To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

Chapter 770: Chapter 432: It Might Be True (Part 1)_1 Chapter 770: Chapter 432: It Might Be True (Part 1)_1 “`
“Reincarnation Land”‘s impact was too strong, and Leon had to take three days off before he could finally recover.

Although Xu Qingling said it was no problem, as the game affects people differently and it is perfectly normal to be unable to continue playing, Leon still felt embarrassingly incapacitated.

Just having started at a company he admired, he had to request leave right after the first day, a situation that was truly awkward.

Therefore, he decided to spend his vacation watching horror movies to improve his resistance, in order not to find himself in such an embarrassing situation again.

“Black Friday,” “Zombie Overturn,” “Exciting Doomsday,” “Cube,” “Cabin in the Woods”…
He watched all sorts of gory horror films until he could eat a moderately rare steak while watching a horror movie without flinching. Only then did he feel ready.

Back at the company, he confidently launched the game, only to cover his eyes again within five minutes, helplessly saying, “Why does this game have to be so terrifying? Who will help me press the close button?”

After Huang Ping helped him hit the close button, Leon triple-checked that the screen was definitely off before he finally sighed in relief.

Leaning back in his chair, Leon continuously stroked Sanmiao’s back. The soft touch eased his tense spirit and provided some consolation.

Cats, indeed, are the last comfort in this cruel world.

With Sanmiao reviving his spirits, he said to Huang Ping, “No way, this game is just too scary. Isn’t there a difficulty setting in this game?”

“Not at the moment, but you can make a request to the boss to add one,” Huang Ping suggested.

Looking at Leon’s current state, Huang Ping asked with curiosity, “I thought people from North America were into extreme stuff and didn’t mind this level of intensity.”

“If that were truly the case, then why do you think there are no games of this type in North America?” Leon retorted.

“…They can’t make it?” Huang Ping pondered before asking.

Leon was taken aback by the comment, then realized Huang Ping had a point.

The level of art, music, and features—indeed, North America couldn’t produce something like that.

With Fang Cheng’s help to implement a difficulty selection, Leon saw the game’s visuals finally become less terrifying, and this allowed him to reflect on some deeper aspects.

“Reincarnation Land” was targeting a North American release, so the content of the game needed to be as compatible as possible with North American players.

But now, Leon wondered if such a terrifying game, which could be described as art, would be accepted by North American players.

Admittedly, their players have a higher tolerance and are more accepting of challenging gameplay.

However, “Reincarnation Land” is a game far beyond imagination, with its unique art style standing out in the market, and it’s more likely to trigger terror in players, possibly even overwhelming North American players.

Yet, Leon was reluctant to reduce the game’s horror atmosphere.

In his view, the game’s graphics, gameplay, and music were seamlessly integrated, closely linked, and an inseparable whole. Reducing any aspect would not do.

What a dilemma…
After much thought, Leon turned to Huang Ping and asked, “Mr. Huang, what do you think is the biggest element of horror in games?”

“Certainly, it is the unknown,” Huang Ping stated confidently. “‘Reincarnation Land’ also utilizes this element. Players don’t know what kind of monsters they will encounter, nor what will happen next. This sense of the unknown combined with the game’s artistry is the game’s greatest charm.”

“I agree, which is why I don’t want to rashly change anything. But I’ve been thinking, the horror in this game comes from providing a huge visual shock to players in the early stage, which makes their initial fear index skyrocket. So, can we adjust it so they don’t see so much right away?” Leon suggested.

Huang Ping seriously considered Leon’s suggestion and felt it could work.

Adding mysterious elements to the game, concealing some content, would make the game more attractive.

Moreover, this would increase players’ desire to explore. As they continuously uncover more of the game, they would gradually become accustomed to more elements of horror, amplifying the game’s terror.

Pondering over Leon’s train of thought, Huang Ping suddenly said, “Fog?”

“That could work. What about adding a Sanity Value system? Initially, the player is a normal person, but as they encounter more and more terrifying elements, their sanity will continuously decrease, and the things they see will become increasingly frightening. This way, players have a gradual process to experience the horror of this world more deeply,” Leon replied.

“And sanity could also affect the effectiveness of some items—items could have more extraordinary effects with low sanity, but perhaps offer greater rewards,” Huang Ping added.

The idea also excited Huang Ping, seeming to unveil many more possibilities and suggesting that “Reincarnation Land” had a higher potential still.

Watching Huang Ping deep in thought, Leon felt a bit anxious.

The fog was a manageable addition, introducing a new filter into the game, and then controlling the light effects inside.

But the sanity mechanics, once integrated, would increase the scope of the game exponentially.

Different sanity states would need different item displays, meaning the game’s modeling would require multiple versions, and the item effects would need further design. Therefore, this idea probably wouldn’t pass.

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