The unanimous praise raises whether these media outlets were paid for their reviews.
Well, the target software did invest in some PR. However, much of the praise is due to the quality of Dark Souls itself.
For major outlets like Game Spot, a simple business fee isn't enough to make them ignore flaws.
The result has been impressive. Players who follow reviews on major game platforms are usually experienced gamers. They don't rely on advertisements or live-streaming platforms to learn about trending games.
Instead, they explore reviews to make informed decisions.
Dark Souls, with its hardcore appeal, has attracted significant attention. On a large overseas gaming forum, players from various countries are actively discussing the game.
A snippet of one of the hot threads that revolve around Dark Souls:
_________________
"Have you heard about a newly launched game called Dark Souls?"
"Of course! Game Spot and several other media outlets gave it high ratings."
"Isn't it an Eastern game, and likely Chinese or Japanese?"
"Let me check... My God! Did Game Spot get paid?"
"Haha, you should probably head to YouTube and watch the promotional CG animation for Dark Souls. I guarantee it!"
"Yeah, go check it out. It's cool—unless it's a teaser scam."
"Friends, I assure you, this game has been available in their country for more than a month. Many streamers and video creators have uploaded gameplay videos on YouTube, showcasing its real performance."
"I saw those videos, but the players kept dying! Now I've learned the Chinese characters for "You Died!"
_________________
With the target software's promotion efforts overseas, Dark Souls is gradually gaining traction. The high ratings from major outlets, combined with its stunning CG animations, have made many international players eager to get their hands on it.
Ultimately, as the reviews suggest, Dark Souls lives up to the hype. Players are drawn by the idea of experiencing its challenges for themselves, eager to uncover the truth behind the praise.
Regarding overseas promotion, Chen Xu decided to stop paying attention to it for the time being after understanding some of the promotions and policies of the target software.
After all, everything that needed to be done has been accomplished. The rest now depends primarily on the market.
For me, however, there's something even more exciting at the moment—the golden egg I drew earlier. With the performance of Dark Souls these days, the corresponding points have finally been accumulated.
Sitting in my office, I opened the golden egg within the item bar with anticipation. As the golden light burst forth, a card appeared before me.
[Game AI Performance Technology]
Optimizes game AI performance, making it lean toward life intelligence.
Prerequisites for use:
Own a wholly-owned AI technology company (X).
Have 50 million dollars in research funds (X).
Seeing this, I was both shocked and intrigued. It was the first time I had drawn such an item.
As someone familiar with game AI, I understand its critical role in gaming. The expressiveness of AI directly influences the player's immersion.
In this parallel world, AI performance is already significantly advanced compared to what I remember from my past life. However, it still falls short of what one might call true artificial intelligence.
To me, the term artificial intelligence should at least align with something akin to the Terminator.
[yeah yeah, and End the world. Next]
Whether such technology would be a boon or bane for humanity remains uncertain.
In this world, many industries already utilize AI, such as smart homes and sectors involving dangerous tasks. Yet, the game industry has been slower to adopt such advancements.
The level of AI applied to games is notably less sophisticated than AI used in other fields. Furthermore, there's a significant gap between large game manufacturers and smaller studios in this area.
Previously, I chose to focus on developing Dark Souls because its requirements for action and AI were relatively modest. The game leaned heavily on level and boss design.
However, for projects that demand players to interact deeply with the game world, AI becomes a cornerstone of the experience. In my long-term plans for Neon Games, advancing AI technology alongside action performance was always on the agenda.
This golden egg has come at the perfect time. The only challenge is meeting its prerequisites. Judging by the X indicators on the card, acquiring a wholly-owned AI company is essential, but additional unspecified conditions may also exist.
Looking at the points I've accumulated, it's clear that Dark Souls has been an incredible tool. With points amassed in the number, more than I've ever had.
Despite this, I decided not to draw immediately. For one, my current ability points are sufficient, and there are no major projects requiring immediate attention.
For another, with the overseas launch of Dark Souls on the horizon, a more opportune moment for drawing may arise soon.
After considering this in the office for a while, I called Lin Rou in and asked her to compile a list of companies—domestic and international—specializing in AI technology research. This would help identify those that meet the prop card's conditions while also giving me a broader understanding of the field.
Since the prerequisites require full ownership, acquiring an existing AI company would be faster than building one from scratch. For now, there's no urgency, as this prop card has no time limit, unlike some previous items I've drawn.
Later, I called Qin Yi into the office. Based on the current progress of players in Dark Souls, I shared the idea of preparing a small gift as a surprise for them. It's also the perfect time to start developing a new game mode—a powerful tool to further accumulate points!
That will meet some radical people's expectations!