Chapter 87

Official Website:

[Today, a heavy snowfall has brought the surface temperature down to 0 degrees. As the "Bitter Winter Approaches" content update nears its end, we are releasing an additional 10 closed beta test slots to reward the young players who have been diligently checking in on the official website for a long time.]

[Also, with the cold weather, everyone remember to dress warmly.]

Today's version number is still Alpha 0.4.

The official website's announcement still does not mention anything about the Alpha 0.5 version, only a notice about the "Weather System" test results.

However, the content being discussed on the forum today is unusually unrelated to the development team's announcement.

Almost all topics and complaints are focused on the in-game enhancements for life skill players.

Teng Teng: "This is too much! First 2000 silver, then 5000 silver! Developers, please control your NPCs! QAQ"

WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "I don't care, it's a conspiracy! Unless you give me money too! Gnome industry needs subsidies! (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻"

Midnight Chicken Slaughter: "Strength class needs a boost! It's unreasonable that axes can't cut through crab shells! ┬─┬ノ( '-ノ)"

Debt Big Eyes: "Intelligence class protests! Strongly request the weapon shop to add drones and floating cannons! (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻"

Maka Bazi: "Farming! I want to farm!"

Less Bullshit: "Does no one care about the fishermen? 500 contribution points are too much! QAQ"

Yaya: "Hahahaha, noob! You can die from fishing, weakling! {*≧?≦}"

The players on the official website have a lot of opinions, almost arguing to the sky.

Actually, think about it, what is the most important thing in a game?

Of course, it's balance!

In real life, you can choose to ignore the wealth gap, but not in a game! Everyone puts in the same effort, so why should you be so lucky?

It's unfair.

This is so unfair!

Especially when the outpost base is less than the size of two school playgrounds, and a brick factory takes up 15 acres, which is equivalent to setting up a separate sub-base.

Even if players only have 20% control, it still affects the balance.

It should be below 5% to be more reasonable!

Of course, there are players who pursue a different level of reasonableness, like Canyon Escaped Mole, who has been advocating for the development of a "Free Trade" system.

This guy even started a thread, rationally analyzing the reasonableness of it.

"Actually, it's not as exaggerated as you think. A good economic cycle system is essential for a game that focuses on details. Have you heard of 'Albion'? Although it's an MMORPG, its economic system is outstanding. All equipment in the game is produced by players, and basically, your profession is determined by what you 'wear.'"

"The most impressive design is that the cities in the game have independent economies. Although there is an auction house for trading, it doesn't circulate automatically. Players can buy shops, set up workshops, craft equipment themselves, or rent them to other players for a fee. The equipment they produce can be sold to players or the black market."

"The most eye-catching feature is the black market. Equipment sold to the black market is bought by 'monsters' and becomes loot for players to kill. If no one sells a particular piece of equipment, the black market will raise its price within a certain limit to encourage players to produce it."

"Clearly, Wasteland OL is also building a similar economic system. However, based on my observations, Wasteland OL's economic system is closer to reality. Have you noticed that different NPC outposts use different currencies? So, trade is mostly barter!"

"In the later stages, there might be an exchange rate system, but such a system would be very complex, almost like a 'chaotic system,' making the in-game economic values unpredictable. I wonder if the server's CPU can handle it!"

"Regardless, innovation is a good thing, and I give a thumbs up to the development team's boldness!"

Chu Guang read his post thoroughly, noting down the points worth learning from. With enough notes, Alpha 0.5 will be here soon.

However, whether the server can handle it or not is unknown. The post had only been up for a few minutes when a small player named Steel Bar came to argue.

Lightning Wizard Professor Yang: "Haha, I haven't played the game you mentioned, but my view is still the same: letting players meddle too much in what should be NPC tasks is a mistake! Where there are people, there is a江湖 (jianghu, a term for the world of martial arts and intrigue). You can never predict the limits of players! If I were the brick factory manager, I wouldn't sell to the NPC warehouse and would raise the price of bricks. You can buy them or not!"

Hmm.

This is indeed a problem, but it's only a problem for future versions, not the current one.

This cloud player might have forgotten that once you accept a hidden quest, it means giving 80% control to the "NPCs."

It's fine to manage well, but if you want to inflate prices and create a scarcity?

Just see if the NPCs don't deal with you.

There are many more options in the game than in real life.

However, this small player's idea did give Chu Guang a reminder: you can trust the players' abilities, but never overestimate their limits, and never give up using rules to constrain them.

Even if he increases the players' share in the future, he won't let it exceed 50%.

He will also set a liquidation warning line for inventory.

Once the inventory reaches the liquidation warning line, the balance mechanism will be automatically triggered. Even if you hold onto it, you'll have to sell half.

What, you want to stop production? Limit production? Learn from the Bostonians and throw the bricks into the water?

Haha, the NPC warehouse's orders won't stop. Try stopping production and see what happens. The punishment is a limited-time task that reduces your shares. You do it or not?

There are always ways to deal with these smart players.

Professor Yang didn't know that his theory had already added two more notes to an NPC's little notebook. But a normal person probably wouldn't think that the NPCs in the game could browse the official forum.

At this moment, the Niu Ma team came out.

Fang Chang: "Cough, let me clarify Professor Yang's point. First, you can't treat the player community as a whole. Just like in PUBG, some people cheat, and others maintain the game environment, right? I can't control others, but our Niu Ma team has principles and won't inflate in-game prices, now or in the future. Please rest assured."

"Also, we are actually employees. 80% of the brick factory's shares belong to the collective of the shelter, and we only have 20%. Honestly, it's a bit like a hot potato. The effort and reward are not proportional, not as good as you think."

He didn't want to clarify, but seeing the intense discussion on the official website, he was afraid the developers would interfere and cut the brick-making profits.

With only 20% shares, another cut would mean living on dirt.

So, he decided to play the victim first.

Canyon Escaped Mole: "Enough! Give it to me! If you don't want to do it, give it to me! (Frustrated)"

Fang Chang: "Cough."

Lightning Wizard Professor Yang: "Haha, you say you won't, but will you really not? And 20% shares, so what? In reality, it's still players running the show. I still say, you can never underestimate a player's moral limits, and there will always be someone who finds a way to exploit the system!"

"For example, I can intentionally lose part of the inventory, claiming it was a production failure, but actually sell it through a third party at a price lower than the market rate to players who need it. This way, I bypass the NPC warehouse and the company account restrictions! You get it, right? Even if the books show a loss, players can still make a steady profit and get the money directly! (Proudly)"

Chu Guang was shocked by the post.

Damn.

This guy has really studied criminal law!

WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "Good one, execution by firing squad at the very least in real life."

Tomato and Egg: "I think it's worse than a mosquito! (Grinning)"

WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "? What does it have to do with me?"

Irena: "Bro, you're exposing yourself. (Laughing)"

Fang Chang: "Perspective, perspective. Do you think you're the only smart one? Do you think you're the only one who can think of this? If you're so smart, think about why I don't do it and why I'm posting here saying I won't. (Squinting)"

Night Ten: "When the beta test starts, do you want to come to our factory and work as a workshop manager? (Laughing)"

Old Bai: "Hahaha, public beta! I think the public beta should be fine."

Light: "Clap"

Teng Teng: "Developers!"

Lightning Wizard Professor Yang: "...Uh, it's all theory, don't take it seriously, just a casual thought, cough. (Sweating)"

Proud and Unstoppable: "Haha, you're acting like it's real. Keep it up, I want to see how long you can keep it up. (Nose picking)"

Quit Smoking: "Dad! Please, give me a chance. T.T"

After closing the post and browsing the official website, Chu Guang noticed that the reservation count had increased from 888 to 996.

Although the bait-and-switch method of attracting players is inefficient, the benefit is that it filters out a lot of non-target groups.

What are non-target groups?

Professor Yang is an example of a non-target group that slipped through, at least not for the closed beta stage.

Spending all day thinking about how to cheat, exploit game bugs, and outsmart the developers—does that respect the hard work of the developers?

Can't you just help the NPCs make bricks properly?

We promised not to delete your progress and let you be T1, T0!

"We need to find a way to open the B2 level... There are still many small players waiting to log in and make bricks."

Chu Guang doesn't know how many cultivation pods are in the B2 level.

However, there is a problem: with fewer than 100 players, the elevator's capacity is already strained. What will happen when there are thousands or even millions of players?

What about millions?

Of course, Chu Guang believes the designers of the shelter considered these issues, such as exits to the surface on other floors.

After all, such a large shelter wouldn't have just one exit to the outside world. If the "parallel world communication technology" was developed in this shelter, the first-generation managers would have left the technology to produce these cultivation pods.

When the shelter can deploy a large number of "players" to the surface, the beta test will begin.

When the shelter's spatial limitations are overcome, and "players" can be mass-produced on the surface, the public beta will start.

"Xia Yan."

Hearing Chu Guang suddenly call her name, the weapon shop owner, who was studying in the corner until she was dizzy, paused and looked at him blankly.

"What?"

"Do you know how to contact a slave trader?"

Hearing the words "slave trader," the girl's face turned pale, her hands tightly gripping her notebook, and her body seemed to shrink.

"What, what do you want to do?"

"..."

Although he knew she was overthinking, Chu Guang could draw a tree diagram of the possibilities.

Tsk, annoying.

He hates guessing.

Seeing Chu Guang not responding, Xia Yan's face turned pale, then red, then green, her misunderstanding deepening, and her teeth chattering.

"If, if I did something wrong, tell me, I'll definitely fix it. Don't, don't sell me... Please."

"...What are you talking about? You still have one leg, why would I sell you?" Chu Guang rolled his eyes and urged, "I plan to buy some labor. Do you know anyone in this business? Answer quickly."

This guy is really too idle.

Generally, when a company announces layoffs, the one who fears the most is the one who slacks off the most. If you don't slack off, what are you afraid of?

Hmm?

Although he felt Chu Guang's answer was a bit off, at least he wasn't going to sell her.

Xia Yan sighed in relief, her tense shoulders relaxing.

She leaned back against the wall, raised her eyebrows, and glanced at Chu Guang, muttering.

"Do, do I look like someone who can afford slaves?"

"Tsk, haven't you sold any?"

"What do you take me for? I'm a legitimate mercenary, not a raider." Xia Yan blushed and argued.

Chu Guang shrugged, not commenting.

Is there a big difference between mercenaries and raiders?

Even merchants occasionally act as raiders, let alone mercenaries who live by the gun. But pressing the issue would be pointless, and it wasn't important to him.

"I really haven't!!"

"Ah, that's too bad. I was hoping to buy some labor to help my people."

Xia Yan looked at him, strategically afraid, and shrank her shoulders without a word.

She remembered that last time, he referred to the blue-coated, non-speaking residents as "residents," and now he's using "people."

Will it become "servants" next?

That's too scary...

This guy must be a demon in his past life!

No, in this life too!