Game Development: Starting with Recreating the Anime Game Style

Chapter 387 Stop Reading

More than a week has passed since the media offensive against Starry Sky Games was launched.

The expected compromise has yet to materialize.

Xingchen seemed completely unconcerned about the overwhelming negative comments online, which made Gaoqiao a little uncomfortable, since hiring online trolls also cost money.

Hiring an online troll every day without receiving payment is a real cost. Putting aside everything else, if Xingchen doesn't compromise, he himself might be the first to collapse.

Especially now, the FGO anniversary event has been updated, but Stardust still hasn't responded.

"The situation seems to be different from what we expected."

Takahashi wasn't the only one feeling anxious. Watanabe, the company's second-in-command, was also restless, constantly refreshing the webpage on his phone, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Public opinion has completely reversed after yesterday's FGO update. The comments from the people we arranged are now full of mockery and insults."

Takahashi was well aware that FGO had received rave reviews after the update.

But to deceive others, you must first deceive yourself. If you don't even believe in yourself, how can you expect others to give you money?

Therefore, upon hearing Watanabe's words, Takahashi didn't even raise an eyelid. He casually took out a cigar from the drawer, then a cigar cutter, and slowly and methodically processed the expensive Cuban cigar in his hand.

"Watanabe, when are you going to get rid of this impatience?"

"Public opinion? What is public opinion? It's like the wind, and the wind can change direction. If you ask me, you're still too young and don't know how to attack something."

"What netizens need now is not the truth, but emotions and stances. As long as you give them a pretext, they can start fighting on their own."

For a "fraudster," Takahashi's basic skills are quite strong.

Don't let his age fool you; even though he's over forty and has a bit of belly fat, he's a master at instigating conflict and stirring up emotions online.

More than a decade ago, the internet wasn't as developed, and newspapers and television were still the mainstream.

He dared to use the "Japan Game Industry Association" as a front, appearing on various programs, posing as an expert, and using a so-called "Game Industry Newspaper."

They're asking for "material costs" everywhere.

Times have changed, and the medium has changed from paper to screen, but human nature hasn't changed. Takahashi has his own way of threatening manufacturers to pay money.

"Didn't you say that FGO players are all praising this new gameplay as fun? It's a social phenomenon, right?"

"Then let's put it another way. Why would a game that focuses on story and character development create a gameplay style that encourages players to deceive and betray each other?"

"Isn't this promoting an unhealthy social value system? Creating rifts between friends and cheapening trust—isn't this a form of erosion of our young gamers by Huaxia Company?!"

"Have you considered how bad the consequences could be?"

"Find two thugs to fight, make them bleed, send the photos to Xingchen, and say that the two of them got into a fight while playing a game."

"The stronger the momentum of the new version of FGO, the less they dare to withstand the backlash from public opinion."

“If Xingchen doesn’t back down this time, it won’t just be a matter of the internet; I’ll make sure this news is in the newspapers! They won’t dare not pay.”

As Takahashi spoke, his expression was sinister, but in reality, he was already thinking about his escape route.

He did have connections to get these things published in the newspapers, but he never used them because, logically speaking, if the extortion attempt failed the first time, he should have given up.

The problem is, Hoshino is too lucrative a target, and Takahashi clearly sensed that someone was pushing him from behind, which is why he started a "tug-of-war of public opinion" with Hoshino.

Even so, if threatening to publish a notice in the newspaper still fails to make Xingchen back down, he will have no choice but to admit defeat.

If the fight continues, too many people will be involved. Watanabe, on the other side, obviously didn't think that much. He only saw the popularity of the FGO anniversary version and thought that this time it was all over. He never expected that Takahashi would actually make a move.

That's why he's the president of the company.

"President, you...you're a genius!"

"Hmph, what's so special about that?"

Takahashi took another puff of his cigar with a smug look on his face.

"In this world, there is nothing that cannot be attacked if you want to."

"There are idiots everywhere in this world. Why are we able to make money? It's not because we can stir up emotions, but because we can get these opinions onto the Japanese internet and into Japanese newspapers!"

"This is a dagger, understand?"

Watanabe nodded; he understood completely.

"Alright, just do as I said. Contact our people, prepare a new draft, and send it to Xingchen. Tell them we can wait a maximum of 24 hours."

"If you don't see the money within 24 hours, these kinds of news stories will appear in the newspapers."

"Yes! I'll do it right away!"

Watanabe responded excitedly and immediately turned to make a phone call. He felt full of energy and wished he could make those people from Starry Sky Company kneel down and beg for mercy right away.

However, he had just taken a step when the office door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

"boom!"

Watanabe bumped headfirst into the person who came, making a solid impact.

"Damn it! Have no eyes..."

Before he could even utter a word of abuse, he saw the tablet the other person was holding also fall to the ground. Watanabe's anger, which was about to erupt, was instantly extinguished by the photos on the tablet and the bold, enlarged black headlines.

The title is...

Sony Interactive Entertainment officially announced a deep strategic partnership with StarCraft Games.

~~~
a few hours ago.

Tokyo, Minato.

The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows in the president's office on the top floor of Sony Group headquarters.

Kazuo Hirai's personal assistant stood in front of the huge desk, reading today's morning news summary in a calm, even tone.

Asahi Shimbun Business Section: Fate spin-off game FGO achieves another miracle; FGO anniversary version sparks global craze, first-day revenue hits record high.

"Special Issue on the Frontiers of Gaming: From the explosive popularity of 'The Feast of the Pseudo-Holy Grail' to the underlying logic and commercial prospects of social-driven gameplay, StarCraft Games may lead a new industry revolution."

"Yahoo News Headline: Phenomenal! FGO's New Mode Tops Apple App Store Bestseller List in Nine Regions Worldwide; Japanese Servers Undergo Emergency Expansion Several Times Yesterday..."

Tokyo Shimbun: "Fate/Grand Order (FGO) is a huge hit in the US! Japanese anime culture is sweeping the globe!"

After another news brief was read.

Kazuo Hirai's mind was almost entirely occupied by the words "Star Game".

(End of this chapter)