[Pokémon World Beta Version: Non-stop Update Notice]
Update details:
Level System: A level system has been added. Players can now view both their own and their Pokémon's levels. When players level up, their physical attributes will improve. Similarly, Pokémon will grow stronger in various aspects as they level up, and most Pokémon will evolve into new forms once they reach a certain level.
Attribute Panel: Players can now check their attributes. Upon leveling up, players' physical attributes will automatically increase. There are other ways to improve attributes, which players will need to discover on their own.
New Building: Quest Hall: Players can now enter the Quest Hall to accept tasks. Upon completing quests, various rewards will be granted.
Affection System: Every player action will affect their relationship with NPCs and Pokémon. If affection levels drop too low, NPCs will stop issuing quests, and Pokémon might disobey commands. On the other hand, high affection levels may lead to hidden rewards.
(Note: Affection levels will not be displayed as numerical values. Players must figure it out themselves.)
Scene Optimization: Some areas have been improved, and existing bugs have been fixed.
These were all the changes Ryan made to enhance the game.
It looked simple, and honestly, it wasn't hard to implement.
The level system was the most important addition. Levels not only provide a rough estimate of strength but also motivate players to level up, increasing the game's appeal.
Setting up the levels for Pokémon was straightforward. Pokémon naturally have levels and gain experience from battles; it's just that ordinary people couldn't see this, only making rough estimates.
Ryan used his "Creation Points" to allow players to view their Pokémon's levels. Although the level display wasn't perfectly accurate, it gave a general sense of the Pokémon's current strength.
For the players, he introduced an experience bar. When the bar is full, players will level up, and upon leveling, their physical attributes will automatically improve thanks to the Creation Points.
The attribute improvements aren't drastic, but with enough levels, a player's physical condition could eventually match that of a well-trained knight, though still not as strong as a powerhouse like Bruno.
As for how to gain experience, Ryan initially set two methods. One was to gain experience from battles.
The other was as a reward for completing quests, which would also encourage players to take on more tasks.
Speaking of quests, after players logged off, Ryan not only unlocked the "First Player Login Achievement," earning him three lottery draws, but also activated the "Side Quests" and "Daily Quests" sections, along with the shop module.
Currently, there was only one side quest: rebuilding damaged houses in the territory, with a reward of two lottery draws.
As for daily quests, there were plenty—things like weeding, cleaning up trash, and rescuing wild Pokémon. At a glance, there were over ten different tasks.
The rewards for these quests were "Pokémon Coins," which players could use to buy items in the shop.
Items in the shop were ones Ryan had received as rewards or through the lottery, such as Pokémon food, healing potions, and even Pokéballs.
The prices, though... made Ryan want to curse. The shop's prices were highway robbery!
There was no way Ryan could complete all these tasks himself, which led to the creation of the Quest Hall.
Letting players complete tasks, and then rewarding them while skimming a tiny commission for himself—just a little bit of a "service fee."
The attribute panel didn't need much explanation, and the affection system was put in place to prevent players from going too far with their actions.
Overall, implementing these updates didn't take much effort. The functionality of the "Creation Points" was just too convenient; it allowed Ryan to build the website and further refine the game.
But this update also used up a lot of his Creation Points. Considering that future player upgrades and revivals would also require these points, Ryan's reserves were becoming alarmingly tight.
"This won't do! I need to start construction on more houses first thing tomorrow. The more houses I build, the more Creation Points I'll earn every day."
Ryan couldn't sit still. If it weren't so late, he'd already be out finding people to repair the houses.
Meanwhile, players had finished reading the update notice and were actively discussing it in the group chat.
Leaf: "We're already getting so many updates, and it's only the first day."
West Wind: "It's normal during beta testing. @Silent Walker, you've played a lot of games. What do you think of this update?"
Silent Walker: "I've never played a virtual reality game before, but this update is pretty interesting."
West Wind: "Go on."
Silent Walker: "The update details are clear, but what stands out to me is how this update makes the game feel more like a game."
West Wind: "Can you speak in simpler terms?"
Silent Walker: "To put it simply, the game feels too real at times. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I've been transported to another world."
"A game that's too realistic can blur the line between reality and fantasy. While it lets us live a second life, over time it could cause disorientation. Some might even come to believe that the game world is the real one, using it to escape reality."
"This update introduces more game-like elements, such as levels and attributes, to remind us that this is just a game, not a substitute for real life. At the same time, it enhances the fun factor."
Bell: "You're talking all fancy, but it kind of makes sense."
Leaf: "Other games try to be as realistic as possible, but this one's actually toning down its realism."
West Wind: "You really went all out, huh? You even linked the official site on your C-site homepage. Aren't you afraid of backlash?"
Silent Walker: "Why would I be afraid? The more people who play, the more proof that I'm not lying. Plus, as a gaming content creator, shouldn't I be promoting good games when I find them?"
West Wind: "Bold! But it's working—tons of people are flocking to the official forum, and the number of pre-registrations is shooting up. Anyway, I'm off to work now. See you all in the game tonight~"
Seeing that the group chat quieted down, Virx put his phone aside.
He didn't have to go to work, but he did need to upload a new video.
Thinking about it, Virx opened the Steam platform to find a game to review.
But all he could think about was Pokémon World. Other games just couldn't capture his interest anymore.
"Why can't this game have a recording feature?! You've got such advanced technology—can't you add video recording?"
Virx groaned, grabbing his head in frustration.
If he could record the game, not only would it silence those accusing him of lying, but virtual reality game footage would definitely go viral. He wouldn't have to stress about content ideas ever again.
"Whatever, I'll just tell them I'm taking a break because the backlash has me down."
Virx swiftly came up with an excuse for delaying his uploads, then hummed a tune as he headed off to take a shower.
Meanwhile, Ryan had no idea that his simple update had sparked so much discussion among players.
Even if he did, he'd probably just be impressed with their imagination, maybe even agree with their theories.
"Yeah, exactly! That's what I meant all along!"
But at the moment, Ryan had a different concern.