I Just Want Players to Save Money, They Insist on Giving Me!
Chapter 421 - 149: Mr. Ke, Sweating Buckets, Aren’t You?_2

Chapter 421: Chapter 149: Mr. Ke, Sweating Buckets, Aren’t You?_2

However, unlike the first test where the top player was always an in-house employee, the second beta test of "Bursting Cuteness" was conducted by players.

There are quite a few videos on Thunderbolt.

The genre of the game combines 2D animated girls with chess.

On a 20*20 chessboard grid, four players are situated at the corners: northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, each owning a territory of 10*10 grids.

The pieces placed by the players on the board are chibi-style animated girls with big heads.

Each player starts with three pieces... oh, I mean, three animated girls.

Deployed in an ’L’ shape in their respective corners.

Each of the animated girls has a maximum health of 10 points.

And they all have the three most basic ways of action.

One is to attack, another is to defend, and the last is to move.

When giving a move command on their own territory, a piece can move two spaces in any orthogonal direction.

These two moves aren’t limited to straight lines; they can even include diagonal movements like ’up-left’ or ’up-right.’

However, upon entering enemy territory, they can only move one space.

If two animated girls from different player factions come into contact, they will attack or defend according to the player’s command.

But it is worth noting that if one’s piece is surrounded by three pieces from the opponent.

It will have to withstand the attacks of all three opponents while only having the option to attack one of them.

Winning the game is also straightforward: if all the animated girls in an enemy camp are eliminated, or if any one of a player’s pieces reaches the corner point of the enemy camp (akin to the position of ’chariots’ in Chinese chess).

Then that player can declare victory, and also devour the opponent’s territory, expanding their 10*10 territory into an active 10*20 territory where they can move two spaces at a time.

That’s the basic gameplay.

To be honest, Ke Jin felt that although the gameplay wasn’t exceedingly interesting, as a mobile game to pass the time, it was acceptable.

There are also instances of strategic play among players.

For example, when one player is on the brink of death, the neighbors who share a border must consider the ’domino effect.’

Therefore, it is possible to assist the neighboring player.

Otherwise, if one’s attack is too aggressive and leaves their home base unguarded, it is possible for another player to sneak an attack.

Or even, while you are attacking one player, the other two may decide to duke it out in your territory first, and in the end, you return to reap the benefits of their conflict.

There are many variables indeed.

And you have to realize that this is only the basic gameplay of the game.

As long as the basic framework is stable enough, fun gameplay can be developed.

For instance, add different attacking or defending skills to each character.

When a skill is activated, it increases the attack range by three squares.

Or the defender could block two incoming damages.

Alternatively, some characters possess city-defense skills that can make their home corner impervious to invasion for the next three turns.

And so on.

As long as the planners hold a meeting, I believe they can collide with countless ingenious ideas.

In the end, it all comes down to ensuring game balance.

The skill effects could be made even more spectacular.

For example, when the animated girls use skills, beautifully crafted skill illustrations unfold in two dimensions.

Special skins could have more prominent effects on the chessboard.

Add special voiceovers and MVP result screens, or even decorations for the chessboard itself.

This could be a casual game that could become popular among young people.

But after delving into the game’s monetization mechanics.

Ke Jin was dumbfounded.

All I can say is that it’s no surprise coming from a company with SE as a major shareholder.

All their actions head towards heavy spending on microtransactions.

Starting with the pieces alone, just the modeling of the appearance could be sold for money.

A single character has five different appearances ranging from 1 to 5 stars.

And these 1-5 stars aren’t even indicative of the character’s strength—they are purely for aesthetic effects.

But if you’re just going to charge for aesthetic effects, then so be it.

Why include hidden extras?

If a character upgrades to a 5-star appearance, a bunch of flashy stuff will be added around her.

For instance, a swimsuit girl will not only be in a school swimsuit herself.

At her feet will be a small yellow duck swim ring, and on the right side, there will be a sun umbrella and a lounge chair.

On the left is a sand sculpture castle.

There are also various other decorations like little starfish and seashells.

These decorations seem to be there only to add beach elements, making it look rich and full of detail.

OK, no problem there.

But come on.

Could you not include these in your attack range?

Ke Jin saw a review video where the attack range of this swimsuit girl was tested.

Because the skin had many elements and took up a large area, it calculated the attack range starting from a two-square radius as soon as it was placed on the board.

To take ten thousand steps back, even if you’re fine with a two-square coverage area.

Others should be able to attack over two squares when they attack you, right?

Oh, but that’s different.

When attacking the swimsuit girl, damage must be dealt within one square of her actual figure.

Meaning, she always has the benefit of one more square of attack range than her opponents.

Talk about double standards.

Ke Jin didn’t believe that this sort of thing, which could even be considered a bug, wouldn’t be detected during Silver Brilliance’s internal testing.

It was obviously intentional.

On the surface, they claim ’Skins are just for looks,’ but in reality, there are all kinds of powerful hidden benefits.

If you don’t spend money on skins, with everyone else having a swimsuit girl at their disposal, you might as well surrender at the start of the game.