Chapter 195 - 143: Studio Formalization (Part 2)

As the online retailer with the strongest background on the entire internet, Xianyu Digital’s reputation has spread across the web, and business is just too good.

Not to mention, starting last month, Xianyu Digital also began live streaming.

Ba, GAL professional players, and graphics card merchant official representatives have all come to Xianyu Digital’s live streaming room to promote products...

Sales are exploding!

Apart from Xianyu Digital, the in-game purchases in "Star Emperor" are doing pretty well as the number of players surges.

Based on these two factors, "Star Emperor" is now one of the most profitable games for Tianba Studio, second only to "Divine Grace Continent."

Then comes "Love Advisor Department," "Garbage Disposal Fun," and two simulator games.

"Hey, Ba!"

Wang Kun seemed to have thought of something and asked curiously, "Your studio is developing so well, haven’t any investors or investment institutions approached you?"

"Yes, they have..."

"These guys are more sensitive than dogs, they’ve long smelled the opportunity and come knocking."

Chen Ba said speechlessly, "But I’ve refused them all, after all, financing would definitely affect the studio’s normal operations."

The main issue is affecting decisions.

Now he can run things as a one-man show; whatever he says goes, whatever game he wants to develop gets developed, without having to answer to anyone.

But once investors come in, with more shareholders and decision-makers, things become very complicated.

"That’s true..."

Wang Kun sighed, "Pros and cons, their money isn’t easy to take anyway. You’re not aiming for an IPO, and you aren’t short of cash, so just ignore them."

Ba has succeeded now!

Thinking back to when they graduated from the same dorm, Wang Kun was the most successful one. Having joined a state-owned enterprise, with a secure job, leisure time, and good benefits, life was simply too good.

Back then, he often helped Ba, secretly lending him money behind his parents’ backs.

But now it’s different.

Now Ba has succeeded, and it’s Ba helping him, lending him money to buy a house in Jiangning.

"Ba, thank you..."

"Come on, why thank me, our relationship doesn’t need thanks. When you helped me before, you weren’t this sentimental."

Chen Ba waved his hand, "By the way, I haven’t asked you, why do you suddenly want to buy a house?"

"Uh..."

Glancing around to make sure his wife Zhang Xiaojun wasn’t around, Wang Kun finally explained, "Do you understand the conflict between wife and mother-in-law? I’m stuck in the middle, getting grief from both sides!"

"I discussed with Juan and decided to buy a house with a loan to move out, so we don’t get nagged every day."

It turns out that’s the case.

Chen Ba finally understood why Kun Kun suddenly wanted to move out.

Something must have happened at home, saying it’s a mother-in-law conflict, in reality, it isn’t simply a conflict, there might be a big argument.

Every family has its difficulties!

Patting his good friend’s shoulder, Chen Ba said nothing more, after all, in such family matters, even Wang Kun felt troubled, it wouldn’t be good for an outsider like him to take sides.

"Speaking of which..."

After discussing his troubles, Wang Kun asked curiously, "Ba, with your studio at this scale, why not upgrade to a game company?"

"It’s just a matter of title!"

Chen Ba explained, "The day the studio was registered, it was already registered as a company, it was originally a game company."

It’s called a studio because it’s too small, calling it a studio externally is more appropriate.

Maybe they’ll change the title later.

But whether it changes or not remains, the core team is just a few people, calling it a studio isn’t a problem.

"Mainly to appear more professional."

Wang Kun said speechlessly, "I haven’t seen any studio using a personal phone number for game customer service."

It’s truly amazing!

Had he not seen a community post, he wouldn’t have known that when issues arise with "Star Emperor" regarding recharges, the phone number provided for customer service is actually Ba’s personal number.

It’s so abstract!

He really can’t understand what Ba was thinking to use his personal phone number as the game’s customer service line.

What’s crucial is that for so long, no one noticed?

"Uh! Nobody really calls this number, except for one or two players who had delays with recharge..."

Chen Ba awkwardly said, "Other players, the first way they seek game customer service is basically to go to Xianyu Digital."

It’s not because he’s careless.

Previously it was single-player, with no online service, so a digital mailbox sufficed, no need for a dedicated customer service line.

Later when "Star Emperor" launched online mode, with in-game purchases, he barely set up a phone customer service line.

Just that...

Players of "Star Emperor", when encountering game-related issues, never call that number, but instead approach Xianyu Digital to find store customer service for feedback.

According to player sentiment, Xianyu Digital’s customer service is essentially game customer service, who said they can’t solve game issues?

Wang Kun: "..."

Shop customer service posing as game customer service?

This kind of thing only Ba could pull off, and the players find it very reasonable, not one questioned if this approach had issues.

"But you did remind me."

"Using my personal number as a customer service line isn’t very secure, I’ll switch it to Lu’s number later."

Chen Ba hadn’t considered this aspect before, but he’s realized it now.

Once the news spreads that he uses this phone, he’ll never get peace again, countless players would come looking for heart-to-heart talks late at night.

More extreme, players might get obsessed with the game, blast him with angry calls.

There are definitely people like that!

Currently, everyone is used to feeding back game issues through Xianyu Digital customer service, so he hasn’t been harassed.

But in the future, it’s uncertain...

Chen Ba felt his response was timely, having been reminded by Wang Kun, he’s replaced customer service numbers with Lu’s number.

But he forgot one point.

Someone had previously exposed this matter in the community, now it’s too late to hide the number.

Beep beep beep!

Chen Ba’s phone became unusable, ringing non-stop throughout the day, with various players graciously greeting him.

Lu doesn’t fare much better.

Restless players ramped up their efforts with phone and SMS bombarding, all to tell Ba: Quickly strengthen Feather Venerable!

"Absolutely crazy..."

Chen Ba pulled out the SIM card, finally achieving a moment of peace.

Crazy players aren’t the problem.

The most daring part is a female player trying to seduce him through calls, subtly hinting at how attractive she is, saying long as Ba nods, she’d fly to Jiangning tonight...

Wow, who can resist that?

Chen Ba nearly succumbed, after this incident deciding to heed Wang Kun’s advice, hire dedicated game customer service, specifically for player interaction.

Otherwise, if he and Lu continue handling these players, within two days they’d go insane and end up in a mental hospital on medication.

"The studio needs to be formalized."

"Recruiting game customer service is one aspect, we also need to form specific development and operation teams with clear distinctions."

Can’t follow the mixed route anymore.

With more people in the studio, Chen Ba feels development and operation must be separated, each focusing on their own tasks.

Being mixed causes chaotic management and seriously impacts normal work efficiency.

Previously with four to five people, specific distinctions weren’t necessary, there were no disruptions.

But now it can’t be, game operation and game development are two components, personnel must be divided according to responsibilities for management.

He’s responsible for the development team.

Yang Dong is responsible for the operation team, generally not involved in new game development, he handles existing games. In special cases, he can participate in game development projects.

"Do they need separate offices then?"

"Yes!"

Chen Ba explained, "But they don’t need to be too far apart, normal communication should still exist, as long as they don’t affect each other’s work."

Currently only these two teams.

In the future, as the studio further expands, the operation team might be split into market promotion, customer service, and technical product teams.