Chapter 1: : Private game?

"Work started, work started!" In an office building in the Timo business district in downtown Yoder, a newly-listed game evaluation company began a busy day.

This company employed over 200 game reviewers, but they always seemed to be short-staffed, resulting in frequent overtime. The gaming market was massive, with millions of employees worldwide, and yet, it appeared far from saturation, as fresh graduates continued to enter the industry each year.

Since the establishment of the d-planet federation in the 23rd century, artificial intelligence had spread globally, leaving very few tasks for humans to perform. This led to an abundance of leisure time, but the entertainment industry, especially the gaming sector, continued to thrive. As a significant part of the entertainment industry, the gaming sector was constantly evolving.

In the office area of "Storm Tribe, Empire Conqueror, Spirit Sword Sealing Demon Record, Onmyoji 28," Xiao Chen, a recent hire, opened the list of games to be tested. Looking at these major IPs, Xiao Chen couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

These games were produced by major companies and had been mass-produced two years ago. Normally, these high-profile works were evaluated by industry veterans, who provided accurate assessments and risk estimates for the games.

Newcomers, like Xiao Chen, typically tested games created by independent designers. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, gaming templates and frameworks had become mature, and the basic costs were relatively low. This allowed many aspiring game developers with limited resources to create games that relied on creativity to attract players. However, the quality of these independent games varied, with only a few being truly remarkable.

As Xiao Chen scrolled through the list, looking for something to lift his spirits, he came across a black metal icon.

"The logo looks impressive!" Xiao Chen's eyes brightened as he looked at a game icon named "Xinghai." The metallic icon hinted at a science fiction game, but not just any science fiction theme. Most large companies avoided this genre, let alone independent designers.

Typically, these games turned out to be mundane - perhaps a girl accompanying you on an interstellar adventure, a sci-fi saga, or a repetitive monster-hunting game with a sci-fi twist, often filled with clichés.

Curious, Xiao Chen clicked on the game. Early in the morning, even a mediocre game was better than no game at all. After all, game servers tended to get congested throughout the day.

"Welcome to Xinghai, sign a contract and become a citizen under the great Lord Xiye!" A booming voice interrupted Xiao Chen's focus. He looked up in surprise, finding himself face-to-face with a tall and robust NPC (non-player character). A chill ran down his spine.

"Wait, is this a private game? The level of detail and interactivity is insane."

Xiao Chen stared at his surroundings, the scene resembling a makeshift base. Everything was metal, filled with strange instruments, mechanical arms, and numerous incomprehensible gadgets. His excitement grew as he realized that the game's visuals and design were far beyond any independent production.

The science fiction genre had gained immense popularity in the market, with the Titans developed by Rainstorm Company currently being the most expensive game at 88,000 federal dollars per ID. He had saved for three years to purchase an account during his studies, making it a luxury for him. However, even that game was overshadowed by Xinghai in terms of reality and scene design.

The game's incredible attention to detail, metallic textures, the NPC models, the facial features, and the realistic animation were more than one would expect in a virtual science fiction game. Xiao Chen couldn't believe his eyes. Had he stumbled upon a legendary indie gem?

Xiao Chen couldn't resist extending his hand to touch the NPC, but before he could make contact, he was struck by a powerful shock that sent him crashing to the ground, his backside stinging from the fall. The pain was intense, and he realized that the tactile realism of the game was set at 100%.

"Touch not this lord!" The imposing NPC glared at him. "One more offense, and you shall be obliterated!"

"An AI-driven NPC?" Xiao Chen inhaled deeply. All-intelligent NPCs were common with mature AI technology, but the NPC's distinct personality had piqued his interest.

Resolving not to provoke the NPC further, Xiao Chen got up and decided to explore the game. The ultra-realistic, 100% tactile sensation was uncomfortable, but it was a feature that gave the game its charm.

He cast his gaze toward a huge metal door, the window on it offering a view of the base's exterior. The scene was desolate, with red ground devoid of greenery. He deduced that it must be a model of the Mars surface.

This was a common issue for private game developers. They could create impressive game visuals but often struggled with content development. Xinghai appeared to be a work-in-progress.

Xiao Chen, keen to evaluate the game professionally, began to assess it.

Game Nature: Work-in-Progress

Graphics Quality: Five stars; perfect details, outstanding textures, and epoch-defying visuals.

Game Models: Five stars; exquisite and intricate, showcasing the exceptional skill of the art team.

Gameplay: Unknown; no gameplay was accessible in its current state. It is a fundraising game.

Overall Evaluation: A highly promising work-in-progress. Boasting an exceptionally talented art team, it has the potential to rival the Titans. Investment Risk: Three stars; extremely limited content, possibly indicating a lack of future planning. It is recommended to clarify these details before investing or to seek a proficient planning team.

Satisfied with his evaluation, Xiao Chen decided to return to his desk to write a report. He felt like he had found a hidden treasure in the game.

However, before he could proceed, he noticed there was no menu button. Perplexed, he turned to the NPC in the room and asked, "How do I exit the game?"

This time, the NPC didn't respond vocally but instead pointed to a teleporter in the center of the base. "Node exit system?"

Xiao Chen was taken aback. Although using teleporters could enhance realism, it could also prove cumbersome and out of place in fast-paced gaming. He realized that Xinghai was lacking an experienced planning team.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the teleporter. Once inside, he accessed the menu, chose the "Exit Xinghai" option, and decided to submit his evaluation report before anyone else noticed the game.

As a beam of light enveloped him, he disappeared from the game's virtual world. In the game, the NPC, previously stern and imposing, removed its mighty metal helmet, revealing an incredibly beautiful face.

"Finally, the lord can rest," the NPC muttered to itself, exasperated. "That idiot is finally gone." Then, speaking to the empty space, it added, "AI, can we really fool him?"

"Fear not, my lord!" An electronic voice emanated from the game, reassuring the NPC. "You just need to wait patiently. A steady stream of players will arrive soon!"