Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 157: When I Put Up a Question Mark, It’s Not That I

Shen Miaomiao was extrely excited!

This was her first bill of rebate, and also another attempt after the three consecutive profitless projects: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Overcooked, and Titanfall!

Over there, Gu Sheng was adjusting the webpage.

Here, Shen Miaomiao prayed silently.

Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, please let lose a little!

Calculating it, it had been a whole year since her last loss on the Left 4 Dead project!

System big brother!

Have rcy on the child!

You have to understand that Golden Wind was only founded a little over two years ago!

Nearly half that ti, I’ve been making money, not losing a single cent!

If this continues, my system will beco nothing but decoration!

I’m not asking to lose a billion or eight hundred million; just give a few tens of thousands back, and that would be so consolation!

Shen Miaomiao wasn’t unaware of the situation; once she did the math, she realized just how miserable she was.

She hadn’t tasted a single rebate in an entire year!

Using this system was truly heartbreaking for both user and observer.

A wave of bitterness welled up in her heart, and Shen Miaomiao felt like crying.

We both have systems, yet why is my fate so different from the protagonists in those novels?

I see those novel protagonists living lives of ease, with systems eager to fleece the entire world’s wool into their pockets.

But my system? It really doesn’t give rewards at all!

Of course!

Not getting a rebate for a whole year isn’t entirely the system’s fault.

Shen Miaomiao glanced secretly at Gu Sheng beside her.

Speaking of which, that horrifying whale was the real culprit.

Whenever he made a move, it never missed its mark.

Though from her system’s perspective, from Cat Mario to APEX, nine projects had both profits and losses.

However!

From the perspective of business capital turnover speed, since Golden Wind’s founding, not a single project had lost money!

Not only did they avoid losses, but they also made huge profits, crazy profits!

What was Golden Wind’s initial funding at its founding?

500,000.

And now, how much funding did Golden Wind have?

According to last month’s financial report submitted to the CEO’s office—

675 million.

And this was after they had drained their reserves to fund Titanfall’s developnt!

A little over two years.

From 500,000 to 675 million.

A 1,350-fold increase year-on-year!

This was no longer insane growth!

Such a growth rate was unattainable in any industry!

This was no longer an industry myth!

This was divine! The gods had descended!

Not to ntion others, even across the vast Shen Capital!

From nothing to everything, with hundreds of subsidiaries under its many industries!

Not a single one had growth rates this terrifying!

It could be said that if Shen Miaomiao didn’t have a system, and if she hadn’t recruited Gu Sheng, the ultimate money tree, top-tier producer, unbeatable superstar, she would have to build a golden statue for Gu Sheng and burn three incense sticks while kowtowing thrice every day!

This guy was a reincarnated god of wealth!

No wonder so many ga companies coveted Gu Sheng.

Not for anything else, but because this guy was just that insanely profitable!

Every ga he made exploded in popularity, even pioneering new gaplay styles and upgrades like “psychological horror,” “second-generation FPS,” and “battle royale.”

Although Golden Wind’s scale was still under one billion, not yet a dium or large ga company in the industry.

But whether it was their rapid growth montum or the invitation from world-class companies like Kora,

everything proved Golden Wind’s swift rise.

Joining the one-billion club and becoming a dium-sized ga company was just within reach.

But!

This didn’t affect Shen Miaomiao’s determination to pursue rebates.

Indeed!

Entering the one-billion club and becoming a dium-sized ga company was sothing worth looking forward to.

But you have to understand.

If!

All nine gas were to lose money under the most ideal circumstances, then—

Cat Mario’s cost was 10,000, rebate 100,000.

Who’s Daddy’s cost was 100,000, rebate 1,000,000.

Vampire Survivors’ cost was 200,000, rebate 2,000,000.

Phasmophobia’s cost was 2,000,000, rebate 20,000,000.

Left 4 Dead’s cost was 10.8 million, with a 100x multiplier card rebate of 1.08 billion.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ cost was 50 million, rebate 500 million.

Overcooked’s cost was 1 million, rebate 10 million.

Titanfall’s cost was 170 million, rebate 1.87 billion.

APEX’s cost was 50 million, rebate 550 million.

Total cost sumd up to 284.11 million, total rebate sumd to 4.0331 billion!

“One-billion club”?

What a joke!

I, Shen Miaomiao, could buy four of those clubs!

And!

If the world line really developed in such an ideal way, as long as she had the guts, throwing all 4 billion into the gaming market,

then!

With that wave of rebates in hand, she would have 40 billion!

What? You say the number one ga company in the country is XunTeng?

Slap XunTeng twice and see if they dare make a sound!

Ten gas would imdiately jump to the top of China’s gaming scene, and with a little effort, surpassing NiG and Cloudway to topple Kora and the likes!

Hehe...

Just had a little daydream.

Shen Miaomiao couldn’t help but chuckle foolishly, feeling happy for the other version of herself on that world line.

However, this scenario was far too idealistic.

Gu Sheng wasn’t a heartless ga machine; if they really played like that, Old Gu would have quit long ago.

After all, the two had been together for a long ti, living under the sa roof for several months, and she had gotten to know Gu Sheng sowhat.

He genuinely loved this industry and the craft, a true gar who treated gas as art.

Although his passion and pursuit for gas, in so ways... largely hindered Shen Miaomiao’s plan to lose money.

But Shen Miaomiao didn’t truly bla him for spoiling her plans.

Ignorance is no cri.

Moreover now!

Her system had been upgraded, with a better new losing-money mode.

Make money on one, lose on another; Old Gu could realize his top designer dream, and she could earn a fortune.

Whenever Old Gu wanted to quit or she earned enough, they would sail around the world on a huge yacht, spending money for generations to co.

At that ti...

“What are you smiling about so stupidly?”

Gu Sheng’s voice ca, interrupting Shen Miaomiao’s daydream.

“Ah...”

Shen Miaomiao was startled, snapping back:

“Nothing, I just suddenly thought of sothing happy.”

“You’re not thinking APEX will recoup costs in the first week like our previous gas, are you?”

Hearing this, Shen Miaomiao raised an eyebrow: “Is that impossible?”

“Europe server, Coast Night!”

Gu Sheng was shocked, looking at Shen Miaomiao incredulously:

“You’re dreaming too big. This is a free ga with a 50 million budget!”

“You expect to recoup in one week? Do you think our ga is robbing a bank?”

To avoid disappointing Little Nezha too much, Gu Sheng pulled up data on the "percentage of paying players" for free motion-sensing pod gas released in the past six months on the China Digital Entertainnt Association website.

According to statistics, in the last six months, the average paying player percentage for free new motion-sensing pod gas was 7.23%.

Yes.

Whether in Gu Sheng’s previous life or this world, a free multiplayer online ga’s paying player percentage slowly accumulates from low to high.

This is the objective law of the gaming market.

“The paying player percentage accumulates over ti, like League of Legends and Fireline Shuttle,”

“Those two gas have been operating for 12 and 13 years respectively,”

“Over such a long ti, events and pay points keep erging. Plus, with the market nearing saturation and fewer new players,”

“Under these factors, their paying player percentages reach 87% and 92%.”

Gu Sheng warned Little Nezha while explaining:

“We’ve only been out seven days. Our pay points and events are very thin. Plus, the ga is still growing with many new players.”

“You only see the market praise, player complints, and a few players who overspend,”

“But you don’t realize that silent players are the majority in any ga.”

“Every new ga requires players to learn, adapt, and build attachnt, so early paying player percentage can’t be high.”

While patiently explaining, Gu Sheng scrolled the mouse wheel.

As he said, the data summary showed most new gas had paying player percentages under 5%, with a few nearing 10% being extrely rare.

“See? One point seven, three point five, four point two, six point six… this is the real free ga market. Any ga’s paying player group accumulates through events and waves of operations.”

“Free-to-play gas and buy-to-own gas are fundantally different; the freedom to pay ans no one can make a fortune instantly.”

He moved the mouse to the “Sort by Ratio High to Low” button and clicked refresh:

“If you don’t believe , look at so many new gas.”

“Even the one with the highest paying player percentage is only... 58.2%?!!!”

“What the hell is this nonsense?”

With the page refreshed, an astonishing figure appeared at the top, far surpassing all gas of the sa period!

[58.2% (Due to excessively high data, no reference value, excluded from average calculation)]

This number was so shocking, glaring, and absurd

that China Digital Entertainnt Association highlighted it in bold red.

And following this strange terrifying ratio, four letters ca into view—

APEX

The new ga with the highest paying player percentage belonged to them.

A staggering 58.2%.

Gu Sheng: ?

When I put up a question mark, it’s not that I have a problem, it’s that I think you have a problem.

China Digital Entertainnt Association, are you kidding ?

Data miscalculated?

Do you want to check your absurd data compilation?

Oh, you already saw it, even thought it was absurd, and deliberately excluded it from average calculations.

So that ans.

The 58.2% paying player ratio was officially approved by China Digital Entertainnt Association!

“I... damn!!!”

In an instant, Gu Sheng’s eyes went wide!

This was literally robbing a bank!

He quickly found the weekly profit page and clicked in!

Then he heard Little Nezha shout in shock as well!

“I... damn!!!”

On the projection screen, the seven-day total sales data appeared prominently!

[APEX Weekly Total Sales: 62.44 million]

Shen Miaomiao’s pupils constricted sharply!

Countless tis, she had run the numbers; it flashed in her mind like a reflex!

[62.5 million]

After deduction, to achieve weekly profit, APEX’s revenue had to reach 62.5 million!

aning...

[Ding! Ti’s up! Current round of investnt settlent completed!]

The next second!

Shen Miaomiao heard a crisp sound in her mind, and the system’s settlent interface appeared before her eyes—

[Ding! Detected project loss!]

[Sub-project: APEX]

[Project investnt amount: 50 million]

[Project settlent ti: 7 days ( 0 days)]

[Project rebate multiplier: 11x ( 0x)]

[Project actual revenue: 49.952 million]

[Project loss amount: 48,000]

[Project rebate amount: 528,000]

[Settlent remaining ti: 0]

[Ding! Loss settlent completed, rebate has been sent to the host’s personal bank card!]

Imdiately, Shen Miaomiao felt her phone vibrate!

A ssage was sent—

[Your debit card account 1118 received a transfer of 528,000 yuan via mobile banking on August 24, balance 533,775.68 yuan...]

The air in the apartnt froze for two seconds!

Then!

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao’s exclamations rang out in waves, rising from low to high!

“Damn...”

“Damn...”

“Damn!”

“Damn!”

“Damn damn damn!”

“Damn damn damn!”

Gu Sheng relied on that terrifying 58.2% paying player ratio, which was practically myth-level data!

This undoubtedly ant their pass no-attribute green pay model was a massive success!

They had created a healthy, fair, green new path for in-ga purchases in this world!

Its impact was no less than pioneering the ‘second-generation FPS’ feat!

Gu Sheng was ecstatic!

Because all along!

Gu Sheng had taken a phrase from the deceased forr Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in his previous life as his motto—

[On my business card, I am Nintendo’s president; in my mind, I am a ga developer; and deep in my heart, I am a player.]

This was the highest realm of a pure gar.

Gu Sheng loved gas, treating them as a second world alongside real life, a utopia for the soul.

And in this utopia, there should no longer be the concept of ‘money above all.’

Real-world class differences were already suffocating enough.

He refused to let his gas continue that oppression, whether you were a billionaire tycoon or an ordinary citizen, a big company CEO or a regular worker or student.

Here, in his ga, we were all equal, simple and pure players.

We t here because of shared passion.

No matter status, wealth, or class.

I might envy your heirloom, but you might envy my kill streak.

Here, we only had one na—players.

Gu Sheng was happy!

And Shen Miaomiao was even more excited!

Rebate money! Rebate money! Rebate money!

Heavens and earth! Which angel sister renewed this immortal aura for ?

Although a loss of 48,000 didn’t seem like much!

But that 11x high rebate!

528,000 instantly credited!

Her annual salary was only about 500,000!

This was equivalent to instantly opening a whole year’s salary for her!

The most crucial thing was!

This was her resurgence after a year!

This 528,000 was not just a simple sum!

Its symbolic success was even greater than its actual value!!!

Shen Miaomiao couldn’t control her excitent; tears shimred in her big eyes!

Amid cheers, the two excitedly looked at each other.

Shen Miaomiao suddenly jumped up and lunged at Gu Sheng, who laughed heartily and stretched out both hands!

But the next second, as they rapidly closed the distance, a feeling of awkwardness and strangeness rose in both their hearts.

Shen Miaomiao abruptly stopped with a creak, and Gu Sheng awkwardly raised his hands.

Gu, Shen: …

An awkward atmosphere spread between them.

After a long mont, Gu Sheng finally opened his mouth, his face slightly flushed: “... High five?”

Shen Miaomiao bit her lip lightly and reached out a small hand: “... Yeah.”

Then, they simultaneously reached out their hands toward each other:

“Ah, um...”

“Hmm...”

“Congratulations, congratulations...”

“Sa to you... sa to you...”

“I...” Gu Sheng raised his hand: “I... I’m going to have a smoke.”

“Ah, ah,” Shen Miaomiao coughed lightly awkwardly and nodded: “Go ahead, go ahead...”

Gu Sheng stood up and walked toward the bathroom.

Shen Miaomiao turned her gaze, pretending to look at the data on the projection screen.

Two people, two directions, back to back.

But the curves of their lips couldn’t help but rise in such similar arcs...