One Sword to Heaven

Chapter 163 Wedge Board Meeting 【First Update】

"professor."

In a quiet lounge, Professor Chen slowly opened his eyes, and saw a 30-year-old man in a white coat with a pair of black-rimmed glasses on his nose standing respectfully aside.

"Is the board meeting about to start?"

Hearing Professor Chen's question, the man nodded and said, "It's about to start in 5 minutes. Mr. Wen and most of the directors have already entered."

"Then let's go in too."

As he spoke, Professor Chen stood up, and the man next to him opened his lips as if he wanted to say something, Professor Chen noticed his hesitation, and couldn't help but said: "Li Fan, if you have anything to say, just say it. "

Li Fan hesitated for a moment before he said: "I asked Xiao Jin to find out about it before, and it seems that the directors present at the meeting have a completely negative attitude towards our proposal to increase the distribution of the X program."

Before Li Fan finished speaking, Professor Chen stomped the crutch in his hand and cursed: "These moths, who smell like copper, only have money in their eyes. They don't understand the importance of intelligent life at all."

"The professor is right, but the current situation is indeed very unfavorable to us. I heard that the group has newly established an operation planning department, and we will take charge of the entire operation of "Xianwu Era" from our hands. From now on, we will only be responsible for the subsequent content production. and R&D.”

"No reason!"

Professor Chen was furious, and before he finished speaking, he walked quickly towards the outside room, and said while walking, "I want to see who is going to take the food from my mouth!"

The lounge is not far from the large conference room where the board meeting is held. A moment later, Professor Chen pushed the door open, looked around the venue, and said, "Who is going to take over the operation of "Xianwu Era" from me?"

Swish.
For a moment, everyone in the meeting looked at Professor Chen, but Professor Chen turned his attention to Wen Shiming, the chairman of the board. He knew that only Wen Shiming had the right to set up an operation planning department. Wen Shiming stood up and said, "Mr. Chen , Please sit down first, let me introduce you, this is Liu Tianliang, who has been nominated as the director of the newly formed operation planning department of the group, as long as he is elected at the board meeting later, he will officially perform his duties after the meeting. "

As soon as Wen Shiming finished speaking, a well-mannered young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses in front of Professor Chen stood up and turned around. Then he put one hand on his abdomen, and stretched out the other to Professor Chen, saying: "The new junior Liu Tianliang, please give me more advice from Mr. Chen in the future."

Looking at the polite two people in front of him, Professor Chen didn't accept this at all, and said coldly, "Have you already decided?"

Wen Shimin shook his head and said nothing, but Liu Tianliang withdrew his hand calmly, then took out a document from the document bag on the table, and said to everyone in the conference room: "This is the document I got from the finance department of the group before. The income and expenditure of "Xianwu Era" has been in operation for more than four months. The outside world thinks that "Xianwu Era" is a big hit. In fact, the group did not get much return from this game, and even the expected early stage The recovery of investment is far from being achieved, which is also the purpose of today's board meeting."

Speaking of this, the young Liu Tianliang turned around to face Professor Chen, and said, "Old Chen, do you know what it means to maintain this situation?"

After all, Professor Chen was not in finance. He had a bad premonition, but he could only shake his head. Seeing this, Liu Tianliang showed his white teeth and said with a smile: "If this situation continues, the group must report its financial statements for the next quarter." Before it came out, "Era of Immortal Martial Arts" was transferred to its subordinate shell subsidiaries, and then split and sold. Otherwise, this product, which invested a lot of money, time and effort into the group, would only plunge the company into disaster. !”

After saying this, Liu Tianliang slapped the document in his hand on the table, no longer the humble look before, but looked straight at Professor Chen.

"How could this be?!"

Sweat dripped from Professor Chen's forehead. He knew very well that "Xianwu Era" used point cards and monthly cards for double consumption under his insistence, completely canceling the direct purchase channels of malls and props. He wanted to make this game Shaped into a classic, a brand.

Looking at Professor Chen's appearance, Liu Tianliang said again: "I know what Mr. Chen is thinking, you want to make "Xianwu Era" a star brand, just like Blizzard's "World of Warcraft" back then, but you ignored three things. Point one. The data of holographic smart online games is extremely huge. You were quite proud of how big the mastermind of "Xianwu Era" was in the talk show before. We have nearly 300 large-scale computer room groups across the country, and There are more than a dozen high-end computer room groups and research rooms dedicated to high-intelligence NPCs, but have you ever thought about how much money and manpower it will cost to host these?
Second, "Xianwu Era" does not have the conditions for a large-scale agency in the world. Even in China, it only diverts some users. It is only in this theme that the concentration of users shows hot spots. How many people abroad buy it?Even if the agent can give how much agency fee?

The third is the most critical point. The content of "Xianwu Era" is lacklustre. I have personally experienced that this world is indeed complete and vast, just like a real alien world, but players can get too little experience in it. Cultivation is too slow, and it can produce too little refreshment. "

As he said that, Liu Tianliang took out another stack of documents and said, "In the past four months since the server was launched, our average online visits have dropped from the peak of 300 million to less than 200 million now, and this trend will continue to increase. A large number of accounts have fallen asleep, and the renewal situation of point cards and monthly cards has also gone from bad to worse.

Mr. Chen, have you carefully understood these situations?Operation is not R&D. It doesn’t mean that if you think that the product is good, others must come to consume it. Apart from the sensory experience similar to the complete traversal at the beginning, and the unique shape of the rivers and lakes, “Xianwu Era” has no bright spots that attract people to continue playing. You How long do you think "Xianwu Era" can last like this, and how long can the group last? "

Beads of sweat were dripping from Professor Chen's forehead. He realized the seriousness of the problem. After all, scientific research cannot lack financial support, but he did not give up. He said: "Didn't we develop a series of derivative products? Just like 'Xiayou' social software."

Before Professor Chen finished speaking, Liu Tianliang waved his hand rudely and interrupted: "Old Chen, you must understand that all derivative products are attached to "Xianwu Era", just like' "Xiayou" did a great job at the beginning, with more than 200 million downloads in less than two months, but what is the situation now? There are less than 30 active users, which is also a further downward trend, so we must find the root of the problem, then It is how to improve the playability of "Xianwu Era" and retain players for a long time, especially ordinary players, not just some martial arts enthusiasts. Then on this basis, without changing the existing "Xianwu Era" In the case of the operating model, improve the hematopoietic ability, generate profits, and then allow the group to recover R&D and initial investment, and enter a virtuous circle channel, right?"

Wen Shiming saw that the fire was almost ready, so he came over to support Professor Chen, and said, "Mr. Chen, you should sit down first. No matter what opinions you have, listen to Xiao Liu's advice first. Xiao Liu is still very capable and talented."

Professor Chen did not speak, but with the support of Wen Shiming, he walked to his seat and sat down. Seeing this, Wen Shiming returned to his seat, and then presided over the meeting of the board of directors. After going through some necessary procedures, everyone They all set their sights on Liu Tianliang, everyone knew that this young man was the focus of today.

Liu Tianliang was not stage-frightened either. He stood up and bowed to everyone, saying: "Everyone understands the current situation of "Xianwu Era". Nothing more than four words, open source and reduce expenditure.

Let me talk about throttling first. The data of "Xianwu Era" is too huge, far exceeding any game on the market today. In order to carry the mastermind and many computer room groups, too much money and manpower are consumed, so I first have to start from here. On the one hand, I heard that Professor Chen has extracted thousands of specimens in order to develop intelligent life. In order to carry these specimens, nearly [-] independent units have been consumed. I suggest reducing the scope of specimens."

Hearing this, Professor Chen, who had just sat down, stood up and said, "This is absolutely impossible!"

Professor Chen's attitude was very firm. Wen Shiming waved his hand and said: "The research and development of intelligent life is the condition for Mr. Chen to be the chief engineer of research and development. It has been unanimously approved by the board of directors. You should not make any decisions about this."

"I understand."

Liu Tianliang smiled slightly, not feeling surprised or discouraged at all. Apparently he knew about this situation long ago, and then said: "But we still need to reduce the number of computer room groups. For this reason, I think it is possible to reduce the intelligence of some mid-to-high-level high-intelligence NPCs. According to what Professor Chen said on the program, this part of the mid-to-high-level high-intelligence NPCs is treated as experience cannon fodder monsters, reducing their own intelligence and difficulty of killing, and forming a resident boss that refreshes periodically to kill players. Increase the player's fun and ways to improve their strength.

I don't think this will affect Mr. Chen's research and development of intelligent life, right? "

Hearing what Liu Tianliang said, all the directors present showed approval in their eyes. It was obviously a false move for Liu Tianliang to go straight to the specimen of intelligent life. Professor Chen found it difficult to persist in this move after giving in. Sure enough, Professor Chen hesitated, and stood there silently.

Seeing this, Li Fan couldn't help saying: "But doing so breaks the existing logic and cognition of intelligent NPCs in the virtual world. This."

"You are mainly worried about the unknown results brought about by breaking the usual cognition of intelligent life specimens? I don't think this is necessary. I know that ordinary highly intelligent NPCs will still follow the instructions of the program. You only need to input one Relevant shielding instructions are enough, and it is enough to solidify their cognition of the resident boss that is transformed into a periodic refresh.

As for those highly intelligent digital intelligent life, they can be allowed to have cognitive impairment. After all, if you want to become a real life, it is completely impossible not to understand the essence of the world in which you live and the essence of your own life. I think this It can also promote the formation of intelligent life"

Professor Chen was impatient to listen to Liu Tianliang's long speech. He was fully aware of the possible consequences of the changes in the process. In the end, he just waved his hands and said: "Just do what you said, but the computer room group will be reduced for the first time." It cannot exceed the existing 10%.”

"Don't worry, Mr. Chen, this aspect is for sure. It is not feasible to open a large number of periodic bosses to players at once. I will make a special plan for this later, and I will give it to you for review, and please and the R&D team follow through."

Professor Chen didn't want to argue anymore and just waved his hands. Seeing this, Liu Tianliang said again: "The source of the program can only be done step by step, but Mr. Chen has already stated that everything is easy to handle. Then I will talk about how to open the stream. Naturally, the open stream must Let players spend more, but based on the current operation method of Xianwu Era, we can only increase the average number of online players. To do this, we must let the game retain players, and let players have something to play, and even enjoy it It's best to indulge in it.

Xianwu Era has obviously not done enough in this regard. If any game wants to retain players, it must provide players with room for continuous improvement, and provide players with ways to continuously improve. Just like traditional games, players are born at level 0. Then after they obtain equipment through missions and their level increases accordingly, they can challenge level 3 or level 5 dungeons. After that, when their level increases and the equipment becomes better, they can challenge stronger dungeons and bosses to get better ones. Equipment and even top-quality props, when the player level is higher, the more vertical content, the wider the ways to improve, guilds, gangs, battlefields, city battles, etc., these are all important elements of online games.

On the other hand, what is there in Xianwu Era?It is too difficult to get started, the novice guide is not perfect, the way to improve is extremely limited, the game map is too large, the players lack linkage, and in front of the extensive game map and a large number of NPCs, the players appear weak, and the overall weakness makes the players How to stay for a long time?You must know that any game player is the protagonist, the player group is the main body, and the existence of the world is only to serve the players, but the current situation in the Xianwu Era is completely contrary to this principle.

Let me give you an example. The forum has been hotly discussing the 'Blood Demon Sword' on the border of Jinyu City in the southern part of Beisheng Prefecture. A low-level NPC slaughtered thousands of players one after another. Many people were even killed three or four times. When it reaches the bottom, for ordinary low-level players who have difficulty obtaining secrets and whose cultivation speed is not very high, the effect of such continuous deaths is simply devastating.

After the Blood Demon Sword incident, the number of active players in this area plummeted by 40%. I don't know if this 'Blood Demon Sword' is your specimen of intelligent life, but the players are so weak, and the NPCs are so unscrupulous, how many more? What will be the consequences of such an incident? "

Liu Tianliang spoke loudly, and all the directors communicated in low voices. Professor Chen was speechless, and Li Fan didn't know what to say. Finally, Professor Chen said, "What's your suggestion?"

"The last time I saw Lu Yu having an appointment, Professor Chen mentioned that players cannot practice. Indeed, players cannot grasp the rules of the virtual world, but we, as operators and developers, want players to have a sense of substitution in the virtual world. It is necessary to let the player feel like the continuous improvement of cultivation.

For example, setting up an absolutely safe practice room allows players to practice internal skills and set martial arts routines in the practice room after being offline. This can be regarded as increasing the ways for players to improve their strength and reducing the difficulty of improving their strength. However, such a function requires additional Spend points card. "

"Isn't this a paid hook?"

Li Fan exclaimed. He knew something about other online games. If such a function is enabled, players can practice 24 hours a day. But how is this different from those idle web games?

"This is just one more way to make players powerful. Players must be the main body of the game world!"

Liu Tianliang didn't care about Li Fan at all, and continued: "In addition, in the virtual world where all senses are substituted, not many players know how to use martial arts and how to fight. The current completely free combat mode is not suitable for all players. You must develop player skills. The auxiliary combat system is like the directional spell casting system of traditional online games.

As Professor Chen said, players can't really practice and don't understand the essence of martial arts, but why should players understand?They only need to combine their own martial arts according to the power and special effects of martial arts cultivation, and use them like skills.

Of course, the completely free combat mode can also be retained, giving players options. After all, very few high-level players like difficult challenges.

And you can leave some hidden things in the middle, such as setting an upper limit for the auxiliary combat system. For example, you can use the data of the blood demon sword as a template for the Yuanying sword technique of Aojian Villa. In the same realm, when using the same amount of internal force without any special additions, the power of this sword can only reach [-]% of that of the Blood Demon Sword if the player uses the auxiliary combat system. If there is a debuff effect after hitting, such as bleeding or something , can be weakened proportionally.However, players who use the free battle mode may use the same sword move, depending on the timing, self-comprehension, special additions, etc., to achieve the effect of the Blood Demon Sword, or even surpass the Blood Demon Sword.

I always think that the operator should also have a nurturing attitude towards players. According to the money invested, time, effort, talent, etc., the players will eventually widen the gap, so for the bottom players, they can only continue to follow our open channels Seek to be powerful, and have fun in the process.Middle-level players can get more experience, such as the periodic refreshing of BOSS mentioned earlier, don't tell them this point explicitly, let them explore by themselves.As for high-end players, they can stay in the current mode, hunt and kill high-intelligence NPCs and other big bosses to continue to have fun, and participate in some major events and so on.

But these alone are not enough, you must set a large number of events of different levels, such as around a city, a certain ancient tomb is excavated, a sharp weapon that low-level players are struggling to find, yellow-level middle, top-level secrets, lost Secret arts, etc., can be obtained through these low-level regional events, just like adventures, and these low-level regional events are set as periodic triggers to achieve an effect similar to dungeons.

Then the middle-level areas are like events in a state that spread to the entire north or south. For example, someone stole the inheritance secrets of which sect, triggering a bloody storm and countless people encircled and suppressed the fight; or two factions had a grudge and broke out to attack each other, wreaking havoc. By recruiting players, players can not only join as mercenaries and receive benefits from their employers, but also obtain secrets, weapons, etc. during the attack.

Finally, the high-level area is a big event that stirs up a state, which requires careful planning.

When the player's ordinary cultivation level rises, and the high player even becomes the top existence in the world, he can start a major event that affects the five states, which will become the annual theme of our carnival, etc."

Liu Tianliang talked endlessly, and Professor Chen couldn't help but be convinced. This young man's immersion in online game operation is indeed much deeper than his. The ideas he said are actually very common, and there is no technical difficulty , It just takes effort, and the key focus is to continuously develop new content, increase playability, speed up the improvement of players' strength, and let them integrate into the virtual world faster and better.

An hour later, Liu Tianliang ended his general talk, then stood up, saluted the surrounding directors, and said: "If I can become the director of the operation planning department, then I suggest that I make adjustments after the meeting, Xianwu Epoch has entered into a long-term update, all content has been improved, and operational thinking has been changed.

In order to appease the restlessness of players waiting and increase their enthusiasm for investment, I am going to start an event. This is the relevant plan.

With that said, Liu Tianliang distributed the documents one by one and said: "Although due to the current operating model of Xianwu Era, we cannot open up more channels for capital inflows and cannot sell props, it does not mean that we can Give up this part of your rights.

I suggest that the research and development department develop a kind of cultivation pill that can directly improve certain types of martial arts, such as corresponding to lightness kung fu, internal kung fu, martial arts moves, etc. After taking it, it can directly increase the current cultivation progress by one level, so that players can have a rapid improvement effect, and then produce pleasure And refreshment.

Of course, this kind of thing cannot be given out easily, it must be an out-of-print item, and each person can use it in a limited amount. The card package is obtained; as for the new player, he will get one for free, so that he can quickly improve his strength in the early stage.

In addition, we can also associate with derivatives such as Xiayou, for example, one can invite five friends to register as Xiayou and reach the active value, and after these five people become Xianwu Era users and recharge, they can also get more cherished props, such as What is the Enlightenment Pill, after taking it, the player can experience the true meaning of the already perfect martial arts, and cultivate to a higher level. According to the existing division, it is the first glimpse of the hall, and the entry into the room.

If a player attracts many players, he can also give out out-of-print props, such as what kind of martial arts pill, what kind of martial arts realm can be obtained after taking it, as a special addition to make martial arts more powerful, etc.

We can use these methods to allow players to become our propagandists for free, attracting more players into the virtual world to achieve profitability and generate word-of-mouth effects.”

After an unknown amount of time, the meeting of the board of directors was finally over. Wen Shiming and a group of directors had already left. Professor Chen sat on the chair lonely, looking at the back of the young man who was arrogant.

"Professor, is this Liu Tianliang allowed to mess around in the future? If he continues like this, those NPCs will only be completely killed by the players, and he will turn all NPCs into periodically refreshed bosses. We painstakingly constructed world is over."

Li Fan looked unwilling. He has a deep understanding of online games and knows what the world of Xianwu Era will look like under Liu Tianliang's changes.

Li Fan's voice was not quiet. Liu Tianliang, who had not yet gone out, naturally heard it. He couldn't help but turn around and said: "Professor, what you want is scientific research results, but the group needs benefits, so partial concessions are for sure. As for you, I think there is no need for students to worry. For now, you can just keep your intelligent life specimens and let them continue to grow. Once Xianwu Era is on the right track and generates cyclical profits, then you will be rich in the research and development of subsequent content. Even if you want to increase the investment in program X, it is not impossible.

You can completely regard this barren Wuzhou as a novice village, even if the NPCs are dead, so what?As long as the group makes money, you can rebuild a Zhongzhou, spread the X program, and you can buy more time for your intelligent life specimens, right? "

After saying this, Liu Tianliang bowed slightly and left with a smile on his face.After a long time, Professor Chen stood up and said, "Go ahead, prepare to stop the server and update as he said."

"professor!"

Li Fan looked unwilling, but Professor Chen waved his hand and said: "The matter has come to this, we have no other choice but to speed up the progress of intelligent life research. You will be responsible for the updates. The props, regional events, and auxiliary things mentioned by Liu Tianliang The combat system, comparison templates, etc. are all left to you.

In addition, a story line team will be established to be responsible for large regional events. "

"Professor, what do you mean?"

"Let's let those four take turns to appear in the big regional events. The time is set in two months. By then, the high-end players should have improved to a certain level, and they can also participate in it. As for the annual event, we will choose the Dirty Earth Secret Realm we planned before. , let the person in charge continue to improve."

After finishing speaking, Professor Chen left, and Li Fan couldn't help asking, "Professor, where are you going?"

"Before shutting down the server, I have to use some means for those super-bodies so that they can have some understanding and understanding during this world stillness."

(End of this chapter)