Self-rescue failed.
Zhu Xiaocai had already left when Pei Qian finally realized that this video didn’t require any acting skills at all!
He just needed to strike a few poses and make a few expressionless faces!
The story was told through narration, and the narrator was Director Zhu Xiaocai himself.
Pei Qian might be the lead actor, but he was just a prop—an expressionless face was all the acting skill the director required!
Pei Qian held his head in his hands, feeling that his situation wasn’t looking good.
The first layer of his triple insurance seemed to be half gone already…
Now he could only hope that “Game Producer” and Slacking Off Internet Café could turn things around!
…
Before the Spring Festival holiday.
Ma Yang sent over the decoration plan for Slacking Off Internet Café.
Pei Qian looked it over and saw that it completely followed his requirements without any compromise.
Including the small theater, everything was included!
There were no discounts on the contract—rent was paid directly by quarter. Three months’ rent plus the deposit instantly took 1.2 million yuan.
The renovation would cost another 400-500 thousand yuan.
Since this location was already a standalone building with glass curtain walls outside and the original restaurant’s fine decoration inside, the renovation didn’t start from scratch like with an unfinished space.
So the renovation price wasn’t that outrageous. It mainly involved some structural changes, such as creating separate areas for the internet café and coffee shop, building a bar counter, and so on.
Then there was the cost of purchasing various equipment.
Fifty high-end computers at 26,000 yuan each, adding up to 1.3 million yuan.
Adding all these together, plus other expenses like purchasing tables and chairs, hiring receptionists, network administrators, chefs, and so on, the initial investment would directly consume more than 3 million yuan.
Pei Qian didn’t feel the least bit of pain; instead, he was very happy.
The higher the cost, the greater the loss—this was a good thing!
Besides, this money wasn’t coming out all at once.
First, they would pay for the rent and renovation costs. Then, after the New Year, construction would begin for the renovation. Only after the renovation was complete would they need to purchase computers, recruit people, and so on.
During this period, the two games would continue to generate profits, so these expenses could definitely be covered.
Ma Yang also appeared to have great ambitions, even suggesting that he wouldn’t go home for the New Year so he could supervise the construction.
Pei Qian hurriedly stopped him.
If you don’t go home for the New Year, the renovation workers still need to go home!
However, seeing Ma Yang’s enthusiasm and high spirits, Pei Qian felt reassured.
The more serious Ma Yang was, the greater the chance of failure!
It was indeed comforting to have such a reliable brother.
Meanwhile, on the other front, the design draft for “Game Producer” was completed.
Pei Qian went through the game process once more, especially the narrator’s script.
After reading it, he felt it wasn’t enough.
He spent three hours modifying the narrator’s script, elevating the sarcastic tone by two more levels.
For some content, Pei Qian himself felt embarrassed writing it.
It was too much!
Too much!
But for the sake of losing money, Pei Qian had to grit his teeth and write against his conscience!
After making the changes, he sent the file to Lü Mingliang, finalizing the draft.
“Next is to find art resources for outsourcing on the resource platform.”
“Find me the most expensive conceptual design artists, understand?”
Pei Qian repeatedly emphasized.
Lü Mingliang nodded vigorously: “I understand, Mr. Pei! For the art resources, I will be like Brother Huang—pursue excellence and maintain strict quality control!”
“Um… after I find the artists, do I still need to check with you?”
Pei Qian thought for a moment: “No need.”
Finding the most expensive concept designers meant their skill levels should all be quite high. Pei Qian didn’t understand original artwork, so whether he looked at it or not wouldn’t make much difference.
“Yes, Mr. Pei!”
Walking out of Pei Qian’s office, Lü Mingliang couldn’t help but feel moved.
Mr. Pei not only pursued excellence in art resources but also trusted me, his subordinate, so much!
This is truly touching!
I must complete the task Mr. Pei has given me perfectly!
…
Art resources are very important for games.
An attractive appearance can give players a good first impression, helping to increase the game’s revenue.
Pei Qian was very clear about this point.
So why did he continue to spend big money on art resources? Didn’t he know this went against his desire to lose money?
Mainly because there was no better way!
The system had restrictions—he couldn’t deliberately purchase inferior services. Everything Pei Qian purchased had to roughly correspond to its true value.
He could inflate prices within a certain range, but not too outrageously.
If Pei Qian bought those very ordinary art resources, he wouldn’t be able to spend all the money!
A simple calculation would show which part of making a game costs the most.
It’s the art resources that cost the most!
If he didn’t spend more money in this area, where else could Pei Qian spend more?
Therefore, to increase the game’s cost, Pei Qian had to spend more on game resources.
Moreover, was buying cheap art resources safe?
The lesson from “Ghost General” was still fresh in his mind…
Hiring artists at low prices—what if he accidentally encountered someone like Ruan Guangjian again, a master disguised as a novice? Wouldn’t that be disastrous?
The money wouldn’t be spent, and the quality of the game’s visuals wouldn’t decrease.
That would be a complete loss!
So, all things considered, spending big money on art resources was still the most cost-effective approach.
Besides, “Game Producer” wasn’t the kind of game that relied on visuals.
To lose money, his main hope was in its boring gameplay and provocative narration.
In Pei Qian’s view, as long as the gameplay and the provocative narration successfully angered players, the game would be considered a success.
How much would good visuals matter then?
…
Back at his workstation, Lü Mingliang opened the resource platform and began looking for suitable original conceptual designers.
In Lü Mingliang’s opinion, conceptual design was very important for “Game Producer.”
Because a large amount of content in the game involved visualizing abstract concepts.
For example, when players chose between “heavy spending” and “light spending,” these two different choices corresponded to two different areas in the room, and the areas needed different elements for display.
“Heavy spending” was an abstract concept, while its concrete manifestation included: silhouettes of lavish spending, game coins scattered all over the floor, a sharp contrast between the brilliantly glowing paying players and the barely clothed free players, and so on.
From abstract to concrete, this process required an artist’s re-creation.
In other words, if this process were done ordinarily, it would merely complete the task; but if done brilliantly, it would truly transform the game into art.
Therefore, Lü Mingliang didn’t dare to be careless. He carefully searched the resource platform for those conceptual designers who commanded high prices, had good reputations, and outstanding works.
“This one… doesn’t seem right. Although it looks good, the style is a bit monotonous.”
“This one… too realistic, not quite suitable.”
“Hmm? This one is good.”
Lü Mingliang quickly filtered through options and was suddenly attracted by a representative original artwork.
“Why does this feel… so familiar?”
Lü Mingliang felt this style of original art seemed somehow familiar—it was grand, with a distinctive style, quite impressive.
Looking at the introduction.
The artist’s name was Ruan Guangjian, with “Ghost General” as his representative work!
He was already among the top-tier concept designers commanding the highest prices on the resource platform!
“Isn’t this the original artist for ‘Ghost General’?!”
“He’s worked with Mr. Pei before and is skilled in various styles. This candidate is perfect!”