Game Making: Start By Healing the Player

The days went by.

The last CG illustration was completed, and the corresponding audio and subtitle editing was finished.

Chen Xu looked at the game source files generated on the computer and showed an excited expression, “Great job!”

“So, shall we look for a publisher now?” Next to him, Ruan Ningxue was also a bit excited.

After all, this was a project that she had worked hard on for a month.

Even if she didn’t get a single cent of salary from Chen Xu.

“No.” Upon hearing Ruan Ningxue’s words, Chen Xu gently shook his head.

“Huh?” Ruan Ningxue was a little surprised.

Although she didn’t know much about games, she was also aware that Chen Xu should be considered an independent game producer by now.

Shouldn’t you be looking for publishers and distributors, just like you do for comics and films?

“Games aren’t quite the same, and games don’t have to go through domestic platforms, there are also official overseas game platforms.”

“It’s also possible to have direct selling in China.”

“No, it can’t be done, just like selling erotic books, it’s easier to use overseas platforms. ‘Mirror’ is absolutely an 18R game, so it’s also a bit embarrassing to get evaluated here.” Chen Xu explained to Ruan Ningxue.

“Then Chen Xu, why did you choose this genre?”

Ruan Ning Xue was a bit confused, according to his statement, it felt like saying the game was going to be dead in the water.

In fact, it could also mean that she was one step closer to getting Chen Xu as her assistant.

But to be honest, her thoughts had begun to shift, after working together for a month.

Her evaluation of his character had changed, as well as her initial impressions of the gaming industry.

It was all very interesting to her now.

Plus, since she had given her all into this project, she wanted to see it succeed.

“Let’s not bite off more than we can chew, I’m making preparations for the follow-up to ‘Mirror’, senior sister, when the time comes, just wait for the good news, I will give you a big bonus!” Chen Xu smiled faintly.

“Alright, fine.” Ruan Ningxue looked at the confident Chen Xu, although she was confused in her heart, she nodded.

In a certain district in the Capital City. Ruan Ningxue’s house.

A woman in an oversized T-shirt and skinny jeans leaned forward as she spoke.

“Little Xue, are you really not considering coming to help me? With your art combined with my game design skills, we can definitely make it big in the gaming industry!”

Looking at the excited Yang Xin in front of her, Ruan Ning Xue seemed to feel that she could understand Chen Xu’s feelings at that moment. She put her drink down on the coffee table and spoke,

“Sister Xin, I don’t mean to be snide, but you’ve made three games and they all seem to be losing money, don’t they?” Ruan Ningxue rolled her eyes and said.

She didn’t know much about games before, but after working with Chen Xu for a month, she had gained some insight, even if she was basically doing the same thing as before, illustrating.

So, with her newfound understanding, she realised that this girl who kept bragging to her about being a professional game designer had never come close to making a profit.

“My next one will be a big seller! As long as you, Xiao Xue, come and help me!” Yang Xin said confidently.

“Come now, I recall your father telling you that he wouldn’t invest any more capital if it ran out again, so what are you going to do?” Looking at Yang Xin who was full of confidence, Ruan Ningxue expressed her doubts.

“Ahem, by the way, Xiao Xue, how about that game your classmate made? Have you found a publisher? Do you want me to help publish it?” Yang Xin coughed softly and changed the subject.

“That’s not necessary, Chen Xu said he will post it directly on the official platforms without looking for a publisher.” Thinking about her talk with Chen Xu earlier, Ruan Ningxue shook her head and said.

“Not looking for a publisher? This is a big loss ah, there are no third-party platform resources for promotion, you’ll have to apply for the official platform’s new game recommendation system, so unless there’s an explosive burst of popularity, it’s difficult to get ahead.” Yang Xin said with the bitter look of a person who has been there and done that.

“Hmm, Chen Xu said that the game won’t be part of the recommendations system either, and it was uploaded to the overseas version of the platform.” Ruan Ningxue told her what she could recall from her conversation with Chen Xu.

“Not applying for recommendations? Overseas platform? An 18R content game! I’m looking for you with such sincerity, Xiao Xue, but this schoolmate of yours is taking things for granted, ah, it’s hard for a simple erotic game to get popular.” Yang Xin, who still knew a lot about the gaming industry, heard Ruan Ning Xue’s words and immediately understood the situation.

Even if it was a bloody, violent game, as long as it didn’t cross the line, it could still be part of the official platform’s new game recommendations.

But if it wasn’t submitted on the domestic platforms, and instead was submitted on the overseas platform, it would not be covered by the recommendation systems.

The ones that got this treatment were basically 18R games.

“So that’s how it is, huh? Chen Xu must have his own plans, right? And ‘Mirror’ wasn’t just any old 18R game, it had a rich and compelling storyline.” Ruan Ningxue said with some uncertainty.

“I don’t get it! I heard you mention that your schoolmate’s artistic level is no worse than yours, right? The reason I found you is because I want to use art as a selling point, but a game can’t rely on art alone to be successful! And content, what content could an 18R game possibly have?”

“Trust my judgement as a professional game producer! Without the recommendation system, without third-party publishers, unless he advertises it himself on a large scale, it’s likely not to make any sort of splash on the scene”. Yang Xin gave her bold judgement.

“So, Sister Xin, do you think this game will be able to sell more than 50,000 copies?” Ruan Ningxue looked at the confident Yang Xin and asked.

“Impossible!”

Even though she hadn’t laid eyes on the game Ruan Ningxue was involved in yet.

But Yang Xin was still very confident in issuing this death sentence.

After all, according to conventional wisdom, it was a low-cost indie game with no publisher and adult content.

Only two people were responsible for its creation, and the other party seemed to be just an illustrator who only did outsourcing for some games.

But 18R games always had a lot of potential players.

After all, everyone was an LSP sometimes.

(LSP = 老色批 = Lechers)

But there is also a lot of competition, even in this genre.

So how could such a combination make a successful game?

Seeing that she had developed three failed games, she knew that making it in the gaming industry was not easy.

“Although 50,000 is impossible, but 18R games are generally cheaper, and with your level of skill, it will definitely draw attention. If the quality is not bad, you can probably expect 10,000 sales, at least you will not lose money.”

“From a risk perspective, 18R games are actually pretty safe.” Yang Xin looked at Ruan Ningxue, who was also slightly reassured.

“This is the verdict of a professional!” After thinking about it, Yang Xin added another sentence.

“I see.” Ruan Ningxue, who currently knew little about the inner workings of the gaming industry, still had some worries.