Game Making: Start By Healing the Player

While Meng Zuo was chatting with Chen Xu.

Some other game designers are also discussing the type of DEMO to be developed.

"I think it's better to make a sports game with the theme of extreme use. On the one hand, it can test the interaction between the new engine and the VR device environment. On the other hand, the immersive mode of this extreme sports can also get feedback data very well."

"It's really interesting, and by extension, there are action-adventure games, such as climbing a mountain, and then introducing the experience of falling, as well as the high immersion feedback when facing various beasts in the forest."

"By the way, what do you think of horror games? Just like Chen Xu's "Escape", and if you want to test a threshold for immersion in the game, aren't horror games very suitable?"

"It's suitable, but "Escape" is too bloody. It's fine on the PC platform, but on the VR platform, with the level of blood in "Escape", it is designated that it will not pass the trial."

"That's true, but if there is no plasma, the horror level of "Escape" will immediately drop a lot."

Some designers around, who know each other are discussing.

Different designers have different opinions on what type and theme of the game can have a better test effect.

However, there are also some designers who want to go with Chen Xu, and that is to start from the aspect of horror games.

After all, this is a game that can cause emotional fluctuations to the greatest extent for the experiencer.

This is also the reason why Chen Xu chose "Silent Hill PT" for this test.

On the one hand, the theme is suitable, and on the other hand, it is also because in the previous life, this game really only had one DEMO.

But although it is a DEMO, it almost scared the **** of countless players who have played this DEMO.

In particular, the setting in which the looping scene brings endless sense of fear has made many subsequent horror games learn from this technique.

Unlike the large amount of plasma in "Escape", in "Silent Hill PT", except for the deformed baby in the pool and the "cute" wife Lisa, there is no longer any visual fear in the game.

It can be said that "Silent Hill PT" is the purest oriental horror. It does not scare players through vision, but focuses on the unknown.

Let the player never know, exactly what will come out from where to scare them, resulting in self-doubt.

It was like watching a horror movie at home at twelve o'clock just now, when the lights in the house suddenly went out and a strong wind blew outside.

You are the only one at home, but you feel that there are people under your window, in the cabinet of your room, and outside your door.

This kind of self-suggestion horror is the core content of the Silent Hill series, and "Silent Hill PT" has achieved the ultimate in this.

The narrow corridor is constantly looped with the game's music, sound effects, and the same scene changes slowly.

It can be said that "Silent Hill PT" has reached its peak in the shaping of the atmosphere of fear.

As for making this game, will it scare people away?

This piece of Chen Xu also has a bottom line after he has learned about various materials and inquired with the relevant research staff of the game department.

Scary first, this is sure to scare people.

A horror game can't scare people, can it still be called a horror game?

As for scaring people out of good or bad, this is completely impossible.

First of all, this is not a game directly for all players, but a DEMO provided for testing new VR devices.

The candidates for testing are basically carefully selected.

And during the test, the function of the body will also be monitored all the time, not only the monitoring of the VR equipment, but also the backup monitoring equipment. At the same time, there are special medical and emergency personnel next to it, in order to ensure the physical safety of the testers.

If the tester's body and mood fluctuate violently, the VR game warehouse system will immediately interrupt the game.

Then, according to the tester's feedback, the corresponding recording experience is carried out, and the corresponding data is provided to the research and technical personnel of the subsequent VR game warehouse.

So it is completely guaranteed in terms of safety.

As for the so-called scared to death, it is not really scared to death, but refers to other symptoms caused by emotional fluctuations.

There is a center in the human brain called the amygdala, which is in charge of human fear, and the expression of fear is actually a kind of self-protection of human beings.

However, when human beings feel fear and cannot determine whether they can pose a threat to themselves, the feedback mechanism of the amygdala will be punished, and adrenaline will be secreted wildly, which will lead to accelerated heartbeat, increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, blood sugar and other reactions.

Continuing this situation can cause the body to overload and damage the heart tissue.

A person with a healthy body and a healthy heart will be scared to death when playing a horror game.

There can only be one situation, that is, during the game, the whole person has been frightened and numb, and the body obviously feels uncomfortable.

But that one still persisted, continuing to experience the extreme fright brought by the horror game as if nothing had happened, and eventually caused his body to work and die.

So Chen Xu has no worries about whether "Silent Hill PT" will have some bad effects.

Bold and reassuring splashes of ink are done.

………………

After registering the relevant content from the game department, Chen Xu and Meng Zuo chatted with each other and returned to Nebula Games.

The VR development prototype used in "Silent Hill PT" will be sent by the game department when the time comes.

As for the subsidy, Nebula Games will pay for it in the early stage, and then send the invoice and other things to the game department for review, and then transfer the subsidy money to the company's account.

Back at the company, Chen Xu began to write the design concept draft of "Silent Hill PT".

After all, it is just a DEMO, and the story revealed by its DEMO is not complicated.

As for some easter eggs in the game, Chen Xu thought about it and didn't plan to change it.

In the original Silent Hill PT, there are two special easter eggs.

For example, there will be a male voice confession after the final customs clearance, which is a hint of the irreconcilable contradiction between the game's producer Hideo Kojima and the old club Konami.

There is also a string of mysterious numbers 204863 mentioned in the game, which, like Kojima's previous Metal Gear Phantom Pain, hints at the location of the game.

For these two easter eggs, although the experience of the former parallel world may be completely unclear.

But it can also bury a hole, although this time the VR version of the DEMO will not face players.

However, the game department should also edit some related promotional videos in the follow-up.

At that time, players can also see the content of this DEMO through these.

When there is a chance to bring the "Silent Hill" series to lovely players in the future, this easter egg will make players look back, and it will have a different meaning.

Thinking of this, Chen Xu also showed a smile on his mouth.

As a game designer, you have to care about the player's experience everywhere in this way. This is called a conscience designer!

With a sigh of relief, Chen Xu continued to write the design concept draft.

There is not a lot of content, and Chen Xu had already finished most of it in the afternoon.

At the same time, the efficiency of the game department is quite high, and the developed VR prototype has also been sent.

Higher-level permissions, including game designers, were also temporarily unlocked.

Come out of the office to the project room.

Yang Xin, Ruan Ningxue and Qin Yi are intensively working on the production of "Dark Soul: The Age of First Fire".

Mmmm...the making of the promotional trailer.

"Stop here for the art team, Ning Xue, you have a group of people here. Next, there is a demo for a VR platform that needs to be developed." Chen Xu came to the studio and said.

Hearing Chen Xu's words, everyone showed a surprised expression.

Especially Ruan Ningxue's eyes widened: "VR!? Are we going to develop a VR game? A new IP, or an old IP? Could it be the VR version of "Two Together"?"

Not only Ruan Ningxue, but also Yang Xin, Qin Yi and others were also confused.

It is agreed that the main direction will be the promotional film of "Dark Souls: The Age of First Fire" in the near future?

Why is this a VR game all of a sudden?

Could it have something to do with Mr. Chen's trip to the game department?

Many people are secretly guessing.

"No, it's just a demo for testing. It doesn't require a lot of engineering, so it doesn't need a few people. The modeling part is also outsourced, and the main task is the performance of VR content shots and artistic atmosphere. ." Chen Xu explained with a smile.

"Mr. Chen, I'm coming!" Ruan Ningxue took the lead.

Her workload in "Dark Souls: The Age of First Fire" is not heavy, and there is another key point, that is, she is really interested.

You know, this is the first time she has come into contact with VR.

Although the content of the work should be much the same as before, the attributes of this game are different.

Even if Chen Xu said it was just a DEMO.

At this moment, Ruan Ningxue seemed to have found the excitement of playing the game for the first time.

"Uh... Okay, then Ning Xue and the art team have two more people here. Let me explain the features of this VR game to you." Chen Xu looked at Ruan Ningxue who was excited, and then clicked again. I got two people, and the two people who were called were also very happy.

Walking behind Chen Xu towards the conference room, Ruan Ningxue was still full of smiles, guessing in her mind what kind of game the VR version of the DEMO was going to be developed.

Is it as warm and harmonious as "Going For Two", or as majestic as "Dark Souls", or as casual and cute as "Jelly Bean Man"?