Why Can’t I Make Games C19
by MarineTLChapter 19: This is a Great Era!
“This is a game!”
“But at the same time, this is e-sports!”
“Just like physical sports in the real world, the only difference is that it exists online!”
“…”
“I hope that one day, many of us will stand on the grand stage and, under the spotlight, compete alongside friends from all over the world!”
“We will have opponents, and they will be strong!”
“We will have teammates, teams, and clubs just like soccer. We will have our own honors, dreams to fight for, and loud battle songs!”
“…”
“…”
On the Tieba forum.
Zhang Yang’s speech was being live-streamed in text format.
From time to time, a photo of Zhang Yang would appear.
In the photos, Zhang Yang stood in the spotlight, holding a microphone, delivering these words with great passion.
The year 2005 in this era shared many similarities with Zhang Yang’s original world. There were no smartphones, color-screen phones were rare, and there was no such thing as live streaming…
However, many things were different.
The payment system was fairly well-developed. Capital had established a complete online payment system early on, which was gradually being used for online top-ups and bank withdrawals…
The concept of online shopping was also gradually taking shape, and many e-commerce websites were beginning to rise.
But…
There was no Warcraft, no Three Kingdoms1, no League of Legends, and no Honor of Kings!
While competitive games existed, the concept of “e-sports” had never been introduced…
Fighting games like King of Fighters existed, but no one had ever thought of hosting international arcade tournaments. At most, a few enthusiasts would chip in some money to watch a good match.
This was a good era.
But…
It was also a bad era!
On the Tieba forum.
Many players who were originally just looking for cheats found themselves unconsciously reading the text…
At first glance, they didn’t feel much.
They thought it was completely unrealistic.
They thought it was just a load of boasting.
But…
For some reason…
Even though they knew it was unrealistic, they kept reading the live-text updates…
More and more people were watching.
As they read, a sense of longing suddenly flashed through their minds.
The future…
Clubs?
Clubs like soccer?
International gaming teams?
Teammates fighting side by side?
World-class competitions?
Zhang Yang seemed to be sketching a beautiful future for them…
………………………
“We live in this era…”
“Please cherish this era, and please follow our Universe Technology…”
“We will grow together with this era…”
“No matter how much wind and rain we face in the future, I hope we can be like wild grass – the prairie fire cannot burn it all; it grows again when the spring breeze blows!2“
“A tribute to those who love games, work hard for them, and prove their worth through them!”
“Please, bear witness!”
“…”
In the internet cafe.
The crowd of onlookers grew.
In truth, a text stream was far less infectious than being there in person.
Many players felt a lump in their throats. Although the owner, Li Zongnan, felt Zhang Yang’s words were a bit hollow and grand, he couldn’t help but applaud…
As they clapped, the players’ emotions were stirred.
Someone suddenly cheered…
The entire scene erupted with intense emotion.
Someone walked up to ask Zhang Yang…
“President Zhang, do you really think that day will come? I’m a Global Fighting player. We used to hope for that kind of competition… This game actually has quite a few players at home and abroad… Unfortunately, people have talked about it, but it never really worked out!”
“Yeah, President Zhang, how far away is the future you’re talking about? We’re afraid we won’t be able to keep up with the times…”
“…”
The players were excited.
They felt the beauty and future glory.
But they also felt a sense of unreality. Amidst the excitement, they were anxious about what they might lose.
Zhang Yang chewed some gum, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“If I were a liar, I would say ‘in the distant future’…”
“But I am not a liar!”
“A Global Fighting tournament, right?”
“Give me one month. Within one month… This is our Universe Technology’s Q-Dog group3. I need some player data regarding Global Fighting!”
“…”
“…”
In the internet cafe.
Zhang Yang was surrounded by more and more people.
He was like a Savior to them…
……………………
Yanjing at night could not hide its prosperity.
The streets and alleys were filled with streetlights. In the distance, amidst the heavy traffic, there were always busy people.
Inside a BBQ stall, smoke swirled.
Ge Yumiao ate grilled skewers, feeling a bit lightheaded, but he kept wiping his nose.
His eyes were very red.
Beside him sat Zhang Yang and Wu Zhuang.
People need respect.
And respect was something Ge Yumiao had never possessed.
From childhood to adulthood, Ge Yumiao had always been someone people looked down upon. He was the “no-future” kid in the mouths of relatives and friends, the “bad student” in the eyes of teachers…
He had gradually grown used to it, becoming numb. He felt like he was neither man nor ghost. Even if he died on the street one day, his parents would at most cry a bit and then carry on as usual…
But today, when he received the prize money, he suddenly felt like a human being.
He had wired twenty thousand to his family.
At that moment, his family thought he had robbed a bank or sold a kidney.
When they finally learned the truth…
They were still in shock!
“Is this for real?”
“You can actually make this much money playing games?”
“…”
Their shock sent a sudden surge of excitement through Ge Yumiao.
He felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Then, he noticed his parents suddenly showering him with care, asking how he was doing in Yanjing, how things were going…
This series of changes made him feel as if he had been reborn!
At the barbecue stall.
Ge Yumiao was still immersed in that state of excitement.
Right then…
“Ge Shen, would you be interested in coming to work for us?”
He looked up and saw Zhang Yang watching him with a smile.
“Yeah! There are nearly twenty thousand people following you on the forum now… Come join our company as an internal game reviewer!”
“Me? Can I really do it?”
“If you couldn’t, why would I be inviting you?”
“Okay, okay! I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”
“…”
Inside the barbecue stall, Ge Yumiao stood up excitedly.
Half an hour later, when a drunk Ge Yumiao arrived at Universe Technology…
He sobered up instantly.
“President Zhang, this rental apartment… this is our company, not the dormitory?”
…
Late at night.
Mumaen Technology.
Human Resources Department.
After finishing his day’s work, Shen Yi opened the Desert Bicycle forum.
On the forum.
Countless posts about E-sports were flooding the pages.
Many players were cheering!
After reading through the forum, Shen Yi’s eyes lit up, and he felt goosebumps break out all over his body!
He immediately stood up and took out his phone.
“Hello! Xiao Liu4, I told you to contact Zhang Yang and his team. Have you done it yet?”
“…”
“What! Not yet? You’ve at least found their contact information, right?”
“…”
“Not that either? Fine, then help me look for it. Thanks for the hard work!”
“…”
After hanging up, he couldn’t calm down for a long time.
As an executive, he keenly sensed that the concept Zhang Yang proposed was more than just a concept…
This was the future of the gaming industry!
Then…
He excitedly pulled out his phone again.
“Hello, President Liu, have you seen it? Have you checked the forum? The gaming industry can move toward E-sports in the future. This is the major direction of the future…”
“…”
After the call, his enthusiasm remained undiminished.
Immediately after, his phone rang again.
Shortly after, he picked up a call.
His previously excited mood instantly turned cold.
“What did you say? He once came to our company for an interview? And we didn’t hire him?”
“…”
(End of Chapter)
Translator’s Notes
- Three Kingdoms: In this context, the term refers to Sanguo Zhengba (War of the Three Kingdoms), a popular Chinese-made mod for Warcraft III. It was a foundational title for the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre in China, predating the success of League of Legends. ↩
- the prairie fire cannot burn it all; it grows again when the spring breeze blows!: A famous couplet from the Tang Dynasty poem “Farewell to the Grass on the Ancient Plain” by Bai Juyi. It is a classic Chinese metaphor for resilience and the indomitable nature of life, suggesting that a strong spirit will always recover from hardship. ↩
- Q-Dog group: A slang term for a group on QQ, a ubiquitous instant messaging service in China. In the era of internet cafes and early online gaming, QQ groups were the primary social infrastructure for players to organize, share data, and build communities. ↩
- Xiao Liu: The prefix “Xiao” (Little) is a common Chinese address used for someone younger or lower in status than the speaker. In a professional setting, an executive using it for a subordinate indicates a standard hierarchical relationship, acknowledging their junior status while maintaining a level of familiarity. ↩
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