Chapter 27


    While they trusted Chen Xu, they still made their concerns known.


    But weve created this wave, this trend. Shouldnt we be taking advantage of it while we can? Theres no telling when this heat might die down. Asked Yang Xin. Ruan Ningxue nodded in agreement.


    Nowadays, the game media was full of coverage or mentions of Undertale, giving different opinions and interpretations of the lore.


    And in many forums where game designers tend to hang out, the game was being heavily studied and discussed.


    After all, it brought such a breath of fresh air into the scene that it could quite possibly kickstart an entirely new genre of gaming.


    Some of the more proactive video game publishers and designers were already making announcements that their games either had meta-elements too, or that their uing games would have them.


    But now Chen Xu, the one who essentially created and poprized the concept, says he wont do it?


    If news of thises out, one cannot imagine the surprise it would cause.


    Because the logic of this world would dictate that one should strike while the iron was hot. Just like how Mirror released DLC before its poprity started to fade.


    In fact, Yang Xin and Ruan Ningxue had already taken this for granted, having private meals and meetings to discuss their own thoughts about the lore of Undertale.


    In their eyes, the story of Asriel and Chara were basically mentioned in passing, not yet fully developed. So they suspected Chen Xu would want to start working on a prequel based around this.


    The two girls even had a whole document full of ideas ready to surprise him with! Such enthusiastic employees, surely he would shower them in praise!


    What a let down.


    It would be unsuitable, and the scale of meta-elements we can use will be limited. Undertale gave yers enough of a shock because they were not expecting it, they were not mentally prepared to deal with the meta-elements, because they had never seen nor heard of such concepts.


    If we do it again, especially now, the response wont be as good. In fact, it might be a lot worse. Their expectations will be too high, and theyll be looking for meta-elements in every corner.


    Chen Xu exined patiently.


    While others here might not fully realize the nature of meta-games, Chen Xu did.


    Before his transmigration, meta-games werent anything special.


    And in his mind, he had only 4 of them selected for development at some point. The Stanley Parable, Pony Ind, ICEY and Undertale. The best 4 he could remember.


    But in terms of sales, only Undertale and ICEY were high. The Stanley Parable, which was critically acimed and brought meta-elements to the attention of many yers in his previous life, did not sell as much.


    As for Pony Ind, it remained obscure even after being yed by popr video makers and livestreamers.


    The main reason is that meta-elements are not good as a main selling point.


    ICEY is an action RPG with meta-elements, Undertale is a bullet hell RPG with meta-elements. Both games are supplemented by meta-elements, while Pony Ind and The Stanley Parable put meta-elements first before supplementing them with other elements.


    While meta-elements can surely shock the yers, it is still more suitable as a sort of supportive aspect to enhance the core content of the game.


    Once this was understood, many major games in his previous life have used this form.


    For example, Psycho Mantis from the Metal Gear series could read the memory card attached to the console.


    And an ending in NieR: Automata, where a yer can use their save files to save others.


    These are all uses of meta-elements as an auxiliary. So the sess of Undertale is definitely not purely due to these meta-elements.


    Chen Xu ended his lecture, leaving out the names of the games but using their concepts as possible examples. His two students stared at him nk-faced and wide-eyed.


    They understood now, they just didnt quite get it.


    But they were willing to ept his decision.


    And they came to the realization that many of theirpetitors would definitely be adding meta-elements into their games for the foreseeable future, so yers might start experiencing aesthetic fatigue at some point.


    If we n for that, well once again be a breath of fresh air to the scene! Haha, how devious.


    Yang Xin rubbed her little hands together, Alright boss man, so what are we doing?


    Well keep it low-budget. Save some money for expansion.


    As for the type Here, take a look at this. He said as he turned on the projector of the conference room.


    On the screen was the homepage of a website: The Official Game Department


    There was an announcement button shing. Chen Xu clicked into it.


    [[ Science is the source of human progress; scientific progress and innovation bring about earth-shattering changes in our lives.


    The official game department is now holding a contest.


    Genre: Science fiction


    Theme: Technology changes life


    Eligible contestants: Game designers across the country


    Requirements: Healthy themes (please refer to the guidelines), no tform restrictions


    Judgment: Hosted by the National Department of Entertainment. Dual model of reviews and yer voting


    Awards: One first prize, Three second prizes, Six third prizes. Excellence awards andmendations avable


    Excellent works will be promoted and rmended on the homepage of the official tform after the event.


    At the same time, the winning designers will be awarded the title of Outstanding Designer as a means of encouragement.


    The registration period is from 1 to 5 September and the event ends at the end of September ]]


    Yang Xins eyes grew serious as she took it in, Are we participating?


    She had heard of this event.


    It was framed as a national event for all game designers, but in reality, the participants would mostly be indie designers or small-to-medium sized gamingpanies.


    Major corporations would not be interested in participating, because the awards were useless to them. With their high-cost, high-production value games, they have no shortage of exposure.


    Besides, their focus would be on the business side of the industry, and for the sake of business, their works would have some special elements to attract yers. But those elements might be unseemly for an official event.


    But for the current Neb Games, it was a good opportunity.


    The organizer was a national entity, responsible for overseeing game reviews, the evaluation of game designer titles, the development of technology such as the game engines, etc.


    Being able to make an impression on such an entity would be great for Neb Games in the long run. Perhaps they might even gain the recognition of some officials.


    The promotion and rmendation on the homepage of the official tform wouldnt hurt either.