Chapter 152 XGP Service

There are two versions of "Speed ​​Racer", namely the console version and the PC version.

Unlike previous Tianba games, PC sales account for more than 70% or even 80%, and console sales are dispensable.

The new game consoles are selling very well.

Less than two months after its release, the total number of active players on consoles has exceeded one million, even more than on PC.

"Xbox Game Pass!"

Chen Ba pointed out the key reason for the rapid growth of players, which is the Game Pass membership subscription service launched by Xbox.

This thing is very good! After players purchase XGP membership, they can play various exclusive high-quality games without hindrance within the service period, which is very attractive to players.

This is the player's perspective.

From the perspective of game developers, Xbox Game Pass also has a considerable positive factor, that is, traffic! "Gamers basically have their own preferences. For example, Xiao Lu likes to play Galgame, Zhong Shengwei likes to play RPG adventure, and Dong Ge likes to play strategy management..."

Chen Ba used the crowd as an example, then smiled and said: "For you, if you encounter a game type you like to play, you will definitely buy it without thinking. But what if it is a game type you don't like?"

Interest determines willingness to pay!

Players will be more willing to pay for games they are interested in. For example, a player who likes to play simulation management games will definitely be more willing to pay for a simulation management game than a player who likes to play soul-like games.

Or the other way around.

If the subject matter of this game is not what you like, then your willingness to pay will be very low.

"That's true..."

Everyone nodded.

This is also a recognized fact in the gaming industry. Different game types target different player groups.

"But the Xbox Game Pass membership subscription service has changed this ecosystem because its payment logic is a bit like the monthly membership of video software and music platforms."

Chen Ba asked in return: "If you become a VIP member of Tianba Music and the platform releases a popular new song, will you listen to it?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Lu said without hesitation: "I have already signed up for membership, and I can listen to it on all platforms. Why not go and listen?"

"But you like more lyrical music and are not very interested in this kind of rock music?"

“Then I’ll go and listen to it.”

"If it sounds good, add it to your playlist. If it doesn't, just pretend you haven't heard it!"

“That’s right!”

Chen Ba snapped his fingers and said, "These are the players that Xbox Game Pass has attracted to Need for Speed, a large group of players who may not be interested in racing games in normal times."

After becoming an XGP member, you will definitely want to give it a try when faced with so many games in the game library.

After trying it out, I found that it’s actually pretty good and not that annoying. Plus, the discounted price is acceptable, so I just bought one!

Many players think so.

This is also the fundamental reason why "Need for Speed" instantly gained a large number of players and gained a firm foothold on the Xbox console platform after joining the Xbox Game Pass service.

The total number of XGP members is exaggerated.

Although home game consoles are a relatively unpopular field in China, Xbox Game Pass is a service that many people have never come into contact with.

But abroad, especially in Europe and the United States, home game consoles are still quite popular, and there are also many players who subscribe to XGP membership services, definitely tens of millions.

Among these tens of millions of XGP members, even if only a small number of players are curious about the newly released "Need for Speed" and want to download it to play, that would be no small number.

“Can we get a share of the money?”

Xiao Lu was not interested in the so-called XGP membership service. He only cared about one thing, that is, if "Need for Speed" was included in the XGP game library, could Tianba Studio get a share of the money? "Of course!"

"We are a third party, not a first-party game developer." Chen Ba rolled his eyes.

If it is a game studio wholly owned by Microsoft, commonly known as the first party, they and Xbox are one family, it doesn't matter whether the money is shared or not, because the money will be transferred from left hand to right hand anyway.

But as a third party, if Tianba Studio does not give them a share of the money, wouldn’t it just become pure labor?

Even brothers have to settle accounts! The money must be divided. The specific division depends on the proportion of "Need for Speed" in the XGP service and the total playing time of players.

Chen Ba made a rough calculation.

If the current number of active players is maintained, dividing 20 to 30 million US dollars a year will be a piece of cake.

Doesn't sound like much? But don't forget, this is only the revenue after XGP sharing, not counting the sales of the game itself! XGP membership service has attracted millions of players to "Need for Speed". Even if only a portion of these players will buy the game, it will still amount to hundreds of thousands of copies sold.

“So you make money like this?”

After listening to Brother Ba's narration, Zhong Shengwei murmured, "In that case, the console platform alone could potentially generate tens of millions in revenue for us?"

"This is how the game of gun, car and ball works."

Compared to other people making a fuss, Chen Ba seemed very calm. This was mainly because when he decided to develop a "gun, car and ball" game, he knew that the market would be huge.

Facts have proven that guns, cars and balls are indeed the three most popular winning weapons in the gaming industry! These three types of games do have countless fans, a huge market share and countless die-hard fans all over the world.

This is a racing game...

If it is a shooting game, that is, the guns in Guns, Cars and Balls, the market is so vast that Chen Ba dare not even imagine it.

"I have a bold idea!"

Xiao Lu suddenly had an idea: "Since any one of the elements of guns, cars and balls is so awesome, what if we combine these three elements together and make a game?"

"Grand Theft Auto!"

Chen Ba chuckled and said, "The combination of guns and cars has created one of the greatest games in history. The combination of all three? That would be a godsend!"

This idea is too cruel.

The simple combination of guns and cars is an epic masterpiece that is popular all over the world and has sold over 100 million copies. If the "ball" element is added to the GTA series, players will probably be very excited.

"The console platform is a little bit declining, but a lean camel is bigger than a horse. No matter what, the console is still the most popular home entertainment platform abroad."

"If Tianba Studio wants to go abroad and produce more games for sale around the world, consoles are still a point that cannot be ignored."

Chen Ba has no prejudice against hosts.

Although he is a loyal PC player and has been playing PC since he was a child, he also knows that consoles are more useful abroad.

Tianba Studio doesn't want to go overseas, it just wants to stay in the domestic market and make money from the Chinese people.

If you want to go overseas and earn money from foreign players, you really can't ignore the optimization and attention to the host platform.

"Okay, I understand."

Yang Dong knew that what Brother Ba meant was that their operation and maintenance team could not just focus on optimizing the PC side, but also had to treat the host side equally.

Things are different now! In the past, there were few console players and sales were low, so we didn’t pay attention to it. But now that the number of console players has exceeded one million, if we still can’t pay attention to it, then there is really no hope.

Speaking of game optimization, Yang Dong remembered something.

In the game "Need for Speed", many players have reported the same problem, that is, you can't play music while driving?

Bad review!

Brother Ba, what are you doing? Why is there no music in the car? Do you know that you can’t listen to music while driving? How serious is this matter to everyone?

"Well……"

After learning that players were protesting against not being able to listen to music while driving, Chen Ba said helplessly: "Copyright is not easy to deal with!"

It’s okay if players play their own songs, but if the official releases a bunch of copyrighted music through updates, that would be bad.

"Get a car audio system, but no music files built into it, you know what I mean?"

"I see."

Yang Dong understood what Brother Ba meant. He could play songs for everyone, but these songs could not be officially provided by Tianba Studio. Players needed to manually add song files and paths.

In this way, Tianba Studio no longer has to purchase the so-called song copyright.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

After all, they only made a car audio system and did not provide any audio files. It was all tinkered with by the players themselves. Can you blame them for infringing on rights?

“That’s right!”

Speaking of the game "Need for Speed", Chen Ba seemed to have thought of something, so he asked: "By now, most players should have saved enough money to experience the vehicle modification function, right?"

It is said that the repair function of the game "Need for Speed" is very powerful and can simulate the most realistic car repair process.

But in fact, everyone has overlooked one point, that is, the vehicle modification function of this game is also very powerful and has a high degree of freedom!

The game has been released for so long, Chen Ba also wants to know what interesting cars these players have modified? "That's really..."

Yang Dong thought about it, but couldn't think of a very appropriate adjective, so he said hesitantly: "It's hard for me to describe it, you can go to the community and read the posts yourself!"

Chen Ba: “???”

Why is it so hard to describe?

Could it be possible that these players could come up with something else that would make people's eyes darken? Out of curiosity, Chen Ba clicked on the newly opened "Tianba Auto Trade" section of the Tianba Community and browsed the popular posts on the forum.

The first modification post is normal.

The player converted an ordinary family car into a highway tow truck, adding a triangular shovel head to the front of the car. As long as he drove towards the traffic jam, a lane would be freed up instantly on the congested road.

Real physical obstacle removal! Not bad...

Although it is a bit abstract, it is at least within an acceptable range and not as indescribable as Yang Dong said.

Next! Clicking on the second modification post, Chen Ba's teacup, which was originally in his hand, almost fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

What the hell? What a weird idea. They actually added propellers and air cushions to the vehicle, so that the vehicle can float on the water and move forward quickly, turning it into an amphibious vehicle.

The player then drove his modified amphibious vehicle across the sea and eventually reached the air wall at the edge of the map.

OK, OK! Is this how you play?

Although he guessed that players’ imaginations would be very creative, Chen Ba still couldn’t help rolling his eyes when he saw these modified products.

Next, next! Stop doing this kind of abstract modification. Can you be more serious and modify a car that is truly practical and can kill all the enemies on the track? Perhaps Chen Ba's prayer worked. The third modified car he got was finally not a trick, but a serious modified car.

The appearance has basically not changed.

If I have to say, it's probably because the car body has become a lot fatter, and I don't know what the player did to it.

Enter the actual combat drill and start a game directly. A GIF of about 15 seconds will appear in the post.

Chen Ba clicked it to view.

In the GIF, a modified racing car did not start after the countdown ended, but burned its tires on the spot until thick smoke billowed.

What is this for?

Chen Ba was very confused. The other cars had already started, but you were still standing there burning tires. Did you forget to release the handbrake?

Before he could figure out what the intention was, he saw a fire suddenly break out at the rear wheels of the vehicle after the thick smoke, followed by a violent explosion.

Amid the explosion, the racing car that had been standing still suddenly jumped up and was blown away by the huge impact force. With flames and thick smoke, it crossed the winding track and landed directly on the finish line.

Chen Ba: “…”

He swore that he had never seen a more outrageous modification in his life. How could this be a racing car? This was clearly an explosive genius. Even the parabola was calculated, right?

abstract!

No wonder Yang Dong found it hard to describe. The abstract modifications made by these players would make anyone feel dizzy. "Forget it, let them be."

Knowing that he could not control the Fourth Disaster, Chen Ba did not think that there was anything wrong with these modifications.

If players don’t make trouble, are they still players?

It is better to expect sows to climb trees than to expect players to behave themselves. As long as they don't... Shit! Chen Ba, who wanted to delete the community page, accidentally glanced at the title and picture of a post, and his eyes widened instantly.

[Start from scratch and build a car that is unique in the world! 】

Ah this...

Chen Ba had thought of ten thousand ways for players to make a living, but he never expected that someone would actually try to build a car in the game "Need for Speed"?

No way! A car is not as simple as "four wheels and a sofa" as people joke. The parts and mechanical devices involved are quite complicated.

Purely hand-made cars?

Although the physics engine of "Ford" can support this idea, the problem is that ideas are just ideas, and putting them into action is not as simple as just talking.

Just when Chen Ba thought that this player was daydreaming, he suddenly thought of a question.

The post has been published?

Since he has posted it, does that prove that he has made some progress?

Is this true... Is there really someone who built a car with bare hands in the game using only simple equipment and tools?

He clicked on the post for some unknown reason, and after taking a quick look at it, he breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s okay!

It's not so outrageous that he really had to rely on manual labor. He also borrowed parts from the game that could be used for repairs.

For example, for the car he built, the battery, motor and electronic control system were all purchased from suppliers, and he was only responsible for design, assembly and testing.

But this is also amazing!

(End of this chapter)