Game Development: Starting with Recreating the Anime Game Style

Chapter 22 A Pair of Large Hands

The development of games seems quite mysterious to outsiders.

In reality, making games is both difficult and easy.

It's difficult because game development is a systematic project with countless production lines between various departments. If any link gets stuck, the entire subsequent process will be affected.

But if you're talking about difficulties, the game production itself isn't actually that difficult in theory.

Essentially, once you've finalized the project schedule, the rest is simply a matter of following the schedule step by step.

However, a theory is called a theory for a reason.

This is because, in reality, perfectly executing a project schedule is almost an impossible task.

As mentioned earlier, the game development industry is such that a small change can have far-reaching consequences. Every seemingly minor change can trigger a series of chain reactions.

If the game designers make a slight adjustment to the gameplay, the programmers might have to refactor the code; if the artists change the texture style, the scene design might have to be completely redesigned.

Not to mention that most game developers have absolutely no concept of project management.

One idea today, another thought tomorrow.

Project delays and budget overruns are commonplace.

Almost everyone in the industry is used to pushing projects forward amidst chaos and firefighting. Being able to finish a game on time, even with a bunch of bugs, is considered a stroke of good luck.

This is also true.

When Xiang Lixuan spent half a day in Xingchen's conference room, watching through the conference room door as Xingchen Games' employees truly followed the project schedule step by step, he realized that the project was progressing smoothly.

I feel like my entire worldview is about to be reshaped.

Good heavens! On the walls of their office, there are even several department project progress charts hanging. Every time a project is completed, someone goes up and checks it off!
While this allows each project to clearly understand the other's progress, thus enabling them to coordinate their work.

But Xiang Lixuan still wanted to say something.

Is this something a human can do?
When Xiang Lixuan came in this morning, he thought those whiteboards were just decorations! Like the progress charts hanging in their department's office...
He never expected that anyone could actually use this workflow that only existed in PowerPoint.

Of course, it's not to say that there were no problems during the development of Starry Night Games.

That morning, before Chu Chen arrived, Xiang Lixuan had also seen arguments and even quarrels among these employees.

This indicates that there are still problems in the project's progress.

However, these problems were resolved within half an hour of Chu Chen arriving at the company.

That solved almost everything.

That's terrifying.

Although Xiang Lixuan has never personally developed a game, he has invested in and been in contact with quite a few game studios.

The project leaders of these projects are all extremely stressed and overwhelmed.

He's more skilled at writing project delay notices to investors than at writing development logs.

Someone like Chu Chen, who can solve problems so quickly...
Not just scarce, there were practically none.

To achieve this level of expertise, the person in charge must have a thorough understanding of the entire project, from the programming and underlying architecture to the art style and precision requirements, and from the planning documents to the sound effects details.

Only by mastering all the details can we quickly resolve the problems encountered by various departments.

However, is this really something a human can do?

This isn't management, it's art. Xiang Lixuan thought to himself, witnessing firsthand Xingchen Games' near-perfect project management model was quite a shock to someone who had been immersed in the industry for many years and had seen all sorts of makeshift teams.

This Chu Chen is indeed quite capable.

However, appreciation is appreciation.

He sat here all morning waiting for Chu Chen, and it wasn't just to observe and learn.

The reason he shamelessly came here again early this morning is because this morning, the front pages of major gaming media outlets were almost all filled with the same story.

[Multiple Tencent games launch auto chess gameplay on the same day!]

Below the news headline, a long list of familiar names was displayed.

League of Legends, Honor of Kings, and even Dungeon Fighter Online
These flagship Tencent products, each with a massive user base and a strong presence in their respective fields, seem to have made a pact to simultaneously release previews of their built-in "auto chess" features today.

However, these news reports were somewhat embarrassing for Xiang Lixuan.

Because he's currently playing on Starry Sky Games, and the screenshots accompanying these news articles look all too familiar.

Especially in DNF, since all the characters are 2D and viewed from a 45° angle, the layout of the chessboard, the scenes, and even the design of using various characters with different weapons as chess pieces are all very interesting.

Both exhibit a striking resemblance to the auto-chess mode of "Final Battlefront".

Insiders might euphemistically call it "borrowing," but such borrowing cannot be described as highly similar; it can only be described as identical.

In the words of gamers, this is called a "pixel-perfect tribute."

These news reports came in droves, seemingly a huge amount of information, but in essence, they all boiled down to one message.

That is, Tencent, this behemoth, has finally stretched out its all-encompassing hand.

Moreover, because of this timeline of "Final Frontiers," the barrier to entry for players is lower, the lower price leads to a faster spread of influence, higher popularity, and a seemingly stronger momentum.

Therefore, Tencent's actions are different from those of the past.

It is also faster, more swift, and more brutal.

Keep in mind that this was only half a month after the release of "Final Front".

If we consider that some basic art assets need to be created before these contents are released, then it is highly likely that Tencent launched these projects immediately after Chu Chen refused to invest.

For a large company like Tencent, this efficiency is quite high.

"Mr. Chen, about this morning's news..."

"You may not be aware that our internal investment department and game development department at Tencent have always operated as two separate business lines."

As soon as he said this, even Xiang Lixuan himself felt it was a bit dry, but after all, he was a professional.

Lying through your teeth is an essential skill.

"I came over as soon as I received the news."

"However, Mr. Chen doesn't really need to worry too much about market competition."

"As long as Xingchen is willing to accept our investment and give up 50% of its shares, I can guarantee you that Tencent can provide full support in terms of subsequent publicity resources, channels, and traffic for the final battle."

"Furthermore, we can stipulate in the contract that, apart from basic operations and promotion, we will never interfere with your production."

(End of this chapter)