Rebirth 08: Can a mobile game company also build a tech empire?

Chapter 136 Pricing Strategy

After Jiang Chang finished speaking, he let out a long sigh.

"Mr. Lu, if this game can really be made, it will definitely be considered the ninth art!"

A slight smile appeared on Lu Chen's lips.

Jiang Chang's intuition was correct.

Machinarium is set on the original timeline.

It is a milestone in the history of indie games.

It proves one thing with its unique art style, ingenious puzzle design, and pure visual storytelling.

Games are not just entertainment; they can also be art.

At the Independent Games Festival that year.

Machinarium won the Visual Arts Award.

This award is the best recognition of its artistic value.

Players consider it a classic.

More than a decade later, people are still repeatedly playing through the game.

Discuss the hidden details and Easter eggs on the forum.

Unfortunately, so many years have passed since this masterpiece was created.

No sequel has ever been released.

Mushroom Company later made several games as well.

Both "Plant Spirits" and "Mr. Yarn" are excellent.

But it has never been able to surpass the heights of Machinarium.

This game is like a unique piece.

Unique and cannot be replicated.

Lu Chen then continued.

"By the way, Machinarium will be launched alongside the Conqueror tablet."

Jiang Chang was stunned for a moment.

"Will it be launched alongside the tablet?"

"That's right, mass production will begin at the end of October, and the product will be released in November. There are still three months to go."

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Can you produce a complete version in three months?"

Jiang Chang fell silent.

He quickly estimated the workload in his mind.

The hand-drawn style means that every frame needs to be hand-drawn by the art team.

Dozens of scenes, a dozen characters, countless props and animations—the workload was enormous.

Puzzle design requires repeated testing and adjustments to ensure that the difficulty is moderate and the logic is sound.

When developing an application, it's necessary to adapt it to the tablet's screen and performance, and also optimize the touch experience.

The music and sound effects should complement the scene and atmosphere to create an immersive experience.

Three months is too stressful.

But Jiang Chang did not refuse immediately.

He looked up at Lu Chen.

"Mr. Lu, if we put in our full effort, we can create a playable version in three months, but it may take longer to reach the level of completion you outlined in your plan."

Lu Chen nodded.

He knew Jiang Chang was telling the truth.

A game of the caliber of Machinarium.

A normal development cycle should take more than six months.

Three months is definitely too rushed.

But he also had his own considerations.

"so,"

Lu Chen said, "Let's prioritize the core user experience."

"The main storyline must be complete. The protagonist's journey from departure to rescuing his girlfriend cannot be interrupted. This is the bottom line."

"Key scenes must be done well. Those places that best showcase the art style and move the players the most cannot be neglected."

"The puzzles can be simplified appropriately, but the logic must be sound and there cannot be any major flaws. If there is really no time, some side puzzles can be cut and the focus can be placed on solving the main puzzles."

"As for hidden elements, collectibles, and the achievement system, they can be added gradually in later updates."

Jiang Chang listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

"in addition,"

Lu Chen added, "The art team needs to expand its staff."

"The amount of hand-drawn work is too much; it's definitely not enough to rely on just the few people we have now."

"clear."

Jiang Chang quickly took notes in his notebook.

"And music,"

Lu Chen continued, "The atmosphere of this game is very important. The music must match the scene, not overpower it, but just right."

"Chu Yu can handle it; her skills are definitely up to par."

"it is good."

Lu Chen leaned back in his chair and looked at Jiang Chang.

"Can you finish in three months?"

Jiang Chang took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

"It definitely can!"

But he did not leave immediately.

Instead, he was frowning.

A key question has been raised.

"Mr. Lu, how do you determine the profit model for this game?"

Lu Chen looked at him without saying a word.

Jiang Chang continued.

"Games like Machinarium are clearly not suitable for in-app purchases. It's a single-player puzzle game with a linear storyline and a continuous experience. Adding skins or items would disrupt the overall feel of the game."

"Moreover, with this kind of hand-painted art, players are buying the complete experience; if you sell it separately, the feeling is different."

He was right.

Machinarium is not Famine or Minecraft.

Those games are open-ended.

Players are free to play as they please.

In-app purchases will not ruin the experience.

But Machinarium is a meticulously crafted linear story.

Every puzzle, every scene.

All of these are for the purpose of telling a complete story.

If you add in-app purchases.

It's like sticking a "GG" on a world-famous painting.

It is a destruction of art itself.

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Then let's implement a buyout system."

Lu Chen said calmly.

Jiang Chang paused for a moment, then hesitated.

"Mr. Lu, the buyout model is very risky on the Android platform."

His concerns were not unfounded.

In the Android market in 2009, the habit of paying for services was far less prevalent than that of iOS.

App Store users have been accustomed to paying for downloads from the very beginning.

They were willing to pay $0.99, $1.99, and $4.99.

But it's different for Android users.

Android from its very inception.

It's a free label.

The system is free, the applications are free, and the games are free.

Users are used to opening app stores.

Download whatever you see, without spending a penny.

Moreover, the piracy problem on Android is too serious.

A game only needs to have some fame.

It will be cracked on the same day.

Then it was uploaded to various forums, online communities, and download sites.

Users can easily find the free version with a simple search.

In this situation, who would dare to make paid games?

"I know the risks are high."

Lu Chen did not deny it.

"So I don't plan to get players to pay right away. We can learn from the Plants vs. Zombies approach and make a free trial version."

Players can download the game from the app store and experience the first few levels for free.

"Once they reach a certain point in the game and the story enters a crucial stage, a pop-up window will appear, stating that they need to pay to unlock the full version to continue playing."

"At this point, players have already invested time and emotion, and they want to know what happens next. Their willingness to pay is much stronger than at the beginning."

Jiang Chang nodded thoughtfully.

This approach is indeed feasible.

Free trials lower the barrier to entry for users.

If the game is good enough, players will naturally be willing to pay for it.

Moreover, Plants vs. Zombies has proven that this path is viable.

"What about the pricing?" Jiang Chang asked.

Lu Chen thought for a moment.

"9.9 yuan."

"9.9 yuan?"

Jiang Chang was somewhat surprised.

This price wasn't cheap in the Android market in 2009.

Even on iOS.