This is the ninth art

Chapter 74 Too cool!Mr. Chu is really amazing, it makes me feel so cool even at my age!
Whether it is Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, or the collectible card gameplay of the Pokémon series.

They all have a characteristic.

historical!

The development of Magic even dates back to the late 90s.

After so many years, according to the latest official statistics, the total number of cards has even reached tens of thousands.

Even if players commonly use cards, they have reached 2000+
If you want to build a suitable card system, you need to choose from these 2000+ commonly used cards and more than 8000 unpopular cards, and then build it yourself.

Naturally, it is necessary to understand the effects of so many cards.

The more complex and huge the total number of cards, the less friendly it is to newcomers.

Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon more or less have this tendency.

There are thousands of Pokémon species alone, not to mention that the elves have their own evolutionary forms, and each form can produce a corresponding effect card.

The new players take a look:? ? ?

What is this!
I don't understand!
Is the cost of playing games so high these days?

Forget it.

One sentence summary: The total number of trading cards is too large to attract new players.

This is also the biggest common problem with trading cards.

Besides that, they have another drawback.

Burn money!

Extra money!

When the money is burned, your relatives and friends will mistakenly think that you are smoking.

The mainstream gameplay of Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh. Random flash cards, universe cards and so on.

No matter which one of these three collectible card giants, their classic gameplay tends to be offline board games.

When the number of cards is small in the early stage, this disadvantage is not obvious.

You can wait until the total number of cards is counted later.

How to collect the cards you want becomes a big problem.

For offline board games, if you want cards, you must buy them, right?

Especially to participate in some official official competitions, the cards you take out must be authentic printed by the official, or the 'representative cards' made for you by the official designated artist, and even the card sleeves have to be taken off during the competition.

However, the number of official printed cards for each version is only for a certain period of time, and it will disappear after time passes.

Among them, there are still some card speculation parties.

The "court auction of the blue-eyed white dragon card at a sky-high price" incident that has been raging a while ago was caused by the card speculation party.

Some cards have been out of print, the number of circulation in the market is rare, and the price is very expensive.

At this time, if you want to collect a specific deck to participate in the competition, the difficulty will undoubtedly increase sharply, and a lot of money will be burned.

So the name "card guy" was born.

At the beginning, it refers to: a giant player who spends a lot of money to collect many out-of-print card sets.

Later, as the title spread, it gradually evolved into what card players call themselves when facing other players.

But it is not difficult to see from this point that there are threshold requirements for players to collect trading cards.

Almost clearly written on the face: no money to play you paralyzed.

This was the case in the prosperous world where the global game industry was so developed in the previous life.

What's more, in this barren Blue Star World, which can only be regarded as a niche, how many people will buy and play cards, even Chu Jun has no idea.

In short, the risk is very high.

In contrast, the advantages of online collectible cards such as Hearthstone are instantly reflected.

First of all, there is no problem of card wear and tear, let alone any cards that are out of print.

If it is out of print, everyone cannot use it.

In this way, card speculation is eliminated, and the price of the card is controlled under a situation where players can get it.

Secondly, the gameplay of Hearthstone itself is good enough.

Even if it takes off its title as a derivative of the big IP "Warcraft".

In other words, players don't need to understand the background of Warcraft, as long as they understand the rules of the Hearthstone game, they can get started.

Finally, Hearthstone has a pretty good mechanic.

Yearly elimination system.

Every year, a series of new decks will be released regularly, and then the old decks from the previous year will be eliminated.

Only cards produced in the past two years can be used to participate in the standard qualifying competition.

In the past two years, the commonly used cards have been limited to a certain range.

In this way, it prevents new players from seeing tens of thousands of cards as soon as they enter the pit, so that they can't play with you, goodbye! ' Thoughts.

With numerous optimizations, "Hearthstone" has become the largest online collectible card game in the past.

"However, in terms of pricing, the price of the previous life cannot be completely adopted." Chu Jun thought to himself.

The scale of the game industry in the two worlds is different, and the game prices acceptable to players are also different.

According to Mr. Chu's observations over the past few months.

The willingness of players in this world to spend krypton gold is only about 10% of that in the previous life.

Previously, several puzzle games were able to sell for a high price of 5000 million, purely because of their low prices and the promotion of billboards throughout the city.

But in this world, if a game company dares to launch any 648 recharge activity, it is afraid that it will be sprayed by the players. .

In the previous life, Steam would charge different fees for the same game in different regions according to the per capita consumption level of each country.

To put it simply, a game in the United States may sell for $100, and the equivalent exchange rate is about RMB 700.

But this game is in the Steam country, and it doesn't need six or seven hundred at all, it only needs two or three hundred to get started.

The Argentine region, where the price is extremely low, has been named a holy place for games by players from all over the world.

The west can't live without Jerusalem, just like the 3D zone can't... oh, it's like steam can't live without Argentina.

It was like this in the previous life, let alone this life.

"Director Ling, for the pricing of the Hearthstone game, you should draw up a plan, make a report based on the average market consumption price, and then give it to me." Chu Jun called Ling Tianhang.

Ling Tianhang said to himself: "Mr. Chu, according to the current preliminary framework of this game, I don't think there is any problem with the price of this game at 199! Its quality and innovative gameplay are worthy of this price!"

"199? Is it too expensive?" Chu Jun rubbed his chin, thinking deeply.

I didn't expect Ling Tianhang, an old boy, to be darker than himself.

How dare you sell a pack of cards for 199?

"Is 199 still expensive? It's not expensive anymore Mr. Chu. Your idea is very novel! If I were a player, I would buy it for 299!" Ling Tianhang laughed.

I wondered when President Chu became so unconfident?
Logically speaking, he is the main creator of this game, and he should know what this game represents better than anyone else.

A brand new concept of exchange!

Plus rich to the extreme gameplay experience!
199 will definitely sell out!
"No, no, I mean." Chu Jun suddenly realized that the conversation between the two people might not be on the same channel, so he looked straight into Ling Tianhang's eyes: "I mean, a pack of cards, about five cards, how much should it sell for?" .not this game."

……

"Secretary Xu, some of the sound effects of the basic card have been completed, but I feel that the dubbing needs to be introduced now." An employee who was temporarily in charge of the sound effects department called out Xu Nianqing who was passing by in a hurry.

He added: "According to Mr. Chu's design concept, his idea is that each card should have its own lines, including appearance lines, attack lines, and death sound effects. So I think that if we can make some of them in advance The card dubbing can also be used as a reference when I am making strike sound effects.”

"Okay, I see, I will report to President Chu." Xu Nianqing accepted the letter of submission from the employee and responded with a chuckle.

Just turned around and was about to go to the office.

Suddenly, an extremely surprised shout was heard, which penetrated the door panel of the general manager's office and spread to the entire company.

"A pack of cards????"

Ling Tianhang's eyes widened, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were almost comparable to bun folds.

"A pack of only five cards... How much does it cost?" Ling Tianhang even suspected that he had heard it wrong, and asked again.

"Yes." Chu Jun nodded seriously.

Ling Tianhang suddenly began to doubt his life.

He has never heard of it, which game company dares to play like this...

He has some familiarity with "Heroes in Troubled Times" under Tianyun Company.

The cards inside are available for free, but different hero characters need to be unlocked with money.

But these roles are nothing more than a dozen to dozens of dollars.

There are so many heroes, it would cost tens of thousands to buy them all.

Tianyun Company also relies on this method to make money.

At first, Ling Tianhang thought that "Hearthstone" followed the buyout system.

But now, Mr. Chu said that he would sell the card separately...

"Will players who are used to playing free cards have any opinion?" Ling Tianhang asked cautiously.

"It doesn't matter, we can open a system for making cards for free. Players who don't want to spend money can obtain certain card essences by completing daily tasks to make the cards they want."

"Oh, that's okay." Ling Tianhang breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately listen to Chu Jundao again.

"The production cycle of an orange card is about one month."

Ling Tianhang: "????"

No, you...

According to the current first version, there are 200 basic cards, including more than 20 orange cards.

If the players want to do it all, don't they need two years?

"So if you want to get cards faster, you can recharge to buy card packs. My initial price is 5 yuan a pack, how about it?"

"If you buy a pack of 5 yuan, you can convert it to 5 yuan to buy a card, um..." Ling Tianhang thought for a while, and then said: "It's not impossible, 200 cards in a pack, more than 200 cards, that is, you can buy them all for [-] yuan. .”

It's about the same as his original estimate of 199 buyout price.

However, the new version will definitely launch a new card, and then you can earn another fortune!
Tsk tsk, Mr. Chu, this is simply the material for doing business!

Why didn't I think of the idea of ​​selling the cards separately?
Soon, he heard Chu Jun speak again.

"Buy it all for 200 yuan? It doesn't exist." Chu Jun shook his head and explained: "What can be opened in the card pack is random, and the cards opened every time are likely to be repeated."

Ling Tianhang: "????"

random? ? ?

"You mean, when players buy card packs, it's like drawing a lottery?"

"Correct."

"No! It's impossible! The players will definitely scold you!" Ling Tianhang flatly rejected Chu Jun's idea.

Once it comes to games, he doesn't care about his status as a superior or a subordinate.

Such a good game, if there is a problem in operation and it dies suddenly, and then it is copied by other companies to make money, it will be too painful.

Making the game well and making the company make money is more important than anything else.

"Don't worry." Chu Jun also guessed that Ling Tianhang would have this reaction.

In his eyes, the game manufacturers in this world are still too young.

Regardless of the characters and props in any game, they are all clearly marked with a price.

It's just that some good characters are expensive, and slightly inferior characters are cheap.

But they simply do not understand the charm of randomness.

"Well, I happen to have a small lottery drawing program here, you can try it." Chu Jun has been debugging issues related to the probability of card draws for the past few days, and specially designed a small program for Hearthstone card draws.

Invite Ling Tianhang to experience it in front of his computer.

Ling Tianhang was sitting on the boss chair, he was a little apprehensive at first.

Until the end of the first round of card drawing, he stared at the five white quality cards in front of him, lost in thought.

This... this is too pitiful!
I spent five yuan and bought five white cards?
"Try again?" Chu Jun said again.

"Okay." Ling Tianhang pressed the open button for the second time.

The special effects of the hearthstone drawing card animation have not yet been completed, and what is presented in front of him is only a crude framework.

As five card backs emerged, he clicked on them one by one.

Another five white cards...

Moreover, this time there are two duplicate cards, which were drawn in the previous round of bag opening.

This made Ling Tianhang even more depressed.

Too pit!
Players must not accept this lottery mechanism!

"Mr. Chu, I think this mechanism is still lacking..." Ling Tianhang was about to speak when he was interrupted by Chu Jun.

"Try again."

"Hmm..." Ling Tianhang nodded.

But he made up his mind.

No matter how many times I try it, it's the same.

Even if higher-level cards appeared in the future, it would not be able to satisfy the anger of players who spent money on useless things...

Ok?
Before he could finish speaking the word anger, Ling Tianhang's eyes froze with a certain card on the screen.

In the center of the card, where the quality of the card is displayed, is highlighted with a touch of dark blue.

Blue, a rare card!

The quality is one level above white!
Inexplicably, there was a trace of refreshment in Ling Tianhang's heart.

It seems that the resentment for repeatedly drawing out the white card before has eased a bit...

try again!
Another blue card!

Come again!

This time, a bewitching purple light circulated.

Ling Tianhang's eyes could not help but widen.

Purple, an epic card! !
It is one level higher than the blue rare card!
The effect of this card is also much stronger than the previous cards!
In my heart, a sense of comfort circulated.

This time without Mr. Chu's urging, Ling Tianhang even started to click the mouse subconsciously to open the next round of card packs.

The reason is simple, he got cool feedback from opening the bag!

Everyone likes to do things that make them happy!

With the increase in the number of times Ling Tianhang opened card packs.

The number of blue cards increased, and purple cards also appeared occasionally.

He inexplicably began to feel a little irritable.

After I feel that I have opened more, it is no different.

If it costs five yuan to open it once, at least 100 yuan has been poured into it in this short time.

The joy brought by Zika slowly faded with time.

It seems that this card drawing mechanism is still somewhat...

hum! ! !
At this moment, behind a random card that Ling Tianhang clicked, a dazzling golden light almost filled the entire screen, and almost blinded his old eyes.

The light shone like a crowned king!
Take a closer look.

Orange card, legendary card! !
The effect is unprecedentedly powerful! !

hiss! ! !
At this moment, a strong sense of refreshment began to surge in Ling Tianhang's heart, radiating to all limbs and bones, from head to toe!

He randomly drew an orange card of the highest quality!
Especially in the upper right corner of the card drawing program, the probability is clearly given.

It takes about 40 packs to draw an orange card.

And he opened one in 20 packs!
This expanded the cool point even more, making Ling Tianhang almost twitch in his chair.

Cool!
So cool!
No way, this is the first time I have seen such a smooth lottery mechanism!

Especially when I think about it, others may only get one out of 40 packs, but I can only get out 20 packs.

The annoyance of drawing repeated cards all the way before disappeared in an instant.

Instead, there is only a steady stream of coolness!
What's wrong with this?

20 packs will give you an orange card, do you dare to think?

I earned it!

I'm making a lot of money! !

"Now, what are your thoughts?" Chu Jun asked again.

Ling Tianhang hesitated for a moment, then smiled awkwardly: "I want another five yuan..."

If you say five dollars, it is possible to buy such a cool experience.

That can be said to be one of the few ways to get happiness at a low price!
Although in the case of a dark face, it is likely to be very aggrieved.

But once the golden light flashes, all the boredom ahead will be wiped away!
Ling Tianhang finally realized the charm of random card drawing.

Compared with those rigid pricing methods, it is easy for players to lose their freshness.

It will even widen the gap between local tyrants and civilians.

If you have money, you can buy it, if you don't have money, you can just watch it.

The randomness can even make ordinary players into their souls!
It can also make rich players love and hate it.

Although it cannot completely make up the gap between the local tyrants and the populist party.

But at least it gave the Zero Krypton Party a glimmer of hope.

You know, in a game, it is the top local tyrants who generate revenue for the company.

Those who can maintain the foundation of the game will always be the civilian players with the largest base!

In this way, the decisions made by the airborne leadership of my former company, Phoenix Interactive Entertainment, and the thoughts of this young and handsome boss in front of me.

Sit down!

Ling Tianhang looked at Chu Jun again, only admiration remained.

He had a hunch that as long as the game Hearthstone can be sold well, it will definitely trigger a frenzy of manufacturers all over the country to follow suit!
Redefine a brand new operating system!

"President Chu, I'm going to count the players' market consumption and evaluate the most suitable card pack price!" Ling Tianhang was full of enthusiasm.

……

Xu Nianqing was holding the folder, and was about to knock on the office door to report the company's situation.

I saw Director Ling unscrew the doorknob and walk out from the inside.

Moreover, Director Ling changed his stern and serious demeanor, which was abnormal at this time.

I saw that his complexion was rosy, his eyes were blurred, and he was still a little weak when he walked.

He didn't notice that he was standing in front of the door.

When passing by himself, he was still talking to himself.

"This is too cool."

"Mr. Chu is really amazing. Even my old bones can experience such a cool thing!"

"I really want to do it again, but it's a pity that work is urgent."

Xu Nianqing: "????"

She stood dumbfounded at the door of the office.

The outstretched little hand hovered in mid-air, not even knowing whether to knock it down or not.

A pair of beautiful eyes revealed a thick trembling color.

I didn't expect... President Chu is so good? ? ?
Of course, she didn't expect it.

When it's her turn to walk out of the office, it will be a scene of "blushing cheeks, trembling legs, wanting to do it again".

　The IP of "Warcraft" has been written in many books, so I won't write it.

　　After all, when it is written, it is a long series of industrial chains, which may dissuade many readers who have never played Warcraft. After all, it is an old game. Now many young people have only heard of it but never played it. It is normal.

　　In the same way, dota does not touch it.

　　In the future, I will try my best to write some games that "even if readers haven't played it, they can still understand the essence of it after reading the novel, and can understand these game stalks".

　　Hearthstone has a lot of stalks (Hearthstone exclusive stalks, not Warcraft stalks)

　　If you can understand it, it is still very interesting. I try to write as easy as possible to take care of friends who have never played Hearthstone.

　　After that, of course, it will not be limited to online games.

　　There will definitely be classic 3A masterpieces and popular console games, but I haven’t written about this one yet, from low to high.

　　If I started as Red Dead Redemption, and then made small puzzle games, the readers would definitely run away.

　　I saw that many readers opened the book and began to scold after writing a rhythm master, and felt that this is the ninth art, the author, I think you don't understand at all!

　　The Ninth Art is a collective term for many different types of classic games, and it can never be referred to by a certain game.

　　Don't worry, if you are in a hurry, you can find other books to read.

　　Yesterday there was only one update, and today I will try to make up for the third update!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)