Building a Gaming Empire From Scratch

Chapter 277: 275: If You Don’t Buy It, Are You Looking Down on Me?

Translator: 549690339

“Boss, the midterm review of “Speed Chase” has set the game’s rating at [18+], meaning players under the age of 18 are not allowed to purchase it.” Fred looks extremely disappointed.

Lincoln couldn’t help but gasp, but quickly regained his composure.

Logically speaking, Lincoln was indeed quite surprised when he first heard this news.

However, he quickly recalled Fred’s actions in the game and suddenly felt that there seemed to be nothing surprising about it…

“Alright, which specific content in the game has affected the rating?

The review mechanism in Daxia is quite thorough. The game’s ratings review will provide a clear report, not only detailing the current rating but also explaining the reasons for that rating.

What’s more impressive is that they also provide a guidance document that clearly states which elements need to be modified if you wish to lower the game’s rating.

As long as you follow the report’s guidance and modify specific content, you can smoothly lower the rating.

The initial expectation for “Speed Chase” was to maintain a rating of [16+], just like “Assassins’ Alliance”, which is why Lincoln asked this question.

Fred blinked, “Streetwalkers dressed in revealing clothes; seductive voices of strippers, with somewhat explicit undertones; and the mixed-gender underground bathing areas showing too much skin…”

“If you change these three things, the rating can be lowered to [17+], M level.

But for [16+]…”

Fred seemed to be a bit hesitant to speak, but under Lincoln’s gaze, he confessed, “A total of 18 changes need to be made.”

Lincoln felt incredibly speechless and wanted to face palm in frustration.

Let’s not even mention the 18 changes required for [16+], those first three points are outrageous!

Why would Night City have scantily dressed streetwalkers?! What happened to the promised glitz and glamour?

It’s not that it can’t be done, but can it be less graphic, please?!

Ignoring the mixed-gender bathing section for now, as it is part of the main story, and Lincoln was prepared to make some concessions there.

But with strippers…

What do you mean “voices too seductive”???

Why are their voices too seductive and not their dance moves too seductive???

What on earth did you add to the music?!

If Cloud Dream ever starts making adult content, Fred would definitely be top-tier talent for it!

With that thought in mind, Lincoln suddenly wanted to ask Fred a question:

What kind of games did you work on before joining the “Blaze” project team? Did you really make adult games?

But considering that Fred is still an important figure, and although the rating scale wasn’t well-controlled, the overall progress of the game has always been smooth.

It’s better not to upset him.

Finally, Lincoln shook his head and accepted the reality, “Forget about [16+], let’s just change those three things and set the game rating to [17+], Mature level.”

“I can have it done today!” Fred guarantees, pounding his chest.

But Lincoln isn’t too assured, “Mature level is the bottom line! Be extra careful from now on!”

Only after Fred repeatedly reassured him did Lincoln finally let him leave.

Today is Cloud Dream’s third day of aggressively purchasing IPs, and there has been another peculiar shift in the market.

Cloud Dream is being criticized.

However, it’s not for the reasons predicted by Lincoln, such as “disrupting the market” or “suspected market monopoly.”

Instead, it’s an absurd reason like “buying a large number of unknown IPS yet disregarding famous IPS with significant market influence, which exposes the serious lack of aesthetic appreciation and market value assessment abilities of the acquisition team!”

Ultimately, it’s because Lincoln instructed, “Only buy high-quality IPs, don’t buy bad ones.”

The difference between “high-quality” and “low-quality” is not just about commercial value.

Some works are inflated far beyond their actual value under the influence of massive capital inflows.

Take, for example, an animated movie called “Red Fish.” Thanks to extensive sentimental marketing and hype, it achieved high visibility and recognition, and when it premiered, it even garnered impressive box office results.

There’s even news recently that since the first film was “successful,” a sequel is already in the works!

Yes, looking at the box office alone, the marketing was a smashing success. However, please look at the audience reviews!

You got trashed throughout the entirety of your release!

For works like these, Lincoln made it clear: Don’t buy! Don’t even get them if they’re free!

And then there are works with weird values, bizarrely ugly yet inexplicably popular, creators with stained reputations…

All bypassed, not a single cent should be earned by these people!

Lincoln indeed has a lot of money, and most of the time, he’s very generous with the things he wants to do.

However, he wouldn’t give a single cent to those he doesn’t like!

This has caused the IP acquisition group, while buying IPS by segments, to sometimes walk to the doorstep of the prospective company. Just as the other party has stepped out to welcome them, they suddenly receive a text message and their attitudes change drastically, refusing to even enter the company’s gate.

They directly say the acquisition plan is canceled outside, then hastily say goodbye to go to the next company, unable to be persuaded to stay.

Only on the way to the next company would they call back to apologize politely.

— There’s nothing they could do; they had tight schedules and heavy tasks. It would be hard for them to dwell on this matter.

After all, Cloud Dream finishes work at 5 0’clock. Everyone is already used to it. Even when discussing cooperation, they try to finish up before that time, which is why their pace is incredibly fast.

Similar incidences have not occurred just once.

This inevitably led to some companies feeling offended.

Of course, if it was just this kind of offense, they wouldn’t be too bothered. In the business world, all sorts of things can happen.

What truly bothered them was the strange public opinion that emerged in the market: “Cloud Dream is so persistent in acquiring IPs, yet they didn’t even step into their company’s door. They obviously think their works aren’t good enough! ”

And this baseless public opinion grew more intense. Their copyright value even began to fall, and it disrupted two other copyright acquisition cases!

This became a severe issue!

Some companies, thinking of Lincoln and Cloud Dream’s style, got angry but chose to bear with it, considering themselves victims of an injustice.

However, some companies were different. They believed they had successfully developed works recognized by the market and had battle records and hard power on hand. They didn’t need to fear Lincoln, so they didn’t hesitate to attack Cloud Dream.

Politer ones only targeted the acquisition group, saying they had “major issues, poor aesthetic ability, and a lack of understanding of business.”

— Who cares how my fame came about or if the reviews are good or bad? Negative publicity is still publicity!

You’ve spent tons of money on copyrights of many obscure little works. Why wouldn’t you buy mine?

Are you looking down on me?

People with bad tempers started to directly fire at Lincoln: “Your employees have this kind of quality? They’re handling things like this, and as the boss, you won’t come forward and speak up? Are you playing dead?!”

— The gaming industry and media are afraid of you, but I’m not! We’re not even in the same industry!

Even if you attack me, you’re only bringing me more attention! I’m desperate for it!

Lincoln’s attention was on the Fall Guys race track, closely monitoring the players’ game situations.

Watching others play this game evokes a completely different enjoyment from playing it personally.

However, as Lincoln was engrossed in the game, Mavis, who was resting by his side, suddenly sat up and shook his arm: “Master, someone is cursing you again!”

Lincoln was full of question marks.

And why did you have to include “again”?