Alex Parker was browsing through the comments and hot threads about "Plants vs. Zombies."
To make a version update, it's crucial to see what players like and want. If an update doesn't address players' core concerns, it's like doing nothing at all.
At this moment, Alex noticed a girl at the entrance of the experience store. She was dressed neatly in jeans and a long ponytail.
"Emily?" Alex remembered her name.
Emily was the owner of Destiny Internet Café and had visited before when Alex's store first opened.
Emily looked around the bustling first floor of the store, surprised. "Wow, it's been over a month since I last came. Your store is so lively now! I remember it being empty before."
Alex replied, "Of course. Your café wouldn't go a month without customers either, right?"
Emily was speechless. "It's not the same. Your experience with a store and an internet café is different. Looks like your game is pretty good; so many people are playing."
Emily leaned back on the sofa, and Alex poured her a glass of water.
"You said you'd visit again soon, but it's been over a month," Alex teased.
"Oh, don't mention it. There have been too many things at the café keeping me busy. Besides, I've been addicted to a little game recently," Emily said.
"Addicted to a little game?" Alex asked.
Emily nodded. "Yes, it's the popular 'Plants vs. Zombies.' Haven't you played it? You're a game designer; you must keep up with the new game charts, right?"
Alex said, "Uh… yes, I've played it."
Emily laughed, "I knew it. So, how many levels have you cleared in Endless Mode? I've reached level 97, almost hitting 100!"
Alex: "…"
Emily noticed Alex's strange expression, thinking he might be embarrassed by his lower level. "It's okay, I can teach you. My strategy is good; it'll easily get you through the first fifty levels."
Alex pointed to a computer in the distance where a girl was playing. "She's at level 174."
"What?!" Emily was stunned. What did he mean?
She stood up and looked at the girl. She seemed like an ordinary college student, yet she was doing better than Emily, who stayed up all night playing.
Wait a minute!
Emily hadn't noticed what games people were playing when she walked in, but now she realized something.
It looked like everyone on the first floor was playing "Plants vs. Zombies."
This was an experience store; usually, only the designer's games were played there.
Could it be…
Emily looked at Alex. "Could it be that the creator of 'Plants vs. Zombies' is…"
Alex nodded. "Yes, it's me."
Emily was stunned for three seconds before she realized, "Oh my! You made this game? I thought the opening logo looked familiar because I'd seen it at your store entrance!"
Alex was speechless. "I didn't think you'd forget that much. Your internet café is across the street, and you can't remember my logo?"
Emily felt a bit embarrassed and coughed lightly. "Well, you know how it is for us café owners, staying in the café all the time…"
Alex nodded, agreeing, "Yes, yes."
Emily laughed, "Alright, let's not go there. Teach me the secrets of 'Plants vs. Zombies'!"
Alex was speechless. "Why does everyone ask me for secrets when they see me? Aren't there plenty of top strategy threads in the player community? Go look there."
Emily rolled her eyes. "Stingy."
Alex: "…"
How does everything relate to stinginess? This has nothing to do with me being stingy; it's just laziness on your part!
Emily said, "But seriously, I didn't expect a new designer like you to create such a blockbuster game. It's impressive. Unfortunately, mobile games aren't ideal for promoting in my internet café."
Alex said, "No worries. I'll make PC games in the future. By the way, I never asked, does your café mainly focus on PC or VR games?"
Emily said, "PC. I'd like to switch to a VR café, but the initial investment is too high. I don't have enough funds. Currently, the position of PC cafés is a bit awkward, and I've been struggling with this issue for a while."
Alex said, "I know, mainly because PC games are heavily squeezed by VR games, making them seem a bit outdated."
"Exactly," Emily said helplessly. "In the future, VR cafés will definitely be mainstream, and PC cafés will likely be gradually phased out."
Alex shook his head. "Not necessarily."
Emily was puzzled. "Why not?"
Alex said, "It's simple. PC cafés are declining now because there hasn't been a super hit game for the PC. What if a super hit game that surpasses VR games appears in the future?"
Emily's eyes widened slightly. "That seems… unlikely."
Alex said, "Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. Who could have predicted the huge market for puzzle games before 'Plants vs. Zombies'?"
Emily thought for three seconds. "So, you're indirectly praising yourself, right?"
Alex nodded. "Yes."
Emily: "…"
Alex said, "That's the logic. I think you can continue with your PC café. The future isn't as bleak as you think. Look, PCs outperform phones in performance, yet mobile games still thrive. Just because VR pods outperform PCs doesn't mean PC games are dead."
Emily nodded. "That makes sense. Let's hope you can develop a super hit PC game to save my café. When will you start?"
Alex thought for a moment. "Maybe… within two years?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "Goodbye."
Alex chuckled. "I'm serious."
Emily: "Goodbye."
It seemed she thought Alex was bluffing and didn't believe him at all.
Alex wasn't just comforting Emily; he genuinely believed this. Although VR games were mainstream in this world, he didn't think PC games would be replaced.
VR games might not be the ultimate form of gaming.
A simple example is why MOBA games use a 45-degree top-down view instead of the first-person perspective.
Some game companies tried making MOBA games in full 3D first-person view. They even created one with five lanes (adding two more lanes on the top and bottom of the map), but the results were disappointing. The gameplay was far less engaging than traditional MOBA games.
This game didn't create much of a ripple and was hardly known among players.
The reason was simple. From a 3D perspective, many skill selection ranges, and usage methods changed significantly, and the control mode also changed. Players' overall control ability was severely reduced. These issues combined made the game lose core MOBA fun, turning it into a "chicken rib" game.
This was the critical factor in the failure of "full 3D MOBA."