Chapter 89: Heated Discussions
After a full day at the exhibition, Alex, the Nebula Games staff, and the cosplayers were exhausted. This was largely due to the players' enthusiasm.
Although both Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys could be downloaded on mobile and played in the exhibition hall, the large number of players present, coupled with Nebula Games' booth, heated up the atmosphere. And most importantly, these players were constantly coming and going.
The exhibition lasted five days, and after the initial enthusiasm of the first day, the popularity of Nebula Games' booth did not diminish at all. In fact, after visiting Nebula Games' booth on the first day and experiencing the popularity of Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics, more and more players flocked to Nebula Games' booth on the second and third days.
Even the exhibition hall management had to deploy additional security personnel to the sixth booth and Nebula Games' booth to maintain order. It seemed that Nebula Games had become the most popular attraction at the fair.
Even the eagerly anticipated VR blockbusters from NetDragon and Aether Games, whose popularity has been gradually overshadowed by the buzz surrounding Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics, are undeniable. While both games are VR blockbusters, they still have a long way to go.
Not even Aether Games and NetDragon, giants of the video game industry, could launch large-scale promotions at this moment.
Their participation in the fair was just a modest pre-launch promotional campaign. Who could have imagined that this would happen?
As for the lack of popularity, it's simple: players simply can't experience the game content! A VR game requires players to queue, with limited time available, allowing each player only about ten minutes to familiarize themselves with the game. In short, it's a delight for those who try it, and, naturally, it can't compare to Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics.
Although they can only be played within the exhibition area, both games offer a complete experience. Furthermore, both Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys are incredibly addictive!
This year's exhibition presented a rather curious scene. No matter which section you went to, you could see people queuing, with their phones and portable batteries in hand, playing Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics while they waited.
Due to the explosive growth of the exhibition, major media outlets focused on Aether Games' and NetDragon's virtual reality blockbusters on the first day. But on the second, third, and fourth days... Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics dominated all video game news, exciting the entire gaming community and becoming the main topic of discussion.
In an industry designer chat group, many commented on the news about Nebula Games' two games at this year's game exhibition.
"Who attended this year's game exhibition? What's the status of Alex's new game?"
"Yeah, those who know, tell me about Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys?"
"A Three Kingdoms strategy board game and a cartoon-style game set in a variety show. The game quality is really good. Three Kingdoms Tactics has a bit more depth, but Fall Guys is a bit addictive. The catchy music and wobbling figures are still etched in my mind."
"+1, it's really addictive!"
"The game's quality is one reason why it's so popular, but most importantly, Alex's promotion is so good!"
"That's right, if I had to say who was the best at promoting gameplay this year, I'd have to rule out Alex!"
"Yes! From the promoters and cosplayers to the game itself, he has everything under control!"
"Next year, I think mobile games might experience a boom. Mainly because Alex is so cunning! Everyone queues, and yet, his new game can be played anywhere, anytime, in any venue, which eventually goes viral."
"Don't expect it next year. Do you think other game developers and designers won't find out? Alex was the first to try it and it worked. If you try again next year, you won't even be ready."
"I can only say that Alex nailed the gameplay this year. Do you think Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys will become the next trending small games, like Overcooked did before?"
"Very likely! Players at the fair are completely hooked, and online players are just as excited!"
Many game designers with market vision, seeing the current online popularity of Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics, have had a flash of inspiration.
If Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys are the next trending casual games, now is the time to invest in R&D and be among the first to follow suit. You'll have a good chance to profit!
While previous Overcooked-style games haven't been very successful, at least those first batches didn't lose money and at least generated some profits.
Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics are completely different from Overcooked. Non-cooperative games, of course, attract a wider audience. Meanwhile, online players' expectations are incredibly high!
Designers from many small and medium-sized companies are considering it. Players in major gaming communities are also enthusiastic about the debate.
"I can only say that Alex wasn't kidding this time! Fall Guys is a real blast!"
"I'm at the fair, looking forward to tomorrow's launch. I'm hooked on Three Kingdoms Tactics!"
"My mouth is watering! After the fair, Alex should release these two games. Judging by the online videos, they seem incredibly well-made!"
Many sent a petition to Alex's official blog, urging him to release the games. Seeing attendees share their gaming experiences online, more and more players learned about these two special new games.
As the exhibition progressed, the buzz around Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics continued to grow. In reality, these actions were basically a unilateral outburst, without expecting a response.
But to everyone's surprise, on the fourth day of the exhibition, Alex responded on his official blog. To the players' anticipation, Alex's official blog simply posted:
"Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys have been pre-released on the Nebula gaming platform. Three Kingdoms Tactics is free, while Fall Guys is a buy-to-play game for $9.60."
The timing was perfect: just before the Gameplay Expo ended, the games were at their peak. Many players were already looking forward to accessing the various leaked news from the Gameplay Expo.
After Alex's message, players with access to the Nebula gaming platform decided to log in, download, and purchase the game. Those who didn't have it also downloaded it instantly.
All of this was part of Alex's plan. He leveraged the inherent popularity and traffic of the game to conduct scarcity marketing, thus achieving his goal of promoting the Nebula gaming platform.
Although many criticize scarcity marketing, it is undoubtedly very effective, especially when the game is overly exaggerated. Of course, it cannot be exaggerated, as players will accuse you of playing with people, which would be counterproductive.
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