Thank You,
Knight Teir: "Shees", and "Jonathan Modica"
For Becoming A Member On My Pa'treon. The Emperor Protect.
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Before the release of Epic Continent, Steven boldly declared on stage, "Frankly, I don't think any game this year can compete with us for Game of the Year." His words were a direct challenge to the entire industry, instantly drawing attention.
Even those who hadn't seen the full scope of Epic Continent thought Steven was either excessively confident or just plain mad. Still, they had to admit: Power Storm truly had the strength to back up such claims.
As one of the most seasoned developers, Power Storm has been part of gaming history since the early days. From its rough beginnings to the era of technological breakthroughs, the company has weathered highs and lows. But one thing remained constant: their relentless dedication to craftsmanship. Power Storm never stopped striving to deliver excellence in game design.
Over the years, countless studios have risen and fallen. Some pivoted to chase trends or profit, abandoning their roots. But Power Storm stayed true to its path, always building with heart, even during industry shakeups. The result? Any game bearing the Power Storm name could confidently expect to sell millions of copies, regardless of its actual quality. Because the brand alone is worth that much.
Not that Power Storm would ever release a subpar game on purpose. But there was once a developer, almost mythical in memory, that emerged with groundbreaking RTS and RPG titles. Later, it would redefine the MMORPG genre and become almost deified in the minds of gamers. Yet with time, even their sacred aura faded, replaced by infamous lines like: "Don't you guys have phones?"
Back in his office, John leaned back in his chair, watching Steven's livestreamed speech thoughtfully.
The conference buzzed with energy. Reporters scrambled to cover every angle, and viewers flooded the chat. Steven continued, "There will always be magical games. One might be a medieval-style RPG, with dragons, deep lore, and rich detail. If it has any weakness, it's probably the lack of English localization."
"No doubt, that's an outstanding RPG," He said. Though Steven quickly shifted to the specifics of Epic Continent, his earlier comments already lit the internet on fire.
Major gaming outlets rolled out sensational headlines:
"Shocking! Power Storm's Steven Makes Bold Game of the Year Claim"
"Only One Game Can Compare to Epic Continent, Says Steven"
The stories didn't need much more, just screenshots and a recap of Steven's speech. The real value was in the headline clicks. Online, the discussion exploded. Fans of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Power Storm were already hyped. Casual gamers who had only played Skyrim started getting curious. Even Power Storm fans who hadn't played Skyrim now had their eyes on Epic Continent. But soon, the skeptics came out.
"Seriously? Hyping up a game that's not even out? Epic Continent is as good as Skyrim? LOL."
"They've barely shown gameplay, and now it's dropping suddenly? Sounds like another half-finished cash grab."
"Game of the Year? Are they trying to break their backs with that ego? From October through January, it's release season. Launching now? They'll get buried."
Some of these voices were just trolls. Others were rival studios stirring doubt. Either way, the narrative was shifting fast. Even among Power Storm fans, not everyone was convinced.
For a while, the internet roared.
"Skyrim vs Epic Continent."
"Local Studios vs Global Giants."
Keywords related to both titles shot to the top of hot search lists.
Over at Gemtechs, the situation wasn't going unnoticed. The company quickly contacted PixelPioneers Studio. Armani, who had been watching the conference too, immediately turned to John.
"The Dawn Guard content is complete," He said. "The Dragon DLC is almost done, it just needs some final testing."
After working with Armani for so long, John immediately understood what he was suggesting: counter-release Epic Continent.
At this point, Skyrim had been out for over a month. Sales had peaked. Most of the audience who wanted the game already had it. Plus, since PixelPioneers didn't believe in charging players twice for DLC, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"In fact," Armani added, "we should get multiplayer mode online as soon as possible. This is a golden opportunity."
They weren't afraid to clash with Power Storm, and losing wouldn't ruin them. Power Storm was a titan, but if they could hold their ground, or even win? That would be legendary.
The fanbases for PixelPioneers, Skyrim, and Power Storm overlapped heavily. The conversation wouldn't stop anytime soon. As Power Storm promoted Epic Continent, confidently riding the hype wave, John and Armani finalized a coordinated strategy with Gemtechs. They released an immediate announcement through the official site:
"Night falls. Strange creatures stir in the skies again. The vigilant Standar warriors, long in battle with the undead, are the first to face this new threat. In a surprise assault, their temple is reduced to rubble. As the monsters descend, repressed memories awaken once more."
"At the same time, a Red Guardian named Isran arrives at the long-abandoned Dawn Guard Fortress. With the remaining Standar forces, he begins rebuilding the order. To strengthen their ranks, Isran sends word across the land. City guards begin whispering rumors. And at last, the tale of the Dawn Guard reaches even the ears of dragons..."
The moment the announcement dropped, players, and even gaming media, erupted in excitement.
One word: War.