Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue were full of doubts.
"We won't develop a sequel to "Under Legend", and we won't make META games?" Yang Xin couldn't figure out why.
The same goes for Ruan Ningxue.
You must know that nowadays the game media are basically all making various evaluations about "Undertale".
In some forums where industry designers often hang out, professional gamers are also analyzing the characteristics of the "Undertale" mode.
After all, such a fresh element really feels like it has the potential to become a new trend vane.
Even some game manufacturers and some game designers have publicly stated that they have also launched games with related META elements.
But now Chen Xu says he won’t do it
When such news is released, you can imagine how many people will be surprised.
After all, the concept of META was unknown before "Undertale".
According to the normal model, with the popularity of "Undertale", it is natural to launch a sequel while the iron is hot, just like "Mirror" launched DLC.
No matter how bad it is, it’s still a brand new META game!
In fact, Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin had a private discussion before this.
They even think that the next thing they may develop is the prequel of "Under Legend".
After all, in the game, the story of Xiaoyang and Chara is basically just a brief description and not fully developed.
As a result, now, Chen Xu told them that he would not make a sequel to "Under Legend" or even a META game
"It's not very suitable, and the size of META elements is very limited. "Undertale" has indeed given players enough shock, but the main reason is that players are not mentally prepared in advance for META elements. There is no corresponding concept.”
"If we continue to launch META games at this time, the subsequent response will definitely not be better than "Undertale". In fact, based on the first impression of players, it will feel worse and worse."
Chen Xu explained to the two people.
Others don't know the type of meta-game, but Chen Xu still knows it very well.
Before time travel, the metagame was nothing special.
"Ashe", "The Stanley Parable", "Pony Island" and "Undertale" chosen to be developed by Chen Xu.
They are all the best.
But the highest-selling games are "Undertale" and "Ashe". "The Stanley Parable", which really brought META closer to players' horizons in the previous life, did not have as high a sales volume as these two rising stars.
As for "Pony Island", many players have never heard of it.
The main reason is that the META element is not suitable as the main core selling point.
If you study carefully, you will find that the game Ashe is mixed with action elements.
Although "Undertale" subverts the setting of RPG, it is essentially a combination of RPG and barrage gameplay.
Both games are supplemented by META elements, while "Pony Island" and "The Stanley Parable" are more based on META elements and supplemented by other elements.
The META element is indeed a setting that can shock players.
But it is not suitable as the main core. It is more suitable as a lubricant to allow it to react chemically with the content of the game itself.
Many large-scale games in previous generations have adopted similar designs.
For example, the BOSS Spirit Mantis in the "Metal Gear Solid" series can understand the player's operations.
There is also the final ending of "NieR: Automata", where the player's save is used to save others.
These are all uses of META elements, but they are mostly used as auxiliary settings.
The success of "Under Legend" is definitely not due to pure META elements.
After listening to Chen Xu's explanation, Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin were still a little confused.
I understand, but I don’t fully understand.
But they did understand one thing.
That is, if you continue to launch META games, you may not make much money, and your reputation may not be good.
Coupled with the addition of META elements by a large number of game manufacturers, it may also cause players to experience aesthetic fatigue.
"Then what type will we choose for our next project?" Yang Xin asked Chen Xu.
"We will make a small-cost transition for the time being, and the team will also need to expand." Chen Xu said.
"As for the type... look at this."
As he spoke, Chen Xu opened the laptop next to him and logged into a website: the official website of the Game Department.
Then, in the slightly confused eyes of Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin, an announcement was opened.
[Science is the source of human progress; scientific progress and innovation are causing earth-shaking changes in our lives. This time, the Game Department held a science fiction travel competition with the theme of "Technology Changes Life".]
1. Target audience: game designers across the country.
2: Travel requirements: no platform restrictions, healthy themes.
3: Event organization: This event is hosted by the National Game Department and adopts a dual model of review and player voting to ensure fairness and justice.
IV: Selection and Commendation: Based on the total number of entries, one first prize, three second prizes, six third prizes, and several excellence awards will be awarded.
Excellent works will be promoted and recommended on the homepage of the official platform after the event.
At the same time, the winning designers will be awarded the title of Outstanding Designer as a means of encouragement.
(The registration period is from September 1st to September 5th, and the event ends at the end of September.)
"Are we going to compete?" Yang Xin looked surprised.
As for this activity, she actually knew about it.
It seems to be a nationwide tour of game designers, but in fact the participants are basically independent game designers, or some small and medium-sized game companies.
There are certainly benefits. After all, the organizer is the Game Department. Game review, including designer title evaluation, development of game engine technology, and the introduction of relevant game policies are basically the head of the Game Department.
Being able to show his face in front of the officials is definitely beneficial and harmless.
Moreover, it is a real benefit to promote and recommend on the home page of the official platform.
After all, the official game platform is one of the largest channels in the country.
As for why major manufacturers did not participate, it was mainly because this kind of tour was useless to them.
High-cost and high-production, there is no shortage of this kind of exposure.
Moreover, high-cost and high-production games are definitely business-oriented.
Games that focus on business naturally have some special elements that can attract players.
It doesn’t even talk about violence or selling meat, but there are multiple female protagonists opening a harem. This kind of element is very unsightly when used in an official event like this.
So naturally, no big-budget games are participating.
Most of them are independent game designers, small and medium-sized game manufacturers, and of course some studios acquired by large companies will also participate.