Game Development: Starting with Recreating the Anime Game Style

Chapter 366 Such a Variety Show
"Relax, everyone. It's not like we're going to the execution ground."

Chu Chen walked onto the stage with a cue card in hand and tested the sound into the microphone.

Because of his appearance on the show, Chu Chen changed into a more casual hoodie, which had a prominent Chaldea logo on it, clearly indicating that it was another piece of clothing from Starry Night merchandise.

"Let's finish this quickly today and try to get it over with as soon as possible so everyone can have dinner."

His words did not ease the tension; instead, they made many people shrink back in shock.

"It's good enough if we can have a late-night snack after dinner."

Bai Ruilin heard someone whispering beside him and nodded in agreement.

Although each episode of the "Torture Plan" is officially broadcast for 30 minutes, it would take about two hours to record in order to edit out 30 minutes of highlights.

Today we have to record two more episodes, and it might take even longer, but thankfully it only happens once a month.

"Alright, enough chit-chat, let's begin!"

Chu Chen sat down on one of the sofas, and the director below the stage immediately understood, and the program began recording.

Don't let Chu Chen's profession as a game producer fool you; when it comes to "variety show" experience, he's a veteran, having worked his way up from 16 to now. In the beginning, Chu Chen might have been a little awkward recording shows.

However, there are no problems at all now.

After the opening remarks, the scene quickly shifted to the logo of a game – "Code: Starfall".

In the audience, a middle-aged man in his late 30s with black-rimmed glasses and a receding hairline visibly stiffened. Bai Ruilin recognized him; he was Zhang Xiashan, the founder of "Firefly Studio".

A veteran who has been working in the industry for over a decade, his games may not be outstanding, but they are consistently stable.

"Old Zhang, come up and sit down."

Chu Chen smiled and waved.

Zhang Xiashan took a deep breath, forced a smile, and sat down on the sofa opposite Chu Chen.

"Don't be nervous, let's see the players' initial feedback first."

Chu Chen gestured.

With the emergence of Project Star and the Star Platform, this world has many more "new" games compared to its previous existence, and "Code: Starfall" is one of them.

This is a standard sci-fi post-apocalyptic anime-style game.

Set in the near future, a catastrophe known as "Starfall" brought countless alien crystals containing mysterious energy. These crystals polluted Earth's environment, giving rise to various grotesque monsters called "Aberrants," but also enabled humanity to master new technologies.

In order to fight against the apocalypse, humanity established an organization called "Ark," which selected girls who could resonate with crystals, dressed them in specially made mechs, and made them "Star Knights" to fight for the survival of humanity.

In short, this is a mecha-themed game that inherits the PVE framework of "Final Front" and then optimizes the combat system.

This kind of game, which is "optimized" based on the framework of a successful game, is very common in both the previous life and this timeline.

However, the definition of a successful game may differ between the two timelines.

It's highly unlikely that this type of game will become a huge hit.

However, with its mature gameplay and a touch of thematic differentiation, making a living is no problem at all.

Just like this: Code Name: Starfall

The main focus is on latex clothing, which is a relatively niche area of ​​fantasy. Actually, latex clothing isn't exactly niche, since characters like Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu from EVA are quite well-known.

Furthermore, "Code: Starfall" also considered "practicality," innovatively using the XP Fusion Card and not entirely fixating on the recreation of the latex combat suit. Instead, it added new elements to the traditional foundation.

For example, the game's mascot, codenamed "Snowy Owl".

With long silver hair, azure eyes, and a cool expression, she is the quintessential "three-no" girl template.

She wore a streamlined latex suit, predominantly white, exuding a futuristic feel. However, what truly caught the eye was the design of the suit itself.

It is not a traditional full-body cover-up, but rather adopts a design that incorporates elements of competitive swimwear, with pure white over-the-knee stockings that cover the girl's slender legs from the upper thigh down.

The top of the stockings is connected to the main body of the latex suit by a faintly glowing blue energy ring, making it look like a sci-fi garter stocking while perfectly showcasing that absolute territory.

Technology and pandering to otaku culture achieved a surprising harmony at this moment.

Next to "Snowy Owl" is a character codenamed "Night Raven".

She had short, neat black hair, sharp eyes, and a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. Her latex suit was pure black with scarlet lines, and the material resembled smooth leather or latex, taut and outlining her taut and explosive body curves.

This approach of using the new XP to lure people in is still quite effective at the moment.

Therefore, there are still quite a few players looking forward to this game in a small circle, and StarCraft has also invested money, so the development progress is relatively stable.

With Zhang Xiashan's appearance.

On the screen behind Chu Chen, some comments from players during the "gray-scale test" began to scroll, along with data charts from the "gray-scale test".

"I give the art a perfect score, and the Snowy Owl wife is absolutely amazing!!"

"To be honest, the quality of this character art is no worse than any other game on the market!"

"Firefly Studio understands us LSPs, the designer deserves a bonus!"

The first few comments eased Zhang Xiashan's tense expression slightly, and the camera gave him several close-ups.

However, the show was called "Torture Planner," not "Praise Contest," so the style on the screen quickly changed, and the comments also changed.

"The art style is really good, but why am I in jail in the game?"

"I played for half an hour and still don't understand what I'm doing. The combat feels weak and lacks impact."

"The plot is too clichéd, it's just another cute girl fighting monsters to save the world, can't we come up with something new? And the main character is portrayed too strangely."

"Summary: A game with a top-notch exterior, but an incredibly empty soul."

Zhang Xiashan's expression also changed.

On the screen, the data chart of the approval rating clearly shows that in this gray-scale test, the players' satisfaction with the art was as high as 95%.

Satisfaction with the gameplay and storyline was only 52% and 41%, respectively.

This data is clearly somewhat disappointing.

Interestingly, such data would have been considered groundbreaking in the gaming industry in 17 or 18.

After all, in that era, many second-generation games actually focused on selling character illustrations.

However, in this timeline, because of the "beautiful example" of Starry Sky, both the developers and players in this timeline have a lower tolerance for gameplay and storyline.

Therefore, upon hearing this data, Zhang Xiashan's forehead broke out in a fine layer of sweat.

(End of this chapter)