Chapter 8: It's Settled!

However, how should these players be discouraged?

Pei Qian himself was like an invisible person; even if he revealed his identity as the creator of "Desert Bus," how could that information spread quickly?

After some thought, Pei Qian decided to write it directly on the game's official platform page.

This way, players who came to download the game would immediately see Pei Qian's message, achieving an excellent discouraging effect!

With this in mind, Pei Qian immediately opened the backend and started editing the game's description.

"Apologies to everyone!"

"I'm sorry, but this is a truly terrible, absolutely awful game!"

"It's incredibly boring and not worth playing at all!"

"Please don't play it! If you've already purchased the game, please request a refund as soon as possible. Thank you!"

After editing the description, Pei Qian silently waited.

However, an hour passed, and there was no sign of a decrease in the game's hourly download rate!

Not only that, but there were some new comments.

"Huh, the game's description has changed?"

"Did something happen to the developer?"

"Seeing your apology, I forgive you. But the game only cost 1 yuan, so it's not worth the hassle of refunding. I'll just treat it as if I bought the developer an ice cream."

"This designer is hilarious. Did you think we didn't know this was a terrible game? That's precisely why we're playing it!"

"I feel like the game's creator is quite self-aware. Since you're so honest, I'll give you a 5-yuan tip."

"I'm gifting this game to my friends!"

Seeing these responses, Pei Qian almost cried.

What should I write in the description for you to request a refund?

Now Pei Qian realized that setting the game's price at 1 yuan was a huge mistake, as many people didn't bother refunding due to the low price!

However, Pei Qian didn't dare set the price too high because it was an indie game. If he set the price at over a hundred yuan, not only would it be difficult to pass ESRO's review, but the system would definitely warn him!

Pei Qian was desperate. As the game's popularity remained high, he felt like he couldn't hold on any longer.

...

Monday.

"Qian, did you skip class again this morning?"

Ma Yang had already packed his things and saw Pei Qian lying in bed, wide awake but staring blankly like a salted fish, pondering life. He asked with some confusion.

Pei Qian waved his hand, not even having the energy to speak.

"Awesome."

Ma Yang took his textbook and left.

After all, they were only freshmen, and most students didn't start developing the habit of skipping class and sleeping until noon until their second or third year.

However, Pei Qian was an exception, having traveled from ten years in the future. He knew that missing these classes wouldn't really matter.

After all, he wasn't studying medicine or law, where missing a class could lead to failing and questioning life. As a regular humanities major, he could still pass even if he didn't attend class regularly, as long as he studied intensively before exams.

Moreover, Pei Qian didn't have the mood to attend classes now...

Every day, when he opened the game editor's backend and refreshed the page, seeing the skyrocketing data would make him reflect more on his life.

After lying in bed like a corpse for half an hour, Pei Qian finally mustered up the courage to call the system.

After the settlement on Sunday, the revenue share from the game platform should have been deposited into the company's account early this morning.

By now, the funds within the system should also have been updated.

With mixed feelings of apprehension and anticipation, Pei Qian turned his gaze towards the numbers displayed on the system's screen.

[Wealth Conversion System]

[Host: Pei Qian]

[Profit Conversion Ratio 100:1, Loss Conversion Ratio 1:1]

[Next Settlement Time: 7 days later]

[System Funds: 51394.5（↑1394.5）]

[Personal Assets: 367]

"Ah..."

Pei Qian closed the system interface, feeling as if he was on the verge of death.

He couldn't take it anymore, he really couldn't!

Although Pei Qian had mentally prepared himself for the number, he could still roughly estimate the earnings based on the cumulative downloads of the game.

Since Qiao Lao Shi's video was released, the daily downloads of this game had been skyrocketing.

Qiao Lao Shi's video was wildly shared by various marketing accounts, and many people were riding the wave of "Desert Bus" popularity, even sparking a trend of video creators following suit.

Once the popularity started and the trend formed, it became difficult to stop.

Pei Qian watched in disbelief as the daily downloads of the game soared from dozens to hundreds and thousands, and then to several thousands.

The surge in downloads brought the game even better recommendations on the gaming platform, such as independent game recommendations, simulation driving game recommendations, racing game recommendations, and so on, one after another.

Every time Pei Qian opened the system's backend, he would receive system messages.

"Congratulations! Your game 'Desert Bus' has been recommended by XXX. During this period, please try not to update the version to avoid the impact of unknown bugs on the game experience..."

By now, Pei Qian was completely indifferent to these messages.

The greatest sorrow lies in a broken heart!

There was still a week to go, and the system funds had already exceeded 50,000, which meant that when the settlement came, the money earned would be converted to Pei Qian's personal assets at a 100:1 ratio.

For every 1,000 earned, he could convert... 10?

Pei Qian looked at the numbers and felt like crying but had no tears.

...

...

One week later.

In the dormitory.

"... I don't get it. How did this ridiculous game become so popular?"

"Please get off my computer!"

"Somebody on the leaderboard actually played this game for more than forty hours... Are they insane?!"

Ma Yang played "Desert Bus" on the upper bunk and quit the game within five minutes, extremely puzzled as to how the game became so popular.

Meanwhile, Pei Qian shivered on the lower bunk.

"Hey, Qian'er, have you played that super popular ridiculous game lately? You know, the one about the desert bus?" Ma Yang leaned down from the upper bunk and asked.

"...No." Pei Qian told the truth; he really hadn't played the game much.

After all, he knew all too well that the game was meant to be annoying, so why would he play it himself...

Ma Yang slapped his thigh, "It's such a rip-off! I don't know who the scumbag is that made this game, but they're despicable!"

Pei Qian: "..."

I never intended for you guys to play it! It's not my fault that you all insisted on playing it, right?!

Pei Qian never imagined that the game would become popular even within the campus, let alone his own dormitory...

During the week, "Desert Bus" became incredibly popular after being shared by numerous video creators and gaming media, leaving Pei Qian questioning his life choices.

He was very fortunate that in 2009, the live streaming platform was not as popular as it was ten years later. It was only in its early stages and the current dominant platform, WaiWai Live, had only tens of thousands of live users.

If live streaming today were as popular as it was ten years later...

Pei Qian couldn't even imagine the consequences.