Chapter 9: Game Promotion and Trial Play
Chapter 9: Game Promotion Trial
“This place, I’ve heard, is the most expensive office storefront around. Last year, rent was seventy thousand a year, and it seems to have risen to eighty thousand this year. The previous tenant couldn’t bear the high cost, tried negotiating with the landlord but failed, and eventually moved out. They even cursed the landlord on the community platform... Although the street is bustling with people, the cost-effectiveness is quite poor... Unless it’s a very profitable business, it definitely won’t last.”
“Yeah, if it’s a restaurant, business might still be okay, but running a tech company here? I don’t think that’s reliable. If I had money, I wouldn’t waste it like this. From what I know, tech companies usually set up in industrial parks or in the middle floors of office buildings... Who would open a store on the first floor of an office building? It’s like having too much money and nowhere to put it. Besides, this first floor doesn’t look that big from the outside!”
“Shh, didn’t Old Chen say the store owner looks like a college student? Maybe it’s a young rich heir starting a business without a long-term plan, foolishly thinking that money alone can open a shop...”
“...”
Chen Shou parked the car and got out.
Behind him, his wife and sister-in-law had just come out the back door. The moment they saw the storefront, they couldn’t help but whisper.
They had heard people gossip about this place.
From March two years ago until May this year, the rent for this storefront had been steadily increasing.
From forty thousand to fifty thousand at first, then shockingly up to eighty thousand this year—no one could believe it.
And the tenants kept changing...
From a clothing store to a high-end cosmetics shop, then a restaurant...
None had lasted even two months.
After all, business is all about cost-effectiveness, isn’t it?
In their impression, tech companies usually set up in industrial tech park office buildings...
Who opens one right in a storefront?
And in such an expensive location?
Isn’t that just foolish and wasteful?
At that moment, their first impression was that Zhang Yang was exactly that kind of person—foolish with money, lacking practical business sense, yet desperate to prove himself as a rich heir.
When they stepped inside the first-floor shop, they became even more convinced.
The first-floor storefront wasn’t large, about thirty square meters.
Upon entering...
They saw rows of desks.
But on these desks were not computers, but piles of snacks and drinks.
Four or five young people sat in chairs, eating snacks while staring ahead, seeming very excited.
“Our company’s goal is to grow bigger and stronger...”
“Ren Zhengfei: Old Master Ren once said that enterprise development requires cultivating a pack of wolves. Wolves have three major traits: first, keen senses; second, relentless, fearless offensive spirit; third, a sense of collective struggle...”
“Mr. Lu Xun said: ‘Originally, there was no path in the world; it becomes a path only after many people walk on it...’ We are all trying to walk roads no one has before, starting a business...”
“...”
From a distance, Chen Shou heard a young man in a suit repeatedly delivering what sounded like an entrepreneurial pep talk in front of a projector.
Ren Zhengfei? Who is Old Master Ren?
Lu Xun?
Who is Lu Xun? Why have I never heard of them?
Although much of what was said was unfamiliar, just watching for a while, Chen Shou unexpectedly felt a surge of excitement.
He had to admit, this young man was very passionate during his motivational speech, his voice echoing throughout the large first-floor conference room, ringing in the ears.
This is youth!
Passionate about entrepreneurship and dreams, full of vitality.
Unfortunately...
They have yet to be beaten down by society and don’t understand that dreams come at a price...
Everyone was young once, dreamed of riding the winds and waves to the top, but reality...
How many only recognize themselves after failure?
Chen Shou felt a twinge of melancholy.
He thought Zhang Yang was very likely to fail; this method of splashing money to promote a game was practical but quite foolish...
However, what does any of this have to do with him?
He was just a driver.
Meanwhile, his sister-in-law and wife, looking at the various game concept posters and success slogans on the walls, felt increasingly that Zhang Yang was an idealistic entrepreneur.
Such a person, eager to prove success, would likely spend some money to show results to his father.
“Ah, Mr. Chen, you’re here? We were just introducing the company culture, haha. Didn’t disturb you, right?”
“No.”
“Good, good. Mr. Chen, I’ll give you a tour of our company and explain the specific rules of our game...”
“Alright, alright.”
When Zhang Yang saw Chen Shou approaching, his eyes lit up instantly. After handing the stage over to Zhao Hang, he enthusiastically brewed three cups of tea and warmly led Chen Shou on a tour of the first and second floors.
Admittedly, the first floor’s decor was a bit ordinary, but the second floor was extremely upscale!
All the chairs and tables were genuine rosewood furniture, and the tea tables started at over ten thousand yuan...
Chen Shou’s sister-in-law, Liu Mei, stared wide-eyed.
Of course, Zhang Yang didn’t linger outside on the second floor but took them straight to the general manager’s office.
Inside, Zhang Yang sat down and opened a computer, which started running a game called Desert Bicycle.
The game looked very simple—a lone road stretched beneath a swirling sandstorm in a vast desert, and the main character rode a bicycle along it.
The screen was yellowed and monotonous.
He pointed to the webpage: “Our game was downloaded from the ‘Universal Tech’ platform. This is our website... Our competition registration is also on this site. Each successful download earns one point; ten points can be exchanged for one dime...”
“After downloading the game, we track the data...”
“The game’s difficulty isn’t high. It lasts eight hours total. Sandstorms appear at irregular intervals, interfering with your ride and causing position shifts. Dodge ten sandstorms, and you earn one dime...”
“Dodge twenty consecutive sandstorms without failing, and you receive an extra five points, that’s fifty cents...”
“The first player to complete the entire game without damage, confirmed to have no cheats or aids, will win thirty thousand yuan!”
“There are many side quests involving sandstorms, night riding, and bicycle wear-and-tear. If you don’t repair in time, the bike falls apart. But repairing means facing sandstorms again, so it depends on luck...”
“Complete all side quests to earn an additional twenty thousand yuan!”
“...”
“...”
Chen Shou listened carefully.
Then he watched Zhang Yang sit down and personally try the game...
On the yellowed screen, a solitary figure pedaled a bike across a seemingly endless desert; the only scenery besides cacti was scattered sand dunes...
The game interface was simple, reminiscent of old pixel games.
But...
“Ding!”
“Completed first sandstorm avoidance task, reward: one point (one cent)!”
“Ding!”
“Notice: One yuan (one hundred points) can be linked for withdrawal! Ninety-nine points to go!”
“...”
“...”
The game seemed very simple, with no real difficulty.
As long as you kept your eyes on the screen and reacted steadily when sandstorms came, you could earn rewards.
“Ding!”
“Completed sandstorm avoidance task, reward: one point (one cent)!”
“Ding!”
“Special task triggered: replenish water, avoid sandstorm, and repair bicycle...”
“Mr. Chen, this is a special task—a super sandstorm. Completing it earns three points, that’s three cents...”
“...”
The pixel art was mediocre, but the displayed points and coins looked very realistic!
Especially the sound of coins dropping into a pocket after completing tasks...
“Ding!”
“Ding!”
Tasks kept completing, coins kept dropping, and the prompts kept showing how many points remained to withdrawal!
Chen Shou’s wife and sister-in-law initially showed little reaction, but later their eyes widened.
Women can rarely resist shiny things.
Gold!
Coins!
Repeated success and approaching the goal time and again stimulated dopamine surges.
“Pfft!”
“Bicycle tire burst, caught in sandstorm, game over...”
“Current points balance: thirty. Seventy points to withdrawal. Spend ten points to continue?”
“Yes——No.”
“...”
“Failed?”
“Here, here, play like this, hey, listen to me, press this button earlier! Why are you so slow?”
“Hey, can’t believe you failed this!”
“...”
When Zhang Yang’s hand trembled and the task failed, Chen Shou’s sister-in-law Liu Mei finally couldn’t help but start shouting.
Although...
It seemed the money earned wasn’t much!
But!
That fleeting joy of success stimulated her heart time and again.
She yearned to withdraw cash, to succeed soon...
She hated failure, even if it was Zhang Yang controlling the game!
That’s human nature!
She even hoped Zhang Yang would spend ten points and try again!
When Zhang Yang shut off the computer, Liu Mei suddenly felt something indescribable inside.
She was very uncomfortable!
At this moment, her mind kept flashing those golden coins.
She wanted to play herself.
She felt she could do better than Zhang Yang and get more money!
“Mr. Chen, this game is roughly this type... Actually, it’s not difficult...”
Zhang Yang turned, and seeing everyone’s reactions, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
“Boss Zhang, can we download it now?” Before Chen Shou could speak, Liu Mei immediately looked at Zhang Yang.
“Yes, you can, but each user ID costs five yuan...”
“Five yuan, no problem. I’ll download it now. I happen to have a computer in my car. Shall I bring it over and download one? I’ll pay you in cash directly. Sis, I’ll get one for you too. Ten yuan total. We can play when free...”
“Mm, okay.”
Ten yuan appeared on Zhang Yang’s desk.
Liu Mei quickly left the general manager’s office with her sister.
Seeing his wife and sister-in-law leave with a try-it-out attitude, Chen Shou also wanted to pay for a download.
But then he saw Zhang Yang shake his head.
“Mr. Chen... no rush. Could you help us post this promotional poster on the taxi’s dashboard?”
“Also, Mr. Chen, including yourself, that makes three people, right? Bring seven more people, and you get a free download...”
“Mr. Chen, this is our paid mini-program in the system, linked to the company’s bank account you can check anytime. There’s also a referral reward system... Our ‘Universal Tech’ platform will give you a special invitation code. Invite ten people, and the game download unlocks automatically...”
“When do we start?”
When Chen Shou saw some of the reward mechanisms on the ‘Universal Tech’ platform’s bonus page, he suddenly felt excited again.
He seemed to see a way to earn pocket money.
“Anytime! You can start right now...”
“Great!”
...
After sending them off and glancing at the fifteen yuan on the table, Zhang Yang put it away and squinted.
Then he opened the backend download page; the download count was three.
A faint smile appeared on his lips. He projected the download page onto the first-floor projector.
Walking down, he saw several newcomers brought by Zhao Hang staring at the sudden projection...
“Everyone...”
“All I’ve said is to tell you that we are truly on the road to success!”
“The screen shows the download and revenue data of our first officially released game on ‘Universal Tech’... It will be fully open for all of you...”
“In the next day or few days...”
“Everyone, witness the miracle!”
“Don’t blink!”
“...”
As Zhang Yang finished speaking...
They instantly saw the backend download number jump from three to five.
The company account balance also instantly increased by ten yuan...
(End of chapter)