Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“This…”
Huang Sibo was a little flabbergasted as well. He had not thought that Ocean Stronghold could have achieved such an effect and led Old Liu to do this. However, after thinking deeper, Old Liu indeed was capable of doing such a thing.
The Red Kilin had sold for 888 yuan; not only did players not feel irked by that, but they accepted it rather readily. This indeed would give other game designers a misconception that their rare items could be sold at that price as well!
Old Liu must have guessed that he might be scolded by gamers; he did not care about that. He only cared if he could make money out of this highly-priced saber! If he could, he wouldn’t mind the players scolding him; that wouldn’t impact his boss offering him a promotion or raise.
However, the result was… not only did players scold him badly, but not many sabers had been sold as well. The boss had given him a dressing down as the game’s reputation had suffered a hit, and they didn’t manage to make money out of it.
“This was a foolish undertaking by Old Liu. Ocean Stronghold’s Red Kilin was part of the whole pricing strategy; Old Liu grew greedy after seeing that 888-price tag but failed to take into account the pricing strategy in its entirety. Of course, he was going to get yelled at.”
Huang Sibo couldn’t help but diss Old Liu as well.
Previously, when he had been working at Shang Yang Games, Old Liu was his direct superior. At that time, Huang Sibo had a rather complex view of Old Liu. Although Old Liu kept on suffocating him with work, Huang Sibo had thought that he could learn something from Old Liu.
Now, Huang Sibo did not think that way anymore. A chief planner like Old Liu had at most been in the industry for a couple of years; and hence in the eyes of newbies, these people were looked up to.
In reality…
One who wanted to accomplish great things would cherish himself while one who only cares about small profit would lose his life. Old Liu had—of all things—only mimicked selling an item at 888 yuan; how could this sort of person be a chief planner?
His thinking was not big enough, and he would not amount to much in his life.
Ma Yiqun savored his coffee and felt that Huang Sibo’s words made sense. “Sibo, why do you think Ocean Stronghold managed to sell the Red Kilin at 888?”
Huang Sibo smiled. “You asked the right person.
“Why did Ocean Stronghold manage to sell the Red Kilin at 888? This was actually the only payment necessary for the game! The game itself was in story mode, and its arts and gameplay were all well down. According to the market standard for such a game, it would be worth at least fifty, right?
“However, Ocean Stronghold is completely free, and only an 888 Red Kilin was sold in the entire game! This was a concession! To let all ordinary players enjoy 99.99% of the game for free; wouldn’t players be happy? Won’t they feel some gratitude and appreciation?
“Furthermore, the Red Kilin is different from that saber that Old Liu tried to sell. That saber had good stats, and a baller could kill ten people on his own. Ordinary players don’t even have any breathing space.
“However, the Red Kilin stats aren’t actually that much higher than other guns. Furthermore, it could also accelerate the experience points gained by other players in the same room, as well as other benefits.”
“If both the ballers and the ordinary players’ interests are aligned, this weapon would forever maintain its value. Its outstanding appearance in the game as well as the worship it would get wherever this baller walked in the game; of course, it sold well!
“Hence, a pricing strategy must be considered in its entirety; it is something resulting from a holistic assessment. Selling the Red Kilin at 888 yuan is not a black-hearted way of profiting; it is actually a concession!”
Ma Yiqun listened as he kept on nodding his head. “I see! I have heard that Ocean Stronghold was selling a gun for 888. I had thought… so many people are that rich and willing to spend now? So this was the reason. I understand now.
“Brother Huang, you’re no longer in the game industry anymore, and yet you still know so much about them?”
Huang Sibo paused as he drank his coffee.
“This… is a long story. I haven’t told you yet, but that’s because these few months have been like a dream for me. I don’t even know where to begin…
“Actually, Ocean Stronghold was my creation; I was the Chief Planner.”
“Ha?” Ma Yiqun thought he had heard wrongly.
Ocean Stronghold’s Chief Planner? Wasn’t that a complete slap in the face to Old Liu from Huang Sibo?
What standard of game was Ocean Stronghold? That was a game that had defeated even Sun Strike Studios! Putting aside the overseas Counter Strike—among the FPS games developed internally in the country, Ocean Stronghold was considered number-one; it was that impressive!
Someone had even predicted that based on Ocean Stronghold’s current player numbers, besides selling the Red Kilin, if the creators just casually did some other sales here and there that required a paywall; their earnings could even be doubled or tripled!
While outsiders didn’t know Ocean Stronghold’s income—based on rough estimates, it should be around six to seven million a month while profit could be around three million.
This was the result of a game that had only been online for slightly more than a month. Based on the longevity of FPS games, for its income to hit ten million a month in the future was not in question. This was a money tree that had just germinated!
How formidable would this game’s Chief Planner be? If it was a bigger-scale games company, even the boss would have to be polite and respectful to this person!
A brother that had been suffering with himself a few months ago; in the blink of an eye had become an industry veteran.
Ma Yiqun found this a little hard to accept.
It wasn’t he didn’t want Huang Sibo to do well; the crux was this was a little too ridiculous!
Huang Sibo also didn’t want to hide anymore. He started from his interview to enter Tengda, to how Boss Pei’s hint had led him to create Ocean Stronghold, and finally how he had gotten the best employee award and a million yuan to invest in short videos.
Ma Yiqun heard all of this as he became a little weak and sluggish.
Such good things existed?
Based on Huang Sibo’s history and experience, to enter such a baller game company was already a mean feat; it was actually quite unbelievable.
Furthermore, he had immediately taken on the Chief Planner position? He had also created Ocean Stronghold?
As for getting a million yuan Dream Fund… this was absolutely ridiculous!
“I know that you might feel a little stunned hearing all these. However… everything I said is true.” Huang Sibo looked very earnest.
Ma Yiqun was quiet for a long while. “Brother, could you recommend me? I’ll tender my resignation to Old Liu tomorrow.”
To quit immediately was Ma Yiqun’s most pressing thought. Seeing how his brother had been living the past few months and comparing it with his own…
He couldn’t take it!
Huang Sibo had explained Tengda’s work environment, company benefits, etc. in detail. Every single aspect made Ma Yiqun very envious.
“Of course, I can recommend you. However… I also don’t really know what Boss Pei’s selection criteria are. Whether you can pass the interview, it is all in your hands.”
Ma Yiqun hurriedly nodded, “No problem. Sibo, talk to me. How was your interview like? What do I need to prepare?”
“How was it like?” Huang Sibo recalled what had happened. “To be honest, I felt that I wasn’t going to do well. I had only brought my resume that wrote my work experience, honestly.”
“Honestly?” Ma Yiqun was a little surprised. If he was going to be honest, how ugly would his resume be?
Huang Sibo had been hired like that?
Huang Sibo nodded, “Yes, honestly. Furthermore, I’ll tell you something else. Old Liu had also gone for the interview then. He had been right before me; he wasn’t hired.
Ma Yiqun, “…”
He was utterly confused.
Huang Sibo then thought for a moment and said, “Based on my understanding of Boss Pei, he has a unique way of looking at people. He can look at things beyond one’s resume, everyone’s hidden potential. I feel that you should not fake or exaggerate things; don’t make your resume too nice. This might actually work in your favor with Boss Pei.
“Of course, how you plan to do it, you have to decide for yourself; I can’t guarantee this.”
Ma Yiqun hurriedly nodded, “Alright, no problem. I’ll go and prepare my resume when I head back!”
