Started as a comics editor

Chapter 268 Something is wrong

Shen Lun slumped back into his chair, rubbing his temples vigorously with both hands, as if that would squeeze that damned game out of his mind.

His proud business acumen and the cognitive system he had built up over twenty years of hard work in the gaming industry were completely shattered at this moment by the unreasonable popularity of "Dungeon & Fighter".

he was thinking.

Avalon is a young company.

And what kind of magic does Tang Yao, the rumored leader who is unbelievably young, possess?
Why have all the business logics he believed in and relied on in the past become castles in the air?
Ignoring the graphics, ignoring the platform, and ignoring the overwhelming negative comments, it has attracted millions of players!
Can fun really supersede all technology, all marketing, and all capital operations?
Is it...

Is Avalon's foray into mobile games just a prelude to their growth? A feint? Their real goal is PC games!

I don't understand.

Saying.

The popularity of Dungeon Fighter Online... let alone Eight Doors, apart from Avalon's own mobile games, no other mobile game can compare, right?

Shen Lun glanced at the screen again, then leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling light. He felt the light was blinding, and he could almost hear the frantic clatter of keyboards being pounded. It was the sound of countless players fighting on the Arad continent, and the roar of his Nine Heavens Empire being shaken.

A 2D pixel game... actually drove him to the point of questioning his existence.

What the hell is this magical world?

Could it be... that I was really wrong?
This thought, like a venomous snake, suddenly appeared.

Followed by.

An idea that even Shen Lun himself found absurd popped up uncontrollably:
Or... how about trying the PC version?

same moment.

Easy travel.

Jin Feng wasn't much better off.

Although he had played the game and was aware of its appeal, the sheer popularity it generated still startled him.

The popularity of "Dungeon & Fighter" is like a huge, cold lead weight pressing heavily on his heart.

In stark contrast, the daily active user data of Yiyou's "Legend of Mir 2" and "Dragon's Fury" has plummeted to an all-time low... it's truly appalling!
Actually, compared to that...

EasyPlay is better than NineSky.

Because the impact on Yiyou's foundation—those large-scale 3D MMORPGs—was not as fatal as that on Jiuxiao, and the differences in player base and core gameplay gave Yiyou some breathing room.

However, the terrifying energy unleashed by Dungeon Fighter Online, which swept everything away, still far exceeded Jin Feng's worst expectations.

"PC game... 2D side-scrolling... I'll give it a try..."

Jin Feng released the mouse, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly murmured, "Since they can do it, there's no reason why EasyGame can't. PC games... seem to have great potential."

……

Regardless of how shocked, doubtful, angry, or forced by their peers to turn their attention back to PC games.

It is an undeniable fact that Avalon, a rising star in the gaming industry, has thoroughly proven itself with the phenomenal PC game "Dungeon Fighter Online".

It is no longer the lucky one that relied solely on its keen sense of opportunity to capitalize on the mobile game boom and dominate the mobile gaming market.

Avalon has completely proven itself with Dungeon Fighter Online!
Not just mobile games, but PC games too!

They can create blockbuster products too!

This is a bit outrageous!
not to mention.

The PC games they create can even challenge established giants and disrupt the existing order.

The information revealed here is terrifying!
A challenger established much later than Jiuxiao and Yiyou, it not only firmly occupies a leading position in the most cutting-edge and popular mobile game field, but also has a number of top-performing mobile games with amazing revenue.

Now, it has made a bold comeback to the PC game industry, which some people consider traditional or even sunset, and with just one product, it has stirred up a huge wave.

what does this mean?
This means that Avalon has completed its transformation. It no longer relies on the advantages of a single platform or category, but has the potential to define the market and disrupt the landscape in both the mobile and PC game markets.

Its success model can no longer be simply categorized as seizing a trend.

Instead, it is built upon a deep understanding of players' core needs, top-notch industrial R&D capabilities, and robust technical and operational support—all core foundations!

The moat that was built was so deep and wide that it inspired despair.

In the gaming industry, a renowned cash cow, Avalon's current ability to thrive on both mobile and PC platforms is a commercial value that is enough to suffocate all competitors and the capital market.

...A super money-printing machine that's always running smoothly!
This is how people in the industry currently describe Avalon.

A vast gaming and entertainment empire spanning mobile and PC platforms appears to be gradually taking shape.

this moment.

It's impossible to know how much capital has been drawn to Avalon.

Countless investors have been plunged into a state of deep regret.

For countless financial tycoons wielding their checkbooks, a cold and cruel reality lies before them:

They missed the most crucial and golden investment window!

The Avalon rocket has long since moved beyond the stage where it needed external fuel for propulsion.

Or.

Apart from the initial sum of money provided by Li Xue, Avalon has not needed any further external investment.

Thanks to the consistent support from FGO, Avalon has already established itself.

Not to mention now.

The stable financial support from the mobile game matrix and the newly emerging cash behemoth, "Dungeon & Fighter".

And overseas markets too!

This directly gave Avalon unimaginable financial freedom and strategic initiative.

It no longer needs to raise funds for survival; on the contrary, it is the most dazzling and unattainable prey in the capital market.

Many of the later-awakened financial giants longed for a piece of the pie, but could only watch helplessly as the gold mine gushed forth, unable to find a ticket to enter.

This is so painful!!!
I was entitled to a share of that money too!

hateful! ! !

Those investors, their eyes bloodshot from the insurmountable goldmine of Avalon, descended into a collective frenzy. On one hand, they began to harass Li Xue relentlessly, and on the other hand, they frantically searched for suitable targets, especially young, whimsical entrepreneurs.

Because they believe the market is not yet fully stable, there is still a chance... there is still a chance to create another Avalon!

Thus began an unprecedented, frenzied hunt targeting young game entrepreneurs!

But in reality, many investors haven't realized this yet... or rather, they've only seen the money-making aspect of games.

They overlooked one thing.

That is to say—Avalon will not stand still.

Let's not even talk about Avalon's mysterious new works that haven't been unveiled yet.

Take Avalon Game Assistant platform as an example... After experiencing the phenomenal success of "Dungeon & Fighter", it has quietly transformed from a tool into a strategic and exclusive channel.

A large number of Dungeon Fighter Online players log in, update, get information, and participate in events through the game assistant.

This, combined with the mobile game users mentioned earlier, has led to an explosive increase in users and unprecedented user stickiness for the game assistant.

The assistant is no longer a dispensable add-on, but a core entry point for players to access the Avalon gaming ecosystem.

Players' login habits, game time, active periods, and even preferences for different functions are all gathered into a valuable data goldmine through the assistant, which provides Avalon with unparalleled advantages for precise operation, product iteration, and even new game promotion.

The built-in community and strategy system in the assistant have become a core platform for players to exchange experiences, share skills, and create fan works, driven by the popularity of "Dungeon & Fighter".

A highly active, self-growing community ecosystem centered around the Avalon game has taken shape.

A direct and controllable distribution and operation channel.

A dedicated channel for Avalon will significantly reduce Avalon's reliance on all third-party channels, while allowing it to firmly control its core resources: users and data.

In the future, it may even become a premium platform for Avalon to publish high-quality third-party games or indie games.

Avalon not only boasts phenomenal game products, but will also have a closed-loop ecosystem with Avalon Game Assistant as a key node.

How are the newcomers supposed to compete now?!

Capital is chasing after the next person who might create a blockbuster game.

This might succeed. But to catch up with Avalon? To catch up with this company that has quietly taken over R&D, publishing, operations, channels, and community?

almost impossible!
This is the most terrible.

What's even more frightening is that this is only the initial stage... Avalon Game Assistant's true power hasn't been fully unleashed yet!
Because there's still a lot that hasn't been released yet!
Avalon.

Inside the office.

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow.

Tang Yao sat behind her desk, put down the documents in her hand, and a smile that was both expected and slightly surprised appeared on her beautiful face: "With Avalon Game Assistant having this scale, everything will be much easier from now on..."

"Yes."

Li Xue nodded slightly, then paused briefly and asked, "By the way, Tang Yao, the person in charge of the 'Escape' project team is very proactive. They want to take advantage of the high popularity of the game assistant to launch a trial version on it, to collect feedback and build hype in advance. What do you think?"

“I know about this. I even went to the project team this morning. The idea is good, but it's not feasible right now.”

Tang Yao shook her head slightly and replied, "Whether it's Undertale, Outlast, or Left 4 Dead, they all still need polishing... Releasing them now might not provide a good experience and could actually dampen players' expectations."

"That……"

Li Xue frowned slightly, revealing a hint of regret: "The assistant platform is currently incredibly popular, with such high user activity. It feels like doing nothing would be a waste of this momentum?"

"Of course we won't do nothing!"

Tang Yao smiled brightly: "I went to the mobile game division this morning and everything is arranged. New versions of mobile games will be launched on the assistant platform one after another for pre-launch promotion and exclusive content disclosure."

And leading the charge is the new expansion for Hearthstone, with card previews, new mechanics analysis, login reward announcements... all premiering exclusively on the assistant app!

"Mobile game?"

Li Xue was slightly taken aback, clearly somewhat surprised. She subconsciously asked, "Is this... alright? Dungeon Fighter Online is currently the absolute focus of the PC game industry. Players are flocking to the assistant platform, and their core demands are all centered around Dungeon Fighter Online."

Will our sudden heavy promotion of mobile game content on the assistant app seem... disjointed? Or will it distract Dungeon & Fighter players?

"There will indeed be some issues in this regard, but they are not major problems."

Tang Yao gently shook her head: "With the massive daily active users of the assistant, we can't just focus on DNF. We need to fully leverage the platform's value and launch new mobile game versions. This is the lowest-cost and most efficient way to fill content gaps and can immediately transform the platform's popularity into a boost to the mobile game business."

And think about it, Ms. Li, players don't just play one game. Does playing Dungeon Fighter Online mean they can't play mobile games? That doesn't make sense. The overlap might be quite high. Once they've used up their fatigue points, we can put a preview of the new Hearthstone version on the homepage and maybe attract them to try it out.

Ultimately, whether it's a PC game or a mobile game, they are all games that bring joy.

Speaking of which.

She paused, then emphasized, "In addition, the platform also needs to define its positioning. We need to make players understand through our actions that Avalon Game Assistant is not just a launcher for DNF. It is the core entry point for the entire Avalon game. Here, whether it's PC or mobile games, players can see the latest, fastest, and most exclusive information, benefits, and community interactions."

DNF is undoubtedly the top game right now, but the platform must serve our entire ecosystem.

"This can be seen as paving the way for the future."

Tang Yao continued her analysis: "Once new games like Undertale and Outlast are polished and ready for promotion, players will already be used to seeing news about various Avalon games on the app store. When that happens, it will be a natural progression and not at all abrupt. Promoting mobile games now is also about cultivating this habit among users."

Of course, more importantly—DNF players are running out of fatigue points, they need to find something to do to pass the time, right? Instead of letting them play other games, why not let them play our own high-quality mobile games on our own platform! Let's keep the good stuff in the family!

Tang Yao straightened her back, her full curves trembling, and said something that would make Jiu Xiao and Yi You's blood pressure skyrocket and make them want to punch someone.

"..."

Looking at her beautiful female boss's adorable yet domineering demeanor, as if to say, "I'm going to use my own traffic to feed my own game and make the competitors furious," Li Xue's doubts vanished instantly. She couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I understand... Also, I know you have big breasts, you don't need to stick them out..."

"Holy crap! I'm serious!"

Tang Yao instantly lost her composure, her pretty face flushed slightly, and her previous air of authority vanished in an instant, replaced by a coquettish girl being teased by her best friend. She glared at Li Xue.

Li Xue chuckled softly, stopping her teasing and quickly composed herself: "I understand. Is there anything I need to do in return?"

"If we cooperate, then ANF will..."

Tang Yao watched as Li Xue quickly switched back to her dignified and professional mode, but there was nothing she could do but tell her about the upcoming arrangements.

Li Xue listened quietly.

His gaze involuntarily lingered on Tang Yao's face, where sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind her, casting a slanted glow on her delicate profile.

She spoke earnestly about budget coordination and resource prioritization, her speech clear and organized, revealing the decisiveness that belonged to a leader.

However, her small ears still had a faint, lovely blush, like the color of cherry blossoms in early spring. Her long eyelashes cast small fan-shaped shadows under her eyes, trembling slightly with the rhythm of her speech. The combination of a girl's unique shyness and a leader's calm wisdom was contradictory yet charming, truly... very alluring.

It's really nice.

...It would be great if I could only see it myself.

This thought slipped through the depths of Li Xue's heart without warning, carrying a sense of familiarity and almost possessiveness that Li Xue herself was not unfamiliar with.

She didn't know when it started...

All I know is that it became even stronger after I returned from the trip.

"That's about it." Tang Yao didn't have much to say, and she finished quickly.

then.

She seemed to sense that Li Xue's gaze had lingered for a while, and subconsciously looked up, tilting her head, her clear eyes asking with a hint of inquiry, "What's wrong?"

Their eyes met.

Li Xue's heart seemed to skip a beat for a moment, and a hint of guilt appeared on her beautiful face: "It's nothing... I understand."

"Huh? Really?"

"real."

"..."

Tang Yao looked at Li Xue with some suspicion.

Today, Li Xue wore a well-tailored off-white business suit, her full and proud figure as always, while her smooth, black hair was neatly tied back, revealing her smooth and full forehead and slender, fair neck.

She wore light, delicate makeup, with gentle eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, and bright red lips.

She exudes an intellectual and serene aura, and her mature and captivating beauty is like a lustrous pearl, its brilliance understated yet undeniable.

to be frank.

Tang Yao really liked Li Xue's outfit.

It's probably because no one is more youthful than her... Pshaw! It's probably because she herself is very young and can see herself in the mirror every day.

So compared to young ladies.

Tang Yao prefers mature older women.

For example, someone like Li Xue.

of course.

It's also possible that they drew the target before shooting the arrow... After all, Tang Yao doesn't have many friends. Apart from her younger sister, her only close friend is the mature older sister in front of her.

But whatever the case.

Every time Tang Yao saw Li Xue, she found her appearance pleasing to the eye and her mood improved.

Li Xue asked gently, "What's wrong?"

That fleeting thrill and the almost exposed panic were perfectly concealed beneath a calm and elegant exterior by someone with masterful composure.

"nothing."

Tang Yao noticed that Li Xue's expression hadn't changed, thinking that she must have seen wrong. She gently shook her head, then rested her snow-white chin on her hand, looked at the graceful and mature woman standing there, and suddenly said, "You're really beautiful, Miss Li."

"...What, are you going to do the same thing as before again?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xue's beautiful face flushed slightly. She reached out and smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt, then pulled over a chair and sat down, leaning closer to Tang Yao.

"..."

Tang Yao stiffened upon hearing this, glaring at Li Xue: "What do you mean, the same as before?"

"Take off all your clothes..."

"Bullshit! I only unbuttoned three buttons, okay?!"

Tang Yao, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, said, "Don't make it seem like I really did something to you..."

(End of this chapter)