The "next-generation" they understand is completely different from what players imagine as "next-generation."

That’s why Liu Jinfu feels speechless.

Ba went to a meeting, and has he learned a few new buzzwords to use back here?

And next-generation fighting games at that!

May I ask, sir, what exactly do you mean by "next-generation"? Surely "next-generation" doesn’t just mean adding a number 2 to the game title?

That’s quite funny indeed...

"Are you kidding? I’m not the kind of person who learns a few new words and uses them carelessly. I’m absolutely serious!"

Seeing his ideas and thoughts questioned, Chen Ba couldn’t hold it any longer and quickly explained, "When I say it’s a next-generation fighting game, it really is next-generation. It can change the core mechanics of traditional fighting games."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, everyone looked at him.

Change the core mechanics of traditional fighting games? How to change it? Is Ba planning something big again?

"Let me ask you, when you think of fighting games, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?"

Lu: "The sense of impact?"

Old Luo replied: "Exhaust root?"

Yang Dong, who also wanted to say the exhaust root, scratched his head after Old Luo took the lead, and said, "Aside from the classic exhaust root, I think it should be the joystick since arcade fighting is so nostalgic."

"I was going to say that too."

Liu Jinfu echoed, "No joystick, no fighting. Fighting games surely mean joysticks, especially the kind like those in arcade halls, where you play a round for a coin, it’s so classic."

"Exactly, the joystick!"

Chen Ba affirmed Dong and Liu Jinfu’s answers, then said, "The joystick is the soul of fighting games, which is a fact universally acknowledged."

Keyboard and mouse are great, controllers are also nice... but these are at best a lower replacement. If you really want to experience the so-called ’soul of fighting’, the arcade at the school gate welcomes you!

Looking through the changes in fighting games over these years, it’s not hard to see that game manufacturers have tried their best to recreate the authentic joystick operation on keyboards and controllers.

But unfortunately, no matter how much they optimize and effort they put in, the feel still can’t compare...

And players have no choice either!

Joysticks, after all, are not as practical as keyboards and controllers. They can’t possibly buy a set of "joystick" equipment destined to collect dust just to play one game.

It’s like in racing games, everyone knows that steering wheels and gearshift pedals feel better, making it more enjoyable to play, and the experience is like night and day.

But how many players would specifically buy a steering wheel and pedal gearshift setup for this experience?

No kidding.

Except for a small group of "hardcore" players who would upgrade to such steering wheel + pedal gearshift setups, 90% of racing game players use keyboards or controllers.

Fighting games are the same.

Keyboards and controllers have become mainstream, but the concept that joysticks are the soul of fighting persists. When you mention fighting games, everyone thinks of those sweat-stained joysticks on the machines in the arcade halls at the school gate.

"What I want to do is break this concept and completely make the saying that joysticks are the soul of fighting games a thing of the past, bringing a whole new control experience to fighting games."

Chen Ba envisioned, "If we achieve that, does calling it a next-generation fighting game have any issues?"

"No problem indeed!"

Everyone pondered, if it’s true that they can break old concepts and introduce new control models and experience methods for fighting games, it indeed would be a solid "next-generation" fighting game.

But the issue is...

Saying it is easy, but when it comes to doing it, where should one start?

Anyone can talk a good game, but to really achieve the kind of effect Ba described, the difficulty is incredibly high.

Actually, the difficulty isn’t that much of an issue.

The crucial part is, no one has ever heard of Ba’s so-called "new operational logic and experience methods"; they don’t even know how to solve the problem. Isn’t this pure fantasy?

"Don’t be mean, this isn’t fantasy."

"I’ve already got a general direction for the production ideas!"

With this, Chen Ba rummaged through the drawers and pulled out a business card he received from attending the Zhonghai Electronics Expo earlier.

It clearly read two lines:

Zhonghai City Mirage Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., Zhang Yi!

"This is..."

The sudden appearance of Ba’s business card left everyone puzzled, not understanding what Ba meant by suddenly whipping out a business card?

And who is Zhang Yi anyway?

Zhonghai Mirage? They haven’t heard of this company! What kind of products do they make?

"This Mirage Electronics is primarily engaged in the production of consumer-level video game controllers, which means game peripherals." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Chen Ba explained, "During the earlier Zhonghai Electronics Expo, I had the chance to try one of their still-in-development products, a multi-functional sensing bracelet and glove."

The stuff is pretty nice.

When you wear the special bracelet and glove, the actions and commands made by the player’s hands are accurately transmitted to the game, with high precision and very low latency.

To make sure everyone understands, Chen Ba went on to explain, "For example, shaking hands, we can implement this action in the game."

Not in the form of code!

Players extend their hand, and the character in the game also extends its hand, making a handshake gesture with fingers curling up, and the character in the game shakes hands with the other character.

The entire process is smooth and natural, with latency that’s almost negligible, and the movement accuracy is high, even capturing a slight finger tremble.

Feeling that the excitement level was high enough, Chen Ba finally winked and said, "From what I know, this technology is not particularly hard to achieve nowadays, and the barrier isn’t that high."

"Moreover, the cost isn’t too high either, just a few hundred bucks, about the price of a AAA game, with even more room to cut costs way lower..."

Yang Dong understood.

Thinking of Ba’s previous metaphors and descriptions, he immediately realized that Ba was planning to sell an accessory set while selling the game!

Fighting game, peripherals...

Because he hadn’t actually come into contact with the product, Yang Dong was skeptical and said, "Ba, this technology you’re talking about, if applied to our ’Star Emperor 2’, how would it look?"

"It’d probably be left hook, right hook! Take my Great Wild Star Fall..."

Chen Ba mimed making some movements, then waved his hands dismissively and said, "You know, after a game, you’ll be exhausted."

"What’s the use of that then?"

Lu muttered, "After a match, you’re drenched in sweat and completely worn out; would anyone actually like such a thing?"

"It is indeed a bit tiring."

Chen Ba didn’t deny it either, acknowledging this was indeed one of his major concerns, which was that players would be exhausted throwing left hooks and right hooks during gameplay.

But this problem can be addressed somehow. Compared to the benefits it brings, it’s actually quite acceptable.

The so-called benefits...

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to convince everyone without explaining clearly today, Chen Ba finally said.

"Satisfying the fantasy of being a hero!"

What the heck?!

Seeing everyone looking at him in shock, Chen Ba said helplessly, "Yes, it’s about satisfying the fantasy every man has."

What kind of background does ’Star Emperor’ have?

Come on!

It’s a proper fantasy martial arts novel background, the kind of style boys love most. Talk about reaching the end of the immortal path, who would stand atop? Seeing the void at inception and saying it’s nothing, I am the Celestial Emperor to subdue everything, blah blah.

Ask yourself, who hasn’t fantasized that the protagonist would be themselves while playing such games?

With a casual point of the finger in the void, a distant planet turns to ash, a punch erupts with infinite power instantly annihilating half a galaxy...

Under such visually stunning circumstances, never mind the exhaustion, people are willing to tire themselves to death for it!