.
The person in charge, Zhang Tian, also held the script and was so focused that he didn't even hear his subordinates knocking on the door.
until.
The employee encountered an urgent matter and couldn't wait any longer, so he opened the door and went in.
Zhang Tiancai suddenly came back to his senses, as if waking up from a dream.
"Boss, you just..."
The employee saw Zhang Tian raising his head and looking at him blankly, and was about to speak.
"The boss of our headquarters, Lin Yao! He is a genius!"
Zhang Tian suddenly spoke and interrupted her roughly.
"Huh?" The employee was confused.
"No wonder it's mainly about storytelling! That's it! It really works!!!" Zhang Tian looked at the script in his hand with astonishment on his face, raised his voice slightly, and ignored the employees at all.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Do you think such a large chapter is acceptable? Or is it better to develop it separately?