Why the bug I wrote became a core gameplay mechanic?!
Chapter 195: Boredom and Anger

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Boredom and Anger

Gu Fan opened his phone and searched for road rage-related videos on a video website.

Seeing many normally mild-mannered people become furious, and those with already bad tempers getting even angrier, Lilith was quite satisfied.

Especially some of the international road rage videos, where disputes would escalate to an American-style showdown at the drop of a hat, were truly jaw-dropping.

"Great! Gu Fan, you indeed have some great ideas; I wasn’t wrong about you!" she said.

"So tell me in detail, how should this game be made?"

After a moment of thought, Gu Fan began to explain eloquently.

"President Li, I think what our game should target are two types of negative emotions, namely anger and boredom!"

"The combination of these two negative emotions is enough to overshadow the pleasure that comes with driving, making them the primary direction for the game’s emotional output."

"Furthermore, I believe this should be a single-player game with online connectivity, which is very significant for further collecting negative emotions."

Lilith listened with some confusion: "A single-player game with online connectivity? You mean it won’t compel players to be online at all times, allowing for single-player gaming, but with added online features? Like what was done with ’Prometheus’?"

Gu Fan nodded: "Exactly!"

Lilith was somewhat puzzled: "What’s the reasoning behind that?"

Gu Fan explained: "Of course, there’s a reasoning. Being online plays an extremely important role in generating negative emotions. With road rage, the likelihood of players getting angry because of NPC vehicles is obviously much lower than their getting angry due to other players’ vehicles."

Lilith thought about it and, indeed, this was true.

Compared to other players, NPCs could also trigger anger in gamers, but such emotions tended to be short-lived and not persistent. Players were well aware that it was just computer AI, programmed scripts, not real people without consciousness. What was there to be angry about?

But if they were to clash with a real person, that might make a big difference.

"Why not just make it a multiplayer game?" Lilith asked.

Gu Fan smiled: "If it were to be a multiplayer game, many players would get deterred straight away.

"Since we want to collect as much negative emotion as possible, we might as well lure as many players in to ’kill’ them off.

"This way, even if the player’s internet connectivity isn’t up to par, they can at least play the single-player mode and continue to add to our negative emotion quota.

"Even a mosquito’s worth of meat is still meat, after all."

Lilith nodded: "Hmm, not bad. You have thought it through, Gu Fan! So how exactly should this game be created?"

Gu Fan paced slightly in the living room, tidying up his thoughts: "It’s simple, President Li. We need to design this game around the two negative emotions I mentioned before: ’boredom’ and ’anger’."

"How do we make players feel bored?

"Typical racing games certainly won’t work. Allowing players to race and drift would only make them feel an adrenaline rush.

"To make players bored, we need to mirror real-life driving environments as closely as possible, with speed limits, adherence to traffic rules, giving way to pedestrians and electric vehicles, and preferably throwing in the occasional traffic jam. At the same time, we should restrict players’ driving routes so that they can’t freely go wherever they want, but must strictly follow a predetermined route."

Lilith’s eyes lit up: "Nice! That does sound pretty boring. And what about anger?"

Gu Fan continued: "It’s simple. We think about the conditions that give rise to road rage.

"We would require players to follow specific routes and adhere to traffic rules, and any violation could lead to them being caught on camera or getting points deducted.

"But! On top of that, we will frequently introduce NPC vehicles near the player, engaging in uncivil driving behaviors such as frequent lane changes and cutting others off, to maximize the provocation of the players’ anger!"

Lilith listened intently, nodding repeatedly: "Hmm! That does sound like a good idea!

"But... if we continuously do that, won’t it easily wear out the players? What if they just give up in frustration?"

Gu Fan replied: "That’s simple, we just increase the penalties!

"If a player commits a traffic violation, then they are punished according to the infraction. Fines, point deductions! And if their points are all deducted, their account will be frozen for a period before they can play normally again.

"If players get injured in car accidents, they must also wait for an ambulance to arrive, then watch helplessly as they are loaded onto the ambulance and taken to the hospital to be hospitalized. In this process, players will not only be charged for medical expenses, but as soon as they log in, they will find themselves in the hospital, unable to continue playing."

"If a player unfortunately dies, their game account will also be frozen for a certain period, unable to play."

"There’s another thing, if an accident occurs on the road and other drivers are involved in a car crash, then the player must immediately pull over and provide assistance!"

"In reality, this is purely voluntary, but in our game, it is mandatory."

"If a player doesn’t provide assistance, they will also lose points and be fined, further inducing more negative emotions in the player!"

Lilith frowned slightly, "What if the player does go to provide help?"

Gu Fan chuckled, "Then they help! If the rescue is successful, they will receive a small bonus. However, the player must apply the correct first aid based on the casualty’s condition and must follow a certain procedure."

"For example, they need to first turn off the engine, help the casualties to unfasten their seat belts, ensure the casualties’ heads are raised and their airways kept clear, and if there are any obvious wounds, they need to perform simple bandaging to stop bleeding, decide whether or not it’s necessary to move them out of the vehicle based on the casualties’ conditions...

"If the player makes any mistakes in the process, not only will they not receive the bonus, they will also be fined additionally!"

Lilith’s eyes lit up, "Oh? So the rewards are low, but the penalties are high? Very good, this fits perfectly with our game’s design philosophy of Nitiandang! Anything else?"

After thinking for a moment, Gu Fan replied, "Other features can also be added as appropriate.

"For instance, where does the money in the game come from? We can offer players several different professions.

"Office Worker: They need to drive to and from work on time every day and will inevitably encounter rush hours. If they’re late, their salary will be deducted. Their monthly salary is relatively fixed.

"Taxi Driver: They need to pick up fares around the city. Their routes are relatively free, but their income is more volatile.

"Internet Celebrity: They can live stream their driving content, but this depends on how many people watch. Of course, the live streaming is done within the game, and players watch in the game as well. They can only earn money if there are many viewers; otherwise, they won’t make a penny.

"The other functions, President Li, you can add them at your discretion."

Lilith was very pleased, "Excellent! Gu Fan, this idea is remarkable! Thank you for your dedicated and meritorious service to Nitiandang! After you fall into Hell, I definitely won’t mistreat you!"

Gu Fan coughed awkwardly, "Ahem, actually, President Li, you could treat me well in the Human World too, there’s no need to wait until we’re in Hell. Speaking of which, that red Ferrari of yours..."

Lilith pretended not to hear, "Alright, Gu Fan, I will personally write the design draft for this game! You’ve been working too hard recently, take a couple of days off to rest!

"By the way, tell all the core members that the day after tomorrow I will be holding a managers’ meeting. Make sure everyone remembers to attend, I have something very important to announce!"

With that, Lilith disappeared on the spot.

"I don’t need to write the design draft this time?"

Gu Fan frowned slightly; he was somewhat surprised and had an ominous feeling.

In theory, Lilith’s trust in him should have been increasing, and his autonomy at work should have been growing stronger.

From the very beginning, when he couldn’t offer any suggestions, to later being able to have a say in finalizing the game’s theme and direction, and then to being able to propose designs independently...

Gu Fan was clearly on the right path.

But now, why the sudden reversal? Not allowing him to write the design draft anymore?

Was it really as Lilith said, that she thought he was too tired and needed two days off?

Impossible!

Gu Fan knew these demons too well; expressing consideration for subordinates was absolutely not in their nature.

There was only one explanation: Lilith’s trust in Gu Fan had decreased!

But at this moment, there was nothing Gu Fan could do. If he went ahead and wrote a design draft when Lilith had already informed him it was unnecessary, that would only raise even more suspicions.

"Forget about it; let’s not think about it for now."

Gu Fan had indeed been very tired these days, his brain constantly working at high intensity, almost overheating. It was a good opportunity to rest properly and cool down.

He stretched lazily, washed up simply, and went to bed early to sleep.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.