Losing Money to Be a Tycoon
chapter-1265

Sun Xi nodded. "I see. I understand."

"However, I have another question: the price of the skin."

"As you said, Boss Pei, you can use the skin to charge. Why don't you set the price higher? Bullet Hole 2 and GOG are not competing. There's nothing strange about the price of the skin of two different game types being different."

"Bullet Hole 2 has very few players as an FPS game to begin with. If the price of the skin is low, the profits would naturally be low. If the sales do not rise, won't we fall into a vicious cycle?"

"I think it's better to set the price of the skin higher at the beginning. If the profit situation is more optimistic, we can slowly discount and lower the price. It can also stimulate consumption and be more stable."

Pei Qian: "…"

Good lord, it was indeed not easy to fool the people outside.

The people from Tengda Games were very professional but overall, they trusted Boss Pei too much. Thus, even if they had questions, they would not ask them. Instead, they would think about it themselves.

The questions with Sun Strike Studios were evidently much sharper.

However, this small problem was obviously not enough to stump Pei Qian.

He could even hoodwink a veteran in the gaming circle like Old Master He An. Wouldn't it be easy to deal with a few young people?

After some consideration, Pei Qian said, "I think this is a matter of whether there is a chicken first or an egg."

"Players say: If your skin is cheaper, I will buy more."

"The game merchant said: You buy more and then my skin will be discounted."

"No one is willing to give in first. That would be a vicious cycle."

"If it's as you said, we'll sell it at a high price first and then slowly discount it in the future, then let me ask you: If the skin sells well at a high price at that time, would you still be willing to give a huge discount? If we give a discount, would we still give a 50%, 70%, or even lower? I'm afraid we would only give a 20% discount or a 30% discount muddled along."

"If the skin is not sold well, would the discount make the price of the skin seem too high, making players gloat and not buy it?"

"Therefore, your idea is very optimistic and beautiful, but it is not practical."

"Some things would be unimaginable if you did not do it in the beginning."

"As for the gaming community…"

"This is also a question of whether there is a chicken or an egg first."

"If a certain game is not attractive enough to players, there would naturally be fewer players. If there are few players, the income of the game would be low, and there would be no money for follow-up updates. The appeal of the game to players would decrease further."

"As time goes by, this will become a vicious cycle.

"Therefore, it's fine if we don't succeed. If we want to do it, we have to do it to the best of our abilities. We have to lower the price from the beginning so that gamers would feel embarrassed if they didn't spend money. We have to make them feel that it's inhumane not to buy such cheap skins. That would form a virtuous cycle!"

Pei Qian's expression was rather serious. His aura conquered everyone.

Sun Xi nodded, speechless.

What Boss Pei meant was that even though there were not many players now, as long as Bullet Hole 2 was done well and had a conscience, there would be more players in the future.

This was something that would happen in the future. No one could tell, so there was no way to deny it.

Otherwise, wouldn't he be cursing himself?

Before the game was released, he had to think about what to do if no players came to play it. That would be too discouraging.

Thus, the topic stopped there.

Zhou Muyan cleared his throat. "Hmm, that's settled then."

"However, I think Long Yu Corporation should have some complaints about this charging model…"

The skins were priced cheaply. It was obviously not conducive to making money for Longyu Corporation.

Sun Strike Studios was a research and development company while Long Yu Corporation was an operations company. Obviously, the operations company was more concerned about this.

Pei Qian sniggered. "Why should we care so much about their thoughts? We can't let the operations company set the price for the game. It's just like asking the cat if it would eat a small biscuit. There will only be one answer."

To put it nicely, the goal of the operations company was to "make the game better". To put it bluntly, it was to "earn more money".

These two arguments looked the same on the surface, but there were often huge deviations in the real operation. They were getting closer and closer to the latter, and farther away from the former.

Zhou Muyan nodded and gave Boss Pei a thumbs up silently.

Indeed, an impressive game designer like Boss Pei could completely ignore the operator's views.

In fact, Boss Pei's own operating skills were unparalleled. Why bother thinking about what Long Yu Corporation would think? GOG could beat IOI to the ground, which was enough to explain the problem.

"Alright, the problem with the charging mode has been resolved. The only problem left is the art style."

"Boss Pei, what style do you think is more suitable?"

Pei Qian smiled. "Let's hear everyone's opinions first."

Zhou Muyan looked at Sun Xi.

Sun Xi pondered for a moment and said, "Ocean Stronghold's success lies in the relatively exaggerated and cool appearance of the Red Kilin and Barrett epic weapons. It can be seen that most players say that they want to write it down but it would be really nice after adding the special effects."

"I think we should work in that direction as well. Make it more exaggerated and cool."

The designers, including Zhou Muyan, nodded.

This was something that they had analyzed when they were summarizing the experience of Bullet Hole's failure. It could be said to be a consensus within Sun Strike Studios.

However, at that moment, a voice said faintly, "Really? I think that there's nothing wrong with keeping a low profile, being simple, and being realistic with weapons."

Everyone turned around in unison and realized that it was Boss Pei.

The conference room fell silent.

It felt like… they had switched roles?

Shouldn't Tengda be crazily talking about Ocean Stronghold's success and Sun Strike Studios saying that they should stick to their own ideas?

Why was it the other way around?

Now, it has become Sun Strike Studios trying their best to use Ocean Stronghold's successful experience. However, Boss Pei kept rejecting them.

Ridiculous!

Sun Xi tried asking, "Boss Pei, are you saying that we plan to sell our skins to make money, and then make the skins of our guns low-key, plain, and realistic…?"

Pei Qian nodded. "What's wrong? I think it's low-key, simple, and realistic. It doesn't conflict with how well done and unique it is."

Everyone fell silent.

Good lord, you've said all the right things!

Boss Pei's words reminded everyone of the unscrupulous client. He would say 'multi-colored black' and 'multi-colored white' directly. He would give a contradictory request. In any case, they could find fault with the freelancer in the end.

Zhou Muyan sighed. "Boss Pei, you really do whatever you want with Big Boss Ruan around…"

"Can you lend Big Boss Ruan to us for a few days? I think only he can fulfill this request."

Let Ruan Guangjian draw it?

How could he allow that to happen?!

Pei Qian immediately shook his head. "Ruan Guangjian might not be able to leave. Tengda has many projects for him."

"Besides, doesn't Sun Strike Studios have its own animation artist and model artist? There's no need to give up what's near for what's far away. I think your artist here is quite something."

Zhou Muyan was a little helpless. "But they are only good at thesis assignments!"

Sun Strike Studios' artists were basically following the designers' requirements strictly and were already used to this working model.

Give them a broad concept and let the artists express themselves freely?

It would be too difficult for them.

Ruan Guangjian had been designing on his own from the beginning, and he had been working with Tengda for a long time. Thus, his ability to control the flow of the art was not something that ordinary artists could compare to.

Pei Qian smiled. "There will always be a first time."

"I think that Sun Strike Studios' artists are all rather outstanding. Since we've worked together for such a long time, we should trust them. Let them give it their all and try. For all we know, they might be able to achieve something."

Zhou Muyan and the designers looked at each other and saw similar expressions on each other's faces.

Boss Pei, do you think everyone is Big Boss Ruan?

We really don't trust our company's artists!

They had already made their requests very clear, but the results were still very easy to wrangle. Wouldn't it be even more ridiculous if they were allowed to design freely?

However, they could not say it directly. Otherwise, the art director would fly into a rage if news of this got out.

Then, it would be too much for the art team to protest against them.

Thus, everyone exchanged confused looks. No one spoke.

That was exactly what Pei Qian wanted.

I'm going to slip away since you have no more questions!

He looked at Min Jingchao. "How is it? Do you have a general idea?"

Pei Qian did not want to say much because he would definitely make a mistake if he said too much.

What if he ended up contradicting himself?

Therefore, he would leave immediately once Min Jingchao said that it was about time.

Min Jingchao looked at the contents of the small notebook and recalled the 'Boss Pei's Intent Analysis' and Hu Xianbin's previous design experience. He said, "Hmm… I have some ideas."

Pei Qian immediately stood up when he heard that. "Alright, let's start the work!"

"Everyone is dismissed. Min Jingchao will come out with the game plan after two days and then assign you your tasks."

"Boss Zhou, you can slowly decide on the chief planner for Bullet Hole 2. If you can't make up your mind, you can discuss it with Min Jingchao."

Zhou Muyan was stunned. This series of words confused him from the bottom of his heart.

What the hell was this? The meeting was over so quickly?

They had not decided on anything at all!

Until now, they only knew that the hand sensitivity of the game was similar to that of Bullet Hole. The charging mode sold skins, and the style was "simple, realistic, and unique"…

They had not even decided on the prototype of the game.

As for the chief planner who could work under Min Jingchao, he had no clue at all.

Zhou Muyan had wanted the designers to come and listen and give their opinions. He wanted to see who was more confident and suitable for this project.

Now, these designers were just like him, understanding nothing.

The meeting was over before he could even find a chance to speak.

These people must have looked confused as well, not knowing what to do with this project. It would be a waste to ask.

Everyone turned to look at Min Jingchao.

The meaning was very clear: It's fine if we don't understand, but keep Boss Pei around if you don't understand as well!

After all, you are the chief designer. You will be the one to develop this game.

However, Min Jingchao nodded. "Alright, Boss Pei. I think it's about time."

"…" Everyone fell silent.

This hierarchy was amazing.

One was daring to send missions, and the other was daring to accept missions!

Wasn't that too rash!