Chapter 38: Online Mode

Chen Ba didn’t know that Zhong, who hadn’t officially joined yet, had already experienced the studio’s "unique" culture in advance.

Having just finished re-recording the game sound effects with Dong, he was exhausted and wished he could go straight to bed.

As everyone knows, games have various sound effects.

For instance, in "Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator", when players rummage through a trash can, a crisp "click" sound effect is heard when the lid is opened.

Where do these sound effects come from?

On one hand, you can find them online or through professional forums, most sound effects can be settled and used.

On the other hand, you can hire a professional team to provide game dialogue dubbing, background music, hit sound effects, map music, etc.

Another approach is like Tianba Studio, recording and tuning everything themselves.

Some players complained that the door-opening sound effect in "Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator" is a bit noisy and lacks the elevator arrival sound on designated floors.

So, to solve this problem, Chen Ba and Yang Dong took equipment and spent two hours riding elevators, opening and closing the studio’s security door hundreds of times.

After toiling back and forth, they finally got it done.

Just after replacing the sound source files and preparing to rest, Chen Ba suddenly received a notification email from the Steam Platform developer community.

[Dear Developer, the Lunar New Year Sale event is about to start registration. If interested, please contact the community administrator...]

"What event?"

Just finished showering, Yang Dong walked over and asked, "New Year Sale?"

"Yeah! The Steam Platform is launching a large-scale promotion for the Lunar New Year, you just need to fill out a form to sign up."

After answering Yang Dong’s question, Chen Ba clicked the attachment, opened the registration form, and started reviewing the event’s notes.

The content was actually quite simple.

Most of it wasn’t noteworthy, mainly the point that "games don’t necessarily have to be discounted, but it’s recommended" was rather crucial.

During the Spring Festival, Tianba Studio was already planning to discount sale their two games, so they fit this event’s registration criteria well.

"Then let’s join."

Yang Dong didn’t think much of it, since discounts were already planned, participating in the platform sale event could gain some exposure, why not?

"No rush! Let’s check this first..."

Instead of filling out the form immediately, Chen Ba began reviewing the description of "bundles" in the notes.

In short, this sale event supports the Bundle format.

Games participating in the event can be bundled with any DLC, their other games, or games from other publishers.

He thought this was pretty good.

Although Tianba Studio’s two games don’t have DLC, they are highly related, practically a "series".

The players are mostly the same group.

If the two games are bundled together, players could receive the greatest discount, and the games could maximize their exposure—a sure win-win!

"Then how to set the price?"

Though he never made a bundle before, Yang Dong, being a veteran Steam user, had purchased quite a few bundles.

To his knowledge, most bundles provide big discounts to attract buyers, making it cheaper than buying separately.

Two games priced at 10 bucks each, bundled together for only 18 or 17 bucks could attract players.

Otherwise, if the price is the same, why would players purchase the bundle? What’s the point of having a bundle?

"Cold Window Study Simulator at half price, selling for 9 bucks! Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator at an 80% discount, selling for 20 bucks..."

Even an elementary student can do this math; it adds up to 29 bucks!

But that’s just the total; if you plan to bundle, it definitely should be cheaper.

Chen Ba took out a calculator and punched numbers for a while, finally deciding: "Based on the discount price, the bundle will have an additional 15% discount, both games for 25 yuan."

"Great! This price is really attractive."

Hearing this, Yang Dong couldn’t help but nod and say, "Equivalent to buying Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator at the full price and getting Cold Window Study Simulator as a bonus."

A reduction of four bucks isn’t worth it?

The reason other game bundles can cut 20 or 30 bucks is that their prices are initially high.

The two games from Tianba Studio are already priced low, being able to knock off an additional four bucks from the lowest historical price is definitely a steal.

As our President Chen would say, selling at this price is purely to make friends with you, not a penny earned more!

"Exactly, well said!"

Chen Ba greatly appreciated it, thinking Yang Dong was indeed the right hire; look at that level of awareness!

bucks to make a friend!

Buy it, and you’re a friend of Chen Ba; don’t buy it, no worries, next year, we’ll give it to you for free, everyone can be friends.

"If you give it away for free, then it’s not a friend but a big brother!"

Yang Dong couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Trying to mimic Ubisoft, huh? When will our studio also adopt the industry-leading potato server?"

"Ahem! Potatoes are a no go."

"But definitely need a server, even if rented." Chen Ba said seriously, "Now many games have online modes; we need to catch up."

"Online..."

Bringing a stool to sit down, Yang Dong looked curious: "Sounds like you’re hinting that the new game will have an online mode?"

"That’s my thought."

The online mode of "Grand Theft Auto V" was hugely successful, still ranking high in sales, prompting many single-player focused game developers to rethink, and Chen Ba was no exception.

It’s not hard to notice that the boundary between single-player and online games is no longer so clear.

Single-player games require connecting online, and can also explore online modes.

More and more blockbuster games are starting to add online modes, hoping to find a new path, catering to more player needs.

Considering this, Chen Ba actually wants to make an online game, just to try it simply.

However, he doesn’t yet have a brilliant idea, just a vague notion that making a fighting-type game would be cool.

"Why the interest in fighting games?"

"Don’t laugh at me for this—I really enjoy reading novels, especially those about fantasy and immortals."

Chen Ba explained, "So I wondered, could we use a fighting game framework, with a physics engine, to create those fantasy battle scenes?"

"Uh..."

Yang Dong thought of a line.

Two Venerable ones fighting at the edge of the universe, one punch, one kick, the Great Dao is obliterated.

My goodness!

A Venerable duel is about joystick wiggling and keyboard smashing, right? Max out the rage meter, and the "Gouken" transforms into Extreme Sublimation?

"It feels so off!"

Shaking his head, Yang Dong remarked in an exasperated tone, "A fantasy immortal background, but the strong ones’ showdown is just about punching and kicking?"

"Just add special effects!"

Chen Ba rubbed his chin, saying, "What’s wrong with punching and kicking? With special effects, it’s the Celestial Emperor Fist, the Venerable Kick! One punch could shatter a star."

Yang Dong: "..."

It turns out he really lacks imagination; such a scene is beyond even his wildest dreams.