This time, the program was different from the past. There were no lengthy speeches—just brief introductions. Then Yang Chen, the director of the City Game Department, took the stage to announce the selection of the senior title designers for the year.
To become a game designer, official certification is necessary, and the same applies to the senior title.
Generally, a person needs to have industry experience of over five years with significant achievements to obtain it.
As for Chen Xu, although the time and qualifications were not enough, as the saying goes, 'Rules are there to be broken.'
In just two years, Chen Xu earned the top title in the game department. Works like JellyMan, Dark Soul, and Escape have achieved remarkable success.
Thus, Chen Xu is also on the prestigious list. Along with Chen Xu, there were fourteen other game designers. However, Chen Xu was undoubtedly the most eye-catching among them.
As Chen Xu took the stage to express gratitude and received the certificate from Yang Chen, applause filled the room. Countless game designers couldn't help but feel envious.
_______________________
"As expected," someone thought.
"To be fair, although Chen Xu doesn't meet the time or qualifications if his achievements in the past two years aren't enough, then nothing will be."
"I'm jealous! I've been in the business for 7 years, and I don't know if my application will even be accepted by next year."
"Don't even think about it, it's not happening."
"Damn it!"
_______________________
After Chen Xu stepped down, some game designers, familiar with each other, quietly exchanged thoughts.
He was still seated beside Meng Zuo, who smiled and congratulated him. Chen Xu responded with a smile.
But soon, both Chen Xu and Meng Zuo fell silent. The highlight of the night was about to begin.
The nominated game designers in the front row were alert, listening attentively as the first award was announced.
Finally, the host, standing on stage with a microphone, announced:
"I announce that the winner of the best screenplay of the year is Loulan, developed by developer Haizen Studio!"
With the announcement, applause erupted from the attending game designers.
Chen Xu also smiled and clapped, joining in the warm applause for the developer.
Ling Hai- the winner. Walked up to the stage, visibly excited, and received the trophy from the presenter.
After delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech, the audience continued to applaud.
Next is the second game award, the Best Art Direction Award, which goes to an indie game.
The winners, as before, were all very excited and thanked everyone in various ways.
These are smaller awards, such as Best Art, Best Performance, Best Indie Game, etc.
These are not considered the most prestigious game awards.
Soon, the awards that are considered the real highlights of the night will be handed out.
It's time to enter the top game awards.
The first one that follows is the Category Game Award for the Best Adventure Puzzle Game of the Year.
As expected, Chen Xu won the first award tonight.
"I announce that the Best Adventure Puzzle Game of the Year is Braveheart: World War, developed by Neon Games under designer Chen Xu!"
Under the thunderous applause, Chen Xu took the trophy on stage and officially thanked the game department and the various players for their support.
For Chen Xu, this award is a pleasant surprise.
The awards ceremony continued, and next came the award for Best Sports; Racing Game.
There are a few manufacturers making this type of game in China, so there was little surprise here.
Then came the Best Action Game award.
Dark Souls was nominated. But it went to Goddess Adventure.
This game is considered an old-fashioned action IP in China, and Chen Xu was not disappointed by the result.
He knew that Dark Souls winning the nomination was more about filling in a gap.
After all, Dark Souls is not an action game. If it had won, it would have been due to the strength of its peers.
Then came a special award as expected, there was no surprise in the eyes of everyone.
The host on stage spoke slowly, as if trying to build suspense, but then announced the winner directly:
"Congratulations, the game that won the Best Casual Game of the Year Award is JellyMan, developed by designer Chen Xu!"
With this announcement, the audience erupted in applause.
No one seemed surprised by this result.
This was the most predictable award.
After all, JellyMan had been a massive hit, a true phenomenon at the time.
Many game designers in the audience couldn't help but sigh.
--------------
'This is the most suspenseful award!'
'Yeah, this can be said to be the most phenomenal game this year, and even the Dark Souls developed by Chen Xu later cannot be compared in terms of popularity.'
'Chen Xu this monster!'
'Where is this going? Look at this. It is estimated that there will be more later. Dark Souls has not won an award so far.'
'It's crazy, but these awards are deserving of their name.'
-------------------------
Then there were several blockbuster game awards.
By this time, it was different from the previous awards for best soundtrack and performance.
These game awards from now were all very important.
All proved that the games, at least in this year's category, were undoubtedly deserving.
The best shooter, the best adventure game, the best strategy game...
During this period, Chen Xu also won several awards. Among them, Dark Souls won the award for best level design, and Overcooked won the award for best cooperative game.
In addition, compared to the past, there was one more game award that became most popular with players this year: It was selected through online voting.
This was the biggest difference between this year's event and previous years.
Dark Souls successfully defeated Net Dragon's Star God to win this award.
There were tears of contrast in my and my brother meng eyes.
Looking at Chen Xu walking on the stage, Meng Zuo, who was sitting next to him, felt a pang of frustration. His seat was completely warm while the seat beside him is untouched and cold like an aloof empress.
It seemed like he was back in time, as in last year's awards ceremony.
And that was just the beginning.
Again and again, Chen Xu took the stage to receive an award.
This time, he won the award for the best mobile game, and the winning game was Three Kingdoms on the mobile platform.
The applause was numbing, and even the host, after announcing the winners, was a bit speechless.
Chen Xu held the trophy in his hand and thanked everyone in his usual and similar manner.
At this moment, in the live broadcast room of this event, countless viewers flooded the chat with comments.
—---------------
"Did Chen Xu bribed the game department, how many times has he won? Is this his first time?"
"My dear, is he here to collect cabbages?"
"Haha, has anyone noticed something? Mr. Chen seems to be repeating his thank-you speech from before."
"Mr. Chen's heart must be bitter—so many trips, how can he have so many thank-you speeches?"
"Haha, focus on his face, I want to see where he's going to put all those trophies!"
—---------------
The barrage was filled with endless comments.
Many viewers also learned for the first time that Chen Xu is such a talented game designer.
This was a normal thing. After all, most players focus on playing games and often don't pay much attention to the game designers or manufacturers.
Some players didn't even know that games like Dark Souls and JellyMan were actually made under the same designer.
However, despite the curiosity and discussions of the online players, Chen Xu was feeling a little embarrassed at this moment.
"Cough, Mr. Meng, can you help me with the trophies? It's too many," Chen Xu said, slightly embarrassed as he returned to his seat, looking at Meng Zuo.
Although the trophies weren't large, there were six of them in total.
While the awards varied in importance, they were all treated equally in terms of size. But the inscription on the base was different.
Since there was no staff on-site to help, Chen Xu couldn't place the trophies on the ground.
So, he could only turn to Meng Zuo, sitting beside him, for help.
"No way, the designer here, Chen Xu, knows this one." ['some random Metube comment on someone stream']
And from the experience of meeting several times before, Chen Xu felt that Brother Meng in front of him is always enthusiastic.
Hearing Chen Xu's words, some game designers sitting next to him silently turned their heads.
"Too many trophies- To put down?"
"Do you want to listen to what we want to say? **** you."
As for Meng Zuo, who was asked, he finally understood something.
But replied, "No problem, I happened to be near President Chen, and for first time get to experience this feeling."
Chen Xu: …
The words were fine, but why did they sound so weird?
Before Chen Xu had a chance to think about it, he heard another familiar name from the host on stage.
"Congratulations, the game that won the Best Role-Playing Game of the Year award is Dark Souls, developed by designer Chen Xu!"
As the words fell, all the game designers on the scene looked toward Chen Xu's position. At the same time, the camera captured the moment.
The viewers watching the live broadcast instantly began to buzz with excitement.
—--------------
"My God, it's him again!"
"Haha, Chen Xu said his seat wasn't hot, and he's about to get up again!"
Ordinary players and game designers both rejoiced.
But at this time, many designers also began discussing.
"Best RPG for Dark Souls?"
"It deserves the award, but there's still a bit of regret."
"Yeah, it's probably going to come down to a final competition between Star God and Sin City."
—--------------
Designers in the nomination area continued their conversation.
One of the game designers, a man in his thirties, had his eyes closed at this moment, his hands clasped together as though praying for something.
This was the designer of Sin City.
Meng Zuo, also held a bunch of trophies in his hands, and was excited as well for the next award.
Chen Xu, on the other hand, didn't feel much.
Taking the trophy from the host and picking up the microphone, Chen Xu made his thank-you speech.
______________
"Thanks to all the players who supported me; I am very touched."
"Dark Souls is different from many ARPGs, but fortunately, the feedback from players has made us very happy."
"In addition, I also want to share the joy of winning the award with the employees of Neon Games. This is an achievement we have all reached together. At the same time, I also thank the leaders and judges of the game department for their recognition."
"Finally, I want to thank all the players once again. It is you, who made this happen, and this is our honor."
"In the days to come, I will continue to make better games."
"Thank you, everyone!"
______________
Following Chen Xu's speech, thunderous applause erupted once more.
On the major live broadcast platforms, countless players frantically discussed Chen Xu's award.
—----------------
"Haha, this award show, Chen Xu, always says the same."
"Have you not noticed something? A warrior, who once claimed to love us like we were Helen of troy, said —the feedback from players makes him very happy!"
"Yes! Dark Souls is a high-difficulty, suffering game. Does this mean Mr. Chen is happy to see players suffer? Does he really think, we are becoming lull with medicore games- so he is raging war with lovely games against the walls of Old gaming companies "
"Get my hammer! Chen Xu turned out to be such a person! But it make sense."
"However, it's still a bit of a pity. I feel like winning this award and the final Best Game of the Year should've been a close call, right?"
At this time, Chen Xu also stepped down from the stage.
Next was the final award of the evening: Best Game of the Year.
The selected designers from Tenghua's side stared at the big screen on the main stage with great attention, clearly excited, holding their knees with both hands.
Meng Zuo, who was next to Chen Xu, appeared indifferent while chatting with others, but his small eyes kept secretly glancing at the stage.
Suddenly, all the lights went out.
Footage from the nominated games appeared on the big screen.
With each game segment, there was corresponding background music and prompts.
The magnificent palace of the gods turned from prosperity to ruin. Countless legendary monsters appeared on Earth, and the stunning scenery was displayed in front of the players. A young man with a mysterious bloodline journeyed through the mountains in search of the lost. The game was God's Journey: Star God.
The chaotic gang life, the feasting night city, and the undercover protagonist struggling in an endless purgatory. Themes of family love, responsibility, and friendship intertwined in Sin City.
The Undead Squad, Ash Graveyard, The Unknown King, and The Fire Girl, along with iconic scenes like Lothric High Wall, Farah Fortress, and Fire Sacrifice—all memorable to the players—flashed by. Finally, the ashes climbed out of the coffin as the bell tolled in Dark Souls.
After all the game clips were shown, the lights in the venue came back on.
The host announced loudly, and the designers from Tenghua's side shouted in excitement, while Meng Zuo, next to Chen Xu, covered his face with his hands.
The final Best Game of the Year award went to Sin City.
From Chen Xu's perspective, this wasn't too surprising.
In terms of plot depth, Sin City was indeed superior to Star God. Technically, Sin City wasn't any worse than Star God, either.
What caught Chen Xu off guard was that Star God didn't even get off the mark at this event.
"Mr. Meng... Let's try again. Don't give up. The market performance of Star God is still topnotch, and players have affirmed it," Chen Xu said, looking at Meng Zuo, who was still holding his trophy. He couldn't help but try to comfort him.
After all, Meng Zuo was a good person!
Upon hearing Chen Xu's words, Meng Zuo glanced at the trophy in his hand, then at the trophy. An overwhelming urge to cry suddenly surged within him.
The awards ceremony concluded, marking the end of the reformed annual game event.
Major media outlets quickly published articles.
However, the most popular topic online wasn't about Sin City winning Game of the Year.
It was about Chen Xu and Neon Games, which had only been established for two years.
Their award-winning performance was eye-catching. While the three main game awards were the most significant, it was still quite remarkable.
Another trending topic was the absence of Star God from the awards.
Despite the game's popularity and positive player feedback, no one had expected Star God to end up without any awards.
The final live broadcast scene, where the director showed Chen Xu and Meng Zuo in the same frame, was especially cool.
Many players had already created memes from the scene.
In the image, Meng Zuo and Chen Xu were holding several trophies between them. Players added humorous captions:
[Meng Zuo: It feels so good to hold the trophy!]
[Chen Xu: Is the trophy that easy to touch! Remember to return it later—it's all mine!]