Looking Ahead (2-in-1)

Although Xena liked Ren's work, she didn't have high expectations for the new game proposal Ren had mentioned.

After all, Ren's talent lay in creating comics, but games and comics were on two different levels.

Even though some comics had been adapted into games, the connection usually only extended to the storyline.

Despite her previous games failing, Xena had been running a game company for many years, and it wasn't easy to impress her with a proposal.

However, after flipping through a few pages, the casual smile on Xena's face disappeared, and she slowed down her reading.

Ren noticed Xena reading slowly but didn't rush her. He quietly sipped his coffee from the table.

Hmm… a bit bitter. He still preferred the instant coffee powders, like Nestlé Coffee.

But honestly, even if you're confident, waiting a long time for someone's response can be boring.

After a long while, Xena put down the game proposal.

"This is a very good game proposal! The gameplay is very innovative!" Xena said with amazement in her voice, "Just by looking at this proposal, I can see that the game's entertainment and competitiveness will be very successful. The gameplay is simple and easy to learn, making it a 'low-threshold' game. New players can quickly grasp the basic rules and enjoy the different skills and strategies the various Pokémon offer, bringing unexpected surprises to them."

"And the monetization models can also mimic those currently on the market. For example, changing skins for the Pokémon cards and occasionally releasing limited edition cards."

"So, what do you think?" Ren asked Xena.

The reason he wanted Xena to join their company wasn't just because she had a complete team, but also because she had successfully developed an open-world game before.

She had rich experience in this area.

So, given her experience, Ren wasn't going to miss this opportunity.

"I have a question for you." But Xena didn't answer Ren's question directly and instead asked, "You probably don't intend to make this game just a card game, right? What do you mean by evolution?"

??

"You know about evolution?" In this world, although there were pet-type comics, the concept of evolution didn't exist.

But Xena mentioned this concept… could she be a time traveler?

"Earlier, when I was chatting with Yueyue, she praised you like a flower." Remembering the little girl's exaggerated words, Xena couldn't help but laugh, "She said you promised to build her a big theme park in the future and mentioned something about Pikachu evolving into Raichu. Pikachu is this character in your proposal, right? So, what does evolution mean?"

"Evolution, huh?" Hearing Xena's question, Ren asked the waiter for paper and a pen, and drew a picture of Pikachu → Raichu, explaining, "You see, the initial form is a cute electric mouse. Then, after reaching a certain level, it evolves into the next form, this chubbier mouse. If I had to compare, it's similar to my 'Magical Girl Madoka', where Magical Girl + Evolution = Witch."

"I see." Xena wasn't dumb. After Ren's explanation, she immediately understood, "Interesting. Can you tell me about your future plans… huh? What do you mean?"

"I won't reveal my future plans until you become one of us." Ren shook his head.

He wasn't dumb either. You never really know someone's true intentions.

If he revealed his future plans and Xena didn't agree to join, she could easily use her team to execute his ideas.

Pokémon Kill was the bait; the future plans were the main course.

"I'm in." Xena wasn't offended by Ren's words. It was a normal thing, after all. Friendships were friendships. But she added, "However, I need to clarify one thing."

"What is it?"

"I represent not just myself but a team of over thirty-two people. They were all part of my original game team, and they're all expecting me to find a good place for them. Every member's skill level is above the industry average, and the least experienced has worked at my original company for two years."

"Of course. My wife's Picca Comics is very eager for your team to join." This initial contact didn't cover all specifics, and Ren wasn't skilled in this area, so he didn't overcommit, "You can discuss the details with my wife later. I can guarantee that your team's compensation won't be lower than at your previous company."

"That's good." Xena knew this was normal. Although he didn't guarantee her compensation, ensuring her team's compensation was enough.

She was quite satisfied, stood up, and extended her hand, "I look forward to our future collaboration."

Ren also stood up, "Alright."

They shook hands.

"Goodbye." With that, Xena paid the bill and left.

As an experienced professional, Xena knew that while her team had technical and organizational advantages, they weren't unique. There were many other game professionals in the world.

If Picca Comics was willing to spend money, they could hire experts from other companies.

Picca Comics needed professional talent to set up a game department, and her team needed new job opportunities.

This was a mutual choice. Picca Comics could indeed hire more specialized talent.

But such talent usually demanded more money. Why would they leave their current positions otherwise?

Helping her team secure new jobs immediately after leaving their old company would stabilize the team and provide room for salary negotiations.

Xena left the café in a hurry to discuss the details with her team.

Ren, meanwhile, called Jada, "Jada, it's almost settled. You can discuss the details with Xena, okay?"

"Come on, Jada. You know I love you the most. I have no feelings for Xena. Don't you believe me?"

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It was just the end of the month.

Xena was appointed as the Game Production Director by Jada.

As for Xena's team?

Although a few people left the team and went elsewhere after resigning, Xena's entire production team basically transferred to Picca Comics. Including Xena, a total of dozens of game production professionals signed with Picca Comics.

Of course, with the purchase of Guyuan Company's Ultraman Tiga filming rights and the need to invest in game production and pay the salaries of these new members, Picca Comics' funds became even tighter.

"For the near future, Picca Comics won't be expanding any further," Jada said while lying on the bed as Ren massaged her legs beside her. "So, don't go pulling over any team just because some pretty girl got fired somewhere. I can't afford to pay them."

"Am I hiring people just because they're pretty?" Ren protested. "It's about stocking up on professional talent for the company! Besides, I'm planning to make the Pokémon IP big and strong. One day, you might even see Pikachu as the Olympic mascot!"

"Heh," Jada laughed, clearly not believing what Ren was saying.

The next day, Ren visited Picca Comics after a long time. Entering the large office of the game department, he found Xena and asked, "How are the arrangements coming along?"

Xena smiled and said, "Everyone's in place. The equipment will arrive soon. We'll run tests and adjustments this week. We'll be fully operational very soon."

With the new company, they wanted to quickly prove they weren't just a bunch of failures and bring profitability to the company.

However, Xena had something more important in mind and eagerly asked, "Can you tell me now about the plan you mentioned earlier?"

"Oh? Right, right! I remember," Ren said, suddenly recalling the promise he made to tell Xena about his plans once she joined.

"I'm planning to make an open-world game..." Ren started to say but was interrupted by Xena, "But an open-world game requires a lot of money and time..."

"I know," Ren waved his hand. "That's the final task. There are two preliminary plans: one is a Pokémon-themed project you've seen, and the other is to make it into an RPG game. Of course, before this RPG comes out, I'll create a manga or an anime to boost the game's popularity. With the existence of both the Pokémon project and the manga, the game will get significant promotion."

Even though he hadn't drawn the works, he remembered the basic routines and classic plots. Patching them together would form a finished product.

"Is that so? You seem very confident in this project," Xena remarked, impressed by Ren's confidence.

From Ren's words, Xena could sense his high regard for the project named Pokémon. He was thinking so far ahead, planning both a manga and an anime before the game even started production.

"That's right," Ren said.

In this world, concepts like evolution and capturing Pokémon were quite novel.

"Let me tell you about the setting. This game's world is filled with various Pokémon. When people reach a certain age, they receive a red and white item called a Poké Ball and a starting Pokémon, then embark on an adventure."

"A Poké Ball?" Xena asked.

"When Pokémon are captured, they are stored in the Poké Ball. It's like those spatial rings in web novels where weapons are stored. In the Pokémon world, Pokémon are like the trainer's weapons. They're usually kept in the ball and brought out when needed."

"I see!" Xena's eyes lit up. Her designer's mind quickly visualized the concept and thought of more possibilities. "So, players train and level up by battling with these Pokémon?"

"That's one way to put it," Ren replied. "During their adventures, players encounter various wild Pokémon. They use their captured Pokémon to battle these wild ones. They can either defeat them to gain experience and level up their Pokémon or weaken them and capture them with a Poké Ball."

"And the battle system?"

"Turn-based. As the game progresses, players can buy various skills from shops, like buffs and debuffs. But each Pokémon can only carry four skills at a time."

"That makes sense. It ensures fairness."

"Exactly. There are also special skills that can only be obtained through the storyline or player exploration."

"That increases playability."

Xena nodded. Just a few words from Ren had piqued her interest in the world he described.

"The storyline involves players challenging gyms. Gyms are... On the way to challenging gyms, they encounter an evil organization, and players thwart this organization's schemes."

"So, are you planning to make this game for consoles or...?"

"All platforms."

Although the original game was for consoles and handheld devices, Ren wanted to release it on all platforms in this world: mobile, console, PC, etc.

He planned to make the mobile game similar to Sword and Shield in 3D modeling, not like the pixelated Leaf Green.

For profitability, he thought of something similar to Pokemmo. Players could spend money on skins, like Cynthia's skin, Ash's skin, or Pokémon skins like Pikachu with a hat or surfing Pikachu.

They could even collaborate with other IPs in the future.

Cooking Master Boy as a trainer? Magical Girl Pikachu? There were plenty of ways to make money.

These could also lead to various merchandise.

Don't think it won't make money. Just look at games like League of Legends and Azur Lane in the past life. Skins alone brought huge profits.

Players could also battle each other with a certain number of battles per day. Although there would be a cooldown time, impatient players could buy tickets to battle immediately.

Of course, they wouldn't introduce any items that would break the game's balance.

"So, what do you think? Any difficulties?" Ren asked Xena.

After all, this was just his idea. The actual execution depended on the professionals. He didn't understand game development; he could only propose the concept.

"No major issues, but the budget the boss allocated isn't enough for the RPG version right now."

"That's fine. I don't expect you to make it now. Focus on completing the Pokémon-themed project first," Ren said.

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