Game development begins with destroying Girls' Frontline.

Lin Li nodded. "It's alright. We still have the invoice from last time. We'll issue the invoice for this time as well."

"It just so happens to be related, but the main reason for inviting them is to make the event more international... Alright, Lao Ding, stop talking about other things. Are you coming or not?"

Ding Lei hesitated for a moment this time.

Finally, I asked one question.

"You didn't invite the world's largest company?"

Lin Li smiled and asked in return.

"The Great Demon King has no time to watch the hero sharpen his sword."

Ding Lei was stunned for a moment.

"That's incredibly arrogant of you."

Lin Li smiled but didn't say anything.

Ding Lei finally sighed. If NetEase were in Tencent's position now, it would definitely fight to the death to take down Xinghuo. But NetEase is not in that position now.

Moreover, although Ding Lei didn't say it out loud, he always looked down on penguins.

It's been constantly being hammered on the ground by Tencent using its data traffic.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable.

However, before Spark, no one in China really wanted to compete with Tencent.

Even NetEase didn't have this idea.

"Okay, count me in."

Ding Lei agreed, not for any other reason, but because he realized that the current Spark was just like its company name.

It truly has the potential to spread like wildfire.

To be honest, NetEase doesn't have that kind of ruthless determination to skin you alive anymore.

Regarding gaming platforms.

Rather than fighting on the battlefield, it's better to watch the world war from the sidelines.

They might even be able to gain some benefits.

After deciding not to participate, the program organized by Spark is quite prestigious, and it's definitely worth considering.

Previously, NetEase's younger generation often offered advice.

It is hoped that Ding Lei can advocate for games more often and cultivate an image of someone who understands and loves games, in order to adapt to the current trend of bosses loving games, which has been brought about by Lin Li.

"Sure enough, my brother Lei is a reasonable person. Hey, by the way, brother Lei, could you ask Blizzard China if they're available to participate? Our judging panel can't be without an American representative..."

Ding Lei was also taken aback after hearing this.

"Good grief, you were waiting for me here?"

~~~

Several more days passed.

Next to the Xinghuo Building is a star-rated hotel.

"I heard that Kazuo Hirai from Sony is going to attend the opening ceremony this year!?"

"Huh? Really? I heard that Shigeru Miyamoto is coming?"

"Your information is too wild; Nintendo hasn't even come yet."

"They said it was a surprise."

"If they really come, that would be a pleasant surprise."

After finishing breakfast, Eggplant followed a man named Zhou Xun toward the Xinghuo Building.

The two of them walked and talked.

They didn't know each other before. They met for the first time last night while eating noodles outside the hotel.

We just happened to be sitting at the same table.

However, Eggplant just happened to receive a call from the Tomorrow's Star program team, and only then did she realize that the person across the table was also there to participate in the program.

The two then revealed their identities to each other.

Here, Eggplant is a member of the "Spark Program," and the project he's currently working on is called "The Scroll of Taiwu." Whether or not he gets investment this time is secondary.

The main purpose is to promote the game.

And the other side.

Zhou Xun didn't join the "Spark Project," but his game participated in the Spark Game Competition; his project was called "Dyson Sphere Project."

To be honest, these two projects don't really have anything in common.

One is science fiction, the other is martial arts.

However, they also have something in common: they all participated in the Spark Games Competition and signed an exclusive agreement with Spark, which is why they came here.

Both of them work in the domestic single-player game market.

This market is unique. In other markets, manufacturers compete fiercely, but the domestic single-player game market is surprisingly harmonious.

Especially small and medium-sized studios.

So the two quickly became acquainted after their first meeting.

Then, they soon discovered that neither of them had come here for the money.

Eggplant doesn't need it because he joined the Spark Program in early 2017. Although the team is small, it has no shortage of funds.

Although Zhou Xun did not join the Spark Program, he has some resources and has been in the industry for many years with good connections. He doesn't need to appear on this program to get investment.

The reason the two came.

The main reason was to secure a spot in the first phase of "Game Star Factory," a byproduct of "Rising Star."

The so-called Game Star Factory is actually very simple. It is a place where Starfire provides accommodation and office space, and project teams conduct intensive research and development for a month.

On the one hand, Spark will send technical personnel to advance their own projects. On the other hand, Spark's current internal planners, copywriters, and artists, including General Manager Lin, will also take time to hold problem-solving meetings for their projects.

We can even utilize the world-class motion capture, sound effects, and music studios currently located in the Xinghuo Building.

At last.

The selected projects.

At E3, Spark will not only screen videos, but also reserve display space for demos.

They provide meals, accommodation, and training, and also share their technical expertise.

It's the only one of its kind in the whole world.

On a platform like this, people would be happy to get blood drawn, let alone get a cut.

Not to mention that participating in the show itself is also a way to increase one's influence.

of course.

Lin Li is not a fool.

The truly core projects, like eggplant, are mostly filled by people who are actually hired to participate.

Because, in essence...

This "Rising Star" competition is quite different from those shows that are more for publicity or promotion. First of all, the recording time is only 4 days, including the three days of the preliminary rounds and the two days of the main competition.

Whether it's the preliminary rounds or the main competition, the selection process for the program is quite simple: project leaders and planners take the stage one by one, with some presenting PowerPoint presentations and others demonstrating their demos.

Then comes answering the judges' questions, and then the judges' scores.

The judges' scoring method is also very simple.

It refers to how much money you are willing to invest in this project.

Once the scores are given, the contestant can claim the prize from the judges if they wish—at least that's how it's presented in the introduction.

Chapter 485 The Successor of Taiwu

And two days later.

The selected project teams will immediately enter the "Star Factory".

That's why I said this is not a simple variety show.

The two walked into the photography studio while talking.

There were people filming with cameras at the entrance.

"They haven't even entered the studio yet, have they? What are they filming?"

The eggplant is a bit strange.

"It's written there, it's about filming us. Spark will make a documentary about our participation, and they said if the game becomes popular, they'll upload it to Bilibili..."

"Haha, it's not that easy to go viral. Do people really watch these behind-the-scenes development clips?"

"do not know."

The two chatted as they walked toward the recording site.

The same applies.

Just as the contestants were arriving one after another.

The judging panel also arrived one after another.

"Mr. Ding, how's NetEase's stock price doing lately?"

Lin stood at another side door, watching Ding Lei walk over, and took the initiative to go up and chat with him.

"Mr. Lin, who talks about this when they meet?" Chen Rui, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but chuckle and joked.

Lin Li smiled and then greeted the guests from Sony, Ubisoft, Capcom, and Blizzard.

As the initiator of the entire event, and with Lin Li being Xinghuo's boss, it's only right and proper for Xinghuo to take the initiative to greet the guests.

"The booth prices at E3 were just too expensive; I felt the pinch when I paid for them."

No matter where you are or what your status is, complaining about something together is always the fastest way to build a closer relationship.

The representatives from several manufacturers all speak Chinese.

Communication is quite simple.

As for the pricing for the E3 exhibition, they had all experienced the pain firsthand.

The group chatted for a while, and then, guided by the staff, they sat down on the judges' panel.

The recording hall wasn't actually that big.

In fact, if it weren't for the need to reserve audience seats in the lobby for the contestants, there would be no need to rent a studio; the recording could have been completed directly in the Xinghuo Building.

However, a larger studio also has its advantages.

Spending a little more budget results in a more professional venue.

As the host took the stage to announce the start of the recording, the audience quieted down, and the contestants took turns going on stage to explain the games they had prepared.

After three days of preliminary selection.

Those who managed to stay mostly had some...

Lin Li originally thought that there should still be something there.

Although he did not participate in the initial screening.

but……

"No, it's been 18 years, and you want to make a game similar to Azur Lane?"

"Yes, I know you've made some minor innovations, like working on the kemonomimi (animal-eared girl) theme, but isn't that putting the cart before the horse? The success of ship girls is related to the logic behind ship girls themselves..."

"You started this project in 18, and it will be at least 20 years before it's finished. Who will be the users then? Have you thought about your users...?"

"This isn't just for one person. I strongly advise everyone that when starting a business, you shouldn't rush into it and sell everything you own to raise money. At the very least, you need to understand who you can sell to and how many people are willing to buy."