Restart life

Chapter 498 0488 [Wulin Gaiden is finally going to have its closed beta test]

The China Cloud Computing Industry Conference will continue for the next few days.

But all the bosses left, leaving only the specific managers of each factory to stay and discuss the formulation of industry standards and cooperation with numerous cloud service providers.

As for Shanda, Chen Guiliang wasn't the only one eyeing them!

He Gang, who represented Shanda in formulating industry standards, is the vice president of Shanda Innovation Institute and the direct person in charge of Shanda Cloud project.

That very night, Ma Jieke privately contacted He Gang and personally extended a sincere invitation.

Chen Guiliang also made a move.

He Gang politely declined their offer, saying that he was very happy working at Shanda.

I'm happy now, of course, because Shanda Innovation Institute has a very relaxed management style. New projects can be started very quickly, funding is provided very generously, and there are no KPI assessments. It's simply a paradise for R&D personnel.

But don't forget that Shanda is preparing to delist and needs to raise a lot of cash, so Chen Tianqiao will soon reduce R&D funding.

Starting at the end of this year, as project funding dwindles, the top researchers at Shanda Innovation Institute will gradually choose to switch jobs or leave the company.

In another timeline, He Gang led the core team of Shanda Cloud to Alibaba Cloud, where he became the vice president.

Now, both Chen Guiliang and Ma Jieke have extended invitations to He Gang, and it remains to be seen which company he will ultimately choose.

There's also Ji Xinhua, the CEO of Shanda Cloud. He didn't work for any other companies; instead, he started his own cloud service provider and eventually got the company listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board.

There are quite a few similar cases. More than 30 research talents who left Shanda Innovation Institute went on to start their own companies.

Those who did not choose to start their own businesses have become the backbone of major internet companies.

Some even went abroad; for example, Tan Chao, a researcher at Shanda Cloud, joined Facebook as a core engineer. He later returned to China to become an investor.

The "Mars Project" launched by Shanda Innovation Institute also caught the attention of Chen Guiliang.

In another timeline, Sina Weibo's personalized information feed, recommendation system, and advertising system were created by the same group behind Shanda's "Mars Project."

There are too many amazing people like that.

Chen Tianqiao supported hundreds of top technical talents, providing them with ample funding and without any pressure to meet deadlines. One can imagine how many sparks of ideas and technology they could generate!

Back at the company, Chen Guiliang talked to Guo Fengzi about the matter.

Guo Feng was surprisingly longing for it: "Now that you mention it, I'm even thinking of going to Shanda Innovation Institute. You don't have to worry about worldly affairs all day long, and you can just talk about technology and ideals with a group of like-minded people. It's practically a paradise."

"So now Shanda is in trouble, and its stock price has plummeted," Chen Guiliang said.

Guo Feng shook his head: "You don't understand. Chen Tianqiao is an idealist. To researchers, he is like the philosopher-king in Plato's writings."

"Why don't you quit your job and apply to Shanda Innovation Institute?" Chen Guiliang said with a smile.

Guo Feng said, "I can still distinguish between ideals and reality. If we don't lack money in the future and solve our practical problems, we can actually set up a similar organization."

"We'll see," Chen Guiliang said noncommittally.

Guo Feng rolled his eyes at him, giving him a look that said, "You're a fool."

Chen Guiliang said, "Is it possible that in some people's eyes, I am also like that philosopher-king?"

Guo Feng asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Chen Guiliang laughed and said, "Those guys on the 'Legend of Wulin' project team. They've already poured 3 million yuan into this crappy game, and they can do whatever they want with it. Several years have passed, and the release date is still nowhere in sight. We'd be lucky if they could even have a closed beta test next summer. Do you think I'm a game company boss?"

"That's certainly generous," Guo Feng nodded.

After chatting with Guo Feng for a while, Chen Guiliang simply took a car to Shunyi, and Feng Ji and the entire "My Own Swordsman" team were dumped there. A motion capture studio had also been built there, which can perform motion capture for games, animations, and films.

When the boss arrived, all the guys perked up.

"What stage of the game have you reached?" Chen Guiliang asked.

Feng Ji said, "All the systematic work has been completed, and what remains is mostly repetitive work. We have already completed four major cities, namely the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty, Chang'an, and Chengdu. We have also completed several other cities and some sect headquarters."

Chen Guiliang said, "I'm asking when it will be available online."

Feng Ji said, "Once the map of Guangzhou and its surrounding areas is completed, we can start testing. In fact, we can start testing now; the Lingnan map can be released as a subsequent expansion pack."

“Then let’s test it. Don’t keep dragging it out. The fans are getting impatient,” Chen Guiliang said.

The official website of the game "Wulin Gaiden" has been releasing updates over the past few years, along with various ancient pictures and texts, attracting a large number of fans to pay attention for a long time.

The game's official website has turned into an online community!

Feng Ji said, "Why don't you try it out first, boss?"

Chen Guiliang created a max-level account, dressed in top-tier equipment, and strolled around Chang'an City in the Ming Dynasty.

Feng Ji also set the time to night.

"My grass!"

Chen Guiliang couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Although it was a scaled-down version of Chang'an City from the Ming Dynasty, with far fewer side buildings and structures than in reality, the myriad lights still deeply impressed Chen Guiliang.

It felt like I had truly traveled back to ancient times.

Chen Guiliang couldn't help but ask, "This game must be very demanding on graphics cards, right? Can mainstream computer configurations run it?"

Feng Ji said, "Just turn the graphics quality down a bit. Boss, why don't you try scaling walls and leaping across rooftops?"

Chen Guiliang wasn't particularly interested in wall-running or scaling walls; before his rebirth, he had played several martial arts-themed battle royale games, where wall-running was a standard skill.

However, it seems quite exciting to leap across rooftops and walls in ancient Chang'an and enjoy the view of countless lights along the way.

While Chen Guiliang was experiencing the game, Feng Ji said from the side, "All the movements of the game characters are made with motion capture. Whether it's light footwork or fighting, the movements are very smooth and don't have the stiffness of other games."

"How's the promotional video coming along?" Chen Guiliang asked.

Feng Ji said, "It's already finished, costing more than 600 million yuan."

The promotional video for just one game cost more than 600 million yuan!
The promotional video was outsourced to Breakthrough Animation. Those guys who pursued artistic effects clashed with the perfectionist Feng Ji, it was like Mars colliding with Earth.

Chen Guiliang pulled up the promotional video and sat there to watch it slowly. In the dim light, he could vaguely hear footsteps. By the faint light of the lanterns under the eaves, he could finally make out that it was a person walking in the alley.

Suddenly, the man stopped in his tracks, and a figure flashed past behind him.

Then a fight broke out.

Feng Ji said, "I hired a professional martial arts instructor to design the action sequences, and the sound effects were handled by a professional film production team."

Top-tier CG movie quality!

The two leaped across rooftops and fought their way from the alley to the main street, finally able to see that one of them was Bai Zhantang.

Along the way, the bustling night scene of Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty is displayed, with various shops and pavilions, and many pedestrians on the streets.

The two exchanged palm strikes and each took a few steps back.

"Overwhelming force?" The mysterious man was quite surprised.

Bai Zhantang dusted himself off: "I think you've mastered all of Xiao Guo's family's secret techniques. Ji Wuming, you already had your memories back when you were faking your death, didn't you?"

Ji Wuming laughed and said, "Like before, shall we brothers pull off another heist?"

“I don’t steal anymore,” Bai Zhantang said.

Ji Wuming questioned, "If you're not stealing anything, why did you travel all the way to Jinling?"

Bai Zhantang said, "Stop others from stealing that thing."

"Stop who?"

"Everyone, including you."

"try it yourself."

"You can't beat me, so leave now and don't get involved in this mess."

"Look behind you."

Two more people flew up from the roof; they were Ji Wuming's younger brother, Ji Wubing, and Ji Wuli.

Ji Wubing said upon his appearance, "Brother Bai, you should leave quickly. We three brothers don't want to kill our childhood friend."

Just then, a group of Ming soldiers arrived.

This is the Shenji Battalion, which came from the capital to Jinling to protect the sacred objects.

The Shenji Battalion lined up in three rows on the street. At the officer's command, they raised their muskets and aimed them at the rooftops, immediately unleashing a three-volley of fire.

Bai Zhantang and the three Jing brothers quickly dodged.

As Jing Wuming dodged, he lunged toward the officer.

Just as the officer was about to die, several Imperial Guards suddenly appeared...

"Brilliant!"

Chen Guiliang praised.

The scene of the Shenji Battalion firing their muskets in unison was stunning against the night sky, possessing a certain violent aesthetic. When Jing Wuming used his light-footed skill to dodge, there was even a slow-motion bullet-time effect.

"puff!"

Ji Wuming spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying back onto the roof.

The man who ambushed and injured him had a somewhat sleazy appearance, with his left hand raised in a delicate, orchid-like gesture, his right hand gripping an Emei dagger, and a knife slung diagonally across his waist.

"Zhan Tang?"

Ji Wuming said dejectedly, "You damned eunuch, why aren't you staying in the palace? What are you doing in Jinling?"

"Guess." Zhan Tang's smile was both lewd and coquettish.

Seeing this, Chen Guiliang pressed the spacebar to pause: "Who is this Zhan Tang?"

Feng Ji said, "It's in the TV series. He's a eunuch who also works as a member of the Imperial Guard. He's the one who brought down Eunuch Cao of the Eastern Depot. Zhu Wushuang even likes him. When he left Tongfu Inn, he gave Zhu Wushuang a knife and an Emei dagger."

“I think I vaguely remember,” Chen Guiliang asked. “You guys have a really big storyline. You must have put a lot of thought into adapting it.”

Feng Ji said, "It's alright, the original work leaves a lot of room for adaptation."

Chen Guiliang continued watching the promotional video.

Just as everyone was facing off, they discovered that Bai Zhantang had disappeared.

The eunuch Zhan Tang exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no! Watch out for the Thief Saint! Quickly go back and protect the treasure!"

The scene shifts, and Bai Zhantang, having stolen the treasure, sets sail and lies contentedly on the deck, basking in the sun.

He muttered to himself, "As long as I steal the stuff first, I can stop others from stealing it. I haven't broken my promise."

Several merchant ships sailed in from the south and shouted as they approached, "Don't go any further! General Qi is fighting a major battle with the Japanese pirates!"

The camera zooms across the sea as Qi Jiguang leads his fleet to attack islands occupied by Japanese pirates.

The music became more rousing, and for the next half minute, it was all about magnificent and epic war scenes.

The final shot shows Bai Zhantang throwing a plank into the sea and using his astonishing lightness skill to ride the waves. He flips and lands on Qi Jiguang's flagship, kneeling on one knee and clasping his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Commander Qi!"

The promotional video ends the moment Qi Jiguang turns around and reveals his face, with subtitles such as "My Own Swordsman" and "Coming Soon" appearing.

Chen Guiliang commented, "A 5-minute promotional video with this kind of effect is totally worth it for over 600 million yuan."

Feng Ji laughed and said, "I negotiated with Breaking Boundaries Animation."

“These warships look pretty realistic,” Chen Guiliang said.

Feng Ji said, "Every warship is a true replica. In the battle just now, a total of six types of Ming Dynasty warships appeared."

Chen Guiliang said, "Let's release the promotional video first."

(End of this chapter)