Game Development: Starting with Recreating the Anime Game Style

Chapter 272: Curled Lips
"Tch..." WA2000 curled her lip and muttered under her breath, "So what if you can cook? What's so great about that... I, I can cook too!"

She stormed to a stove, mimicking A-017, and started fiddling with the ingredients. However, reality was far from her ideal.

A few minutes later, a pungent, burnt smell successfully drew everyone's attention.

WA2000's face flushed red as he looked at the black, indescribable object in the pot.

"This, this was just an accident! I just didn't control the heat properly! It's not that I don't know how to do it!" The girl stubbornly insisted while frantically trying to salvage the situation, only making things more chaotic.

"Wow! Springfield, look! A-017 is amazing! The Commander is having such a good time! We can't let her steal the spotlight!!"

The Type 97 hopped over to Springfield like a little rabbit, and a brilliant idea flashed into my mind.

"Springfield, Springfield! You should cook for the Commander too! Wear that... what's it called again... the naked apron!"

Springfield's smile froze for a moment. She lowered her head and asked in an extremely gentle yet slightly dangerous tone.

"97, can you tell me where you learned all this...rubbish?"

"Huh? I saw this online. They say it's the ultimate way to express love to someone you like..."

The Type 97 fighters, unaware of the seriousness of the problem, remained enthusiastic.

"Really?" Springfield's smile grew even more "gentle." "Come to my room later, and we'll have a good 'talk' about cybersecurity."

A chill ran down the back of his neck as he instinctively sensed the murderous intent.

As a side story of the event, this grand "battle to protect the kitchen" finally came to an end thanks to A-017's heroic efforts and WA2000's several attempts to "explode".

On the second day.

After finishing his official duties, the commander returned to his office and prepared to make a cup of coffee to refresh himself.

There was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and Type 95 walked in. She still had that gentle and quiet demeanor, only with a barely perceptible blush on her face.

She didn't say much, but silently placed an insulated food container on the commander's desk.

"Commander, this is something I... tried to make according to a recipe from my hometown. If you don't mind, please have some."

The commander opened the food box, and a rich aroma of soy sauce wafted out. Just then, the door opened, and A-017's adorable figure appeared in the doorway.
~~~
This is roughly the plot of one of the side events in "Final Battlefront".

There are one or two similar side quests in each major version, which are basically pure "sweet" storylines and side quests made to "sell skins".

For example, in version 1.4, there was the ability to accompany a humanoid figure while shopping.

However, even so, there are quite a few players in the Final Frontline player base who come specifically to play these side quests after each major update.

Because these side quests require less brainpower compared to the main storyline, and sometimes the fan service CGs and animation clips are quite tempting.

Take this side event for example, there is one.

FAL, clutching compressed biscuits and dressed in a maid outfit, tears welling in her eyes, said, "Feed me, or I'll cry." The Commander reached out, biscuit crumbs landing on her lips, and FAL gently bit her fingertip, holding the CG in her mouth. Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Springfield was secretly trying on an apron when the Commander unexpectedly entered and saw her.

WA2000 was holding a dark, unappealing object, clearly disappointed. But then she saw the Commander take a big gulp and immediately faint. Terrified, she rushed over to hug the Commander, only to discover that he was just using her stocking lap pillow CG as a prank.

Even if you know that this is "The Final Front" giving you sweet moments.

But the players, like pouting lips, remained enthusiastic and kept asking for more.
Hmm... seems we've gone a bit too far off track?
In short, in the world of "Final Battlefront", familiar elements are often used to "anchor" the world view in order to make the plot more realistic.

For example, this legendary, incredibly unpalatable AB ration appears in many side stories and is always brought up by the dolls as a source of吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to criticize or complain about), all in order to "anchor" the characters.

This allows players to unconsciously develop a more three-dimensional perception of the characters, making it easier for them to feel that the characters "truly live in a certain world."

Therefore, when developing the surrounding area.

Their peripheral products are less about making food and more about creating an experience.

Just like when we were kids watching Doraemon, we were always curious about what dorayaki tasted like, so players are naturally curious about the ABC rations that the characters talk about.

They wanted to know just how delicious the C version was that it could make their in-game wives so happy.
They also wanted to know just how awful the A and B versions were, that even seasoned humanoids would turn pale at the mere mention of them.
This curiosity directly translated into purchasing power.

Countless players, even knowing that two of them might not suit their taste, are still willing to pay money for a complete "experience".

In addition, this "discrepancy in taste" itself provides many video creators with excellent material that is almost tailor-made for them.

Since the peripheral products were launched, Xingchen hasn't given many commercial orders, but related review videos have been emerging one after another.

Not only in China, but also on YouTube in Europe and America, and on Nico Nico Douga in Japan, there are many people who have this talent.

Their reaction, much like that of Japanese tourists visiting Shanghai, seemed to follow a predictable "formula."
Generally, they first open the C-grade product with great anticipation, then, after tasting it, they show expressions of ecstasy and exclaim, "It truly lives up to its reputation!"

Then, amidst a barrage of "high-energy warning" comments, they fearlessly disassembled either version A or version B, and the moment they bit down, their facial expressions instantly went out of control, ranging from pain and contortion to blank stares.

"Brothers, I finally understand why FAL is so annoying. It's not something you can eat!"

"After eating C, I felt like I had gone through a roller coaster ride in my life."

"No wonder the characters in the game ask if it's the C type as soon as they hear about eating rations. This taste really does have that 'real flavor'!"

These review videos not only brought free exposure, but also further strengthened the product's "meme culture" attributes, and quite a few people actually bought it.

~~~
Yue Xiuyuan reported this matter to express that "the boss is wise," but after the report, Chu Chen's expression did not change much.

Fortunately, the conversation between the two did indeed turn to the shopping malls around Xingchen.

Unlike most domestic ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) game developers who don't pay much attention to peripheral departments.

Chu Chen attaches great importance to the sales of Xingchen's merchandise.

The Starry Night merchandise store is the company's second core business, second only to games.

This core business is not just talk. From last year to this year, Chu Chen has not only personally designed the surrounding area, but also paid close attention to the business of the shopping malls around Xingchen.

(End of this chapter)