Game Development: Starting with Recreating the Anime Game Style

Chapter 620 Ordinary Netizen Chu Chen

Why did the domestic authorities react so strongly?

The reason is actually very simple.

For them, this was a completely unexpected and delightful surprise, a stroke of good luck.

For domestic gamers who know a little about games, StarCraft's appearance at E3 this year was actually somewhat foreshadowed, although they were still quite surprised.

But there are always clues to follow.

But for people who don't follow the gaming industry closely, StarCraft's sudden burst of popularity at E3 was practically like seeing a ghost.

Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a special call to give him this instruction.

That's why I'm making a special mention of it.

It's precisely because, before Yang Ding was sent, it was clear that even the higher-ups hadn't anticipated such a massive explosion of information, that there was this feeling of "Shouldn't I have sent someone even more capable?"

"Is Yang Ding any good? He won't be a hindrance."

Idea.

That's why I ask about the work progress so frequently.
While his mind was wandering, Yang Ding didn't forget his job.

“Recategorize all materials according to timeline and theme.”

"Media reports are categorized into one group, player reactions into another, and on-site interviews into yet another. Also, the daily data for the Starry Night online event must be tracked by a dedicated person and compiled into data charts—the most intuitive kind possible!"

After arranging his work, Yang Ding walked to the window, drew back the hotel's heavy curtains, and saw the Los Angeles night view unfold like a star map, bustling and dazzling.

He looked at the lights in the distance, but a name involuntarily popped into his mind.

Chu Chen.

What is he doing now, when he caused such a stir in the global gaming industry?
~~~
What is Chu Chen doing?
He is attending a dinner hosted by the E3 expo organizers.

In previous years, there has never been a tradition of holding an official dinner at E3. After the exhibition, everyone goes home and goes back to their own families. At most, a few familiar manufacturers will organize a small gathering privately.

But this year is different. Back when they signed with E3, StarCraft proactively sponsored a considerable sum of money specifically for the developer gathering.

With a willing sucker footing the bill, the organizers of E3 were naturally happy to go along with it.

The banquet was held in a star-rated hotel, which not only had a lobby but also a large terrace, and outside there was a huge Starry Sky gaming platform and an E3 gaming exhibition area.

There was even a media interview area.

It's no exaggeration to say that with this setup, without Chu Chen as the "sucker," even if you put a gun to the E3 organizing committee's head, they probably wouldn't be willing to do it.

Because of their "sincerity," a large number of people attended tonight; basically, all the big names in the global gaming industry were there, and that's no exaggeration.

Those present included major companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, as well as PC platform manufacturers such as StarCraft, Steam, and EPIC, and numerous representatives from various other companies, both large and small.

The venue must be quite large, otherwise it might not be able to fit everything.

The dinner was a classic American buffet, with long tables covered with white tablecloths and laden with delicious food. However, on this occasion, very few people actually had the time or inclination to savor the food.

This was especially true for Hori Miona and the other Nogizaka46 girls next to her.

At this moment, these beautiful girls felt like cats who had wandered into the land of giants. As members of Nogizaka46, they had come with people from Sony Music.

The reason we came here is that Sony Music insisted on showcasing the Sakamichi Idol game, which they had previously co-developed with Starry Sky.

Even though this game is currently just a PowerPoint presentation and doesn't even have a gameplay demo, that doesn't stop Sony Music from trying to ride the wave of popularity.

Sony Music still has big ambitions right now.

On one hand, Nogizaka46 was at the peak of its popularity at this time, and its popular members were still around. Sony's idea was to push it to even higher levels.

On the other hand, as StarCraft's influence in Japan grew, and after Nogizaka46 signed on as StarCraft Japan's spokesperson, Sony Music also began to target Japanese gamers.

Just like how the stars want to attract people from outside their circle into their own world.

Sony also wants to attract more people to pay attention to the young idols.

So they hit it off immediately and not only did they put together some shows featuring young idols playing games in Japan, but they also sent a few members to E3 to support them.

This is certainly not a bad thing for an idol group. Hori Miona and the other girls are essentially on a paid trip, so they definitely won't lose out.

However, the situation at the dinner party was rather awkward for the group.

Throughout the event, several "groups" were clearly visible. For example, at this moment, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Sean was holding a glass of whiskey, surrounded by a group of publishers and partners in suits, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.

Not far away, Phil Spencer of Microsoft's Xbox division was also surrounded by a group of people, and the atmosphere was equally enthusiastic.

Outside of these clearly defined circles, the most eye-catching is...

It was undoubtedly Chu Chen and the people around him.

It's no exaggeration to say that Chu Chen's popularity on stage was inexplicably high, and the people surrounding him weren't even domestic game producers.

At this time, the domestic producers were scattered. Some were trying to negotiate with Nintendo to see if they could launch the Switch, while others were simply listening to gossip.

Chu Chen's seat was in the sofa area in the corner of the hall. He was in the middle, surrounded by a large group of people, and some people simply sat on the floor because there were no seats available.

To a complete "outsider" like Hori Miona, he's less a business tycoon and more like a university professor bumping into his student.
It's quite amazing.

Throughout the entire banquet, she could count the number of people she knew on one hand. Apart from a few Sony Music staff members and teammates who accompanied her, the person she was most familiar with was Chu Chen.
The reason she felt "familiar" was simply because she knew Chu Chen was a fan of Nogizaka46.

As a public figure, Chu Chen's Twitter account is so active that it doesn't seem like that of a wealthy person at all; it's more like that of an ordinary netizen sharing their life, and the content they share is very down-to-earth.

For example, when he went to a Michelin three-star restaurant, his caption was...

"The taste was alright, but the plate was bigger than my face. I wasn't full. I'll have to make myself a bowl of noodles when I get back."

For example, after watching a movie, his caption was...

"I've finished watching Avengers: Infinity War. Thanos is a good comrade, but it's a pity he didn't understand the essence of population control. You could snap your fingers and stipulate that a couple can only have one child."

"I listened to Nogizaka46's new song today, it's good. I'll add some budget to their game later."

The accompanying image is the album cover for Nogizaka46's latest single.

As a public figure, Chu Chen's Twitter account is so active that it doesn't seem like that of a billionaire; it's more like that of an ordinary netizen who enjoys sharing his life.

(End of this chapter)