Why the bug I wrote became a core gameplay mechanic?!
Chapter 507 - 490: Physical Product: Make a Ball!

Chapter 507: Chapter 490: Physical Product: Make a Ball!

"Gu Fan!

"Have you thought of a physical product yet?

"Our game development is speeding up, so your physical product needs to keep pace too!"

Lilith looked at Gu Fan, full of expectation.

"Of course, I already have a general direction."

Gu Fan opened the previously prepared document on his computer, "I want to make something like this."

Lilith looked intently at the image on the screen, "Is this a sphere?"

Gu Fan nodded, "Yes, it’s just a sphere."

Lilith didn’t quite understand, "So, what’s the use of this sphere?"

Gu Fan thought for a moment, "Its main function is as a display screen."

The image being displayed was actually a spherical display screen, which itself was an LED screen that could display content, be operated by touch, and also be controlled with a keyboard and mouse, among other devices.

Lilith fell silent for a moment, "This thing... is quite unusual."

Gu Fan explained, "Actually, it is quite common, President Li, it’s just mainly used for formal business purchases, ordinary consumers hardly ever use it.

"For instance, there are these large LED spherical screens overseas that can be tens of thousands of square meters in size, and the cost is astronomical, easily running into billions of US dollars.

"There are also some smaller LED spherical screens domestically, commonly seen in planetariums, used to display various planets."

Lilith nodded, "I see, so what is the price of this thing?"

Gu Fan explained, "Due to advancements in LED technology in recent years, the price has decreased considerably compared to before, but it’s still not cheap.

"The cost per square meter varies according to the specifications of the display.

"The higher the resolution, the more expensive it gets, with the lowest resolution currently around 4500 per square, and the highest at 18000 per square.

"The better the display effect, the more exponentially the price increases."

Lilith couldn’t help but be shocked, "Wow, that’s reaching house prices!"

Gu Fan calmly stated, "President Li, if you’re comparing it to house prices, then I think this screen actually isn’t expensive."

Lilith considered for a moment, "Then what’s the specific size of this spherical screen?"

Gu Fan explained, "With current technology, the smallest size is about 60cm in diameter; as for the largest, there’s no upper limit, as long as you can afford it."

Lilith tried to calculate, "So a 60 cm diameter sphere, the screen quote is eighteen thousand per square, and then the price would roughly be...

"Is..."

Seeing that she probably couldn’t calculate it, Gu Fan said, "This is just the price of the screen. We also need to consider the internal frame, though purchasing in large quantities could reduce it a bit, and after balancing everything out, the final price would roughly be...

"Twenty thousand.

"If you feel that a 60cm diameter is too small, you can also go larger, like doubling it to about 1.2 meters.

"If so, the price would inflate significantly, probably around eighty thousand."

Lilith was shocked, "Eighty thousand!

"Just buying such a sphere costs eighty thousand!"

Gu Fan added, "Of course, there are ways to reduce the price a little, like lowering the resolution.

"For example, the lowest resolution would only cost 4500 per square, which is a quarter of the highest price.

"If it’s an outdoor or shopping mall spherical screen, making a large sphere could further reduce the cost significantly.

"But if it’s aimed at general consumers, meant for close-range use and ensuring display quality, then you need to use the highest grade screen."

Lilith fell into thought, "So what specific use could this thing have?"

Gu Fan explained, "It could be used as a display for new games."

Lilith looked at him somewhat confused, "As a... display?"

Gu Fan nodded, "Yes, President Li, don’t you think it’s a perfect match?

"The ’Star Plan’ itself takes place on a comet, where players develop from under the surface of the comet until they occupy the entire surface of the comet.

"In this process, using a spherical display would allow clearer and more intuitive viewing.

"And we would use the highest resolution screen, there would be absolutely no problem with the display effect, it could completely match up to proper computer monitors."

Lilith fell into thought, "But some game content might not display well?

"Like, the game starts underground, not on the surface, how would that be represented?

"And later there might be spaceships flying to outer planets, leaving the comet, how would that be shown?"

Gu Fan was unconcerned, "The problem of layers is easy to resolve, we could just create special display effects.

"For example, players could adjust different layers, making the surface layers transparent when showing underground layers.

"Many games can achieve this effect with their layered maps.

"As for the issue of spaceships flying to outer planets... that can’t be helped, only for the sake of display effects, we might have to sacrifice some gameplay. We’ll just have to solve it the clumsy way."

"Fortunately, these issues only appear in the late stages of the game."

"Besides, aren’t these minor issues perfect for generating some negative emotions?"

"Whose side are you really on, President Li?"

Lilith paused for a moment, "Oh? That’s true."

"But what about the rest?"

"If this thing really has the display effects you mentioned, it wouldn’t be able to collect negative emotions either!"

Gu Fan sighed, "President Li, this is just the old playbook, the price, it’s all about the price!"

"How could we possibly release a product with obvious major flaws? Players aren’t idiots. They’d immediately see that this thing isn’t practical and wouldn’t buy it. If we can’t sell the product, how can we talk about collecting negative emotions?"

"We need to have some advantages in our product."

"So its appearance and gimmicks are the most suitable advantages: on one hand, they can attract players to buy, and on the other hand, they can’t continuously generate positive value."

"Once players realize they’ve been duped and remember the price they paid, they naturally generate negative emotions."

"And besides, this is a peripheral product of the ’Star Plan’."

"When players use it for ’Star Plan,’ the game generates a portion of negative emotions, and the device generates another portion—doesn’t that mean double the fun!"

"And this pricing, we aren’t scamming the poor, which is great."

Lilith thought for a moment, "What if the poor really want to buy it?"

Gu Fan: "...Then they should contribute even more negative emotions."

Lilith almost laughed out loud, "Gu Fan, you really are talented!"

"But..."

She suddenly changed the subject, "But haven’t your recent efforts been a bit sloppy!"

"Think about it, how many physical products have there been? Why are you still following the same old pattern?"

"High price + niche product, then integrate it with the game."

"Although your motivations are good, the end results are always dragged down by the game, aren’t they?"

"Shouldn’t you be reflecting on your own issues?"

Gu Fan was shocked, "How is that my fault! The popularity of that game isn’t up to me; I don’t even participate in the game development!"

"These physical products becoming popular because of the game isn’t something I can control if you won’t let me interfere."

Lilith’s expression darkened, "So you mean if you interfered with the game, you could ensure it wouldn’t be popular?"

Gu Fan just stood up, then sat down again, "I couldn’t."

Lilith’s mouth twitched slightly, "That’s why I say you’ve been too lackadaisical! Physical products are also an important business segment for Nitiandang Group, perhaps as important as the gaming industry."

"Aren’t you supposed to think about how to collect more negative emotions?"

"At least make a noticeable difference from the previous products, right?"

Gu Fan sighed, "President Li, to put it bluntly, you’re just not happy because the physical products have never collected enough negative emotions. Just say it outright, we’re old partners, no need for all this beating around the bush."

Lilith was taken aback for a moment, then assertively responded, "Right, I do want you to collect more negative emotions, is there a problem?"

Gu Fan nodded, "No problem."

"So for this product, I plan to let you make decisions on some key aspects."

Lilith was taken aback, she obviously hadn’t expected Gu Fan to say that.

"What do you mean by letting me make decisions on some key aspects?"

Gu Fan opened a spreadsheet on his computer, clearly listing the advantages and disadvantages of this spherical LED display.

And around these advantages and disadvantages, corresponding activities could be developed.

For instance, one advantage of the spherical display was that when displaying spherical objects, it naturally provided a sense of depth, making the display effects much better than flat surfaces. Moreover, this product was actually very suitable for physical promotions.

So when Nitiandang felt that this spherical display wasn’t as hot as expected, they could try cooperating with some merchants, letting them buy these displays for promotion.

Whether it’s subsidizing or cutting prices, in any case, by this cooperation, players could see these spherical displays offline, thereby increasing the product’s popularity and prompting sales.

Or, considering the spherical display was expensive and not very practical,

they could cooperate with some video up-loaders to conduct reviews, to cool down the enthusiasm, focusing on the fact that this gadget was doomed to gather dust eventually, thus cooling down its popularity.

Or find some satirical content creators to mock those buyers, stirring up their negative emotions.

In essence, the table Gu Fan provided was like a special progress bar.

When Lilith felt that the ratio of negative emotions generated by the product was good but its popularity wasn’t enough, she’d use positive methods to increase its popularity.

When Lilith felt this product was generating fewer negative emotions and more positive ones, she’d find ways to use negative methods to cool down its popularity and discourage some customers.

Gu Fan spread his hands, "President Li, I’ve laid out all the methods here. As for when to use them? You decide."

"Since you always question my techniques and timing, this time you take charge."

"I’ll just be a hands-off manager and watch you perform."