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'Inner dialogue/thoughts'
"Normal dialogue"
[System]
(Word Count: 1,032)
~ With Alex, in his apartment ~
"Another disappointment of a game! Why is this new game even in this mode? Ordinary players and light spenders are only fit to become NPCs, right?" Alex exclaimed.
Taking off the VR headset and turning off the computer, Alex took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa, turning on the TV. It had been about a month since he arrived in this parallel world, and he had almost fully grasped the situation here.
Compared to his previous life, the technology in this world was incredibly advanced, but the entertainment industry, especially gaming, was quite backward. Fortunately, his family was well-off. Not to the point of being incredibly wealthy, but enough that he didn't need to worry about food or shelter even without a job, thanks to having his own allowance from his family.
The only thing that really bothered him was the lack of quality games in this new world. The games here did not feel like games at all.
In his previous life, even though some mobile games relied heavily on microtransactions, they still put effort into the gameplay, the storylines, or event he graphics to attract players. Sure, they would milk the players for money later on, but at least there was some substance to them. Even free-to-play players could enjoy the game to a certain extent without spending money.
But the games in this world? They had taken the worst possible path. Monotonous tasks, fighting monsters, endless player vs player battles, and everything was about spending money. As long as you had enough money, you could dominate a server.
For the ordinary players in this world, who had never seen better games, they could still tolerate this. But for Alex, who had experienced franchise masterpieces like the original Call of Duty, Dark Souls, Red Dead Redemption, and The Legend of Zelda in his previous life, these games were simply unbearable, even if just to pass the time.
Alex sighed, thinking about how even microtransaction-heavy games like Azur Lane or Genshin Impact from his previous life would be a breath of fresh air compared to what was available here. Instead, all he found were high-end graphics wrapped around the same old, uninspired gameplay, with gaudy ads like 'Join now and become a legend!' and 'Defeat monsters to win epic rewards!'
"I can play games, but I sure as hell can't make them." Alex muttered, recalling the many classic games he had played.
Game development in this world was different from his previous life due to the advanced technology. There were specialized game development departments, and game developers could use various resources from these departments to create games. From music, modelling, motion design, logic programs – all of these were available.
In simpler terms, it was like a large assembly line. You could use the resources to make your game, but the quality depended purely on your personal abilities.
'Maybe I should study game development myself? Create a game that I would enjoy.' Alex thought as he leaned back on the sofa, contemplating the idea.
Suddenly. . .
[Detection of the host's desire to change the new world's game industry and build a gaming empire!
Epic Game System activated!
Note: Every time the host creates a new game, it will accumulate 'impact value'. The higher the impact value, the stronger the host's abilities.
System initialized for the first time. A free starter gift package is awarded to the host!]
'My cheat! Has it finally arrived?!' Stunned for a moment, Alex clapped his hands in excitement. He was no stranger to fanfictions in his previous life, especially those that involved cheats such as a system. Alex then spent the next couple of hours to learn more about his system.
'Change the new world's game industry and build a gaming empire. To be honest, I've thought about it, and it's not a bad idea. But what exactly is impact value? Does it mean making the players experience intense emotions?' He wondered.
[Responding to Host, impact value is generated from emotions such as frustration, excitement, grief, fear and etc.]
'Oh, thanks for the clarification. This makes it much easier.' Alex wanted to create great games that would allow the players in this new world to truly experience the charm of gaming and the artistry it entailed. But before he would begin, he decided to check the contents of the gift package.
"Holy. . ." Alex's eyes widened in excitement.
[Congratulations host for receiving the gaming blueprints for: Kirby Star Allies, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Dynasty Warriors, Yakuza, and Battlefield.]
Looking at the list of games, as well as the familiar logos and titles, Alex's excitement grew. Memories of these games flooded his mind. 'The pink puffball, Kassandra the Mercenary, the historical battles of the Three Kingdoms, the gritty streets of Kamurocho, and the intense warfares. . .'
As a hardcore gamer, just seeing these game titles and logos brought back countless memorable scenes and moments. However, after a brief moment of excitement, he noticed a key detail.
"Hold on. . . These games are fun to play!"
The games listed were popular ones, many of which sold tens of millions of copies in his previous life. Alex believed that for players in this new world, these games would be lie dropping a boulder into a pond – an absolute game-changer!
But he needed games that would generate high impact values!
While the difficulty in games like Assassin's Creed and Dynasty Warriors could be adjusted, it wouldn't be the same. Kirby, with its cute protagonist and accessible gameplay, wasn't suitable for generating impact values either.
Yakuza gad potential, with its emotional storylines and thrilling gameplay, but its niche theme meant it wouldn't have a broad player base.
"In that case, there seems to be only one choice. And the game equipment in this new world would perfectly complement it. Get ready world! It's time for you to experience the true charm of video games!" Alex declared, his eyes sparkling as he prepared to begin his new journey.
- End of Chapter 01 -