Chapter 59: We Need a Few Lab Rats

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Normally, the progress of a gaming company’s development team would be a version ahead of what the players had on hand, sometimes even two.

For example, if gamers were on version 1.01, the testing group would already be on 1.02’s content while the development group was on 1.03. In fact, 1.04 would already be proposed onto the schedule.

But of course, that was for games that had more frequent updates.

Even for games with less frequent updates, the development team would at least be a version faster ahead.

It was only natural for them to swiftly enter the next development phase after a game was created. Otherwise, wouldn’t the development team have nothing to do?

That was why Huang Sibo felt that they should start planning for the next development phase based on his previous experience; this was also part of his job as the chief planner.

If he were to start working only when Boss Pei asked to see the next version, that would be a severe dereliction of his duty.

Bao Xu had no objections and agreed to it readily.

“But the problem now is… I don’t know what’s the plan. I don’t even know what we should change or the direction we should move in,” Huang Sibo explained his troubles.

There were two aspects to a new version, modification and progress.

First, they had to fix the bugs that existed in the original version as well as loopholes and illogical components. Second, they have to implement new playstyles, maps and content so that the game could be expanded and improved.

But now, Huang Sibo’s issue was that Ocean Stronghold was already in a state where he and Bao Xu deemed to be perfect – there didn’t seem to be any bugs or design flaws to be fixed!

As for developing new content…

To be honest, the current content was already enough.

There was a story mode, PvP mode and there were even various other playstyles such as biochemical, apparition and bomb defusal mode.

For the time being, there was nothing new they could add.

Wouldn’t they be biting on more than they could chew if they spent all the effort creating new modes and maps before the gamers were even sick of the current ones.

Bao Xu was troubled as well since this was something beyond his capabilities.

Playing games? He could do it.

But planning for a game? He had no idea how to do it.

“I’ve got no clue about this as well. Brother Huang, how do you think we should go on?” Bao Xu asked.

Huang Sibo thought for a moment. “I think that we should get some veteran gamers of the genre to test the game so that they can provide their opinions and suggestions.”

“Please don’t be mistaken, Brother Bao. It’s not that your opinions are not enough, but we’re the ones involved directly after all. Therefore, as much as possible, I think we should still look for other gamers. The greater the sample size, the more accurate the data gained.”

Bao Xu had no objections to it. Instead, he nodded as he felt what Huang Sibo said made sense.

He was previously in charge of the game’s balance and hand sensitivity.

Whichever gun he felt needed a change of trajectory or whichever motion felt strange, he would have Huang Sibo arrange for the design team to change it.

However, Bao Xu was just one person after all. No matter how impressive he was, he merely represented himself.

Yet, the game was targeted for hundreds and thousands of gamers. Who could dare guarantee that their personal preference was representative of all the other gamers?

Therefore, Huang Sibo felt that they should still get some gamers to try the game.

If they could sieve out any issues, they could plan them into the next version’s development so that they could continue to improve the game.

That way, they would have a direction to start on for Huang Sibo’s next step of the game’s development.

“I agree. But, who are you intending to look for? We can’t get people to come help us test our game for nothing. Will they be willing? Do we have to pay them some money?” Bao Xu asked.

“Yes, that’s a problem indeed,” Huang Sibo frowned. “Let me think about how we can get some lab rats.”

…

When he returned to his desk, Huang Sibo was slightly bothered too.

Indeed, right now, they had to get some, no, a lot of lab rats to test the game.

Actually, most normal games would have a beta testing segment for gamers before being published.

Many times, even the best testing teams were no match for those gamers who could find bugs out of anywhere.

However, as the game editor became commonplace and ESRO’s vetting process got swifter, the development phase for most games shrunk and the beta testing segment became a negligible aspect. At the same time, Boss Pei did not set down instructions for a beta testing and had Huang Sibo send the game in for vetting right away.

As such, Ocean Stronghold was published without a chance for beta testing.

Now, Huang Sibo felt that they had to get some lab rats to gain some external opinions about the game but the issue was where to find them.

He had no connections for it at all!

Should he… ask Boss Pei for advice?

That wouldn’t be right.

It would be embarrassing if he had to ask Boss Pei’s help for such a simple task!

Huang Sibo reminded himself repeatedly – You are the chief planner now!

‘Boss Pei didn’t give you such a heavy responsibility because he wanted you to go look for him for every single small issue like a kid! He’s hoping that you can be independent and do what you have to do properly!’

‘It would be for the best if you can resolve all the small matters yourself without troubling him.’

‘Besides, it’s not as though Boss Pei may know about how to get lab rats too. Even though he has an incredible network, it’s not as though he can just stoop down to get lab rats personally, right?’

Therefore, Huang Sibo repressed the notion of seeking Pei Qian’s help and decided to handle the dirty work himself.

After he found no results searching on Qiandu, Huang Sibo sent an internal message to the design team.

“I want to find gamers to test our games… anyone has any connections? The best would be if we could find some fans of the FPS genre. Can anyone try to liaise with some groups to see if you can get some lab rats?”

“Of course, we’ll show them some appreciation. We might not be able to give them money, but we’ll be able to let them have some limited edition guns in-game.”

It would be easy to get testers if they were to spend money.

However, Boss Pei would definitely find out about it if money was involved.

Huang Sibo felt that he did not have to trouble Boss Pei over something like this but yet he couldn’t pay out of his own pocket as well and that was why he could only offer in-game benefits.

Even though it wasn’t exactly the greatest selling point to those testers, it was still better than nothing.

Before long, everyone started replying.

Like Huang Sibo, most of them had no connections nor did they know anyone related.

Xiao Lu suggested that he could try and join some Counter Strike enthusiast groups to liaise with them.

However, that method did not seem as though it was really feasible.

If they were to join those groups just to advertise for another FPS game without even giving any generous benefits, they might end up getting themselves kicked by the group leaders.

Right then, Lin Wan spoke.

“Erm… I’ve got some liaison for some big FPS enthusiast group leaders. They probably have one or two groups under them with a couple thousands of gamers in those groups.”

Huang Sibo asked hurriedly, “Can you suck up to them? I mean, erm, get them to do us a favor.”

He corrected himself hurriedly as he realized his improper words towards a young girl.

However, Lin Wan did not mind. “It’s fine. I’m quite close to them and it’s not a difficult favor.”

Huang Sibo was curious. “How do you know of those group leaders?”

It didn’t seem to make sense.

Lin Wan wasn’t an avid fan of FPS and even if she was, there was no reason why she would know so many of those group leaders.

She explained, “Oh, when I was interning at Sun Strike Studios, our project group for Bullet Hole looked for a bunch of hardcore FPS gamers as testers. I was in charge of liaison with them.”