In the pre-sale announcement, the team clearly specified the exact launch time, precisely two o'clock in the afternoon. In addition, the announcement revealed that once the pre-sale officially begins, the team will distribute the new game's file package to the top 20 teams. It also emphasized that the total number of participants across these twenty teams is only slightly over eighty people, making each qualification extraordinarily rare and valuable.
Time passed slowly, each second stretching longer than the last. In the same modest apartment as before...
"Ah… finally done!" Andrew leaned back in his chair and stretched, a wave of relief washing over him as he stared at the computer screen in front of him. Displayed prominently on the monitor was a massive file package; its title read "SCP: 5K."
However, this file package was no longer exactly the same as the original "Five Thousand: The Extermination of All Humanity." It had changed. But why?
To understand that, one would have to go back a little further. Not long after Andrew released the pre-sale announcement, just when he believed everything was perfectly prepared and only awaited the right moment, an unsettling thought suddenly crossed his mind. What if… After sending the file package to the teams, someone deliberately leaked it?
After all, nearly every major game company, both domestic and international, was watching him closely, waiting for an opportunity. Even if the probability was extremely low, the consequences of a leak would be disastrous. The potential losses would be immeasurable.
That single thought was enough, and Andrew didn't hesitate. After carefully considering the risk, he immediately turned to the system, performed an update, and created a specialized anti-theft version of the game file package.
This time, however, things were different. It wasn't just the system generating everything with a single command; Andrew personally got involved. He meticulously reviewed every aspect, content, structure, hidden details, and security layers, ensuring nothing was left unchecked. Every line, every mechanic, every safeguard was carefully inspected and refined under his direct control. In the end, the result was a completely reconstructed file package, safer and far more refined than before.
Naturally, this process consumed a portion of his accumulated value. But compared to the cost of actually developing a full game, the expenditure was minimal. Moreover, Andrew's current reserves were more than sufficient. So, despite the extra effort, he didn't feel overly drained. If anything, the result made it all worthwhile. After all, this finished product would bring him unprecedented profits and opportunities.
"I'll just wait for the pre-sale to officially begin… Hmm… although it still has to go through the game platform… that's a bit annoying…" Andrew glanced at the time.
What he truly wanted was simple: his own gaming platform. A platform entirely under his control. If that became reality, his games would no longer need to rely on any external companies. No revenue sharing. No restrictions. No compromises. Everything would belong to him. Just thinking about it felt incredibly satisfying.
But reality was less accommodating. At present, he simply didn't have such a platform. And building a fully functional, mature gaming platform from scratch was no easy feat. It required massive financial investment, technical expertise, and a large, coordinated team, resources Andrew currently lacked.
"So… what can I do about it?" Just as that thought surfaced, a familiar system notification suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Conditions fulfilled! The system is activating the "Supercomputer" function.]
Andrew froze for a brief moment. Then, his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he immediately summoned the system interface and began examining the newly unlocked function in detail.
After a thorough review, he finally understood the basics. The activation conditions were tied to multiple factors: the accumulated emotional value, the popularity of his first game, the number of players who cleared it, and the overall level of global discussion it generated. Now that all those metrics had reached the required threshold, a new ability had been unlocked.
[Supercomputer]
Just as the name implied, its capabilities were extraordinary. It could assist Andrew in building websites, constructing fully operational gaming platforms, and handling virtually any task related to computers or digital systems.
With the system supporting him from behind the scenes, even the most complex technical challenges could be resolved effortlessly. As for servers, infrastructure, and maintenance? Not a problem. The system would handle everything seamlessly.
Even better, all of it would appear completely natural, as if it had been developed through normal means, leaving no room for suspicion.
Andrew's expression shifted into a wide grin. "Just when I needed it most… the system delivers exactly what I want."
There was no doubt about it. With the "Supercomputer" function now at his disposal, the creation of his own virtual gaming universe will arrive far sooner than he had ever imagined.