Chapter 59 - We Need a Few Lab Rats (1/2)

Chapter 59: We Need a Few Lab Rats

Normally, the progress of a gaming company’s development team would be a version ahead of what the players had on hand, sometimes even two.

For example, if gamers were on version 1.01, the testing group would already be on 1.02’s content while the development group was on 1.03. In fact, 1.04 would already be proposed onto the schedule.

But of course, that was for games that had more frequent updates.

Even for games with less frequent updates, the development team would at least be a version faster ahead.

It was only natural for them to swiftly enter the next development phase after a game was created. Otherwise, wouldn’t the development team have nothing to do?

That was why Huang Sibo felt that they should start planning for the next development phase based on his previous experience; this was also part of his job as the chief planner.

If he were to start working only when Boss Pei asked to see the next version, that would be a severe dereliction of his duty.

Bao Xu had no objections and agreed to it readily.

“But the problem now is… I don’t know what’s the plan. I don’t even know what we should change or the direction we should move in,” Huang Sibo explained his troubles.

There were two aspects to a new version, modification and progress.

First, they had to fix the bugs that existed in the original version as well as loopholes and illogical components. Second, they have to implement new playstyles, maps and content so that the game could be expanded and improved.

But now, Huang Sibo’s issue was that Ocean Stronghold was already in a state where he and Bao Xu deemed to be perfect – there didn’t seem to be any bugs or design flaws to be fixed!

As for developing new content…

To be honest, the current content was already enough.

There was a story mode, PvP mode and there were even various other playstyles such as biochemical, apparition and bomb defusal mode.

For the time being, there was nothing new they could add.

Wouldn’t they be biting on more than they could chew if they spent all the effort creating new modes and maps before the gamers were even sick of the current ones.

Bao Xu was troubled as well since this was something beyond his capabilities.

Playing games? He could do it.

But planning for a game? He had no idea how to do it.

“I’ve got no clue about this as well. Brother Huang, how do you think we should go on?” Bao Xu asked.

Huang Sibo thought for a moment. “I think that we should get some veteran gamers of the genre to test the game so that they can provide their opinions and suggestions.”

“Please don’t be mistaken, Brother Bao. It’s not that your opinions are not enough, but we’re the ones involved directly after all. Therefore, as much as possible, I think we should still look for other gamers. The greater the sample size, the more accurate the data gained.”

Bao Xu had no objections to it. Instead, he nodded as he felt what Huang Sibo said made sense.

He was previously in charge of the game’s balance and hand sensitivity.

Whichever gun he felt needed a change of trajectory or whichever motion felt strange, he would have Huang Sibo arrange for the design team to change it.

However, Bao Xu was just one person after all. No matter how impressive he was, he merely represented himself.

Yet, the game was targeted for hundreds and thousands of gamers. Who could dare guarantee that their personal preference was representative of all the other gamers?

Therefore, Huang Sibo felt that they should still get some gamers to try the game.

If they could sieve out any issues, they could plan them into the next version’s development so that they could continue to improve the game.

That way, they would have a direction to start on for Huang Sibo’s next step of the game’s development.

“I agree. But, who are you intending to look for? We can’t get people to come help us test our game for nothing. Will they be willing? Do we have to pay them some money?” Bao Xu asked.

“Yes, that’s a problem indeed,” Huang Sibo frowned. “Let me think about how we can get some lab rats.”

…

When he returned to his desk, Huang Sibo was slightly bothered too.