Chapter 134: A Journey Through Reality

After finishing his conversation with Stone, Yin Jian began to contemplate his submission for the Reality Competition.

For now, he planned to outline the general framework and narrative structure of the game, intending to refine the details once the specific requirements of the competition were announced, thereby avoiding the pitfall of missing the mark.

Yin Jian took out his small notebook and began to think. He envisioned a game composed of a series of individual modules or "dungeons." Upon completing each module, players would receive rewards based on their performance evaluation.

"If it’s just a string of isolated narratives, it feels insufficient." Yin Jian frowned; the game would feel too thin if players were merely cycled through one dungeon after another. "Players can only group up through matchmaking—it’s too fragmented, and there isn't enough conflict."

Once players gained an advantage in the game, they would need a stage to showcase their prowess, but he felt that doing so only within individual dungeons lacked impact. "Therefore, I need a foil. I must find a way to interlink them, which would both heighten the conflict and expand the scale of the world-building."

With this, he wrote the words "Highlight Points of Conflict" in his notebook, circling them to ensure he wouldn't forget this priority.

Once that was settled, Yin Jian continued his train of thought. "With the conflict established, the next step is designing the 'thrill points.' In this model, how can I make the experience truly satisfying for the players?"

He stroked his chin. It seemed that in his past life, games with similar plot structures often carried a sense of suffering. However... "Building satisfaction isn't just about constant gratification; it’s about the continuous creation of anticipation. Much like horror stories—even when terrified, people are compelled to keep watching. The anticipation lies in wondering what becomes of the protagonist. So, I just need to generate enough anticipation for the players."

"Setting a task in a single dungeon without revealing the reward beforehand—that could serve as a minor point of anticipation." He mused, "And the tasks shouldn't be too simple; they must evoke a sense of achievement upon completion, a feeling of 'as expected of me.'"

After jotting this down, Yin Jian’s brow furrowed again. Looking at his notes, he felt something was still missing: a goal that would run through the entire game—a reason for players to keep diving into dungeons. This goal didn't necessarily have to be achievable, but it had to make the players feel like they were part of something grand.

Time flew by, and a dozen days passed in the blink of an eye. The general framework of the game was constantly refined through his additions and revisions. Once the initial draft was complete, Yin Jian checked it repeatedly, patched a few minor issues, and, satisfied that the structure was sound, began to focus on the plot.

An innovative game design could boost a game's appeal, but ultimately, it was the gripping, undulating plot that kept players hooked.

"I don't need a central protagonist, but I absolutely must establish a villain," he decided. "One is needed both for the individual episode plots and for the external meta-narrative."

An idea quickly took shape. Outside the game, he decided to split the players into two factions to intensify their conflict. As for inside the game... his lips curled into a smile. "I also need two modes: Normal and Immersive. In Normal mode, the novice plot is fixed, so even after death, the story remains the same. But in Immersive mode, everything is completely randomized; since they retain no memories, it allows for infinite possibilities."

"A complete currency system is also necessary, along with item sales and an auction house. However, the specifics will have to wait until the official competition guidelines are released."

He fell into deep thought, sensing a potential hurdle. "Also, this time I’m participating in the Qi-Play Reality Competition. Unlike previous ones, my philosophy of 'free-to-play' is still deeply unconventional. Even with my recent successes, these deep-rooted industry mindsets are hard to sway..."

*Buzz.*

Just as he was mulling this over, his message box vibrated. He glanced at it and saw he had been tagged in a group chat. He opened it, curious, and found the tag had come from "Sword Rise."

Sword Rise Sect Master: @Everyone, the official announcement for the Reality Competition is out.
You Force Me: Where?
Sword Rise Sect Master: Designer Consultation -> Full Server Channel.
Divine Phoenix: So we just click to join, right?

Sword Rise Sect Master: Yes, but the screening process for this competition is extremely strict. You should be prepared for the possibility of failing to sign a contract.
Divine Phoenix: Oh... never mind then. I won't participate. I'm a loser.
Eggs and More Eggs: Participating is just making up the numbers. I checked the list of applicants—over a dozen Platinums and hundreds of Great Masters have signed up. This is a battle of the gods; us losers should just watch from the sidelines.
Happy Afro: *Peeks in* Hey brothers, my game just launched, please support me!
Green Hat Wind and Moon Landlord: That fast? Supported.
Happy Afro: Almost played it, didn't make the cut. QwQ
You Force Me: It's okay. Each one gets better than the last.

After comforting Lu Guo, Yin Jian logged into the Qi-Play platform to add a purchase count to his game before opening the Game Assistant. He checked the Designer Consultation, but other than a notification that his multi-billion credit royalty payment had arrived, there were no other messages. Realizing that his home screen only displayed news from the Qi-Play White Bridge branch, he clicked on the "All-Channel Consultation."

A flood of information appeared before him—all competition documents from other regions. At the very top, pinned above all others, was the official announcement for the Qi-Play Reality Competition.

[Qi-Play Theater]
"Qi-Play Theater" Premium Game Competition
Submission Deadline: 29 days remaining
Event Duration: May 1st, 1023 – June 1st, 1023
"Qi-Play Theater" Curtains Rise — The First Wave of the Ten-Billion Competition.
For works that stand out in "Qi-Play Theater," the Qi-Play Group will spare no effort in utilizing all available resources to bring them to life in reality.

Advancement Mode: Nationwide Selection!
Players will select twelve outstanding works!
The designers of these twelve works will become the "Twelve Heavenly Kings of Qi-Play."
Regardless of whether they advance further, their games will enjoy an 80/20 revenue split and extensive promotional resources!
A generous cash prize of 500,000 credits per person!
Access to 1,000,000 credits worth of Qi-Play resources at will!
Furthermore, the Qi-Play Group will provide these twelve games with a dedicated venue for real-world testing of their trial versions!
Final selection for adaptation will be decided by the major operators, directors, and managers of the Qi-Play Group.