"This visual is stunning! Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft are all trash compared to this!"
"Yeah, yeah! Turns out all the games we used to play were fucking garbage! Damn it, Shanda, The9, Softstar, and the like, they were all trash. How could they compare to this 'Legend of Shushan Swordsmen'?"
"Exactly! Today I finally understand what a game truly is! It's true that if you don't play 'The Legend of Shushan Swordsmen,' all the games you play are in vain!"
"No wonder Manager Lin just said he wanted to revitalize the domestic game industry. Look at Shanda and The9, one only knows how to copy Korean trash games, and the other only knows how to cling to Blizzard! And the other companies, they have no sense of responsibility at all! They're just too rubbish! They even have the nerve to call themselves giants in the Chinese game industry, I spit on them!"
Lin Guopeng initially found it enjoyable, but gradually he felt that the group's voices were a bit too loud.
They were all in a large exhibition hall, and it was early morning and not very lively yet. Their group was already quite eye-catching, and when they shouted so loudly, almost everyone in the venue noticed them.
You should know that the game companies these guys are belittling, such as Shanda, The9, NetEase, etc... well, these bastards have practically insulted all the game companies in China, while praising Yinfeng's "Shushan Swordsman" to the skies!
And more importantly, all the game companies that these bastards are cursing are in this exhibition hall!
What's this?
At this exhibition, a group of seemingly beggar-like individuals were desperately praising a mid-sized game company, while expressing disdain for the larger game companies.
This is obviously a shill!
This is absolutely malicious business competition!
So Lin Guopeng was politely invited over by a video game hostess. Over there were representatives from several large game companies, who were glaring at him with angry expressions...
Chapter 65 of the main text: The Hillbilly Project - Free Advertising for You!
For companies like Shanda and NetEase, what is Yinfeng? A mid-sized company that's acting all high and mighty just because it received a funding injection? If several major companies put pressure on them at the same time, they could be crushed in no time!
Lin Guopeng was called over, of course, by the video game hostess, but the problem was he didn't dare to act arrogantly and refuse! He was just a small department manager; if the major companies all had a problem with him, a single complaint letter could get him fired!
When Lin Guopeng arrived, he was immediately met with unanimous criticism from representatives of several major companies! The Shanda representative said, "Mr. Lin, your actions are in violation of the principles of fair competition."
A NetEase representative said, "Mr. Lin, Yinfeng is not Zhengtu, nor will it ever become Zhengtu! You are not Shi Yuzhu, nor will you ever become Shi Yuzhu! You are not capable of selling excrement at the price of gold. Next time, do less of this kind of hype, and don't hurt everyone's harmony."
The representative from Nine City said, "Xiao Lin, what you did was not fair. I know your game needs promotion, but you can't suppress other games for the sake of promotion, can you? And next time when you hire shills, be careful. Find a few who look like players. Look at those people, how do they look like players? They're more like beggars!"
The representative from Square Enix Japan: "@#*&#&&！#&*！！"...I couldn't understand the Japanese...
Lin Guopeng returned, covered in sweat and with a livid face, only to find that the group of animals from Hexie University were all gone, and they were nowhere to be seen at the opposite booth either. He asked grimly, "Where are those beggars?!"
Ignoring his gloomy expression, one of the video game girls said unhappily, "They've all left! Mr. Lin, where did you find this group of people? They're like country bumpkins in the city. Not to mention that they drank at least several hundred yuan worth of freshly squeezed orange juice, and look at these video game models and game discs, they each took at least one when they left!"
Lin Guopeng felt dizzy and said, "Why did you just give it to them when they wanted it?! Didn't I say that these game merchandise items are only for hardcore gamers?!"
Upon hearing this, the video game girl almost burst into tears, saying, "Manager Lin, those are all people you brought here! They said they're your juniors, and they shamelessly asked us to take extra care of them. How can we refuse after they've said that?"
Lin Guopeng was stunned again, and it took him a long time to say how much they had taken.
"I took seventy game models, but fewer CDs, only thirty. I also took quite a few posters and other items."
"I'll fucking swear!" Lin Guopeng finally couldn't help but curse.
Meanwhile, outside the convention center, a group of people were laughing hysterically. Gao Xiaojie, playing with two models, said, "You guys are shameless! But very good, very powerful. That guy surnamed Lin will probably be furious when he gets back!"
A group of people chuckled. Chen Xu asked, "What should we do with these models? Keep them or throw them away? They're quite nice to look at, but the thought of them being made by that lousy company makes me lose interest."
Everyone else nodded in agreement. Gao Xiaojie rolled her eyes smugly and said, "Then let's sell them! There's a boutique near the school gate. We can sell them all for ten yuan each and use the money to buy a meal together."
The group immediately broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to themselves that women and petty people are indeed difficult to deal with; Confucius was right!
So everyone asked what the next step should be. Now that Yinfeng has been given a nudge, the problem is that this nudge will only anger Lin Guopeng at most, and will have little effect on Yinfeng.
Gao Xiaojie chuckled and said, "Then let's start implementing Plan B."
So outside the convention center, a group of young people dressed like beggars were actively stopping passersby, especially those who looked like gamers, handing them flyers and promoting the game.
Don't get me wrong, they're not promoting their own "Jin Yong's Heroes: A New Beginning", but rather "The Legend of Shushan Swordsmen", a collaboration between Yinfeng and D!
Lin Guopeng was fuming in the exhibition hall, convinced that these people were deliberately trying to cause trouble! It was probably about their "Jin Yong's Heroes" book. Lin Guopeng thought to himself that he was a seasoned veteran, how could he be defeated by these kids? So he sat down in front of their booth with a cold smile, thinking, "They can run away, but they can't hide. You think you can trick me?"
Meanwhile, more and more players arrived at the convention center. Many of them went straight to Yinfeng's booth after entering, which delighted Lin Guopeng, who thought his advertising had indeed worked. However, when he casually asked a player, the player said he was brought over as soon as he got off the bus, and praised Yinfeng's excellent service and the warm hospitality of the staff.
Upon hearing this, Lin Guopeng felt a bit dizzy. He hadn't arranged for anyone to pick him up at the entrance or the station.
Lin Guopeng felt something was amiss and quickly went outside to check. He saw Chen Xu and others handing out flyers, diligently promoting their cause.
Lin Guopeng was immediately enraged. He thought to himself, "Do these bastards still want to mess with me like this? They deliberately hyped up their game so much, their goal was definitely to provoke the dissatisfaction of large companies like Shanda and NetEase, and make me lose my job!" So Lin Guopeng wanted to rush up and give them a good scolding.
Before they'd taken two steps, Lin Guopeng overheard Chen Xu and his group saying, "Come on, friend, you look like you're here for the exhibition, right? Let me recommend a game to you: 'Shushan Swordsman' by Yinfeng Entertainment. This is our first attempt at an overseas market for a domestically produced RPG. The quality is naturally top-notch, the graphics are even better than World of Warcraft! You can try it out yourself; their booth is in the southeast corner of the convention center. Yes, a huge booth, with beautiful shuffle girls and amazing cosplay performances. They also have some nice gifts to give away! Support our domestically produced single-player games, support Yinfeng!"
Hearing this, Lin Guopeng hesitated. There wasn't a hint of disrespect for Yinfeng in their words; aside from the comment that "the graphics surpass World of Warcraft," there was no malicious attack on other companies. Had he misunderstood them? Were they truly a group of players captivated by his game, spontaneously promoting Yinfeng? Or were they trying to curry favor with him?
Lin Guopeng listened for a while longer. They were all praising Yinfeng to the other players, which made him waver again. However, having been in the business world for a long time, Lin Guopeng knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. So, he cautiously approached Cui Guangwei, forcing a smile, and asked, "Mr. Cui, what are you doing?"
"Oh, it's Manager Lin. What brings you here?" Cui Guangwei greeted him with utmost respect, wiping his sweat as he smiled. "My fellow students admire your company's games and have been warmly received by you, so naturally we need to repay you properly."
Lin Guopeng thought to himself, "Don't try that," but still said with a forced smile, "How could I possibly accept that? Mr. Cui, you'd better say what you have to say now. I, Lin, am not a three-year-old child; I know that if you eat someone's food, you're bound to be indebted to them."
Cui Guangwei quickly said no, no, and said with a fawning smile, "Manager Lin, you're being too polite. Actually, we were just thinking that it's fate that our booth is right across from yours. Our small company doesn't have much money, so we can't compete with big names like Yinfeng. So, we were just thinking that if you're eating meat, you could leave us some porridge. If there are too many people on your side, and many can't get a turn, haha, then we'll be happy if just a few of them come over."
Upon hearing this, Lin Guopeng immediately realized, thinking, "So that's how it is!" Now all his doubts vanished, but he still sneered, "Boss Cui, what you're doing makes it seem like you're using Yinfeng as a pawn."
Cui Guangwei quickly said, "No, no, you can't possibly. You see, it's not easy for our small company to make a living. Besides, the game my juniors and I are making is just trying to gain recognition. You know, it's Jin Yong's Heroes, right? We can't afford to buy the copyright to Jin Yong's works. So we only hope for some popularity, we don't dare to ask for anything else."
Then, seeing that no one was around, Cui Guangwei secretly slipped a red envelope to Lin Guopeng, saying it was just a small token of his appreciation.
Lin Guopeng squeezed the envelope; wow, it was quite thick. It held about ten bills. Although it wasn't much money, it was still some income. So Lin Guopeng chuckled and stuffed the envelope into his pocket, saying, "That's fine then, just don't let it interfere with our work."
Cui Guangwei was naturally very grateful and told Chen Xu and his group that a few of them should stay here to continue helping Manager Lin with the promotion, while the rest of them should come back with him to set up the exhibition booth.
Meanwhile, Chen Xu was whispering to Wu Yuan, "What do you think he'll think when he opens the red envelope and finds a newspaper inside?"
Wu Yuan said, "What the hell are you thinking? If I ever get the chance to see that it's a newspaper inside, I'll turn on you long ago!"
So the two guys secretly chuckled lewdly.
Seeing this smile, Lin Guopeng asked Cui Guangwei, who was standing next to him, with a puzzled look, "What's wrong with them?"
“Oh, you’re excited,” Cui Guangwen said politely, pushing up his glasses. “Young people are like that when they haven’t seen much of the world. Don’t mind them.”
Chapter 66 of the main text: The Hillbilly Plan - The Net Closes!
By this time, there were already many people at the exhibition.
The convention center was bustling with people. The sounds of games, noise, and camera clicks blended together. Showgirls in outlandish costumes displayed their beautiful faces and figures. Their faces wore enthusiastic yet alluring smiles as they posed for photos. Each passing girl left a trail of fragrance; their every smile, whether innocent or seductive, was captivating.
Meanwhile, the Yinfeng booth was bustling with activity. With Chen Xu and his team's help, many players headed straight there as soon as they entered the convention center, and the thirty computers Lin Guopeng had prepared for trial play were quickly used up. Seeing the growing crowd and the shortage of manpower, Lin Guopeng, who had finally secured this opportunity, naturally wouldn't give up easily. He informed the cosplay team to prepare for an extra performance. Just as he was about to go on stage to announce this and retain the players, he noticed several players who had been squeezed outside, bored while waiting, had moved to the Hexie University booth.
It has to be said that the difference between the two booths was like the difference between a Rolls-Royce and an oxcart. But this arrangement has precisely created a misunderstanding for players... Is the game developer, who claims it's "Jin Yong's Heroes... A Continued Romance," doing this on purpose?
Are they planning to do performance art?
Sometimes, the best isn't necessarily the most eye-catching. On the highway, the most attention-grabbing vehicle isn't necessarily a luxury sports car. Riding up in a donkey cart will guarantee you more head-turning than a limited-edition sports car!
Chen Xu and his group were like a cool sight at a luxury car show, driving a donkey cart!
A group of people dressed like beggars, at such a shabby booth. The banner hanging above, "Jin Yong's Heroes... A New Beginning," was simply hand-drawn. A square table and three laptops, all old and worn-out black ones. No one was advertising, no one was soliciting customers, not even a bottle of water was provided. A few bored guys even had a poker game set up next to them... How incredibly cool!
Their unconventional behavior aroused the curiosity of some players and reporters, and soon reporters from Sohu and Sina came to interview them.
Facing the camera, Chen Xu and his friends weren't shy at all, saying casually, "We're just here to broaden our horizons. Yeah, we're still students, we have no money and no manpower, so we spent a month or so making this game to entertain ourselves. Yinfeng is right across from us, they have such a big operation, how could we dare to compare?"
The reporters found it amusing. Several reporters from major media outlets thought there was really nothing to interview about and turned to leave. However, a reporter who looked young and didn't have a microphone, but only a recorder and a camera, stayed behind and asked, "I'm Zhang Tianyu, an intern reporter from 'Esports Weekly.' Can we see the game you've worked on?"
Chen Xu and the others exchanged glances and laughed, "Of course, you're the first one."
Zhang Tianyu's eyes widened when he first opened the game and saw the CG!
He had just come from Square Enix's booth, having just seen the promotional CG for Final Fantasy VII. Just five minutes ago, he was marveling at how advanced Japan's 3D technology was; the visuals were almost indistinguishable from real life. Why weren't any domestic companies willing to invest so heavily?
To say that Chinese companies lack such technological capabilities is utter nonsense! This kind of technology can be bought with money; it's just that domestic companies are simply unwilling to invest in it!
Furthermore, given rampant piracy in China and the near-extinction of single-player games, it's understandable that no company would invest the effort and money to develop them. Even within the realm of online games, perhaps only *Fantasy Westward Journey* among domestically produced titles has commendable gameplay, though its cute, cartoonish graphics do save on the huge investment required for a 3D engine. On the other hand, Shanda has consistently copied Korean games, while The9 has amassed its reputation with its *World of Warcraft* license.
Oh, World of Warcraft! Blizzard!
Why can others endure the loneliness and spend years developing a game, with the goal of creating the world's best online game? Why can Blizzard do it, but domestic companies can't?!
Seeing Zhang Tianyu open his mouth as if to shout, Chen Xu and the others quickly stopped him, whispering, "Just try it out first, don't talk about anything else for now. Hehe, it's not time yet."
Zhang Tianyu was so excited he was trembling all over. He grabbed Chen Xu's arm and kept asking, "You guys developed this game? Don't lie to me! You really developed it?!"
Chen Xu and the others exchanged smiles: "That's right, it took us a month to make it. Let's keep it a secret for now, the best is yet to come."
Zhang Tianyu couldn't help but hiss and gasp. How could this be? A group of students developed a game that was truly astonishing... He had already entered the game and seen that both the graphics and the CG animations were clearly superior to Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII!
What does this mean?! Final Fantasy VII is planned for release next year, and its main selling point is its top-tier graphics! And this game, casually made by a few students, completely overshadows Final Fantasy… Remember, this is Final Fantasy! Final Fantasy has become a brand, an almost unshakeable king among single-player games!
Chen Xu pressed Zhang Tianyu back into his seat and laughed, "Keep playing your game. The graphics are just an aid. The real significance lies in the content of a game. Otherwise, having beautiful graphics without outstanding gameplay is a waste." After saying this, he glanced disdainfully at the bustling Yinfeng booth across the street.
As a reporter, Zhang Tianyu was incredibly quick-witted. Hearing this and considering the current situation, he immediately understood. So he smiled and said, "So you guys have a plan? Okay, I'll play games first. But for the interview later, I hope you'll give me a chance."
Zhang Tianyu naturally understood the value this game represented. Now that he was already here, exposure was inevitable. When that happened, all the major media outlets would be shoving microphones at him; what chance would a small-time reporter like him have to get a word in edgewise? And independent interviews were out of the question—that would be too offensive.
At this moment, Cui Guangwei gently pushed up his glasses and smiled, "Don't worry, this is my business card. We can give you a chance for a private interview."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianyu was overjoyed. He quickly took the business card and carefully put it in his wallet, his attitude even more respectful than when receiving a name tag from Li Ka-shing. Then he said, "You guys go ahead with your work, I'll take a look at the game content."
And so, Chen Xu and his team's first player was born.
Following this, many players who couldn't wait for Yinfeng's location switched over here, some even coming specifically for it... After all, as a domestic RPG that can be compared to "The Legend of Sword and Fairy," "The Legend of Jin Yong" still has a fairly large and devoted fanbase. Basically, almost everyone born in the 70s and 80s who started playing single-player games early on knows about it, or even has never played it.
The fact that no official sequel to "The Legend of Jin Yong" has been released for so long is a regret for video game fans, so the name is still quite appealing.
Players, driven by boredom or curiosity, flocked to the computers and couldn't tear themselves away; all three laptops were snapped up instantly. A group of people then gathered behind the computers, their excitement barely contained, and soon the Hexie booth was surrounded by a crowd. Many others, curious about the bustling activity at what seemed like a low-end booth, came to investigate, but surrounded by layers of people, they couldn't squeeze in at all.
Lin Guopeng saw this and felt very unhappy.
Lin Guopeng thought to himself, "I've already shown you immense kindness by letting you stay here and taking on some of the players who would otherwise be lost. But you're going even further, bringing so many players to your booth! What am I supposed to do? Isn't this just blatant theft of business?"
So Lin Guopeng walked over and waved his hand rudely at Cui Guangwei, saying, "Move your booth back a bit, move it back a bit! Do you know that this is affecting our work?!"
These words were extremely blunt, and many players who had gathered around couldn't help but look over. However, these players had all been instructed by Chen Xu and his team not to make a fuss, and quietly watched how Chen Xu and his team would handle the situation.
Cui Guangwei quickly adopted a humble posture and said, "Manager Lin, look at our booth, it's only so big. If we move back any further, there won't be any space left. Please, be kind, we're not in your way at all."
"Can't get in the way?" Lin Guopeng said with a forced smile, "If you can't get in the way, why did you bring so many players here? I'm telling you, Mr. Cui, what you're doing violates the principle of fair competition. These are clearly our Yinfeng players. It's not right for you to poach them from our team!"
"Who said we're Yinfeng players?!" At this moment, a player couldn't help but shout, "We came here specifically to play this Jin Yong Heroes game. This game is much better than your garbage 'Shushan Swordsman'!"