After listening to Xiao Xiao's words, Tao Yao was momentarily stunned, her expression turning a bit strange.
She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
After a helpless sigh, she supported her forehead with her hand.
The presence of male characters in games was not in itself a major issue, and even adding them to the card pool was understandable.
However.
The game "Fairy Journey" had, from the very beginning, used female characters as its main selling point.
Not only were there no male characters among the five-star characters, but even in the four-star characters, male figures were rare.
This situation had persisted for several versions,
and players had long since gotten used to this setting.
If a large number of male characters were suddenly introduced now, and given them enough content, it was hard to say whether this would be a blessing or a curse for the game.
Although this might attract some new players,
it undoubtedly stabbed the old players in the back.
After all, many people had chosen to keep playing precisely because they liked the game's focus on female characters.
Suddenly changing the core settings of the game was undoubtedly a double-edged sword.
It might bring new life to the game.
But it could also fundamentally change the game's style, making it lose its original charm.
Such a risky approach.
Could likely provoke dissatisfaction from the existing players, potentially leading to a loss of some loyal players.
Tao Yao was well aware of this, which was why her expression was so complicated.
She wasn't sure whether this change would be beneficial for "Fairy Journey," but she had a premonition that it could likely bring negative effects.
After a moment of silence, Tao Yao finally asked:
"Xiao Xiao, can we influence the decisions of those tools?"
Xiao Xiao replied somewhat regretfully:
[Master, currently with your popularity value, we can only temporarily influence the trajectory within the game world. The tools have higher permissions, and we cannot intervene in their decisions yet. Unless we have enough popularity value to convert it into sufficient divine power...]
Tao Yao pressed on:
"How much popularity value do we need?"
Xiao Xiao pondered for a moment and then answered:
[About over 3 million popularity value. Your total accumulated popularity value is over 800,000, and there's about 100,000 left now. If we can increase it by around 30 times, we can change the planning to some extent.]
Upon hearing this number, Tao Yao widened her eyes in surprise:
"What? That much? A five-star character card costs 1 million..."
When Xiao Xiao heard Tao Yao's words, it suddenly revealed a look of guilt.
It lowered its head, the voice filled with apology:
[I'm sorry, Master... it's Xiao Xiao that's too useless.]
[As a creation of the Goddess, Xiao Xiao's permissions in the game are truly too low, otherwise, it wouldn't be so helpless. Xiao Xiao is really sorry for not being able to help Master.]
Seeing Xiao Xiao in such a dejected state, Tao Yao felt her heart soften.
She reached out and gently stroked Xiao Xiao's head, softly saying:
"Don't say that, Xiao Xiao."
"You've already done well. Being able to obtain so much information has already helped me greatly."
Tao Yao bent down to meet Xiao Xiao's gaze, her eyes filled with tenderness:
"Remember, you will always be my most capable assistant. Without you, I wouldn't know so much. So, don't blame yourself, okay?"
Xiao Xiao looked up, its eyes shimmering with tears of gratitude.
It nodded vigorously and softly said:
[Thank you, Master. Xiao Xiao will definitely continue to work hard!]
Tao Yao smiled as she stood up, stretching her back.
Her face regained a relaxed expression, saying:
"It's fine, we just need to do our own part. Besides… what if their planning really works?"
Her words carried a hint of teasing, but more than that, there was a sense of open-mindedness.
Tao Yao's words revealed a rare lightness and openness.
It seemed she had already accepted the changes that were coming and decided to face them with a positive attitude.
This optimistic mindset was like a ray of sunshine, dispelling the earlier gloom.
Tao Yao took a deep breath, her face showing determination. She turned to Xiao Xiao and cheerfully said:
"Alright, Xiao Xiao. I already have ideas for the new version. Since we can't stop male characters from joining, let's take the initiative."
"We need to become stronger and more attractive ourselves so that we won't be overshadowed by the new characters."
...
In the Blue Star, the bustling Pearl City.
In the center of the city, a modern high-rise stood tall.
The words "Fairy Technology" were exceptionally eye-catching on its exterior wall.
Pushing open the company door, a young woman hurriedly walked into the elevator.
Her name was Su Xiao Xiao, with a neat short haircut, wearing a simple white shirt and black slacks, exuding a capable yet vibrant aura.
Su Xiao Xiao had just switched jobs to this company and was appointed as the main planner for Version 2.0.
As the elevator doors opened, Su Xiao Xiao took a deep breath and confidently walked towards the conference room.
As she pushed the door open, she felt all eyes turning to her.
The sides of the conference room were filled with members of the planning team.
Their curious and scrutinizing gazes made Su Xiao Xiao's heart race.
Su Xiao Xiao lightly coughed and took her seat at the main position.
She looked around and then spoke:
"Hello everyone, I am the new main planner, Su Xiao Xiao. I believe you all know that we are about to start the development work for Version 2.0. Today, I would like to discuss the introduction of male characters."
As soon as she finished speaking, murmurs of discussion erupted in the conference room.
Some expressed support while others displayed concerns.
Su Xiao Xiao raised her hand to signal for silence and continued:
"I know this is a controversial topic. However, we cannot remain stagnant. My thought is, we can create a highly charismatic and personality-rich villain character, just like Tao Yao, but in a male version."
Her words sparked even more discussion. A young male planner raised his hand to speak:
"Planner Su, your idea is very creative. However, our game has always focused on female characters. Suddenly introducing male characters, won't that alienate the player base?"
Su Xiao Xiao smiled and responded:
"That's a valid question. Precisely because of that, we can be more radical in designing this character. We want to make him a character that players both love and hate, making his existence a key driver of the plot development."
Another female planner raised a question:
"Well, how exactly do we design this? After all, we have no previous experience in this regard."
There was a glint of cunning in Su Xiao Xiao's eyes as she said:
"We can design a villain who is exceptionally handsome but appears extremely selfish and self-serving."
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually heated up as everyone engaged in animated discussions about the possibilities for this new character.
Some suggested giving him a tragic backstory.
Just as the discussion was in full swing,
a senior planner suddenly spoke up:
"Wait a minute, won't this affect our existing player base? After all, many people play our game because they like the pure female character setting."
This statement was like a bucket of cold water.
It doused the enthusiasm in the conference room.
Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Su Xiao Xiao watched as everyone lowered their heads in thought, her lips curling into a faint smile.
She gently tapped the table to draw everyone's attention.
"Everyone."
Her voice was filled with confidence:
"We're not here to change the essence of the game but to inject it with new vitality."
"That is also the purpose of my being sent here."
The conference room fell into silence,
as everyone pondered over the bold ideas Su Xiao Xiao had just proposed.
An indescribable tension hung in the air, as if a taut string could snap at any moment.
Su Xiao Xiao looked around at everyone deep in thought, and an uncontrollable smirk crept onto her face.
Her eyes sparkled with confidence, as if she could already see "Fairy Journey" shining under her leadership.
To Su Xiao Xiao, her earlier proposals were undoubtedly perfect.
This idea could not only inject new vitality into the game but also attract more player demographics.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but secretly rejoice, feeling that she had stunned everyone present with her brilliant idea.
Seeing that everyone was still immersed in thought,
Su Xiao Xiao felt it was time to speak again and further elaborate on her grand plan.
She lightly cleared her throat, breaking the silence in the conference room.
Su Xiao Xiao scanned the room and then continued:
"The male character design I just mentioned is just the first part of our plan. If the market reacts well and we attract enough potential players, especially female players, we can move on to the next step of our plan."
She paused, observing everyone's reactions.
Seeing that everyone was focused on her, Su Xiao Xiao continued:
"In subsequent versions, we can try to create a couple in the game. For example..."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, "According to my concept, wouldn't this new male character have some kind of special relationship with Tao Yao?"
As soon as this statement was made, low murmurs of discussion erupted again in the conference room.
Some showed surprised expressions, some furrowed their brows, while others seemed excited by the idea.
Su Xiao Xiao ignored the reactions and continued to elaborate on her thoughts:
"We can lay down some foreshadowing. Make this male character appear as a villain, seemingly very bad."
"But in reality, he is causing trouble for the protagonist team to find out Tao Yao's whereabouts."
Her speech grew faster, her eyes shining with excitement:
"And then in the subsequent plot, we can gradually reveal this foreshadowing. We need to create a 'handsome and tragic' character, allowing for a sense of CP between him and Tao Yao. This way, we can maximize the popularity accumulated by Tao Yao so far."
Su Xiao Xiao stood up, resting her hands on the table, looking down at everyone present:
"Through this method, our game can undergo a subtle transformation. We will not only retain our existing players but also attract more new players. This is a win-win strategy, isn't it?"
As soon as her words fell, the conference room fell silent again.
Some people looked thoughtful, while others displayed expressions of confusion.
Just then, a planner wearing glasses seemed to lose it entirely.
His face was full of disbelief, his voice trembling slightly:
"Do you mean... to pair Tao Yao with someone?!"
His tone was filled with incredulity as if he had heard something utterly absurd.
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly turned tense.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Su Xiao Xiao's response.
Faced with this blunt question, Su Xiao Xiao didn't seem embarrassed or uneasy at all; instead, she revealed a confident smile.
She replied easily:
"Was I not clear enough? If we can pair them up, that would be the best."
Her tone contained a hint of teasing, "Of course, it depends on the market response. But I believe, if handled properly, the audience will definitely like it."
This remark seemed to ignite the anger within the glasses-wearing planner.
He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his feelings. When he spoke again, his voice was low and dark:
"Planner!"
He practically squeezed these words through clenched teeth, "No other company in the market pairs popular game characters as male-female CP!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room grew even heavier.
All eyes shifted back and forth between Su Xiao Xiao and the glasses-wearing planner, almost like spectators at an intense tennis match.
However.
In the face of such fierce questioning, Su Xiao Xiao maintained her composed demeanor.
Her lips curled up slightly, and her eyes sparkled with confidence.
"Precisely because no one does, is why we should try."
Her tone was laced with conviction:
"Let's not forget, 'Fairy Journey' is different from those games. We are the hottest 2D game on the market; we are unique!"
Su Xiao Xiao's voice gradually rose, filled with passion:
"We need to grow and expand our user base. And the first step to achieve this is to shed the attributes of pandering to a niche audience and embrace a broader 2D demographic!"
Her words stirred up a commotion within the conference room.
Some displayed expressions of agreement, while others appeared worried.
Regardless, Su Xiao Xiao's words undoubtedly captured everyone's attention.
After this impassioned declaration,
Su Xiao Xiao's gaze fell back on the glasses-wearing planner.
With a scrutinizing look in her eyes, her tone suddenly became indifferent:
"By the way, what's your name?"
The glasses-wearing planner seemed caught off guard by Su Xiao Xiao's sudden question.
He paused for a moment before answering in a low voice:
"Zhang San."
His tone carried a hint of reluctance, as if he felt offended.
Su Xiao Xiao nodded, her expression growing more serious:
"Alright, Zhang San, I'll remember you."
"And I'd also appreciate it if you don't interrupt when I'm speaking next time, okay? Don't question my suggestions either."
Her tone turned firm:
"I was sent here to be the main planner to salvage the game's popularity, understand? Only by following my lead can 'Fairy Journey' develop better."
This statement hit every person in the conference room like a heavy hammer.
The atmosphere instantly turned solemn, as if even the air had thickened.
Zhang San's face paled.
He opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately chose silence.
Meanwhile,
some planners in the room seemed motivated, eager to try something.
Yet others appeared numb, as if unsure of what to say...
Su Xiao Xiao looked around, satisfied to see the effect of her remarks.
She knew her performance might have been a bit dominant.
But she believed it was necessary.
Only in this way could these people understand the importance of change.
"Everyone,"
Su Xiao Xiao's tone softened slightly, "I understand my ideas might seem a bit radical. But please trust me; this is for the future of 'Fairy Journey'. We cannot remain stagnant; we must dare to innovate. Only then can we stand strong in the fiercely competitive gaming market."
She paused for a moment, allowing her words to settle in everyone's minds.
Then she continued:
"We can start with a small-scale test. For instance, in the next version, we can try to add this character and observe player reactions."
"If the response is good, we can directly release a card pool for Version 2.0 and consider further developing the CP line."
Su Xiao Xiao was very satisfied with her thoughts and then announced to everyone in the conference room:
"Alright, today's morning meeting is over; you're dismissed!"
The conference room door slowly closed, and the planners left one by one.
Zhang San trudged back to his workstation.
He took a deep breath, opened his computer, and prepared to start the day's work.
As a script planner, he was mainly responsible for the arrangement and design of the game's sideline stories.
His work desk was cluttered with various character settings and plot outlines.
Usually, he immersed himself in creating exciting stories.
But today, his mind was completely off work.
Zhang San stared at the computer screen, the planning proposal just announced by the main planner glaringly obvious.
He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
The new main planner's ideas completely overturned their long-standing creative principles.
Introducing male characters?
Pairing Tao Yao with someone?
These ideas seemed utterly absurd to him.
He tried to concentrate, starting to write a new side quest.
But every time he wrote a few lines, he would involuntarily recall the scene at the meeting.
Zhang San sighed and opened the game's character setting document.
His gaze fell on Tao Yao's character design.
Thinking of this character who had suddenly become popular and was well-loved by players, now potentially facing the fate of being "paired," he felt a wave of frustration.
Time passed by, but Zhang San's work progress remained virtually stagnant.
He repeatedly revised the same segment of text, but it never seemed to meet his expectations.
Lunch time soon arrived.
Yet he didn't even notice his stomach growling.
Finally, the end-of-work bell rang.
Zhang San felt relieved, closing his computer, gathering his things, and heading to the company cafeteria.
His mind was still replaying the morning meeting's content, to the point where he didn't even realize how slow his steps were.
In the cafeteria, Zhang San mechanically grabbed a tray and randomly picked some dishes.
He sat down in a corner, just ready to enjoy this long-awaited lunch when a familiar voice reached his ears.
"What's wrong? You look like you're not feeling well?"
Zhang San looked up to see a girl with pink hair.
She wore a loose white T-shirt with a few paint stains and ripped jeans.
She was holding a sketchbook, clearly just pulled away from work.
This was Xu Na, a friend from the art department, radiating a strong artistic vibe.
"Don't mention it."
Zhang San sighed and set down his chopsticks.
He then spoke to her in great despair:
"You should know, the upper management has recently replaced some positions."
"And our new main planner gave us a wake-up call the moment she arrived, insisting on introducing male characters to the card pool, claiming it would attract more potential groups and turn them into our loyal players..."
Xu Na raised her eyebrows, sitting down across from Zhang San:
"That sounds pretty troublesome. But introducing male characters doesn't seem like a big deal, does it?"
"I've seen other games operate like this. As long as they manage it well, those who want to pull will pull, and those who don't won't."
Zhang San shook his head, looking even more dejected.
"If it were just that, it would still be fine. But the main issue is that from her tone, she seems to intend to pair the new characters with Tao Yao..."
"What?!!"
Xu Na's voice suddenly shot up, drawing the attention of a few colleagues nearby.
She quickly lowered her voice, but her tone was still filled with disbelief:
"You guys, this group of dog planners actually want to mess with my Tao Yao?!"
Zhang San was startled by her reaction and quickly explained:
"What do you mean 'we group of dog planners'? I have nothing to do with it; how would I know what our main planner is thinking..."
Hearing this, Xu Na gradually calmed down.
She took a deep breath, and her expression became increasingly angry:
"No wonder our main artist hasn't let me draw Tao Yao recently, instead starting to assign me design tasks for male characters. So the problem lies with you guys..."
The two exchanged glances, seeing mutual helplessness and frustration in each other's eyes.
They fell into silence for a moment, each digesting the unpleasant news.
Finally, Xu Na couldn't help but speak, gritting her teeth:
"The new upper management really doesn't seem to understand anything anymore! Besides, the new higher-ups are just connected, right? Ridiculous decisions come one after another; if it keeps up, I seriously want to explode them!"
Zhang San was taken aback by her words and quickly looked around to ensure no one was listening.
"Don't say silly things,"
he whispered, "it would be bad if they heard..."
However.
Xu Na didn't seem to care.
"What's there to be afraid of? If I get provoked, I'll explode them all!"