Chapter 40: This Game Is Taking the World by Storm (Part Two)
Chapter 40: This Game Has Gone Mad (Part 2)
If anyone were to rank the most controversial game companies in China, they could not possibly overlook Shengteng Technology.
Shengteng Technology, the powerhouse behind China’s top chat app Q-Dog, relied on its massive software traffic. In the gaming industry, it charged ahead like a wild beast, showing clear signs of aspiring to dominance.
“Human Weapon!”
This was a meticulously crafted narrative-driven sci-fi shooting game published by Shengteng Network.
As the developer, Chen Qiang held exceptionally high hopes for this game.
He had even slammed his fist on the table during a company meeting the day before the game’s launch.
“Twenty thousand downloads within the first day!”
“Setting an industry record for legitimate sales of single-player games!”
“…”
After proclaiming such grand ambitions, he vaguely remembered the thunderous applause and cheers filling the room.
His heart was ablaze with passion, yet weighed down by immense pressure.
Shengteng Technology faced fierce competition not only externally but also internally.
At this moment, the management was split into two camps over the gaming division’s lucrative prospects.
One faction focused on independent development and original creation, while the other, closely tied to the legal department, specialized in “inspired” trend-driven adaptations.
These two departments were locked in constant rivalry, each vying for the main voice within Shengteng Technology, yet neither able to overpower the other.
In reality, competition was everywhere within Shengteng.
Even in the single-player game division, several studios were involved.
Under the umbrella of Shengteng, they jostled and contended, all yearning to claim the top spot.
Chen Qiang was the head of the “Dream Dragon” studio.
He longed for a sensational breakthrough.
“Mr. Chen, within six hours, downloads have already surpassed eighty thousand!”
“That’s still one hundred and twenty thousand short of the target!”
“The download rate has begun to slow. User feedback and data across the board are positive, with a decent user experience. Traffic diversion effect is moderate.”
“It’s projected to reach one hundred eighty thousand downloads by noon tomorrow, breaking the record is certain…”
“However, it’s unlikely to become the explosive hit you envisioned.”
“…”
His assistant reported the real-time download figures in front of him.
She looked at Chen Qiang with a hint of regret.
Upon reviewing the data, Chen Qiang furrowed his brow slightly.
The momentum wasn’t as strong as expected.
Eighteen thousand by noon tomorrow?
Not good enough!
Though, by data analysis, “Human Weapon” was already set to break the single-player game download record.
Yet it was still twenty thousand downloads short of his boastful goal.
How could this suffice?
He didn’t just want to break records!
He aimed to create a data legend that no other single-player game company could match for an entire year!
“Mr. Chen, the target data report is complete. Anything else you need to instruct?”
“Understood. You may leave and rest. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Okay.”
His assistant nodded crisply, then clicked her heels and left with the materials.
Chen Qiang hesitated for a moment before opening his computer to check the leaderboard.
Unintentionally, his gaze landed on “Furious Beating Alpaca.”
In an instant,
he stared intently.
He saw that within just one hour, the downloads for “Furious Beating Alpaca” had surged from thirty thousand at five hours to forty-five thousand.
Its growth rate hadn’t slowed; in fact, it had sharply accelerated, with a base only half that of “Human Weapon.”
How could this game be so ferocious?
Following the link, he instinctively opened the official website of Cosmic Technology.
When he prepared to download, he was puzzled by the game’s size…
It was a single-player game under 1GB?
Once downloaded and launched, he found the graphics crude overall; aside from satisfying combat feedback, it was otherwise quite ordinary.
Yet, as he played, he became immersed.
He found an unusual sense of exhilaration and catharsis in the game.
Every outlet for venting frustrations that one might imagine in real life seemed to have a shadow in this game.
An hour later…
He exited the game and continued watching the leaderboards.
He noticed “Human Weapon” had surpassed 130,000 downloads, holding first place, while “Furious Beating Alpaca” had climbed to eighth on the single-player game charts with over 50,000 downloads!
Such a tremendous surge!
He knew “Human Weapon” benefitted from Q-Dog’s traffic funnel, boasting countless clicks and users…
But!
“Furious Beating Alpaca” had no such traffic help and wasn’t even backed by any major gaming company!
This game belonged to Cosmic Technology?
What kind of company was Cosmic Technology?
Chen Qiang immediately began scouring the internet for information about the game’s creator, Zhang Yang…
He found “Desert Bicycle.”
“What? Is this for real?”
A month ago…
This guy was a nobody unable to find a job.
And the operational model of “Desert Bicycle”…
He was stunned!
How was this possible?
This…
This nobody had such an astonishing commercial mindset!
…
Time passed bit by bit.
From day to night, the data for “Furious Beating Alpaca” kept updating; it seemed to have gone mad!
Four hours later.
“Human Weapon” surpassed 170,000 downloads, still firmly holding first place, while “Furious Beating Alpaca” rose to sixth, breaking 70,000 downloads…
Chen Qiang felt numb.
Six more hours passed.
Exactly one day after release!
Though “Human Weapon” hadn’t met the military-grade target, it had already set a record.
Meanwhile, “Furious Beating Alpaca” had exceeded 85,000 downloads!
Its numbers had explosively jumped to fifth place!
User reviews of the game had surpassed 100,000…
The data was insane!
“This guy is a talent!”
“Exactly!”
Thinking this, Chen Qiang couldn’t rest. He immediately left his office and rushed to see General Manager Xu of the gaming department.
General Manager Xu was the liaison between Shengteng’s internal game studios and headquarters.
“Xiao Chen, what’s going on? We’re in a meeting…”
“General Manager Xu, sorry to interrupt for a few minutes. I want to discuss something…”
“What is it? Has your ‘Human Weapon’ broken 200,000 downloads?” Seeing Chen Qiang’s expression, Xu’s face lit up with surprise and he quickly followed him out.
Two hundred thousand downloads!
That was a matter worth celebrating!
“Well, not quite… I might have exaggerated a bit. Actually, I want to talk to you about someone named Zhang Yang. He developed a game called ‘Furious Beating Alpaca’…”
“Xiao Chen, you’re late!” Xu cut him off.
“Huh?”
“Our meeting just now was about evaluating acquisition and investment. In fact, I’ve been watching this young man since ‘Desert Bicycle.’ He has a keen market instinct and knows how to operate well. Honestly, I was impressed…”
“????”
…
Shengteng Network was keeping a close eye on Zhang Yang.
They were preparing to acquire Zhang Yang’s team.
Meanwhile, Wrangler Network was engulfed in fierce internal conflict.
At a shareholders’ meeting, Shen Yi presented an investment agreement.
This alone wasn’t a big deal.
After all, acquiring a studio with a few million yuan was just a scratch for such a top-tier Chinese internet company.
But once the contract was laid out, every shareholder opposed it, not even allowing Shen Yi to continue. They shifted the topic to the content revision of “Legend.”
At the meeting, Shen Yi was thoroughly marginalized.
When he noticed Liu Yun standing nearby, he frowned.
Normally, Liu Yun would never appear in such a setting.
Now…
What did this imply?
After the meeting ended, he saw Liu Ruohan’s office was empty.
Today.
Why wasn’t Liu Ruohan at work?
What was going on with this little princess?
“Doo doo doo!”
At that moment, he received a call from General Manager Liu Chongshan.
…
At Cosmic Technology.
Everyone was drunk with excitement.
Their hearts pounded wildly every minute.
When downloads surpassed 85,000, everyone screamed like never before!
Some shook beer bottles and wildly sprayed against walls in the lobby…
Some jumped up and down like monkeys, making strange noises!
A few were hugging…
Everyone had gone mad!
This was a day’s download count!
It was a milestone for their company!
“Boss Zhang! Boss Zhang!”
“We made it! I just got the news!”
“Shengteng Technology might acquire us or invest in our company!”
“Maybe even give us bigger, brighter office space, each with a computer worth at least ten thousand and large-capacity servers!”
“Boss Zhang!”
“We’ll truly participate in game development, become a legitimate force, and get closer to our goals!”
“In the future, we might get Q-Dog’s traffic funnel. If our games do well, we’ll be set for life—maybe even get shares in Shengteng’s games!”
“Boss Zhang?”
“…”
“…”
Wu Zhuang pushed open the door.
He saw Zhang Yang calmly sitting before the computer, gazing at the sunlight outside.
He seemed very composed, not elated by the extraordinary achievement.
Zhang Yang looked at Wu Zhuang.
“Old Wu.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”
“What?”
“I’m thinking that one day, General Manager Shen from Wrangler Technology will come to our company… and even some people from Shengteng will come here. Not because we become part of them, but because they become part of us…”
“Holy crap?”
Looking at Zhang Yang standing calmly, Wu Zhuang’s eyes widened.
This…
This…
(End of Chapter)