Chapter 229 - 160: Marble Continent, Strength Reigns Supreme! (Part 2)

It’s impossible to force others not to play a certain mode just because you don’t like it, right?

"Marble Soul" is a special mode created by Lu.

In this mode, each marble has different attributes such as health points, attack power, and defense power. Players, just like in RPG games, need to beat monsters and level up, gradually enhancing their Marble Soul, eventually winning the game.

There’s also a "Marble Racing" mode.

Players experience the marble’s perspective, rolling through various bizarre tracks, overcoming numerous obstacles to reach the finish line.

An alternative racing mode!

Up to now, Lu and Zhong Shengwei have created close to six or seven special modes, each with its own unique features.

Of course!

The core remains the classic mode.

In the classic mode, marbles don’t have so many fancy features; the sole purpose is to win the game, no other gameplay exists.

Players are relatively more free.

Perhaps considering the uniqueness of the classic mode, Lu didn’t dare to tweak this mode too much; how it was played in childhood, it’s played the same way in the game.

However, that being said...

Although it’s a game built on childhood memories, it’s still a game with necessary virtual characteristics.

This is reflected in the game; the marbles in "Don’t Go Home: Marbles Storm" are more thrilling and exciting to play compared to real life.

The reason is simple.

In the game, the game modes and maps are all made by Tianba Studio, except the core marble itself, for which Chen Ba adopted the Iron Fool System’s scheme.

The marbles created by the Iron Fool System not only have the appearance of real marbles but are even more formidable, capable of breaking through an iron door without issue.

This is actually for the game’s effect.

Complete realism is impossible; after all, if you imitate reality, why play this game at all? Why not just buy a few marbles and play in real life?

Slightly exaggerating the marbles’ power is also to make the game more enjoyable.

...

The development work for "Don’t Leave After School: Marble Storm" hasn’t been intentionally kept secret from the public.

This has led to...

Players in Tianba Community and the Tianba Game fan group have long heard about this game.

However, nobody seemed to care much because Ba himself said it’s just a childhood marble game.

What’s there to say about playing marbles?

What the hell!

Could these marbles transform into 2D moe girls to chat and entertain the guys?

"Why doesn’t Ba develop a 2D game? I want a moe wife..."

"Don’t go crazy with 2D stuff here!"

"With Ba’s aesthetic, even if a 2D game were developed, it probably wouldn’t be the moe wife you imagine."

"If it’s not a moe girl, then what?"

"Ba’s understanding of 2D might be different from yours. Have you played Calabitch? Star Emperor’s paper person holding a Gatling gun beating up the Demon King of Divine Grace—that’s Ba’s 2D version!"

"I can attest Ba is like that..."

Slander! Pure slander!

During his breaks, Chen Ba’s face turned dark after scanning the chat history in the fan group.

What do you mean by "Ba, a single-celled organism, possibly unable to understand 2D?" That comment makes it seem like he never played a 2D game.

He’s kidding; he also often plays 2D games, how could he not understand what everyone is talking about?

But...

Knowing is one thing, fulfilling some players’ demands, like developing a game with a high 2D concentration, is beyond Chen Ba’s capability.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to make a 2D game.

It’s mainly because 2D games heavily rely on original illustrators and script settings, and these two aspects happen to be the weakest parts of Tianba Studio.

After suffering several losses, Tianba Studio hasn’t ventured into those games leaning towards the plot side in a long time.

Be it Lu or Zhong Shengwei or the dozen others in the studio, none excel in this aspect, most are just dabbling half-empty water buckets.

With such skill level, attempting to develop a high 2D concentration game would be nothing but a joke. You wouldn’t really believe you could easily scoop up money from the 2D realm, would you?

It’s not that easy to earn!

With Mi Family’s rise, didn’t Pig Factory and Tencent feel envious? Didn’t these major factories ever think about venturing into the 2D game domain?

They all tried.

But unfortunately, they clearly lacked the capability to earn that money. Believing that 2D money was easy to earn, in reality, they found that 2D wasn’t that easy to fool.

Even major factories are like this, not to mention Tianba Studio.

Chen Ba wouldn’t believe simply carrying a bag could earn them money from 2D; if he dared listen to the players’ enticing words, the game might die the next day.

"However, the plot aspect does need some strengthening."

Chen Ba considers there’s a great opportunity to practice right now, which is the game "Don’t Leave After School: Marble Storm."

Though it’s an online game, it still needs to have the appropriate plot and story backdrop.

"Marble Continent, strength above all!"

"This belongs to the world of marbles; there are no fancy, flashy magic tricks, only marbles evolved to their peak..."

"Stop it, stop!"

Lu’s chanting of scriptures was interrupted midway by Chen Ba.

He frowned and complained: "I asked you to develop the story background, and this is what you came up with?"

"I can’t think of anything better!"

Lu said with a frown: "This is just a marble childhood nostalgia game; is there any story background to it?"

"If there’s none, make it up!"

"It’s a world of marbles, under the shine of the Marble God, everyone practices marble skills from a young age, divided by strength from Grade 1 to Grade 6..."

Chen Ba fabricated a universe.

In this world, children practice marbles from childhood, making it a national competitive event.

The story’s starting point and background happen in a marble elementary school, where players become these school’s students.

Enrollment starts at Grade 1!

Only by earning enough marbles, becoming the strongest group in the same grade, can one ascend to Grade 2, with the highest being Grade 6.

"Beyond academic subjects, there’s a marble class!"

Chen Ba continued explaining: "The school has no playground, no basketball courts, no football fields, only marble arenas..."

Marbles are everything.

This story setting is quite twisted and strange, but it’s not a big issue; it’s a parallel world, settings can be made any way.

"Grades 1 to 6 symbolize ranks or strength distinction?"

"Exactly!"

"Then, doesn’t it mean many of them might never graduate from elementary school? I’m curious, does time pass in the game?"

"No, otherwise, like you said, those in their 50s will remain stuck in Grade 1, unable to graduate..."

Chen Ba shook his head.

In the game, there’s definitely no concept of time; otherwise, it would be too ridiculous for a bunch of kids to play marbles for tens or hundreds of years and still remain freshmen.

There’s no time, but there’s a lot of space.

Except for special modes entering exclusive maps, under normal circumstances, players are active in this vast school.

The map is still large.

While the school’s area doesn’t compare to "Speeding Frenzy," it’s similar in size to the "Love Advisor Department" map.

Calling it a school is really a disguised game lobby.

Entering certain zones equates to entering game matches, competing in PvP against other players.

"Wait, Ba!"

Lu frowningly said: "If marble count determines grade advancement, wouldn’t buying marbles allow direct progression to Grade 6?"

"It can!"

Chen Ba didn’t deny this possibility, but he knows more than anyone else that advancing from Grade 1 to Grade 6 requires a tremendous amount of marbles.

Buying alone, how many game coins would that require? Where would one get all those game coins?

Spending time collecting game coins, hoping for shortcuts, would be less effective compared to honestly improving skills and playing matches to win marbles!