Why the bug I wrote became a core gameplay mechanic?!
Chapter 563 - 546: Utilizing Nitiandang Resource Library

Chapter 563: Chapter 546: Utilizing Nitiandang Resource Library

Gu Fan began to introduce the basic concept of this product.

"The so-called ’Fantasy Book,’ can essentially be seen as a kind of derivative product outside the game.

"Players can experience the full content of the game without buying it, but if they do buy it, they will have more experiences and a more immersive feeling.

"As for its basic functions, it’s like this."

Gu Fan spoke, and while explaining, took out a small figurine from a drawer.

This figurine appeared quite cute, featuring a tiny, round base with a charming little fire-breathing dragon posed on top.

"Though it appears to be a mere figurine, inside it actually contains an NFC chip.

"When a controller or other specific peripherals scan the chip, players can obtain some items related to this figurine in the game.

"For instance, in this game, the first scan will give players a small dragon egg, allowing players to hatch this dragon; afterward, it can be scanned once a day, not giving further dragon eggs, but providing some feed such as fish meat and special items to nurture the little dragon.

"So, the idea of the ’Fantasy Book’ is also built on this basic function."

Lilith played with the figurine in her hands. It was quite exquisite, but obviously, just judging by the value of the figurine alone, it was quite expensive.

The greater significance of this little gadget was to create some interaction with the game content, although this interaction might be simple.

Gu Fan’s idea was to fully expand this simple interaction.

He wanted players to initially believe they had bought a product that could significantly enhance their game experience, thus drawing them deeper into the game.

Lilith pondered, "So, what primarily should our ’Fantasy Book’ be made of?

"Shouldn’t we make it look like a tablet if we want to ensure the best display effect?

"Depending on the advancement of the player’s storyline, it could display various images. Plus, it could include a variety of NFC functionalities, giving players something new with each scan."

Gu Fan clearly disagreed with this view, "Tablets definitely won’t work; the costs couldn’t be controlled.

"In theory, making a tablet and creating a specific APP is virtually no different.

"But creating an APP would hardly give players that special ’check-in’ feeling.

"So, I tend to prefer making it a lower-cost peripheral product, like, say, a paper book."

This reasoning wasn’t hard to understand.

To ensure the best display effect, a tablet would certainly be the best choice.

But Nitiandang couldn’t actually make a tablet themselves; they would have to find a digital manufacturer to create a co-branded version. Even with a co-branded tablet, the real functionality would still rely on the corresponding APP.

So for players, buying this co-branded tablet would almost be meaningless.

And although many functions could be realized on the APP, they are ultimately virtual, incapable of replicating that ’check-in’ feel.

Tourists checking in always need a physical booklet, stamped with a real stamp for it to feel authentic.

If you merely take a photo with your phone, then use a location service to check in or sign into a specific APP, what enjoyment is that?

Thus, while a tablet’s display might be appealing, it completely contradicts the original plan.

"But, does anyone actually want a paper book?" Lilith frowned slightly.

Clearly, if people generally disliked the product, it would naturally fail to deceive them into buying, an unfavorable sentiment would be out of the question.

Gu Fan explained, "Actually, there’s quite a lot that can be done with a paper book.

"First, the paper book can be a pop-up book, automatically unfolding details to form a three-dimensional scene every time a page is opened.

"Second, the paper book could also be paired with a reading pen.

"The cost of a reading pen is actually very low, just a couple hundred yuan is enough, and its principle is quite simple: there are some very tiny symbols on the pages of the paper book, and the reading pen can determine the relative content by scanning these symbols.

"Lastly, the paper book can also include NFC or various other functions, linking with the game isn’t an issue at all.

"We could develop a special controller with built-in NFC and reading pen scan functions, to be used in conjunction with this physical book to create more complex effects.

"It could work together with the Quest System in ’Endless Fantasy Legend 2’, bringing players an ’impressive’ gaming experience."

Lilith nodded in realization, "I kind of understand now!

"The main purpose of this Fantasy Book is to deliberately create a ’check-in’ feel.

"Using the three-dimensional landscapes in the physical book to correspond to various areas in the game or different story Chapters, thus fabricating check-in points.

"Players, striving for perfect check-ins to make this collectible a testament to their gaming experience, will pursue details and perfection, seriously engaging with the game content from start to finish.

"Even if they face some setbacks halfway through, just looking at the half-completed Fantasy Book would make them grit their teeth and keep going.

"However, we have laid quite a few traps in the game’s story and experience.

"Without this Fantasy Book, players might, based on online reviews, intentionally skip certain side quests to improve their own gaming experience."

"But with the Fantasy Book, players will have to pinch their noses and complete it!"

"Wait, wait, if it’s just to force players to play, why don’t we make all the quests mandatory?"

Gu Fan shook his head, "No no no, President Li, there’s a matter of psychological change here.

"If we don’t use the Fantasy Book and just crudely make all quests mandatory, or strongly lock the entire game flow, it certainly can create negative emotions, but players can also simply choose not to play.

"If the players don’t play, then it all would be for naught.

"But the Fantasy Book is different.

"It is an independently purchased product, which can also be seen as a collection of settings, beautifully produced.

"Players buy the Fantasy Book not out of coercion, but from their natural desire to do so.

"Since it’s a decision they made themselves, even if they feel aggrieved, they are likely to stick with it."

Lilith nodded after a moment of thought, "Hmm, that does make some sense!

"Many wrong decisions, if made by oneself, often lead to stubborn persistence; but if these mistakes are due to someone else, the blame is shifted immediately.

"Not bad, Gu Fan, you really have a clear grasp of player psychology!"

Gu Fan coughed lightly, "Oh, it’s all thanks to your guidance, President Li."

Lilith, filled with confidence, stood up and walked a few steps, "Alright, let’s do it that way!

"You will be in charge of the production of the Fantasy Book, including the design and specific functionalities; you must think this through carefully...

"Oh right, should we also create a controller that can scan the content of the book? We should thoroughly think about how to make this joint-name controller."

Gu Fan nodded, "Rest assured, President Li, I will give it my all!"

He paused slightly, then added, "By the way, President Li, there is another matter that requires your early decision."

Lilith, in a good mood, nodded and said, "Sure, go ahead."

Gu Fan opened a spreadsheet on the computer, which was a preliminary estimate of resources for Endless Fantasy Legend 2.

"Put simply, President Li, the scope you planned is a bit beyond our company’s capacity.

"And not just by 30% or 50%, but by five times."

Lilith was taken aback, "Huh? What do you mean? Are you saying the game might not be made within the time I anticipated?

"Haven’t we already done so much preparation work!

"Zhou Yang, Wei Chengjie, and Su Tong have already been sent out to manage large studios each, plus our original R&D team, means we are actually using four times the manpower of other big companies.

"Other companies take four years to develop a game, ours is done in one year, that’s not unreasonable, right?

"And besides, we can reuse some resources from Legend of Infinity Fantasy and, with the upgrade of the editor, I think setting about a year for development is reasonable."

Gu Fan coughed lightly, "If we estimate by the workload of other game companies, which is about three years, completing it in one year is not far off, and with hard work, it indeed could be done.

"But the problem is, the workload for Endless Fantasy Legend 2 is actually about eight years’ worth of work for other game companies."

Lilith was stunned, "Eight years? Gu Fan, don’t spout nonsense, how could it be eight years?

"I thought that the sequel compared to Legend of Infinity Fantasy is not much bigger?"

Gu Fan shook his head, "President Li, you might think it’s similar, but if you tally up the resources, you’ll see that Endless Fantasy Legend 2’s volume is almost several times that of the previous one.

"Although we have cut some complex mechanism changes, we have to design too many game characters!

"A hundred characters, each with different appearances, models, and skills, even if some actions are universal, the workload is quite outrageous.

"Moreover, we have to design many different game areas, even if there are only seven or eight big maps, each actually needs to be at least a quarter to a third the size of Legend of Infinity Fantasy.

"If it were to be made by other companies in the industry, at most they could develop one big map a year, along with a dozen characters.

"But, they can continue development, like launching the first year, then each year a major version, finally taking about seven or eight years to complete everything.

"We can’t do that, because we cannot make subsequent changes, so we must develop all these contents from the beginning.

"Of course, if you could accept a development cycle of at least two and a half years, then all employees together working hard might overcome this."

Lilith immediately frowned, "That won’t work, absolutely not!"

Two and a half years was far too long for her, even if the game really could earn a lot of negative emotions, it was too long.

With the same timeframe, if producing a game every half year, that’s enough for five games.

The more games produced, the higher the success rate of collecting negative emotions, so Lilith especially values timeliness.

Gu Fan fell silent for a moment, "Then, President Li, there is one last method.

"We can utilize Nitiandang’s previous game resource library, trying our best to integrate past game contents, which might further enhance the development speed of the game."