[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature":3,"chapter-this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-chapter-417":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","This Is Not a Bug but a Game Feature",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1472045,1919,"Chapter 417 - 261: Major Companies Crowdfund the Sequel (Happy New Year to All)","this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-chapter-417",417,"\u003Cp>This part of the business is actually quite lucrative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fun fact!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xianyu Digital has been the top seller of digital accessories for three consecutive years on major e-commerce platforms during the 618 and Double 11 sales events!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s no exaggeration to say that the phrase \"Buy a graphics card from Ba\" has become a societal consensus over the years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other circles are hard to say, but at least in the DIY computer parts community, the recognition of Xianyu Digital is not much worse than Gou Dong’s self-operated store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary players might waver between Gou Dong’s self-operated store and Xianyu Digital, but real hardcore PC players will only choose Xianyu Digital blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason is simple!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gou Dong might have great service, but when it comes to product quality and after-sales guarantees, it’s uncertain who’s more reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when a certain graphics card manufacturer’s official after-sales repair department disclosed that products labeled \"Xianyu Digital\" are prioritized for repair, while repair orders from other platforms could be delayed, everyone was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the heck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same brand of graphics card is priced similarly just through different purchasing channels, yet when applying for after-sales repairs, I have to wait behind others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Xianyu Digital really that superior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, speaking of graphics cards, in terms of product quality alone, goods from major official e-commerce channels are about the same. There’s no such thing as Xianyu Digital’s graphics cards being of higher specifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, due to some unspeakable special background, buying a graphics card from Xianyu Digital ensures it’s not a mining card or refurbished card, so more people buy from them, resulting in high sales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of its high sales, it has become one of the main internet e-commerce sales channels for various graphics card manufacturers, so Xianyu Digital has a certain say in after-sales support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how high their say is, it shouldn’t be enough to make the after-sales repair department prioritize orders from \"Xianyu Digital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason a manufacturer might delay repairs for individual users but prioritize after-sales service for Xianyu Digital’s customers comes down to one thing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone really knows how to protect their own!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you buy a graphics card from Gou Dong and have issues, Dong, worth billions or even trillions, isn’t going to step in for you, and it might not even reach his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you buy from Xianyu Digital and have issues that the manufacturer refuses to handle, customer service can really escalate the matter to Chen Ba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typically, when faced with such matters, Chen Ba will make a call to the company’s general manager or executive vice president.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s all about connections!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a connection reaches the company’s top levels, can you expect the after-sales repair department to not treat \"Xianyu Digital\" like a revered figure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you kidding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than just revered, they treat them with utmost respect, while individual users trying to send in repairs will face all sorts of delays and refusals. Repairs sent from third-party channels also face all kinds of pushbacks and procrastination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Xianyu Digital sends something for warranty service...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sir, dear, don’t worry, I’ll resolve it immediately. No need to call anymore! Your CEO is busy, no need to bother him with trivial matters that aren’t worth it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the well-known Refused Protection Jia can’t withstand a call directly from Ba, their attitude becomes incredibly good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This makes perfect sense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, everyone involved is in big business, people with status, whose worth is counted in billions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such status, complaining about the repair and warranty of a single graphics card, making a special call to negotiate a solution?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dude, if you’re not embarrassed, I certainly am!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that being said...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason why these PC hardware manufacturers favor Xianyu Digital so much, and even indulge Ba, is deeply related to the GAL League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When’s the second one coming out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the question the AMD Greater China head asked Chen Ba during a dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"second one\" he referred to wasn’t the second generation of some hardware, but the sequel to \"Star Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we all know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, the GAL League saw an unusual drop in attention, primarily because of the reduced number of \"Star Emperor\" players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is undoubtedly a deadly blow to the league’s environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the CEO of the GAL League’s operating company coordinated with the teams and their backers, and they all sat down for a meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting’s content was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re all respectable people, for the future of the GAL League, let’s each contribute a bit of money and crowdfund a sequel for \"Star Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This proposal was unanimously approved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No kidding...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making a game, even if it’s a top AAA standard game, is just a drop in the bucket for these big companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s pool some money and get this done together, preventing the GAL League’s popularity from continuing to decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A peculiar scene emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dozen or so GAL League teams and their backers were practically throwing money at Chen Ba, urging him to quickly produce the second installment of \"Star Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Chen Ba was somewhat reluctant to accept this money that was offered to him freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts were simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s with these people giving him money? Are they looking down on him, on Tianba Studio, thinking Tianba Studio can’t afford it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who’s being underestimated here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they truly want to make \"Star Emperor 2,\" Tianba Studio can cover all the development costs by itself, why would they need their help crowdfunded?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this money is crowdfunded, so if it’s used for developing \"Star Emperor 2,\" how does one determine the ownership of the game’s rights?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, it’s yours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The AMD regional head earnestly replied, \"We’re funding this simply because we don’t want to see such a fantastic game as ’Star Emperor’ without a sequel. The ownership and rights of the game are naturally with Tianba Studio.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who wants your lousy rights?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on! We guys make graphics cards, CPUs, hardware—that’s real high-tech stuff. Who needs your little game revenue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Really, don’t be so suspicious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were blunt about it, this money is just charity with no expectation of return, a gift to Tianba Studio, would Ba then stop being skeptical and accept the money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This can’t be...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that this was indeed charity with no expectation of return, donated to him, Chen Ba instantly wore a shy expression like a young girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, hey, hey, what is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did nothing, just sleeping at home, and suddenly there are good Samaritans who think he’s pitiful, specially fundraising for him to make games, isn’t that so embarrassing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ba originally didn’t want to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s a self-respecting and independent game producer. How could he accept such windfalls, the so-called \"unearned\" things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t help it, it was too much...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The backing enterprises of these dozen GAL League teams managed to raise about $417 million for the development of \"Star Emperor 2.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh wow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this figure, Chen Ba threw his integrity, principles, self-respect all out of the window, his eyes practically turning into dollar signs $$.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rich truly have deep pockets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such an amount, enough to produce a top-tier AAA game, Chen Ba’s knees started to buckle slightly, even feeling that being kept is quite a happy thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it’s settled!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As soon as the promised funding is in place, the ’Star Emperor 2’ project will commence immediately, a word is a bond, double happiness, boss’s generosity!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any moment’s hesitation would be disrespectful to 400 million dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ba’s bottom line is very flexible, immediately agreeing to the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he also remained cautious, suggesting that the project starts when the funding is received, to avoid empty promises, working without getting paid in the end, that would be a major misfortune, wouldn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, rest assured, we’ll transfer the money to you right away, just hope you start the development of ’Star Emperor 2’ as soon as possible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The $400 million might sound like a lot, and it is indeed a lot, since when converted, it’s more than 2 billion RMB.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this money isn’t borne by just one company, it’s collectively raised by over a dozen large enterprises. And these enterprises include tech giants like Microsoft, Sony, NVIDIA, AMD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s just a drop in the bucket!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Ba to actually doubt they wouldn’t provide this money is somewhat insulting to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of international joke is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In these dozen or so fundraising companies, even Daren Shuo, the relatively less powerful one, throwing out tens of millions of US dollars is just a game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem is...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After putting out this money, how do they explain its purpose and whereabouts to investors and the board?\u003C\u002Fp>",1468,"2026-06-06T03:03:37.618Z",1,"novelbin.me","19d36d328821f94abbe3ce314564d0c8b21a45cc6870849dda81918c28a92815","this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-chapter-418","this-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-chapter-416",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-is-not-a-bug-but-a-game-feature-cover.jpg"]