game trailblazer

Chapter 188 Guandu
After the first China Gamer Development Conference ended, Zhang Lexing did not leave BJ right away. When the wind of unsuccessful poaching started, he also heard about it, but out of trust in his company employees, he did not intervene. Facts have proved that his confidence can stand the test, and it didn't take long for the poaching operation to die down.Although it makes people feel uncomfortable that some people want to poach their own corners, it also proves the status of their employees in this industry, and indirectly shows that there are more companies trying to enter the game industry than in the first half of the year. It's a good thing to say.

During the period of staying in BJ, Zhang Lexing opened ICQ every morning. Although the connection to the server was very slow and often failed. It's still much cuter, and you can send it whenever you have something to say, even if it took a long time to receive a reply from Chen Zishan with "^_^", Zhang Lexing also felt very happy.

One day in mid-October, Zhang Lexing sent a greeting through ICQ as usual, and while waiting for a reply, there was a knock on the door of the office. When he looked up, it was Wang Mengyao. Although the door of the office was not closed, But she still knocked on the door habitually.

Seeing Zhang Lexing raised his head, Wang Mengyao walked over with a smile on his face and said, "Boss, the SuperA'can developed by Dunan Technology and produced by UMC is on the market. This is the relevant information."

As he spoke, Wang Mengyao took out a file from the folder in his hand and handed it over. Zhang Lexing took it over and looked at it. The file said: "SuperA'can is codenamed F-16 in English and named Dunhuang in Chinese. It is developed by Dunan Technology, Produced by UMC, it adopts Motorola 68000+MOS6502 dual CPU, and contains two UMC special chips UM6618 and UM6619, which are used to process background animation and sound effects respectively. The system has a built-in 128KB VRAM, and provides 8 sets of DMA. The maximum output resolution of the system is 640×480, and the number of supported colors is 32768 colors, and the maximum number of colors on the same screen is 256 colors.

……

The maximum size of the protagonist is 256×256, and the color of the protagonist is 256 colors, which can realize zoom-in, zoom-out and mosaic functions.The background has up to four layers, two of which can realize transparency, rotation, scaling and mosaic functions, and the bottom graphic layer can be directly pasted into pictures.

……

The supporting peripherals of the mainframe include joystick, mouse, keyboard, light gun, battle connection (providing the function of connection fighting) and CD-ROM, etc.

……

The main performance of the SuperA'can host performance booster
The number of background layers supports up to 10 layers, which can double the processing speed of zoom-in, zoom-out, rotation and crystal ball special effects functions, and supports texture rendering and shadow rendering.The high-speed DSP dedicated to the graphics accelerator has a frequency up to 28MHz, and the system VRAM capacity has been increased to 256KB. The maximum calculation performance of 3D plane textures is 225 million vertices (75 POLYGOM/block), and a set of 2-channel ADPCM voice functions has been added.

……

Companies involved in game development include Juwei Technology, Panda Software, Dunhuang Technology, Jingxun Information and many other well-known companies. The upcoming games include "Formosa Showdown", "Three Kingdoms", "Evil Son", "Sonic "Flying Dragon", "Super Bright War History", etc..."

Combining the console pictures and related introductions in the materials, Zhang Lexing recalled that this console was introduced in several consecutive issues of "Video Game Software" in 96. At that time, it was an all-Chinese domestic console that claimed to sweep the Super Nintendo and Sega MD , It was also sold in mainland China for a while, but it was a pity that the partnership broke up not long after.It is said that this project is led by UMC, because the console sales are not satisfactory, and the related game development cannot keep up, so UMC backed down first.As soon as UMC, which invested the most, withdrew, the remaining companies couldn't stand it anymore, and the SuperA'can host alliance disappeared.

Zhang Lexing has also studied why the SuperA'can mainframe failed. It has been mentioned in many materials. One is that the product price is too high and lacks competitiveness; the second is that the timing of the product launch is wrong. It is already the end of the life of 16-bit consoles, and the world has begun to fully shift to 32-bit game consoles. Compared with it, the performance of SuperA'can consoles appears to be uncompetitive; The attractiveness of the three-party game developers makes it impossible to obtain masterpieces like "Final Fantasy" and "Dragon Quest" that can attract players' attention.Of course, the most important thing is that production is controlled by others. Where there is a conflict between the purchase order of the Super A'can host and the chip order of Super Nintendo, the big purchaser Nintendo only needs to make a gesture and pretend to cancel the chip order, then the chip manufacturer can only do it. Out went against the SuperA'can host's choice.

For this kind of console that is doomed to fail, Zhang Lexing will not pay much attention, but the reason for its failure is still very valuable. At least we can know from it that if the game console is to be successful, it must be based on the three factors of price, performance and game support. All aspects must be good enough, so that it is possible to compete for the final victory, so Zhang Lexing must fully consider these aspects when preparing his own game console.

Putting down the materials in his hands, Zhang Lexing raised his head and said to Wang Mengyao who was next to him: "Well, help me buy...five sets of this SuperA'can host, and if there are new games coming out, I will also buy them."

"Boss, you don't want to arrange someone to develop the above game, do you?" Wang Mengyao's expression was slightly surprised.

"Ah, what's the problem?" Zhang Lexing asked back.

"It's like this. Tianzhiyuan once evaluated the SuperA'can host. They thought that the cost of using a cassette as a storage medium for this host is too high, which is hundreds of times that of a CD. The performance is too far behind the PS and SS that are now popular. It is big, and the follow-up peripherals including CD-ROM are just a concept, so I am not optimistic about the development prospects of this console, so I have no contact with it.”

"Oh, that's right. But I don't want you to buy this console to develop the games on it, but to keep it as a collection. I want to build a game museum in the future."

"Boss, I understand, I'll do it now." Wang Mengyao nodded, then turned and left.

Zhang Lexing was not worried about buying the SuperA'can console. After all, Asia Interactive still has some connections in Taiwan. Buying a game console is not a problem. The only thing that worries Zhang Lexing is that the game console should not be in advance. It's off the market, that's why Wang Mengyao is so anxious to go shopping.

Wang Mengyao came back less than 5 minutes after leaving, Zhang Lexing felt a little strange, so he asked her, "What's the matter, what's the matter?"

"Boss, it's like this. A man who claimed to be Bian Xiaochun from the leading company came to you just now. Can you let him in?" Wang Mengyao explained.

How Bian Xiaochun came here at this time, Zhang Lexing was a little confused, but it doesn't matter if you don't understand, you will know when you meet.Thinking of this, Zhang Lexing said to Wang Mengyao: "Okay, let him in."

After a while, Bian Xiaochun walked in with Wang Mengyao, Zhang Lexing put down the documents in his hands, stood up and said, "Hey, Mr. Bian, what brought you here. Mengyao, go pour a cup of tea for Mr. Bian." Come."

"Mr. Zhang, I can't compare to you Xiaoyao. Your office is so big and elegantly furnished." Bian Xiaochun said modestly.

"Mr. Bian, come and sit here." Zhang Lexing came to the sofa and sat down, then waved to Bian Xiaochun, and then told Wang Mengyao, "Mengyao, go and pour a cup of tea for Mr. Bian."

"Please wait, I'll be here soon." Wang Mengyao replied, turned and left.

Bian Xiaochun stopped being polite, and sat down on the sofa next to Zhang Lexing.Zhang Lexing turned his head to Bian Xiaochun and asked, "Boss Bian, what's the matter with you coming here?"

"Well...Mr. Zhang, to tell you the truth, I do have something to ask for your help this time."

"Oh? What's the matter? Let's talk about it. If you can help me, it will be fine."

"Mr. Zhang, it's like this. When I held the seminar last time, I heard that you have overseas distribution channels. Our company is currently developing a game, and it has basically been completed. We estimated that if only in China In terms of sales, there is not much certainty of recovering the investment, so I want to find an export channel, so let’s see if you can help me here.”

"Oh..." Zhang Lexing was about to speak, but saw Wang Mengyao coming in with tea on a tray, so he changed his words and said, "Boss Bian, don't worry, let's have a sip of tea first and then talk."

Wang Mengyao took the tea, put it carefully in front of Bian Xiaochun, smiled and said to him: "Boss Bian, please have tea", then put away the tray, and came to Zhang Lexing's side to wait again.

Bian Xiaochun picked up the teacup absently and took a sip. After putting down the teacup, he hesitated for a moment, and took out a CD from his briefcase: "Mr. Zhang, this is our upcoming game "Guandu" , why don't you take a look first."

The name "Guandu" aroused many memories of Zhang Lexing. This game was the first game launched by the former leading company. It is said that the reason for its birth was that the leading general manager Bian Xiaochun was obsessed with the Three Kingdoms, and there was never a mainland game. The shortcomings of the Three Kingdoms game.It is well known that Bian Xiaochun likes the Three Kingdoms game. Since they started their first magazine "Electronic Game Software", Bian Xiaochun often writes some trial experience about the Three Kingdoms game alone or in cooperation with others, so now When directors planned to develop computer games, making a game about the Three Kingdoms became their first choice. Zhang Lexing played the game "Guandu" before, but after so many years, I can't remember anything. I just vaguely remember that the battle map is divided into several levels, and there are some scenes in the game from the TV series "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" video and voice.Unexpectedly, the first game made by the current leader is "Guandu". It seems that some things are not so easy to change.

After receiving the "Guandu" game disc from Bian Xiaochun, Zhang Lexing returned to his desk.There are two computers on the desk, one is for office use, an ordinary DELL business machine, equipped with the company's internal management system, and the other is a specially customized computer for playing games, installed with the latest KylinWindows95 system.Zhang Lexing turned on the game computer. After the desktop came out, he put the CD into it. Soon the AutoRun function popped up a dialog box, and he could choose from "Install Game", "View CD" and "Exit".Zhang Lexing clicked "Install Game", and the installation program of "Guandu" popped up immediately. After selecting the installation directory, after a while, the installation progress bar went from zero to [-]%.After the installation process ended, the "Install Game" in the previous dialog box automatically changed to "Run Game". Zhang Lexing clicked "Run Game" again, thus entering the world of Three Kingdoms.

While Zhang Lexing was playing, Bian Xiaochun was still introducing: "Mr. Zhang, our game mainly describes what happened in the fifth year of Jian'an, that is, in 200 AD. The strategic decisive battle in the vicinity of Northeast Zhongmu..."

After a familiar but slightly vague video of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", after some selections, the picture on the computer screen was transferred to an antique tent. On the desk below the picture were placed bamboo slips, pens, ink, Inkstones and other things, the Chinese officials and generals in the big tent sat in two rows, as if they were all waiting for Zhang Lexing's order.

Bian Xiaochun continued to introduce at this time: "Well, Mr. Zhang, the place you see now is a handsome tent from a subjective perspective, which has never appeared in similar games. In the handsome tent, players can read official documents , check the map, instruct the waiter to arrange summons, account promotion, rest, etc. If some important military situation occurs, there will be a visit to report, and if the adviser has important ideas, he will also come to see him, and the messenger who has sent troops for help may suddenly meet , the messenger sent by the enemy will also come to deliver the letter. You can just click on it in the commander's account and try it out."

Zhang Lexing casually clicked on a civil official on the left, and suddenly a circular video window and a pop-up text box appeared on the screen, and the text box read "Kong Rong: Yuan Shao is too powerful to fight with, but only to fight with him." ", at the same time, the same voice came from the computer speakers, which was a bit interesting, but it was a little rigid in form, and the coordination was not coordinated enough.

Bian Xiaochun was about to introduce again at this time, Zhang Lexing waved his hand hastily, and said, "Boss Bian, let me do some research on my own to see how easy it is for you to master this game."

"Here..." Bian Xiaochun opened his mouth, seeing that Zhang Lexing didn't seem to want to listen any more, so he had to swallow the rest of the words, then sat next to him, anxiously waiting for Zhang Lexing's reaction.

Zhang Lexing clicked randomly, not only heard a bunch of real voices, but also clicked out the game map.Compared with some Three Kingdoms games that Zhang Lexing has seen, the scope of this map can be said to be very small, only a small area of ​​southern Jizhou, Sili, Yanzhou and Yuzhou in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, but compared with other Three Kingdoms games, this map is It is very detailed, not only the big cities like Xuchang and Liyang can be found, but also many cities and ferries that have never appeared in the game of the Three Kingdoms have appeared on the map, and even every intersection on the road between the cities is described It has a good shape, and it is easy for people to feel the grand atmosphere of the battlefield when playing.

Going deeper, Zhang Lexing found that "Guandu" is not a regular Three Kingdoms game. Internal affairs have been completely canceled in the game. Although it seems that there are some less playable places, it is very reasonable when you think about it. The Three Kingdoms period What excites players the most is war. When players lead troops to fight on the front line, there are always some things that need to be cultivated or water conservancy needs to be arranged. This should be handled by middle- and lower-level officials. Otherwise, you have to take care of everything, then wouldn't you become "the king in name, but the county magistrate in reality".

"Guandu" also abandons the city-based setting of the previous Three Kingdoms games. The starting point of all strategies is based on the army. In "Guandu", the city is no longer the foundation of settling down and living, but only as a garrisoned army hoarding Food and grass are just a convenient medium for defense. As long as the army is still there, the struggle can continue.

"Guandu" also abandons the turn-based combat mode commonly used in previous Three Kingdoms games, and adopts a more intense and exciting real-time system. After the enemy and the enemy issue various orders for marching, combat, and transportation to the army, they can be seen on the strategic miniature map. To a red and blue arrows slowly extending along the road.At this time, players need to constantly think about where the enemy's goal is, and where will the enemy point to next?Players should also seize the gap in time, skillfully pass through the enemy's troops, take the opportunity to sneak attack on the enemy's food and grass, and surround the general after the troops are dispersed. Only in this way can the war be won.Each classic strategy will be realized through the player's operation, instead of relying on some so-called "strategies" on the selection menu to display "strategies" like spells like previous Three Kingdoms games.

These design highlights in "Guandu" surprised Zhang Lexing. He didn't expect to have such a wonderful idea in the planning of the Three Kingdoms game. Logically speaking, if this design idea can continue to develop, it will definitely be born. A strategy, A game with good performance on three levels of campaign and combat. "But why hasn't it appeared? Is it related to the withdrawal of the leading company from game development?" Zhang Lexing couldn't help thinking about it.

Of course, this "Guandu" also has some flaws. The highlights of the overall design cannot conceal the roughness of its details. The most typical part is the artificial intelligence (AI) part.At first, Zhang Lexing thought about manipulating the troops to fight at the tactical level, but it took a lot of work just to get the troops out of the camp, and after a whole team, some villains on the screen quit , They wandered around but refused to stop at the designated place.The battle was urgent, and Zhang Lexing didn't have time to continue, so he commanded the team and rushed towards the enemy, but only halfway through, a few villains somehow ran to the water's edge and stood in a daze, as if they had disappeared It's as if the boat doesn't move.After finally pulling most of the troops to the front of the enemy's camp, he found that it would be a very challenging thing to go to war. As a result, Zhang Lexing simply gave up operating the troops to fight in person.

Putting down the mouse in his hand, Zhang Lexing sighed, and talked about his feelings about "Guandu": "Mr. Bian, it would be good if you play this game as a real-time strategy game, although the timing of those videos and animations Not particularly ideal, but pretty good on a strategic and campaign level, but really bad at 'combat' on a tactical level, if that even counts as combat. It's kind of unclear how it works In the game, the battle effect is not ideal, and there are many laggards even in an army. To be honest, this game can only be regarded as passable. The design idea is very bright, but the implementation details are too rough. I think you are the most It’s better to put more thought into the AI ​​part, and make the war AI, automatic pathfinding and other parts that need to use AI more reasonable, so that your game can be more popular. At least the battle at the tactical level needs to be improved, at least When marching, don't always have the situation where you can't find your way. Also, when attacking the city, you need to be more tricky. You can't just shoot arrows, you can also join some scolding formations, and the enemy can't always hide in the city. , you can arrange an appropriate counterattack or a sudden reinforcement, so that it will be interesting to fight. It can't be like now, I use tens of thousands of people to block tens of thousands of enemies in the walled city, and I can slowly kill them with bows and arrows. Shoot them all, it doesn't make any sense."

"Mr. Zhang, it's like this. Our trial version is not perfect yet, and we are still in the process of revising it. This time, we mainly want to hear opinions." Bian Xiaochun explained.

"Since this is the case, I think it is necessary to revise "Guandu". If there are any technical difficulties, we can provide some help." Appreciation, so I want to give them a hand, so that the future development of "Guandu" can be smoother.

"Then thank you, Mr. Zhang. It would be great if you could support a few experts in programming. We are very short of experienced programmers now." Bian Xiaochun was not polite, and said directly. It's very difficult.

Zhang Lexing hesitated for a while, then turned to ask Wang Mengyao: "Mengyao, is there any extra staff in the creative workshop?"

"Hmm..." Wang Mengyao lowered her head and thought for a while, then replied, "Boss, except for the one who is on vacation, everyone else in the creative workshop happens to have projects in their hands."

"Oh, how many people are on vacation, is there a procedure?" Zhang Lexing asked again.

Wang Mengyao took out her notepad and flipped through it, and said, "There are six people on vacation, and there are two programs. One is Tian Zhuo, who has five years of programming experience and two years of game design experience, and the other is Zhao Rendong. , with three years of programming experience and one year of game design experience."

"Well then, when the vacation of these two people is over, I will arrange for them to help out. What do you think, Mr. Bian?"

"Mr. Zhang, thank you so much." Bian Xiaochun really spoke from the heart. Since the establishment of the leading company, a lot of people have been recruited. The art and planning are still passable, but the program has always been their weakest point. This time, we can have two experienced programmers to help, not to mention anything else, at least they can impart some experience to the company's rookie programs, and maybe the development of the next game will be smoother.

……

Bian Xiaochun left, although he didn't get Zhang Lexing's promise to help export, but he still gained a lot. He planned to wait for Tian Zhuo and Zhao Rendong to come, and then improve "Guandu".When Bian Xiaochun visited E3, it can be said that he benefited a lot. Unfortunately, due to the company's strength, many ideas of "Guandu" were not realized. He hopes that after receiving support, he can make up for some previous regrets.And the "Guandu" demo disc left by Bian Xiaochun was taken by Zhang Lexing to the creative workshop. When planning to plan the Three Kingdoms game, it was used to arouse everyone's thinking, and it could also collide with a unique Three Kingdoms game. .

(End of this chapter)