Creating a zombie in a mountain village terrifies players worldwide.

Chapter 28: Game Release! (4000 words)
This guy's ID is 'Baby Super Sweet', and he uses an anime girl avatar. I don't know if he's a girl or Bulgarian.

In short, this super sweet person is clearly a staunch fan of "pure horror," as evidenced by the resentful tone of the post title:

Honestly, horror games should just stick to ghosts. What's the point of adding "Mukov Company" to the title?

Post content:

No, man.

I just wanted to experience the adrenaline rush, but then a 'Mukov Company' popped up in the demo?
Are you serious?

Now look what happened, the taste has completely changed.

You were trembling with fear of the unknown, and now you're suddenly told: 'Hey, these ghosts might just be some kind of stunt by a company.'

Should I just...?
Isn’t this nonsense?
This immediately lowered the perceived prestige of ghosts, making them feel like monsters from science fiction games, completely eliminating any sense of mystery.

A perfectly good supernatural horror story has to be steered towards man-made disasters and conspiracy theories. Does the production team think that it won't be profound enough without adding some capitalist elements?
The beauty of Chu Renmei in the previous chapter was alright, but the existence of Mukov Company wasn't very obvious.

So you're not going to pretend in this chapter, huh? Did Mukov Company bring its own funding to the project?

I personally think this is a flawed design, and I hope the developers will see my post and reconsider, removing the capitalist element of Mukhov who can control ghosts.

Soon after the post was published, a long thread of replies appeared below it.

After seeing this, netizens on the disaster relief website participated in the discussion and were divided into supporters and opponents.

Players who supported the original poster agreed with what was said and replied in words.

"Same here! Just seeing the company name makes me a little distracted, afraid that it will turn into something like leveling up in a game and finally battling the corporate boss."

"I also think that Mukoff Company's presence is a bit too strong. Horror games should focus on the fear brought by the ghosts themselves. Forcing a black-hearted company to get involved is a bit superfluous."

"That's right. The pure exploration and puzzle-solving in the first chapter was so much better. Dodging ghosts while uncovering the tragic story behind them, that's the real fun."

"Adding a company to the mix, and making it seem like they have all-powerful connections, suddenly it doesn't feel so strange anymore."

"+1, once this company comes out, ghosts seem to become their 'products' or 'experiments,' instantly giving off a cheap vibe. Originally, it was about facing the unknown and incomprehensible supernatural fears, but now it's about fighting an evil organization? The scope has expanded, but the horror has faded."

"Exactly! Ghosts should be unsolvable. Whether you're a poor commoner or a billionaire, you're all the same to a ghost. That's what despair is. Why can capitalists in the game still have the upper hand over ghosts? It's as if ghosts have to consider the status of their targets when they kill. In the end, they only dare to bully the common people. Good grief."

"Hilarious, the comment above hit the nail on the head. But seriously, if the protagonist doesn't completely uproot Mukov Company or make it pay a heavy price, the developers should be waiting for death. The demos already hinted at how many families have been ruined because of this company, and Tomie's tragedy is also related to it. If they don't settle accounts with them, it's an injustice!"

"Hey developer, stop spying, I know you're watching."

Besides those who support the original poster, there are also those who oppose it.

These players felt that the game should incorporate some fresh elements, rather than just exploring and solving puzzles to find out the truth, otherwise it would just become a detective game.

So they all replied with their own words.

"Have you all forgotten the true ending of the first chapter? The chapter with Chu Renmei already foreshadowed it. This company is clearly a core element throughout the entire story, so there's definitely something big going on!"

"Adding this company is clearly a setup to introduce the later 'Silent Hill'. Just from the name, you can tell it's not a pleasant place. It's definitely a major event in the next chapter or even later. The developers are playing a big game, so don't rush to criticize."

"The developers themselves released the demo, showing you the entire storyline. It's clearly a deliberate attempt to let us know this setting. This is only the second chapter; we don't even know how the story will unfold later. What if this company itself is a vessel for some deeper kind of fear? Can't we wait until the game is finished before drawing any conclusions?"

"Indeed, what's the rush? The quality of the first chapter, which was free to play, is obvious to all. There's no reason for the developers to suddenly throw garbage at us in the second chapter. Besides, adding a company might make the plot more in-depth, and it won't just be a repetitive formula of solving puzzles, getting scared, solving more puzzles, getting scared again, and finally finding out the truth."

"I actually think it's quite exciting. Pure ghost and horror games can get boring after a while, so adding some fresh elements to change things up is a good idea. As long as they're well integrated, we might be able to come up with some new ways to play."

"I don't care about any company, as long as the game is scary enough and the story is great, I'll buy it!"

"Putting everything else aside, the fact that the developers used the story content directly in the gameplay demo deserves respect."

"Just don't tell me in the end that the ghost was created by Mukov Company using high technology."

"Haha, don't jinx it! But to be fair, it seems the developers understand the players. As long as they maintain their quality and don't get complacent, this game is bound to be a hit!"

Soon, the post had over a hundred replies, and it seemed poised to reach three or four hundred.

The players who replied also expressed their own opinions.

Without exception, they were all curious about the existence of this Mukoff Company and were also very interested in the 'Silent Hill' mentioned by the company.

After all, the fact that such a powerful company would go to great lengths to get in, even going so far as to conduct inhumane and bizarre experiments, is enough to show that 'Silent Hill' is no ordinary place.

Players are incredibly curious right now.

What exactly is inside Silent Hill?
Why did Mukhoff insist on getting involved?
It has to be said that the developers really mastered the art of information disclosure, successfully raising players' expectations to the max.

However, this is not the only popular post on the natural disaster website.

Another post is equally popular.

One player started a thread with a straightforward title:
[Oh my god! The developer replied to my message! I left a message for the developer saying that I hoped to see more scenario performances by test subjects! And the developer replied with "Don't worry!!!"]

Players were shocked when they saw the post, and then clicked on it in disbelief.

Post content:

Guys, after watching the live demo, all I can think about right now are those two test subjects.

Especially Reiko Asakawa (0109) and Mitsufutaro (0355).

I was really curious about their experience, so I left a message for the developer.

I also asked if there are any scene sequences behind the other doors in the stone wall corridor, and whether they can be seen in the game.

I woke up this morning to a reply; the developer actually said "Don't worry!"
Oh my god! Will the developers really grant my request?!
I'm so excited to see how the other participants fared!
This post instantly ignited the players' desire to explore and their gossip-loving spirit, prompting them to leave numerous comments.

"Holy crap, that's awesome, bro. I also left a message for the developer, hoping he would make an FPS shooting game, but he just read it and didn't reply."

"Wow, they actually managed to hook a developer. I left a message before asking if they were hiring, but they read it but didn't reply."

"So, does this mean we'll be able to find out what happened to those test subjects later in the game?"

"To be honest, when I watched the gameplay demo, I really wanted to know what was inside the other doors. I thought the developers hadn't done it, but now I can finally fulfill my dream."

"Who cares? At least there's hope! I'm also quite curious about Reiko Asakawa's story and what happened next. A videotape that guarantees death within seven days of watching it—just thinking about it is exciting."

"Yes, yes, yes! The story of that female test subject should be very interesting if we expand on it. The developers are very cunning, deliberately not letting us see the contents of the videotape, just to keep us in suspense." "Is it possible that the developers didn't make any videotape content at all, and just gave us a setting?"

"Oh, I see. Thank you upstairs. If it weren't for you, I would still be in the dark."

"Doesn't anyone care about the other male subject? His story should be more exciting, it's enough to drive people crazy."

"That male test subject was also quite pitiful. Although we don't know what he went through, the fact that he dismembered his girlfriend shows that he was definitely not much worse off than Takeo Saeki."

"I have to say, Tomie's legs are really beautiful, they belong to the category of beautiful legs. I am an artist, and when I saw those legs, I knew that the developers must have made special adjustments to showcase Tomie's good figure."

"I've always been out of place with you bunch of perverts."

While Skynet players were enthusiastically discussing the game's content, on the other side, in a rented room...

Lin Shu had just hung up the phone, and the call log was still visible on the screen.

The contact person was clearly listed as "Jingshuang Game Platform - Business Cooperation".

In this world, Jinshuang Games' status and function are roughly equivalent to Steam, Epic, and WeGame in the previous life. However, it's not as famous as those three, and it's even less well-known than Xiaoheihe, at best comparable to Phoenix Mall.

They do not develop games themselves; they are purely game distribution platforms.

After all, the game rankings on Tianwang have no real value. If a game company puts its game on the Tianwang rankings to sell, it is undoubtedly waiting for a miracle to happen.

Therefore, distribution platforms like Jinshuang Games have emerged.

They leveraged their own distribution channels and user base to specifically distribute games from small and medium-sized domestic companies, thus preventing them from crowding onto the game charts on Tianwang.

Furthermore, players also choose and buy games on these platforms.

In short, if you want your game to sell well, you'd better list it on these platforms that specialize in selling games.

Lin Shu is a case in point.

That phone call just now was to finalize the promotion details with Jinshuang Games' business team.

I bought a homepage display slot for the entire day of June 6.20th for 3500 yuan per hour.

It cost him over 8 yuan, and they even gave him free advertising and promotion services.

This sum of money is definitely not a small amount for Lin Shu, who is currently still a self-employed individual.

But the thought that players can see his game at a glance once they enter the platform makes it all worthwhile.

At this moment, Lin Shu sat in a chair, her fingertips swiping across the screen of her phone as she browsed player comments on the SkyNet with great interest.

When he saw that many players mistakenly thought the female ghost in Chapter 2 was the pale woman from the gameplay demo, he laughed, a very happy laugh, with a sly glint in his eyes.

Because his goal was achieved.

The reason he released this gameplay demo was to confuse and mislead players.

This makes players believe that the ghosts in the game are the same ones they saw in the gameplay demo.

However, in reality, Kayako and her family are the real demons in the game!
The pale female ghost in the gameplay demo has a different story; it's another clue that players will have to discover for themselves.

Lin Shu could almost picture the expressions on the players' faces after they entered the game.

When they were full of anticipation, thinking they had seen the ghost's true form in advance, and were ready to face it...
Imagine the expression on someone's face after suddenly encountering a Kayako who is completely different from the actual gameplay demo, and even more ferocious and unreasonable.

"The response has been so enthusiastic, it seems everyone is really looking forward to it."

Lin Shu murmured to herself, glancing at her phone screen with a slight smile.

"Since you support me so much, I definitely have to repay you properly."

"But I'm penniless right now and can't offer any substantial rewards, so I'll just make the game a bit scary and frightening to repay your enthusiastic support."

“I hope you like it.”

Lin Shu smiled, put down her phone, stood up, and stretched.

Then, patting his stomach, he left the room to get something to eat.
And so, the hype surrounding the game trailer continued to grow over the next few days, attracting more and more players.

The advertising campaign on the Jinshuang Games platform has been remarkably effective, attracting a large number of new players every day who join the ranks of those waiting for the game's release.

Numerous game streamers have also included "The Weird Videotape" on their must-stream list, preparing to be among the first to experience it after its release and compete for the first wave of viewership.

Some female anchors are already secretly practicing how to scream.

After all, they discovered that their fans loved seeing them make a fool of themselves.

The louder you scream when you're scared, the more gifts and tips you'll receive than usual.

Good grief, they've finally figured it out.

In that case, it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to practice their voices in private and learn how to 'commercial scream', would it?

Make money, don't be embarrassed.

So the streamer eagerly awaited the release date.

Regular players are also waiting, eager to enter the game and experience its terrifying atmosphere.

If you do the math, it's perfect; June 6.20th is a Saturday.

Most working people don't have to go to work, and students are on vacation.

This is a good date; everyone has time to have fun.

Thus, in this atmosphere of anticipation, two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

Finally, as midnight struck, June 20th officially arrived.

On the Jinshuang Games platform, the purchase button for "The Weird Videotape" instantly changed from grayed out to clickable.

The game has been released!

Two chapters have been combined into one. There are three more chapters today, and then I'll have paid off my debt.


(End of this chapter)