Chapter 6: This Is a Professional Game Developer's Judgment
Days passed.
The final CG illustration was complete, and the corresponding audio and subtitle editing was finished. Alex looked at the game's source files generated on his computer, his face lit up with excitement. "Done!"
"So now we look for a publisher?" Jane, standing next to him, asked, also a little excited. After all, this was a project she had worked hard on for a month. Well, even though she hadn't received a single cent from Alex.
"No." Hearing Jane's words, Alex shook his head slightly.
"Huh?" Jane asked. Although she didn't know much about video games, she knew that Alex was now an indie developer. Just like drawing comics and making movies, shouldn't he be looking for a publisher and film/TV distributor?
"Video games are a little different. Besides, we're going to release it on a platform like Steam, not the official platforms used here."
"But it's possible to upload the game directly to the major platforms..."
"Yes, but most indie games like ours have better reach on platforms like Steam. It's a much larger and more diverse audience. Plus, Mirror is an 18+ game, and the major platforms are usually stricter with this kind of content," Alex explained to Jane.
"Then why are you still working on this, Alex?" Jane asked, bewildered. According to that statement, it seemed like the game would be dead even before it launched. Although, if that happened, it would mean Alex would be her assistant from now on. But, to be honest, Jane's initial opinion had changed a bit. The month she had spent with Alex had significantly changed her view of him, and she had also gained a basic understanding of the video game industry, which seemed quite interesting. Besides, she had put a lot of effort into this and honestly wished for its success.
"Just slowly. I've made many preparations for the continuation of Mirror. Wait for my good news, Jane. I'll definitely give you a big bonus!" Alex smiled slightly.
"Okay, then I'll be waiting for you." Jane looked at the confident Alex and nodded, albeit with a puzzled expression.
In a residential complex, a woman in a white shirt and jeans was leaning into Jane's apartment.
"Jane, are you really not considering helping me? With your artistic skills combined with my talent as a game designer, we can definitely make a name for ourselves in the industry!"
Jane put her juice down on the coffee table, watching the excited Lisa in front of her. At that moment, she felt she understood Alex's feelings.
"Lisa, I'm not trying to be harsh, but you've developed three games, and it seems they were all failures, right?" Jane rolled her eyes.
She didn't know much about video games before, but after working with Alex for a month, she realized that his job wasn't different from her old job of drawing books: he was still drawing. But she did have some understanding of video games, and then she realized that Lisa, who had boasted so much about herself, hadn't even created a single game.
"It's sure to be a huge success next time! As long as you help me, Jane!" Lisa said confidently.
"Come on, it seems your dad and you agreed that there would be no more funding once the seed money runs out. So, Lisa, what about you?" Jane, sitting on the sofa, watched Lisa's confident expression with skepticism.
"Ahem, by the way, Jane, how about the game your partner made? Has he found a publisher yet? Do you want me to help introduce one?" Lisa coughed lightly, changing the subject.
"No need. Alex said he would release it directly on a platform like Steam without looking for a publisher." Jane shook her head, remembering what Alex had told her earlier.
"Not looking for a publisher? That's a real disadvantage. Without the resources of an external platform, and relying completely on new games being added to the library, it's difficult to succeed unless the quality is excellent," Lisa said with the air of a veteran.
"Lisa, Alex said it seems the game hasn't been added to the library yet and is being uploaded to a platform like Steam." Jane recalled some of her conversations with Alex yesterday.
"And no external publishers? And the game has 18+ content? No wonder they're looking for you, Jane. But you, my young one, take everything for granted. A game that only has erotic content won't be popular." Lisa, who was a great connoisseur of the video game industry, immediately understood the game's genre after hearing Jane's words.
Even bloody and violent games, as long as they weren't too extreme, would be recommended for new games on platforms. Those who chose to release without a publisher on a platform like Steam and weren't added as new games to their catalog—those who got this treatment—were generally 18+ games.
"Really? Alex must have his own plans, right? And Mirror isn't just an 18+ game; it has a rich plot," Jane said with some uncertainty, remembering Alex's previous confidence.
"How could I not understand? I heard you say that your partner's artistic skills are as good as yours, right? They came to you hoping to sell art, but games don't just rely on art to succeed. And as for the content? What kind of content could an 18+ game have?" "That's a professional game developer's judgment! Plus, without new games in the catalog or external publishers, unless they themselves run a massive advertising campaign, they're not likely to be very successful." Lisa made this bold opinion.
"So, Lisa, do you think that game can sell more than 50,000 copies?" Jane asked, looking at the confident Lisa.
"Impossible!"
Even though she hadn't seen the game Jane had worked on, Lisa confidently declared a death sentence. After all, according to the information she had, it was a low-budget indie game without a publisher, an 18+ game, with only two people involved. Apparently, the other person had been a comic artist who had outsourced some games. While 18+ games always had many potential users, the competition in this category was immense. So how could such a combination create a successful game?
"You know, I've developed three failed games before, and I know very well how challenging the video game industry was. Although 50,000 is out of the question, 18+ games usually have relatively low prices. And with your artistic skills, Jane, there's a significant advantage. If the quality isn't bad, maybe we can expect 10,000 sales. At least we won't lose money."
From a risk perspective, 18+ games are, in fact, relatively small." Lisa looked at Jane and reassured her.
"That's a professional game developer's judgment!" After thinking for a moment, Lisa added.
"Really?" Jane, who for the time being only had a limited knowledge of the video game industry, showed some concern on her face.
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