Started as a comics editor

Chapter 238 Horror

In actual gameplay.

All the problems that Guan Lihui was worried about before he started playing Hearthstone were not there!
As the playtime lengthens.

All the doubts he had in his heart vanished without a trace.

The promotional material seems a bit exaggerated. Nine classes? Five hundred cards?

Hey!
There really are that many classes in the game! And that many cards!

As for how well the game balances with so many cards and classes are handled... it's not as perfect as some might say.

That's impossible, especially with so many cards; who knows what kind of strange chemical reaction they'll produce.

Not a single designer dares to claim they can consider all the possible effects.

Because compared to a large player base, an individual's energy is always limited.

The reason why Tang Yao's previous life's Wild mode balance work for Hearthstone was gradually marginalized and shelved was because the number of card synergies was growing exponentially. Under such conditions, maintaining a good balance design had become almost impossible, and at least in the long run, it was unsustainable.

After all, how many people are in the project team?

Hearthstone here is certainly not at that level. Although it is a game that combines several versions and was released together, it is still a long way from the Whispers of the Old Gods expansion, which brings Wild mode.

Even so, even with Si Jinliang and his team constantly improving the game based on the framework provided by Tang Yao, they couldn't achieve absolute balance; otherwise, testing wouldn't be necessary.

Because Hearthstone has been constantly changing.

just.

Guan Lihui had anticipated that an absolute balance could not be achieved.

Because even the best TCGs on the market can't do that.

A relatively balanced approach, sufficient interest, and a free-flowing, diverse range of ideas are enough.

In terms of Hearthstone, it certainly didn't disappoint him! It was truly a diverse and exciting game! In just one night, he encountered a whole bunch of random decks: Tempo Mage, Zoo Warlock, Handlock, Control Priest, Face Hunter, Oil Rogue, Control Warrior, Ramp Druid...

Oh.

There's also a buster thief!
of course.

He didn't know the names of these decks, but he probably knew their core gameplay.

For example, T7 Hunter is the ultimate fast-paced attack, while Protection Warrior is all about stacking armor and taking hits...

What surprised him the most, besides the Slave Warrior he played, was probably Mill Rogue.

When he first encountered this deck, he had absolutely no idea how it could win.

It wasn't until the very end, when he saw the card "Nightfall" copy "Coldlight Sage," that he finally woke up from his dream.

My first thought was, "How can they win like this???"
Just dump a bunch of cards into your opponent's hand! And then destroy their hand!?
There's even this kind of collaboration??
Niubi!

Since it was the first day of testing, this set of cards was just an insignificant member in the vast ocean.

This is enough to illustrate just how exaggerated the diversity of the current battle environment is.

It can be said!
Most of the cards in the game are even more interesting than those shown in that live stream demo!
The most fun part of this game! You'll only know how fun it is once you play it yourself!
For example, the Patron Warrior deck combines elements of Control Warrior, Enrage, and Charge.

It's so much fun to actually play!

This, combined with the more intense sensory stimulation of video games compared to physical card games! The special effects light up when you drop an orange card! The moment the dialogue begins!
There's also the dull thud of high-attack minions attacking!
Even the music! That music with a powerful, epic feel!

All of these factors combined result in an excellent gaming experience.

I doubt anyone who, upon acquiring Tirion Fordring and casting him, heard the phrase "Holy Light of Faith" immediately felt cool!
And there's Malganis.

The dialogue, paired with the music, instantly evoked a sense of epic grandeur.

He's so handsome!

This feeling is something you can't experience when playing cards in real life; the developers behind the game have done an amazing job.

A truly ingenious UI design!

Interesting card descriptions!
The entrance lines shouted by the attendants.

The thoughtful design is evident everywhere!

The quality of the game completely exceeded Guan Lihui's expectations.

The company that makes this game... I think it's called Avalon?
That's really amazing!!

And the game's lead designer! I don't know who it is, but they're a genius!!!
originally.

Guan Lihui simply believed that this game could serve as a substitute when he couldn't find anyone to play cards with in real life.

But now it seems.

What alternative?!
This is my favorite game!!!
And despite having played for so long, there are actually many decks he hasn't tried yet!
this moment.

Guan Lihui rediscovered the feeling of his first time playing TCG, becoming completely absorbed in the intricate card games! He derived pleasure from the intellectual battles within the matches!
It feels complicated.

But I enjoy it.

That's the fun of strategy card games!
"What should we play next?"

Guan Lihui was very excited, sighing and rubbing his hands together, ready to play the new deck.

just.

goo goo-

An intense feeling of hunger made him stop.

He suddenly snapped back to reality, and after a half-second of thought, he realized what was happening. He glanced down at the time.

It's almost eleven o'clock.

"Holy crap!??" Guan Lihui exclaimed in surprise.

Wasn't it only seven o'clock just now?

How did it suddenly get to eleven o'clock?!
I only played for a little while, didn't I?

Where's my time?!
I have so much time!

Has the time on my computer been tampered with?
...Time certainly cannot be manipulated.

He was just too engrossed in it.

this moment.

Guan Lihui finally knows what it feels like to enter 'flow'.

Think of this.

He looked at Hearthstone on the screen again...

During the live demonstration, he only found it interesting.

But when he actually started playing, it was like discovering a whole new world...

How many decks have I even played myself?

Think of this.

He suddenly realized something, selected the Slave Warrior deck again, and clicked the "Play Now" button.

Matching begins.

Less than ten seconds.

The match was successfully matched.

After seeing this scene.

Guan Lihui opened his mouth slightly, somewhat shocked.

No wonder I couldn't stop playing it.

The matchmaking speed is that fast?
I didn't notice it while I was playing.

Looking at it now, this scene is somewhat terrifying!
After all, the game hasn't officially launched yet! It's still in the testing phase, and the number of test players is limited.

In addition, the game was already available to play at noon, but it's already past 11 p.m. now.

Despite it being late at night and there not being many test players, the matchmaking speed was surprisingly fast.

This shows what?
This shows that even now, a considerable number of test players are still battling it out in the game, enjoying themselves immensely.

Regardless of winning or losing, the next game starts immediately after the previous one ends.

That's why the matching speed is so fast.

This is truly a terrifying thing.

I bet a lot of testers won't be sleeping tonight.

And he probably won't be able to sleep either...

Do all the games made by this company called Avalon really that scary?

Is this just one of the games?

Besides Hearthstone, this game company has also announced two new games, right?

hiss.

I heard Avalon is a new company?

This doesn't look like a new company at all!
At least in terms of game development, it doesn't seem like it at all!

Although Guan Lihui is not an industry insider.

But he had a premonition that the domestic game industry was about to face an extremely powerful challenger.

Because Hearthstone is a game with truly limitless potential!
Compared to traditional TCGs, it has a lower learning curve.

The card frames and table are simple yet coordinated and unified, and the game rules are easy for even kindergarten children to understand.

At the same time, it is not lacking in depth, and its external quality is extremely high.

Guan Lihui is well aware that card games are currently on the decline.

Card games here... naturally include TCGs as well.

This is mainly due to the impact of the emergence of smartphones.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be unable to find like-minded people to play with in real life...

Therefore, the timing of the release of Hearthstone is indeed not accurate.

Avalon launched this strategy card game amidst a decline in the popularity of card games.

But the game was just too good... so good that Guan Lihui even overlooked the fact that card games were declining in popularity!

With Hearthstone being so excellent, how bad could Avalon's other two games be?

(End of this chapter)