Tokyo Video Game Tycoon.

Besides the fact that the PC platform has a very complete development environment, all games released on the PC platform do not need to be discussed or negotiated with game console manufacturers. Regardless of how many or how few games are sold, only a very small portion is handed over to the platform provider.

PC is the holy land of indie games, and that will never change.

Moreover, only on the PC platform are there more possibilities, namely the form of extended MODs.

Zhu Youxing looked at his finished product, Stardew Valley, with satisfaction, nodding as he said, "That's right, I'm planning to launch it on the PC platform. This time, I also want to test whether my work can really be popular without the advantages of a platform."

After Zhu Youxing finished speaking, he looked at the employees and asked, "So, what do you think of my game, Stardew Valley?"

The group exchanged glances, then said with somewhat strange expressions, "President, are you going to tell the truth?"

"Of course, do I look like the kind of person who likes to seek comfort?"

“Well then, we can talk about it.” One of them paused, then said, “Seriously, boss, this game looks really rough around the edges. You could have done a better job, right?”

Zhu Youxing nodded: "Of course, our Unreal Engine is not to be underestimated, but my initial goal was to create a game for all novice game developers, to show them that games with this level of graphics can also be popular."

"Is it popular...?"

The group didn't say much.

Deep down, they had serious doubts about whether the game would be popular.

This game is terrible in every way.

The character's movements are very simple, and they only look like he is swinging a hoe or pickaxe to collect materials.

These actions were so rudimentary that the employees thought it wasn't even a game made by Zhuyouxing.

Just as they said, Zhuyouxing could indeed have done better; the Unreal Engine had the potential to do so. But Zhuyouxing didn't do that because he genuinely wanted to use this game as a demonstration to prove to some confused junior game developers that a game doesn't really rely 100% on powerful technologies.

Sometimes, simplicity is also a characteristic.

However, there's no point in talking about this now. What we need to do now is log in to the PC platform and keep an eye on the game's sales and feedback.

The three girls whom Zhuyouxing initially wanted to demonstrate and teach also received the full version of the game immediately. They could choose to register a Battle.net account on any computer and then use the activation code given to them by Zhuyouxing to activate the game.

The internet has developed rapidly in the past two years, but mobile networks have not yet become widespread. As a result, computers have gradually become a necessity for many families, and personal computers have now returned to a relatively affordable price.

Aiko's family had a home computer, and the three girls immediately gathered together again after receiving the activation code, wanting to try out the game for themselves.

After school, the three girls met in front of Aiko's house and then went inside together.

Aiko brought her two best friends to her desktop computer at home, and then began to install the so-called Battle.net platform according to the installation instructions given to them by Takeyusei.

"Aiko, this is a game that Mr. Takeyu has put his heart and soul into making. Do you think this proves what Mr. Takeyu said about video games not having a hierarchy of value?"

Chapter 526 Trial Play

526

During this time, Aiko Oto and Kazumi took every opportunity to visit the headquarters of Yusei Electronic Entertainment to watch Yusei develop games.

Sometimes, Bamboo Star would work tirelessly, even without sleep, to develop Stardew Valley. This dedication and passion for something is something that people like Aiko greatly admire.

Aiko has always been very proud, and she rarely has the time to admire anyone.

Takeyusei was one of the very few living people that Aiko admired; the rest of the people she admired were ancient or modern celebrities who had already died.

In response to the question that Kazumi had just raised, Aiko simply shook her head while following the instructions to install the Battle.net platform, saying, "I don't know either, but Mr. Takeyu is different after all. What he promised might really come true."

He Mei was full of anticipation. Her admiration for Zhu Youxing was the highest, because it was Zhu Youxing who inspired her to develop a farming and mining game.

Stardew Valley is a mining and farming game, which makes Kazumi even more enamored with Bamboo Star.

Yin-chan, standing to the side, remained quite calm. Stardew Valley wasn't her cup of tea; she disliked the tedious mining and farming gameplay. She had never understood why Kazumi could enjoy mining and gathering mushrooms in Monster Hunter, even though it was just a minor gameplay element within the larger Monster Hunter game.

Yinjiang feels that she still prefers more exciting game content, or simple and straightforward games like Fruit Ninja, which are also very stress-relieving.

So she didn't take Stardew Valley too seriously.

However, I really admire Takeyusei's dedication in creating a game all by himself to cheer on the three girls.

This greatly alleviated Yin Jiang's previous belief that games needed to be big-budget productions.

Yin-chan realized that if she had the same love for games as Takeyusei, and could be just as crazy about video games, then whether a game was a big production or not would really not matter.

The Battle.net platform download is fast; the entire software is only about ten MB.

Following the instructions, Aiko entered a game activation code into an activation field on the Battle.net platform and clicked activate. Their first game on the platform then appeared in the first section of their personal game library on the Battle.net platform.

The cover of Stardew Valley looks very simple; it's made entirely of 2D pixel art: a house and a few Stardew Valley letters that look like they're made of planks.

"Wow, this looks really interesting." Kazumi really liked this style of visuals because she felt it was warm and cute. Pixel-style games seemed to naturally have this feel to them. Pixels are like animated films in the movie industry, which can make even more serious content more appealing to younger audiences.

Aiko and Oto didn't feel anything about it. They understood now that they would just treat this as playing the game with Kazumi.

They lost interest after learning that it was a game where you could mine, gather mushrooms, and farm.

Perhaps only someone like Kazumi could enjoy this kind of boring gameplay.

Oto and Aiko thought so.

Next, Aiko clicked the download option, and Stardew Valley began downloading.

The game's total size is only a little over 100MB, which is relatively small for a game in this era where game sizes are getting larger and larger.

However, since it's a 2D pixel game, it's really unlikely to grow much larger. Perhaps adding more features in the future might increase the game's size.

The download didn't take too long either; a few minutes later, the game was downloaded.

This was the first time that Aiko and her two children had played video games on a platform other than a game console, but it looked no different from playing a game console.

Then the three girls entered the game's main interface.

A very melodious tune began to play at that moment.

Kazumi immediately asked, "Aiko, can I try it?"

"Of course, you're obviously the most interested. You go ahead and have fun."

He Mei was very happy and immediately sat down in front of the computer.

Having gained experience in game development over the past year, Kazumi is now a member of the school's game development club. Operating a computer is naturally not a problem for her, and she quickly got the hang of Stardew Valley by following the instructions.

Aiko and Oto sat to the side, watching Kazumi play Stardew Valley, while Kazumi was completely immersed in the world of Stardew Valley.

The game begins with a very simple pixelated protagonist operating a computer in a company.

The protagonist seems to be a typical office worker.

Then the screen goes dark as the protagonist finishes a day's work, and even through pixelated cutscenes, the weariness of the protagonist is clearly felt.

A day's work is exhausting, leaving you breathless.

And so he worked day after day until one day he couldn’t take it anymore, and then he remembered a sentence his grandfather had left him before he died.

'My child, if one day life overwhelms you, open this last letter I left for you. I hope it can offer you some help.'

At this moment, the pixel-art protagonist couldn't help but open the drawer of his workstation, where the last letter his grandfather left him was neatly arranged.

The interface then prompts the player to click to open the letter.

Without hesitation, He Mei clicked to open the envelope, and then the scene changed, revealing a kind old man lying in bed covered with a blanket, followed by a text that gradually rose from the bottom.

My dear child.

If you are reading this letter, you must be in a difficult situation and hoping for a turnaround.

A long time ago, I was in the same situation. I was blind to the most important thing in life... that is, genuine and natural relationships between people. So I gave up everything and moved to a place that was truly mine.

I put the land deed in the envelope…and my pride and transgression. It’s a farm. It’s located in Stardew Valley, in Pelican Town on the South Coast. It will be the perfect place for you to start a new life.

I hope you find peace of mind there. Also, please remember to say hello to Mayor Lewis for me.

This is a heartfelt letter.

Through the letters alone, Kazumi seemed to be able to feel the heartfelt words of her grandfather, who loved her very much, before he passed away.

At this moment, Oto and Aiko were also watching this scene.

This was just the beginning of the game, but the letter still touched the two of them somewhat.

Sincere emotions always resonate with people, especially girls who are more emotional and therefore feel this more deeply.

The letter ends, and the protagonist boards a bus to Pelican Town, ready to embrace a brand new life.

A life completely different from a high-pressure environment.

Chapter 527 Online Benefactor

527

Kazuo Murakami is a well-known figure in the video game industry.

Under Zhu Youxing's guidance, he pioneered the new field of game review media and gradually cultivated his expertise in this field, achieving great success.

However, his father was short-sighted and prematurely turned Murakami Kazuo's review media into an advertising and money-making tool, even accepting money to modify game ratings and elevate some terrible games to high positions.

Over time, the online game website that Murakami Kazuo started became notorious.

Meanwhile, Murakami Kazuo himself gradually became depressed, but he did make money and successfully entered the University of Tokyo.

Originally, Kazuo Murakami thought he probably never wanted to be involved in this industry again in his life, and just wanted to be a simple gamer and find an ordinary job.

However, Zhu Youxing's initiative to recruit him rekindled his hope.

Being recognized by his idol made him feel that what he was doing was meaningful.

Then, he founded a brand new game review media. This time he was smarter and refused all his father's interference. Moreover, Kazuo Murakami is now an adult, and his father no longer has any reason to forcibly interfere with his career.

With the endorsement of Yusei Electronics Entertainment, Kazuo Murakami once again became the industry's leading game reviewer.

He was grateful to Zhu Youxing, but if he had to say who he was most grateful to, it would be that mysterious person who had never shown his face, a mysterious online friend who had led him into this industry.

Nintendo is the damn world ruler.

This is a very strange username. What exactly is Nintendo? Why has it become the world's dominant force?

But none of that matters. What matters is that the mysterious netizen with that username is his benefactor.

Later, he tried countless times to contact this mysterious netizen online, wanting to express his gratitude and see if he could meet him in person to thank him. He also wanted to see if he could recruit such a person to start a company with him.

This mysterious netizen had given him a lot of details related to the game review and media industry.