Chapter 1468 Jin Yong's Dilemma

After fully understanding the gameplay, the viewers in the livestream showed great interest in *Traces of Bullets 2*.

Many even downloaded it right then and there.

But at the same time, many people also expressed deep concern because of the past records of Tianhuo Studio and Longyu Corporation.

To put it bluntly, these two companies were the type that "a dog can't change its eating habits!"

Tianhuo Studio, needless to say, made games that were 99% heavily pay-to-win, a typical representative of the domestic "don't even play if you don't have a mine at home" type. Longyu Corporation, as a game operating company, could also be described as having a "bad reputation." Among the games it operated, only IOI was slightly more conscientious due to competitive pressure, but the other games received no shortage of criticism.

These two game companies combining their swords, how could this be allowed?

It was terrifying to think about!

Luring players to grind and spend money could be said to be an inherent nature, or even an addiction. Once a game company was infected with it, it was basically impossible to quit.

Because grinding and spending money could indeed directly increase retention, improve online data, and revenue data, and the improvement was very obvious.

But the cost was that it would greatly reduce the game's ceiling.

However, for most game companies, they hadn't even considered a ceiling in the first place, right?

Anyway, as long as the retention data and revenue data went up, the company would make a lot of money, and then give employees some bonuses, and that was enough.

And once they chose the path of grinding and spending, it would be impossible to quit in the future.

Because if they really changed, it would inevitably cause a sharp drop in various data, the company's income would plummet, employees would lose their bonuses, and even players might not appreciate it... The entire company, from top to bottom, would never allow this to happen.

Therefore, grinding and spending would naturally become a habit and continue to be passed down.

It was like a person: once they had tried a way to make quick money, they would never again have the ability to steadily earn slow money and plan for the long term. Their entire potential would be ruined.

Of course, *Traces of Bullets 2* currently didn't show any signs of luring players to grind or spend money.

But... most players didn't think that the two companies had changed their nature.

Many players felt that this was a trap! It was a way to lure the dog in to kill it!

First, fatten up the leeks, and then suddenly swing the sickle, reaping a vigorous harvest, catching them off guard.

Because everyone felt that the nature of luring players to spend money was impossible to change, so the reason why the game was so conscientious in the early stages was definitely for another purpose.

Although the game was jointly developed with Tenda, it only used President Pei's ideas and a designer from Tenda!

Tenda definitely didn't put in much effort, otherwise Tenda would have developed it themselves. Why would they give such a good project to Tianhuo Studio and Longyu Corporation?

Since Tenda didn't intervene much, they probably didn't have much say. Tianhuo Studio and Longyu Corporation would definitely find it difficult to resist temptation. As the game gradually became popular, they would gradually increase the price of skins, constantly testing players and increasing the game's revenue...

It was hard for players not to think this way. It wasn't that they were being cynical, but that they had seen similar things happen too many times.

The promises of game companies definitely couldn't be relied upon, after all, their primary goal was to make money.

But then again, did the players have a choice?

No choice!

Because the game mechanics of *Traces of Bullets 2* were currently unique in the FPS game market. Whether in China or abroad, there were no similar games. Even if players wanted to find a replacement, they couldn't find one.

Therefore, even if players were full of worries about Tianhuo Studio and Longyu Corporation, they could only take it one step at a time.

...

At the same time, Longyu Corporation headquarters.

Jin Yong was on duty, staring at the various game data of *Traces of Bullets 2*.

These data could no longer be described as "good," they were simply explosive!

The influx of a large number of players even caught him a little off guard. The plan to add servers, which had been formulated with full imagination, even seemed a bit conservative. He decisively added several more groups of servers in a hurry, and even temporarily挪用了过来 servers from some of Longyu Corporation's unpopular games with low loads, which barely withstood the influx of enthusiastic players.

On major livestreaming platforms and websites, *Traces of Bullets 2* was all over the place, becoming the most discussed popular game during the Spring Festival at an unimaginable speed!

However, as the head of the operations department, he didn't have anything particularly special to do, at most just keeping an eye out for any emergencies, to prevent any malicious bugs or operational accidents.

Working overtime during the Spring Festival holiday was quite tough, but this time Longyu Corporation was fairly generous, paying full overtime pay and promising bonuses after the game became popular. The entire operations department could be said to be suffering and enjoying it at the same time.

Jin Yong was also very generous and paid for Spring Festival red envelopes for the entire department out of his own pocket. The overtime scene was filled with a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

Just then, Jin Yong's phone rang.

His expression instantly became serious. Wasn't this Director Ding? Why was he calling personally?

Jin Yong didn't dare to be negligent and quickly answered, "Hello? Director Ding?"

"Director Ding, don't worry, the data is completely beyond expectations. This is definitely a super hit, and it is very likely to reach or even exceed the market share and revenue level of *Sea Fortress*!"

"There are no problems with the servers either. Although there is a little pressure, I have already urgently transferred some from other projects. As for the rest, we can consider it after the Spring Festival holiday."

"Uh... a new operating plan? But Director Ding, Tenda's side..."

"Okay, Director Ding, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Jin Yong's expression was no longer as optimistic as before, but instead fell into entanglement!

As the big boss of Longyu Corporation, Director Ding had initially just asked about the situation of *Traces of Bullets 2*, but this was obviously a rhetorical question, because Jin Yong had already sent him a brief report of the various data.

After the pleasantries, it was the main topic.

Director Ding wanted Jin Yong to work overtime to come up with a new operating plan!

According to the old rules, this was also justifiable. After all, the game's data was explosive after its launch, so taking advantage of the heat to do some activities could both promote player retention and increase revenue. This was a routine operation.

But Jin Yong could hear the unspoken meaning of the boss, obviously, this new operating plan wouldn't pass muster if it didn't come up with some new tricks.

Jin Yong also mentioned Tenda's requirements at the first time, but Director Ding said that they weren't going to move all those activities over at once, just do it little by little.

It didn't need to be heavily grindy or heavily pay-to-win from the beginning. They could slightly increase the price of skins in a disguised way, such as adding some prerequisite conditions for obtaining skins, or doing some activities that looked very cost-effective, but were essentially still ways to lure players to spend money.

Although Tenda had requirements for the operating plan, it was impossible to set all the requirements so rigidly.

Looking at the operating plan given by Tenda, it clarified the pricing of various appearances, skins, and props in the current version, and also clarified the scope of operating activities: only price reductions and discounts were allowed. Other activities such as paid draws and spending rebates were not recommended at all.

But... this plan only stipulated the pricing of the current appearances, and did not lock in the pricing of subsequent appearances.

Moreover, it only said that activities such as paid draws and spending rebates were not recommended, but it didn't say that they couldn't be done at all.

Even if they didn't do these activities, wouldn't it be okay to think of new activities with completely different forms?

Strictly speaking, there were loopholes to exploit in these areas, and they could be discussed. The contract didn't really write it that rigidly.

Longyu Corporation, as the operator of the game, still had some of the most basic rights. Tenda couldn't completely strip them away. Longyu Corporation had to have the ability to handle some emergency affairs.

It couldn't be that Longyu Corporation had to ask Tenda for instructions before making a decision on anything, right? That was simply unrealistic.

Therefore, although the space between the cracks was small, it still existed.

Now the boss of Longyu Corporation wanted Jin Yong to find a way to be active in this space between the cracks and increase revenue without causing Tenda's fierce opposition.

This could be considered human nature.

Before *Traces of Bullets 2* was launched, no one had expected how popular it would be. So, everyone didn't feel anything about the operating strategy being more conscientious.

But now that the data had come out, and looking back at the originally set operating strategy... they immediately felt a little heartache.

You should know that for a game of this scale, each skin costing one or two yuan more might not be strongly felt by players, but for game merchants, that could be tens of millions of extra income!

And they had to do it as early as possible, the more they dragged it out, the more they would be scolded.

Jin Yong naturally knew this very well, which was why he was so conflicted.

On one side was the boss's request, and on the other side was Director Zhao's previous teaching. A battle between heaven and man unfolded in his heart.

Director Zhao's words at the time were very inspiring to him. He felt that as a game operator, he should indeed look further ahead and choose the best operating plan for this game. If the popularity of *Traces of Bullets 2* was just average, then it would be understandable to have grindy and pay-to-win activities in order to increase revenue. But *Traces of Bullets 2* was obviously a game with a very high ceiling, so using a conscientious marketing strategy to aim for a higher ceiling was the optimal solution.

But Director Ding's orders couldn't be disobeyed!

If Jin Yong directly refused the boss's request, then he could forget about being the head of the operations department. If someone else was brought in, they would probably continue to argue with Tenda, and the situation wouldn't change in any way.

He knew very well that Director Ding would never give up this idea easily.

After all, no one dared to guarantee where the ceiling of *Traces of Bullets 2* was or how long it would take to reach it. But the short-term data growth brought about by operating activities was visible and tangible.

Jin Yong leaned back in his chair and fell into deep thought.

He had to push back the boss's dangerous ideas.

Although as an employee he should complete the tasks assigned by the boss, this matter could directly affect the success or failure of *Traces of Bullets 2*.

Jin Yong felt that he must have his own thoughts and considerations on this matter, and he couldn't just follow the boss's requirements.

If he didn't do what the boss asked him to do, but was successful in the end, then he would still be credited with merit to the company;

But if he did what the boss said and failed in the end, then the boss would not take the blame, and it would still fall on him in the end.

So, who was more correct? The boss, or President Pei of Tenda?

This was simply a giveaway question.

Therefore, the problem now became: he had to be responsible for the operating plan of *Traces of Bullets 2*, he had to firmly promote Tenda's operating plan, and at the same time he couldn't be caught by the boss.