Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 246: The Storm Is Brewing!

#The Higashitsu Gaming Festival Announces Its Lineup Today#

#Yunwei’s Prestige and Di Bring a Heavyweight Racing Title#

#Kol Launches Its First Multiplayer Online Competitive Sports Ga Targeting the Western Market#

#“How to Train Your Dragon” Ga Adaptation to Be Announced at This Year’s Higashitsu Gaming Festival#

#Kora Releases Trailers for Its First Five Gas#

#...#

At the transition from autumn to winter.

The weather gradually turned colder, yet the global gaming market atmosphere only grew more intense.

As the participant list for the Higashitsu Gaming Festival, an international-level ga industry expo, was released one after another, major companies worldwide started moving swiftly.

anwhile, discussions about new gas surged in waves, each one higher than the last.

Among all the excitent, the hottest topic was the “East-West Rivalry”: Yunwei and Kora.

It must be noted that over the past year, these two struggling brothers had both suffered ruthless blows from mysterious Eastern forces, each to varying degrees.

On Yunwei’s side, its Flabird Studio had devoted itself to the AAA masterpiece “Ace Heroes,” which had its rightful front-page headlines snatched by “Plants vs. Zombies,” becoming the eternal runner-up that quarter.

Even now, the discussion heat and player activity for “Ace Heroes” still lagged behind “Plants vs. Zombies.”

There were even rumors that “Plants vs. Zombies” would soon open a creative workshop where players could design levels and plants or replace the original plant appearances.

This move effectively sealed “Ace Heroes” off from ever reclaiming the top spot in popularity.

Even so, this was still the better scenario.

After all, Kora in the Eastern Hemisphere was much worse off.

The last-minute substitution in the PT project plunged Kora into a public relations disaster.

Following that, the collision between “Escape” and “Silent Hill” caused Kora to lose tens of millions, and Yamamoto Studio was dissolved on the spot!

Fortunately!

This ti, Golden Wind seed to have no moves left.

Not only did they stay silent, but Golden Wind was even sinking into negative reputations like “decline” and “fall from grace.”

Golden Wind had never responded to these rumors.

Whether they were indifferent, felt no need, or simply had nothing to say remained unknown.

Previously, Golden Wind had dominated the international ga scene with “Escape,” “Plants vs. Zombies,” and “Escape from Hell,” strutting with pride.

But within just a week after the release of “Garden Warfare,” it seed they were retreating quietly, as if giving up on the international market and resigning themselves to fading away in China.

Kora was delighted!

Especially Chairman Uekoe Kagemasa and Koizumi Kazuo!

Seeing Golden Wind’s decline firsthand was pure joy for them!

They even wished Golden Wind would collapse tomorrow to finally ease their grudge.

So they redoubled their efforts to intensify the dia attacks against Golden Wind.

“Is it really over? Golden Wind hasn’t announced new developnt plans for nearly a quarter!”

“The fall of a genius; after Garden Warfare, Sam seems to have lost all creativity.”

“Year after year, after Golden Wind’s fall, who will carry the banner of China’s gaming pioneers?”

“...”

[It is reported that Golden Wind Studios are close to shutting down, with no update plans for PUBG and APEX projects...]

[...Due to CEO Shen Miaomiao’s ‘gambling’ style of project investnt, Golden Wind’s finances are now in tatters and precarious.]

[Rumors of internal discord have intensified, with so core staff in Steel Chain Fingers Studio resigning due to dissatisfaction over resource allocation...]

“Hey, did you hear? Old Thief and CEO Ou are splitting up. Apparently, Old Thief’s achievents have overshadowed CEO Ou, who is feeling threatened!”

“What? Aren’t they a pair?”

“Ha—Just because they’re a popular couple doesn’t an it’s real. It’s all about the money! Don’t take it seriously.”

“Really? My Laba Garlic Couple!”

“Of course it’s true. A friend of mine at Golden Wind said the internal atmosphere is very tense, with Vice President and CEO factions in fierce conflict!”

“Hiss—No wonder Golden Wind hasn’t had any new ga news recently...”

“Sigh... such a good ga company, but now it looks dood...”

“Not only Old Thief, but Little Yellow has also fallen from grace...”

“What a wasted talent...”

“...”

“Ha ha ha ha—”

Joyous laughter echoed in Kora’s chairman’s office.

Uekoe Kagemasa looked at the flood of ssages and discussions, grinning as if ready to bite.

Delightful!

So delightful!

Because this wave of montum not only had foreign countries singing Golden Wind’s requiem, but even Chinese dia and players were deeply worried and regretful!

Uekoe Kagemasa was very satisfied with the current effect.

“We used to be cursed at at our doorstep.

Now, you get to experience people chanting funeral chants right outside your door!”

“Good, good, well done.”

While reading related reports, Uekoe Kagemasa nodded repeatedly with joy.

Although he had no idea what was actually happening inside Golden Wind now, their persistent silence in the face of all speculation undoubtedly implied acceptance of these rumors’ accuracy.

“The key is still the president’s brilliant leadership,”

Koizumi Kazuo smiled respectfully across from him, nodding:

“So, what’s our next step...?”

“Next, just calmly prepare for the gaming festival’s publicity,”

Uekoe Kagemasa waved his hand:

“After all this turmoil, Golden Wind can’t even stir up a ripple.

It’s just a small ga company.

There’s a saying in China, ‘How can a flickering fla compete with the bright moon?’

Let them slowly die out.

This ti, your studio’s ‘Torii’ is our top priority for this phase, even for the whole year, and it absolutely must not fail.

You must know, you guys at Koizumi Studio are now carrying the FPS banner.

Nishikawa was just founded, so it’s still unstable.

Takasugi has been focusing on racing, unlikely to be the pillar...”

At this point,

Uekoe Kagemasa raised his eyebrows slightly at Koizumi Kazuo, giving a gesture aning “You must strive.”

And this ti, there was no longer any “young master’s illness” excuse.

Because the forr “young master” Yamamoto Studio was already shattered.

Koizumi certainly understood the chairman’s aning!

He imdiately stood up and made a perfect ninety-degree bow!

“Yes!

Your subordinate will give it his all to ensure the ‘Torii’ project proceeds flawlessly!”

However!

Before he finished speaking!

Knock knock knock—

Soone knocked on the office door.

Then, Uekoe Kagemasa’s personal secretary entered and handed over a tablet: “Chairman, there’s a problem.”

At these words!

Koizumi Kazuo’s face turned pale!

But looking up,

Uekoe Kagemasa’s expression looked even paler than his!

Koizumi Kazuo was baffled and asked:

“Chairman, what... happened?”

“Hmph!”

Uekoe Kagemasa snorted coldly and threw the tablet onto the desk.

Clack!

Koizumi Kazuo focused on the tablet.

On it was a graphic tweet—

At the top were two photos, side by side.

The left photo showed four people: Gu Sheng sitting on an office chair, with Sato Muneki leaning on the desk behind him, Kamikawa Yuki making a heart gesture with her hands, and Okura Kazu standing upright.

Behind them, the studio wall displayed a bright red KOMINA photo.

That was from when “Silent Hill PT” was in developnt, with these three as departnt heads alongside chief director Gu Sheng.

The right photo also showed the sa four people, sa positions, sa poses, sa confident smiles.

Only this ti, the office behind them was far more spacious and bright than Kora’s cramped cubicles.

And the company logo on the wall behind them had changed to “Golden Wind - Steel Chain Fingers Studio.”

Below the two photos, the tweet read:

[Gu Sheng Sam: Warmly welco Mr. Okura Kazu to Golden Wind Steel Chain Fingers Studio as chief programming director! His experience developing “Silent Hill PT” in Neon is unforgettable. Now reunited, many feelings arise...]

Okura Kazu had joined Golden Wind!

The explosive news instantly ignited a heated discussion below!

“Heavens! The PT team is reunited!”

“No way! Kora has truly beco Golden Wind’s Neon branch!!!”

“The three main forces behind PT—lead design, lead art, and lead programming—have all gathered in Steel Chain Fingers!”

“Just missing Lisa standing behind those four...”

“You four bastards scared so much I couldn’t sleep for a week! Now you’re all in China? Wait for , I’m bringing you food from the kitchen!!!”

“I’d call this the ‘Underworld Reunion’.”

“Amazing, Little Yellow! You recruited them all?”

“Old Thief’s move was huge! From KOMINA to Steel Chain Fingers... so you went to Kora just to source talent?”

“Goddamn sourcing haha...”

“Hiss—Feels like sothing big is coming.”

“Another horror ga?”

“No way! That team making a horror ga? Aren’t you scared?”

“Scared, but it won’t stop from playing.”

“Please don’t make another horror ga, bro. You can torture any way you want, just no psychological horror. I promise to get all achievents, okay?”

“Damn—Feels like sothing big is about to happen!”

“Such a public welco for the PT team reunion—this storm is brewing...”

“...”

Seeing comnt after comnt,

A bad feeling rose in Koizumi Kazuo’s heart.

They had to know.

Ever since Kora secretly stirred trouble behind the scenes, using multi-channel public opinion manipulation to attack Golden Wind,

Golden Wind had endured silently without uttering a single word.

But this ti!

After a full two months of silence!

Golden Wind finally spoke.

But not to explain the criticisms and rumors.

Instead, they announced the PT team’s reunion.

The three top players who had been temporarily transferred from Kora had now decisively joined Golden Wind’s Steel Chain Fingers Studio, lured by Gu Sheng!

What did this an?

Koizumi and Uekoe exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other’s eyes.

From the mont this news broke,

All kinds of dia started using their rumor-catching skills, interpreting and analyzing this new recruitnt move by Golden Wind...

...

The storm was brewing.

Thunder rumbled in the distant horizon.

“One autumn rain brings a chill. According to Zhongjing teorological Station’s analysis, the largest heavy rainfall cloud cluster this quarter is currently over the North China Plain, moving from west to east. Today, provinces and cities including Zhongjing, Jinn, and Binjiang will experience the last strong rainfall of the autumn season. Tomorrow, this cloud cluster will cross the Neon Sea and land in northern-central Neon...”

Click.

Several days later, Monday, 9 a.m.

Zhongjing, Yiyou Technology Building.

CEO’s Office.

Yan Sheng turned off the TV and set the remote on the desk.

Though it was morning, the entire tech building was brightly lit.

Black clouds pressed down like a city about to collapse.

Rolling thunderclouds blocked the sky, blotting out sunlight.

The restless autumn wind carried unsettling dampness through the window, curling the thin smoke from Yan Sheng’s fingers.

“Hiss—huff—”

Taking a deep drag, Yan Sheng flicked ash into the nearby ashtray:

“Looks like even heaven is waiting for a thunderclap...”

He then glanced at Secretary Xiao Li, who was waiting to report: “How’s the situation?”

“Everything is going according to plan,”

Xiao Li opened the eting notebook and reported:

“According to yesterday’s statistics from the China Digital Entertainnt Association,”

“As of midnight today, Golden Wind’s disposable net assets have exceeded 1.021 billion yuan.”

“Hmm,” Yan Sheng nodded. “What did CDEA say about this?”

“CDEA called during this morning’s eting,”

Secretary Xiao Li said,

“Jiang Yingcai, Chairman of the Zhongjing General Council of CDEA, personally called, hoping we fully cooperate with Golden Wind’s announcent.”

“That’s natural,” Yan Sheng nodded. “It’s our duty.”

After a pause, Xiao Li continued:

“Also, Xunteng has sent word, wanting to confirm the announcent timing to try for simultaneous release. What do you think?”

Yan Sheng thought for a mont: “CEO Shen... forget it. What about President Gu? Still sticking to the original plan to announce at 9:30?”

He wanted to hear the opinion of CEO Shen, the actual helmsman.

But then he realized that CEO Shen was no longer really in charge, so he went straight to the point.

“Yes,”

Xiao Li nodded,

“The original plan remains unchanged. President Gu personally called to communicate this.”

“Good,”

Upon hearing this, Yan Sheng took a deep breath:

“All departnts prepare. At 9:30, coordinate precisely with Golden Wind’s announcent.”

Having said that, Yan Sheng looked out the window.

Thunderstorm clouds were piling up over the vast North China Plain.

A real storm was about to break loose...