This Is Not a Bug but a Game Feature-Chapter 63: Disclaimer
After finalizing the release date for the official version of "Star Emperor," Chen Ba immediately forwarded the information to the player group chat and Tianba Community.
Not only that.
He also used the official verified accounts on various platforms of "Tianba Game" to push notifications to players about the release of the official version.
As soon as the announcement was out, almost everyone had the same question: How much will the official version cost?
The early access version of "Star Emperor" was priced at 50 yuan. Traditionally, the official version would be more expensive, but how much more?
"No price increase, still 50 yuan!"
Chen Ba spoke confidently this time, knowing that "Star Emperor" is in a unique situation, and raising the price would definitely deter some players.
So, after discussing with everyone at the studio, he decided not to raise the price for the official version.
However...
Not raising the price for the standard version doesn’t mean "Star Emperor" only has a standard version; there’s also a deluxe version priced at 98 yuan!
The deluxe version, in addition to the game itself, also includes an extra gift of 50,000 Source Stones, which can be used in the Stone Workshop within the game to cut stones and unlock skins.
Fifty thousand Source Stones means 500 chances at stone gambling, and even if a player is extremely unlucky and only gets the minimum guarantee, they can still obtain five or six decent skin sets.
Therefore, the deluxe version offers pretty good value and is likely to attract many buyers.
Chen Ba felt cornered. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Most players in the online mode of "Star Emperor" were spending to upgrade their graphics cards, relying solely on freebies for stone cutting in the Stone Workshop.
If Source Stones aren’t sold, they’ll simply shut down the servers and shift to a single-player story mode in the future.
"In the future, the game itself can be continuously discounted and promoted. It might even transition to a free-to-play model like ’Bean Man’ or ’PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.’
"The skins for online mode should not stop being updated, otherwise, as time goes on, just the daily maintenance will be overwhelming for us."
Multi-player online games are like that.
Unlike single-player games, where you can release them and walk away even if they aren’t updated or maintained for four to five years, players can still play them without any impact.
But for multiplayer online games, because they involve servers, generally speaking, updates and maintenance cannot stop.
If one day you find that a multiplayer online game you play has stopped being updated and the officials haven’t shown any activity for a long time?
Don’t doubt it!
This is a sign of server closure.
About fifty years ago, you could still play Snake, but how many online games from twenty years ago are still operating today?
How long "Star Emperor" can last is uncertain, but there will be no risk of server closure in at least two to three years. And to continue operating long-term, transitioning to a free-to-play model and focusing on in-game purchases is likely to happen.
Chen Ba’s bottom line is not to sell values and not to affect game balance.
Besides, if really necessary, after "Star Emperor" becomes a free-to-play game, any kind of skin or appearance can be released.
"Switching to free-to-play requires a huge player base to support it, right?"
Lu was a bit worried.
The current player base of "Star Emperor," especially the number of players willing to spend, is far below the standard for switching to free-to-play.
If they switch to free-to-play now, they’d be waiting to die, with no one spending and the server silently closing.
"I didn’t say to switch now, did I?"
Chen Ba looked at Lu oddly, wondering how someone could hear "later" as "now."
"My bad, I misheard."
Lu showed an embarrassed smile and then asked, "If we want to operate long-term, should we allocate personnel specifically for skin design?"
Chen Ba looked at Zhang Xiaojun.
Not just him, others also turned their gaze to the studio’s only artist.
"Ahem!"
"Juan will handle this area from now on, don’t worry, we can outsource if needed," Chen Ba arranged.
Depending solely on Zhang Xiaojun is clearly too much, so the studio will hire outsourcing teams.
And the others?
After the official version is released, the work focus should shift towards the console platform.
Games like "Star Emperor" that involve fighting are actually more suitable for consoles; after all, the controller experience is really nice.
The reason for the initial PC release is the high difficulty of porting to console platforms, especially optimizing for game consoles, which is quite challenging.
Switch?
Forget it!
Chen Ba dismissed it without a second thought. With the current performance of the Switch, even if the system gets involved, the optimization process is simply impossible.
The focus remains on porting to the Xbox and PS5 platforms and exclusive optimization adaptations.
Fortunately, the console version can be cross-platform with the PC version, so there’s no need to build new servers for now, and the high-intensity optimization is likely to be applicable, saving a lot of work.
"Oh, right!"
After discussing the work arrangements post-official release, Chen Ba seemed to think of something else and addressed everyone.
"After the official version is released, remember to add a disclaimer on the Path to Immortality."
The so-called disclaimer refers to a pop-up description box before players enter Path to Immortality, requiring players to check "I am aware of the risks" before they can continue.
This is for the players’ own good!
Path to Immortality is so dangerous, with prodigies and divine children falling every day, their bodies could encircle Dubhe.
Giving a prior notice and warning players of the risks involved fulfills Tianba Studio’s responsibility.
As for players who aren’t afraid of death and insist on challenging Path to Immortality even after receiving a pop-up warning...
There’s nothing that can be done!
It’s futile to advise those destined to die; this is the path you chose, so neither others nor Tianba Studio can be blamed if you end up with a black screen and a crashed system.
After all, Ba has warned you that there’s great horror at the end of Path to Immortality, and with your current Cultivation Realm, it’s not the right time to venture in. If you think too highly of yourself and ignore Ba’s warning, who’s to blame if not you?
"This is good..."
Yang Dong nodded and said, "It prevents some players from causing trouble after getting blown away and accusing us of harming them on purpose."
"Exactly, that’s the reason."
The disclaimer is essentially an insurance for Tianba Studio.
Some players indeed lack self-awareness and respect for Path to Immortality, always thinking they can depend on their skills to cross boundaries and defeat enemies, like protagonists in online novels.
Without a doubt.
Amongst the vast sea of people, there are indeed a few extraordinary talents who can defeat enemies across realms using a 2080Ti while fighting against a 3090.
But most people overestimate themselves and their beloved graphics cards.
You think you’re strong?
The depths of Path to Immortality are beyond your grasp! Even Chen Ba, with a 3090, got his face beaten black and blue on Path to Immortality.
That’s the gold standard of Path to Immortality!
Without a disclaimer, once the number of official version players increases, there will inevitably be players whose graphics cards get fried and who then come to Tianba Studio demanding compensation.
