novelraw Chapter 985 - 969: Starting a Studio with Yan Ji! (Part 1)
Chapter 985 - 969: Starting a Studio with Yan Ji! (Part 1)
Chapter 985: Chapter 969: Starting a Studio with Yan Ji! (Part 1)
After Huo Feng sent his game plan report to Yan Siyuan, it took Yan Siyuan a bit over two hours to thoroughly review the entire set of game settings and rules meticulously crafted by Huo Feng.
Huo Feng spent several days writing this report!
In the report, Huo Feng painstakingly detailed game tasks, storyline progression, and various attributes, all perfectly set up!
If Yan Siyuan were to give the nod, this report by Huo Feng could directly be used to create the game.
So, Yan Siyuan spent over two hours to attentively and comprehensively finish reading through Huo Feng’s whole game concept.
Yan Siyuan isn’t much of a single-player gamer, so he was unsure if such game content, once developed, would attract users willing to pay to play it.
However, seeing this content personally, Yan Siyuan felt that if this game were released, he’d be willing to pay for it.
Because the character’s attributes in the game involve transforming a failing student into a top student, cracking into a prestigious school, which is inherently a challenge!
Yan Siyuan would happily accept this kind of challenge.
So, two hours later, Yan Siyuan called Huo Feng to directly discuss the details of the game.
During the call, Yan Siyuan posed a big-picture question to Huo Feng, "I have an idea; do you think we could turn this game into an online game instead of single-player?"
"Online?"
Still lying next to Pu Sangzhi, Huo Feng, holding Pu Sangzhi’s hand, said, "If it’s an online game, I feel this setup is too simplistic. We need to add multiple modes and storylines. Also, for online games, there’s the need for unified servers, later management, system maintenance, and regular updates. The follow-up is very troublesome; are you sure you want to go for an online game?"
"But, you should also know that online games, though troublesome, can earn so much more than single-player games!"
On the other end of the line, Yan Siyuan emphasized, "If the game sells well, the profit from online compared to single-player is a completely different concept. Moreover, single-player can be easily cracked, while online games cannot. What do you think?"
What Yan Siyuan said made quite a lot of sense.
Historically, single-player games, due to their simple version and not being connected, often have cracked versions appearing shortly after release.
Whereas online games are linked to servers and require connecting through their terminal server to enter the game, which cannot be cracked even by developers.
So if one can manage an online game well, it indeed can earn ten times, a hundred times more than single-player games!
But designing an online game is complicated, involving many aspects...
It’s not something that two people can start up quickly.
Huo Feng must remind Yan Siyuan, "You need to think it through; if it’s an online game, the current game setup is definitely insufficient and additional branches must be added. Moreover, for online games, we need upfront investments; we have to buy servers. Do you know how expensive servers are? Starting prices are five figures on JD.com, and that’s just for one! The key point is, even if we gather enough upfront money, what about later? What if no one plays the game? We’ll be losing everything!"
Beside him, Pu Sangzhi quietly listened to Huo Feng’s call with Yan Siyuan.
She knew the discussion they were having now was serious, so she paused scrolling through Douyin comments, lowered her head, and looked earnestly at Huo Feng.
"I understand the risk is high and the investment significant. However, we still have ways." Yan Siyuan said.
Huo Feng asked, "What ways?"
Yan Siyuan replied, "Find an operation company to invest. If we can cover the upfront costs ourselves, we hold onto the copyright and let the operation company manage, then split the revenue proportionally, giving us a smaller share. If the upfront costs need the operation company to shoulder, we might have to hand over copyright to them, and the profits would also be split proportionally. The prerequisite is, we need to set up a studio, then we can discuss partnerships with the operation company."
Yan Siyuan has quite a foresight.
The game is still just a prototype, yet he’s already considering partnering with an operation company in the future, contemplating issues like copyright and profit-sharing.
Sometimes, Huo Feng truly has to acknowledge that a brilliant mind works differently from an average one.
Anyhow, from this incident, it seems Yan Siyuan considered something that hadn’t crossed Huo Feng’s mind...
Really found the right partner in Yan Siyuan!
Huo Feng smirked, "Since you’ve considered so much, I’ll follow your lead! Let’s partner with a company!"
Yan Siyuan responded, "So, are we now set on developing an online game?"
Huo Feng nodded, "Affirmative, wasn’t this your suggestion? Asking me, huh!"
Yan Siyuan said, "We’re partners. You can make suggestions regarding any of my decisions. I can do the same for yours. But before implementing any decision, it must pass our mutual agreement, as the two of us are accountable. This is just the beginning, and every project we partner on in the future must adhere to this agreement; any objections?"
Huo Feng shook his head, "No objections at all; I think what you said is very correct!"
Yan Siyuan said, "Great. So I propose we go online; are you in agreement?"
Huo Feng nodded, "Agree."
Yan Siyuan said, "Alright. So, we’re shifting our game direction towards online; you need to quickly supplement the detailed game content, and I’ll start finding a studio. Because of initial funding issues, the studio will temporarily be set up in Hangzhou; the office rent in Hangzhou should not be very expensive. How do you feel about this?"
Huo Feng pondered, "Then, in future headquarters, will it be decided for Hangzhou?"
Yan Siyuan said, "No, Beijing is better. If we earn enough money, we’ll open a studio in Beijing. Beijing has more opportunities, more companies, and finding a good long-term partner in Beijing wouldn’t be a problem. Or Shanghai, Shanghai is excellent too. But we don’t know anyone in Shanghai, there’s no support. So, if we want success, Beijing is most suitable. What do you think?"
Huo Feng said, "Well, you’ve thoroughly explained everything; what else can I say! You’re absolutely right, my man!"
Yan Siyuan, slightly embarrassed, said, "Alright then. When will you come over so we can seek partnerships together?"
Huo Feng said, "Hold on, me? Wait... I’ve done all this upfront work, isn’t seeking partnerships supposed to be your task? Division of labor!"
Yan Siyuan said, "Can’t do, you have to come."
Huo Feng questioned, "Why? Based on what?"
Yan Siyuan said, "I’ll handle the studio part, okay? The partnership negotiations aren’t my thing, you need to handle it."
Huo Feng seemed to interpret Yan Siyuan’s subtext as: ’I can’t negotiate partnerships; my communication skills are bad, so you have to handle it!’
Hmm...
That definitely seems what he meant!
No other choice then!
When Yan Ji turns out to be particularly inept, a hero must rise to the occasion!
Huo Feng, brave and unafraid, "Alright, fine, let’s go seek company partnerships together."
After reaching an agreement, Yan Siyuan on the other end of the call breathed a sigh of relief, worried Huo Feng might refuse...
"Alright. So let’s tentatively agree on this, and draft a more detailed plan first."
Yan Siyuan said, "By the way, we need an artist for game character design and modeling. Do you have friends with those skills?"
Huo Feng said, "I’ll ask around when classes resume, anyway, it’s not urgent."
Yan Siyuan nodded, "Okay, not urgent. For now, how’s your health recovering?"
This sudden, rather insincere show of concern from Yan Siyuan took Huo Feng by surprise!
Huo Feng raised an eyebrow, expressing, "I’m not dying~ it’s just taking on work while sick is tiring; wonder if a certain big shot understands my hint?"
From the other end, Yan Siyuan chuckled, "I don’t get it, hanging up now, goodbye."
Huo Feng said, "Hey, no need to hang up in fright now!"
Then the busy tone ’du du du’ came from the other side of the line...
Yan Siyuan actually hung up the phone!
"Wow..."
Huo Feng stared at his phone, sighing and shaking his head, silently blaming Yan Siyuan for being so stingy!
Just half a minute after grumbling, suddenly! Yan Siyuan sent him a red envelope!
Huo Feng gasped in pleasant surprise and quickly opened the red envelope!
6.66 yuan!
Yan Ji indeed!
Thanking you so much!
Eternally tight-fisted!
Huo Feng, with an ’O’-shaped mouth, upset yet disappointedly put down the phone.
Pu Sangzhi watched his exaggerated expression, puzzled, "What’s up with you? That expression?"
"Nothing..."
Huo Feng shook his head, "Just finished the call with Yan Ji, way too happy."
No matter what...
His private stash now has a little more income...
Huo Feng’s indeed quite pleased!
But cannot let Pu Sangzhi find out...