Started as a comics editor

Chapter 281 Taking a Step Forward

"Damn, I'm so envious..."

Discussion forum for "Chainsaw Man".

The exclamation from the user with the ID 'Machima's Dog' was like a pebble thrown into a calm pond, instantly creating ripples.

The number of replies to the post exploded instantly.

"Envy +1. Look at how their FGO-themed homepage is flooded with amazing posts, analyses, and fan art. You can practically hear the official backend making money through the screen!"

"It's more than just envy! It's like sitting under a lemon tree, so sour it'll make your teeth fall out! Our Chainsaw Man is so cool, so cult, so free! And what's the result? Not a single word about a game adaptation! An animated version is just a dream! Nothing at all! Watching the other side celebrate, we can only stare and eat lemons!"

"Exactly! This time, the sixth singularity of FGO was written by a third-rate author! He should be considered a high-ranking member in Avalon, right? How can they show favoritism? Doesn't your Chainsaw Man deserve a mention? I feel that many of Chainsaw Man's settings are quite suitable for the game. Why should the game players celebrate while we comic book readers can only silently feel envious? This is not fair!"

"Upstairs, the mediums are different... FGO's own setting is too unique; the subsequent settings are simply born for games, making the transformation natural. Chainsaw Man is different; that kind of madness and chaos is very challenging to perfectly translate into game mechanics and narrative. And to be honest, for games of this type, one top-tier representative like FGO might be enough..."

"I understand the logic! But I just want it! I still want to see the bad woman's character art card, the five-star limited gacha [Makima]! I'm going to spend all my money! Especially after seeing the frenzy surrounding FGO."

"Yes, yes, yes! What we're missing is this concrete medium! This is exactly what we're looking for! Daddy Avalon! Look at your child! Let's create a multimedia project for Chainsaw Man! Let's go crazy! Let's be insane! Let's be more free and more cult than FGO!"

"Even though they're all works by third-rate teachers, they're still deeply connected. They're all equally valuable; don't favor one over the other!"

"Waaaaah, seeing them discussing Bedivere so enthusiastically, I also want to have an in-depth discussion with someone about whether Makima is a bad woman or whether Pava is a true brother! Let's have some multimedia projects! Please!"

"..."

Forum section.

A sour feeling, a mixture of intense longing, restlessness, and a subtle dissatisfaction with resource allocation, permeated the forum.

The success of FGO Chapter 6 is like a mirror that shines too brightly, reflecting Avalon's terrifying IP operation and content conversion capabilities, and making Chainsaw Man readers' expectations for the multimedia operation of their own works soar to the peak.

On the other hand, it also made them feel a strong sense of anxiety that their limelight was being stolen and when it would be my turn to appreciate my work.

That phrase, "I'm so envious," perfectly captures the complex emotions of all comic book fans at this moment—both proud of the platform's power and bittersweet at the fact that their own treasures haven't received the same level of recognition.

The center of the storm.

Inside Avalon.

Tang Yao's office.

"……what?"

Tang Yao looked at the Chainsaw Man section on the screen, which was practically overflowing with sour lemons, and tossed her ponytail, half-laughing and half-crying: "Can you even be sour about this? What kind of nonsense is this..."

To outsiders, she, the head of Avalon, seems to be fully focused on games and the platform ecosystem, with little attention paid to comics.

But the truth is quite the opposite. How could she not pay attention to Avalon, the foundation upon which it started?
She still pays close attention, especially after Chainsaw Man became the top comic book.

But she never expected it.

This attention... will lead to a collective feeling of envy among comic book readers.

No.

Tang Yao rubbed her temples, trying to recall fragments of her past life's memories.

In her understanding, such cross-media multimedia projects, especially those involving gamification, often elicit either concern or resistance from the original readers in the early stages.
It's highly unlikely that such fervent anticipation would arise, let alone escalate into envy, jealousy, or even hatred...

Anime adaptations are fine; most readers have a forgiving attitude that "being adapted into an anime is a victory," and at most they worry about the production quality.

But gamification? That's a recipe for disaster.

Even with an anime adaptation, readers of the original work would still have concerns.

There's nothing we can do about it.

There are too many examples of related failures.

Games… Tang Yao couldn’t help but recall the multimedia projects she knew from her previous life, and it seemed that very few of them could be successfully implemented.

Although those super IPs have no shortage of games, such as One Piece and Naruto, there are actually quite a few related games.

But there aren't many that are truly well-known.

At this moment, Tang Yao even thought of a relatively old IP.

Sword Art Online.

This work itself is based on the core concept of virtual reality online games, so it should be a perfect match to adapt it into a game. However, what was the result?

Tang Yao recalled some terrible controls and empty game content, and her expression instantly became extremely strange, as if she had eaten something unclean.

Go away, go away...

She immediately shook her head vigorously, banishing those unpleasant memories from her mind, and instead turned her attention back to the forum.

To be honest, quite a few multimedia projects here have failed. When she was an editor, she knew about this kind of thing.

and so.

Why are these comic book readers feeling so envious?

Is it because of myself?
Emmm...

It seems really possible.

After all, FGO originated from a manga, and it was the manga that propelled FGO to success.

Now, aside from the observation route, the game has gradually deviated from the original manga. Under Avalon's management, it has not only been successfully gamified, but has also reached the top of the anime game field, creating phenomenal success and terrifying commercial value.

This real-life success story, happening right next door, greatly reduced readers' natural resistance to the risks of gamification, instead igniting their huge expectations—if a third-rate author and Avalon could make the Fate game so good, why can't Chainsaw Man? We also want to enjoy the joy of upgrading from comic book readers to game players! The happiness of being able to draw waifu/husband cards!

Especially now that FGO Chapter 6 has been released.

A third-rate writer copied the script for the sixth chapter of "Fengshen" (a popular Chinese web novel), proving his top-notch storytelling and character development abilities. Readers subconsciously believe that if a third-rate writer were to lead or be deeply involved in a "Chainsaw Man" game adaptation, the quality would definitely be excellent! It might even create a new miracle, like FGO (Fate/Grand Order).

But unfortunately, none of this... happened.

So, while FGO players next door were celebrating the new chapters and gacha pools, enjoying top-notch storylines, characters, and community interactions, their beloved Chainsaw Man only had the comics. Although the quality was top-notch, the feeling of unequal resource distribution caused by this comparison was amplified infinitely under the catalysis of the third-rate author, a common source of creation, and eventually fermented into a strong sense of sourness and a strong demand.

In short...

Make one for us too.JPG

"..."

Tang Yao's expression became even stranger when she thought of those words. She said helplessly, "It's not that we're not afraid of things going wrong, it's that we have too much confidence in the combination of the third-rate teacher and Avalon... we've even blindly trusted them, haven't we?"

She understands the truth.

But here's the thing.

Your third-rate teacher doesn't know what to do either.JPG

Although Avalon is growing bigger and bigger, the channels she envisions are still far from being realized.

Currently, Avalon often relies on her... or more accurately, on her experience.

As for Tang Yao's direction for adapting "Chainsaw Man" into a game... she really didn't have a good idea. She couldn't just make a gacha game with cute girls by following the original script, could she?

Too risky.

Tang Yao was not willing to take any risks at this stage.

After all.

We still need to stick to the plan and establish the Avalon Game Assistant channel first. Avalon can't launch too many random projects right now because the trend hasn't formed yet. A new game with unknown commercial value and no direction is too early for Avalon...

But what if Avalon Game Assistant becomes the channel she envisions?

Then the situation would be completely different.

A comprehensive game library, and users with a high acceptance of all game genres...

If it really comes to that, it will undoubtedly become a breeding ground for game innovation, where every developer can find opportunities to realize their ideas.

This includes the direction of her "Chainsaw Man" adaptation, which she doesn't have any ideas about yet.

and so.

The most important thing now is to first present these three unique single-player games and get them logged into Avalon Game Assistant, gradually changing and cultivating players' habits.

"Three new games, comic book readers are green with envy, and the pressure of being a third-rate teacher is immense..."

Tang Yao slumped back in her office chair, letting out a long breath, trying to dispel the subtle pressure brought by the sea of ​​lemons on the screen. She subconsciously shifted her chair, and her beautiful long legs, perfectly outlined by her skinny jeans, swayed gently without her notches touching the floor.

at this time.

The office door was knocked twice and then pushed open.

Li Xue walked in carrying a stack of documents, her steps light and efficient.

She had just looked up to give her report when her gaze fell upon the scene behind the desk, causing her to pause almost imperceptibly in her steps and words.

Her boss, the helmsman of Avalon, a third-rate teacher who just created a phenomenal success in the mobile game industry, is currently sprawled out in a chair without any regard for his image, like a salted fish...

But the good news is that even sitting idly by doesn't diminish her charm.

She lay on the chair, sunlight filtering through the blinds and casting soft dappled patterns on her body, tracing the delicate profile of her face. A few unruly strands of hair fell across her smooth forehead and cheeks. Her exquisitely beautiful face was slightly furrowed, her rosy lips unconsciously pursed, glowing with a healthy and alluring pink hue. Her clear eyes stared at the ceiling, as if deep in thought.

Her long, swaying legs were particularly eye-catching. They were long and straight, and the lines of her legs were as smooth as a work of art under the tight jeans. With the slight movement of her toes touching the ground, she exuded a lazy yet adorably innocent girlish charm.

It's really long and straight...

Moreover, her skin was so fair it seemed to glow, flawless, and perfectly proportioned that it was astonishing...

For that matter.

Li Xue, who had soaked in the hot springs with him before, has a lot to say about this.

to be frank.

Li Xue had secretly discussed this with Xun, and they both agreed that Tang Yao was definitely the most beautiful girl they knew, without a doubt.

Her appearance and figure are absolutely flawless, enough to make two people of the same sex extremely envious...

Most importantly, that kind of beauty is not just about delicate facial features or a perfect figure, but a unique temperament formed by a blend of intelligence, courage, and occasional vividness.

of course.

The two of them dared not tell Tang Yao this.

Because you'll get pinched.

"cough."

Li Xue forcibly pulled her wandering thoughts back, cleared her throat, and turned her gaze away from Tang Yao: "Tang Yao, the FGO project team's first day's battle report has been preliminarily compiled, and the data... is quite astonishing."

"Miss Li."

Tang Yao suddenly realized what was happening, feeling a little embarrassed. She quickly sat up straight, ran her hand through her hair, and asked, "The data is quite astonishing?"

"Ah."

Li Xue stepped forward and placed the report containing key data in front of Tang Yao, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and pride:

"Since the new version was launched, revenue has exceeded 1 million! And the growth curve remains steep, far exceeding the most optimistic upper limit of all our internal forecast models!"

"During this period, the daily active users of the FGO section of the ANF community surged by 350%! The total number of new posts and replies was more than five times the historical peak!"

"Across the entire internet, on any platform related to anime and manga, core keywords such as 'Sacred Round Table Realm,' 'Bedewell,' and 'The Lion King' are all trending topics, with related posts receiving far more views and discussions than ever before. Players' enthusiasm for spontaneously promoting these topics is unprecedented."

"Player reviews are also excellent! The mainstream community comments are 'God-tier,' 'the pinnacle of storyline,' and 'Avalon and the third-rate author are amazing!' Negative reviews are almost negligible, and players are in a state of extreme excitement and satisfaction!"

"In addition, Avalon Game Assistant's daily new downloads and active users have reached an unprecedented peak due to the terrifying driving effect of FGO. The platform's user stickiness and usage time have been significantly improved, and the closed-loop effect of the ecosystem has been perfectly verified."

After reciting the key data in one breath, Li Xue's face flushed slightly with excitement. She said softly, "We succeeded, and it was a phenomenal success. The quality of Chapter Six, player feedback, and commercial returns perfectly demonstrate your content-is-king strategy. The entire project team is ecstatic."

"..."

Tang Yao didn't rush to speak, but quickly scanned the dazzling numbers on the report.

Then, the subtle annoyance and pressure that had just arisen from the lemons of the Chainsaw Man readers were instantly swept away by the enormous, real joy of victory, and a surge of pride welled up within me.

"Great, now I'm even more confident about the release of the three new games."

Tang Yao put down the documents, turned to look at the screen again, her beautiful eyes thoughtful: "The scale is already sufficient... Next, let's see how the three new games perform."

"..."

Li Xue knew exactly what Tang Yao was talking about... Tang Yao had already told her about her plan.

She was just a little curious as to why Tang Yao was staring at the screen.

and so.

She followed Tang Yao's gaze, and then, seeing the Chainsaw Man readers who were clearly jealous, she couldn't help but laugh and cry. Looking at Tang Yao's beautiful face, she said, "It seems the reputation of being a third-rate teacher has caused you some trouble..."

Tang Yao glared at Li Xue lightly: "...So long-winded."

Li Xue held the documents, her beautiful face full of smiles, completely unconcerned.

"..."

Tang Yao didn't say anything more, but after thinking for a moment, she said softly, "It's said that we'll see how the three new games perform, but it's still necessary to give them some support. For example, horror games have a unique advantage in live streaming."

Li Xue was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then asked curiously, "Are you going to do a live stream again?"

Tang Yao immediately said, "I don't want to!"

Li Xue tilted her head: "But we have no choice but to do it?"

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"No!"

"No? I'll tell you."

Tang Yao glared at Li Xue again: "We're tied together, if I were to do a live stream, I'd drag you along! So you could get scared with me! I don't know who it was that hugged me and said they'd do anything as long as we didn't play Outlast..."

"..."

Li Xuerou's beautiful face instantly flushed with a distinct blush, which spread all the way to her ears.

She also recalled what had happened back then and gave Tang Yao a light, disdainful look.

But let’s be honest.

Li Xue pursed her glossy red lips, a smile appearing on her face.

She didn't seem to mind too much.

Although I was quite frightened at the time, I did it subconsciously.

But... actually, it feels pretty good to have someone to rely on.

She was happy to act this way in front of Tang Yao, for some reason.

Anyway, I'm happy to.

the other side.

Tang Yao had no idea what Li Xue was thinking, and instead looked back at the screen.

...The next three new games are the real highlight.

Hope everything goes well.

(End of this chapter)