chsdbacks Page 498
Page 498
The public opinion that had been suppressed began to surge again.
If we count them in detail...
This is the third time that Tencent has lost its reputation because of Red Alert Online.
If he could do it all over again, Ma Xiao would definitely slap himself twice.
One can stumble in one place three times.
He was truly overwhelmed.
~~~
After breaking down, Ma Xiao called Lin Li.
"Lin Li! You've gone too far!"
The abundance of telephones is no secret in the industry.
Anyone with even a little bit of connections in the industry can get access to a plethora of business phone numbers.
However, this was the first time Lin Li had ever seen someone like Ma Xiao start cursing as soon as they called.
"Who are you?"
"I am Ma Xiao."
"Oh, who is it?"
Lin Li's indifferent tone made Ma Xiao, whose mood had just improved, break down even more.
"Never mind who I am. We agreed to stop here. What do you mean by encouraging EA?"
"Stop it here? With whom? You?"
Upon hearing Lin Li's words, Ma Xiao's first thought was, "Did Hu Bing fail to convey his meaning effectively?"
As soon as the idea came up.
He couldn't continue speaking.
He only said, "Leave a way out for others so you can meet again in the future," and then hung up the phone.
Lin Li, upon hearing the busy signal, wore a helpless smile.
"How come I actually broke down?"
After saying that, Lin Li made a phone call to the Spark platform's operations department.
His tone was very flat.
But the content of the phone call was anything but bland.
"Let's move on to the next phase of the plan. We can't let this final blow be half-hearted."
Chapter Sixty-Two: Intense "Mutual Evaluation"
Lin Li's backup plan.
It’s actually not complicated.
Since the multiplayer version of Red Alert on Tencent has been discontinued.
The online version of Spark will naturally be available.
However, the same thing is different when Starfire plays the multiplayer versions of Red Alert 2 and Red Alert 3.
The main addition is the expansion marketplace for two games, which is essentially a mod library.
Spark has accumulated technical expertise in game mod expansion, primarily from its experience with *Galaxy Paradise: Explore*.
Therefore, the Extended Marketplace module was launched simultaneously on the first day of the Spark platform's launch.
However, like STEAM, this module also requires developers to adapt it.
Therefore, after its launch, there were not many manufacturers that adapted the module.
Or rather, very few.
Lin Li was initially confused as to why he had joined the expanded marketplace but had no developers supporting him.
Lin Li then conducted a thorough investigation.
Found the problem.
This problem can be complex in some ways, and simple in others.
That means manufacturers have to consider costs when making this product.
It's not just development costs, but also operating costs.
For developers, supporting the Workshop isn't too difficult, but preventing people from messing around in the Workshop is much more challenging.
If you look closely, you'll see that the number of games supporting the Steam Workshop on Steam has actually been decreasing over the past 20 years.
For large companies, it's enough to make a closed AAA game and rake in the money. They're unwilling to open up the Steam Workshop, especially since the review and operation of such places require manpower.
For independent game studios, if someone deliberately courts disaster, the studio will be the first to bear the brunt of the consequences.
The studio certainly doesn't have the manpower to identify and evaluate the content of the creative workshops.
Even though the vast majority of mods in the Workshop are not against the rules, there are still one or two that are not.
This makes it easy for malicious people to use it to stir up trouble.
Therefore, many game development teams are not lacking in technology, but simply unwilling to invest the manpower to access the Steam Workshop.
Because of historical inertia, Steam's workshops have indeed been able to generate sales, so some manufacturers are still willing to invest manpower in them.
Is the Spark platform available?
Then there's no need to go through all that trouble, right?
Moreover, the Spark platform's extended marketplace is even more integrated than Steam.
It also has a wide range of functions.
One-click installation, chain installation of required basic extensions, MOD collection subscription, MOD rating, and automatic detection of MOD compatibility conflicts.
The more features a device has, the more complicated the adaptation process becomes, not to mention the need for review.
Fewer manufacturers are willing to provide support.
In its previous life, EPIC spent a lot of time trying to create the Workshop but failed. This was partly due to EPIC's own problems, and partly because, after conducting research, they felt that manufacturers didn't have much demand for this feature.
However, manufacturers don't have much demand for this, but players actually have a lot of demand for it.
EPIC executives were unaware of this.
Lin Li is completely different.
Therefore, upon learning of this matter, Spark's extended marketplace added two new features, one of which was for the Spark Developer Alliance.
If you use the Spark Game Engine to develop your game, Spark will provide engineers to help you enable the relevant features for this extended marketplace.
Even if you don't use the Spark Engine, you can still request help from Spark's engineers.
Secondly, all MODs submitted to the Spark Games platform will be reviewed by the Spark platform itself.
Two blows down.
Spark's expanded market has finally been launched.
Of course, because of the short time since their release, many games have not yet formed a mod community. Currently, many mods for games on the Spark platform are similar to those on Steam, and some players even port Steam mods.
But no matter what.
This solves the problem of whether or not something exists.
Based on this framework.
This time, there are two online versions of Red Alert 2 and Red Alert 3.
The expanded marketplace integrates many mods.
For example, Red Alert 2's Republic of Glory and Mental Omega.
The Corona in Red Alert 3.
These mods are all in the expanded marketplace, and they are different from other mods.
Spark added several new markers to the covers of these mods, such as [Multiplayer] / [Creator Registration] / [Authorized Updates].
Spark contacted all of these mod authors.
For mods that are still being updated, such as Mental Omega for Red Alert 2 and Corona for Red Alert 3.
Their mods are marked with "Multiplayer" and "Creator Onboarding".
This means that the mod supports online play, and the creator will provide future updates for the mod.
For mods like Republic's Glory, which are old and no longer updated, Starfire obtained the mod license.
Therefore, the identifiers are "Online" and "License Update".
Of course, Spark's so-called update will not change the overall framework, but will only make some adjustments to the values of the mods.
Besides these few of the most well-known mods.
Spark is also contacting other mod authors.
For these older games, mod support is still quite important.
Besides mods.
In addition, the online remastered version that Spark promised at the previous music festival will also include a mod editor during the remastering process, helping mod authors to remaster their mods as well.
This is actually a kind of avoidance measure, because the plot of Red Alert is still a bit sensitive, even though the State Administration of Press and Publication is currently in power.
However, Spark ultimately only officially remastered the online version.
However, the approval process for game mods is significantly easier than for the base game, and since they are not profitable, they do not require a game license.
Therefore, quest mods like Mental Omega can fill in the gaps in the storyline.
Even modifying the original storyline and uploading it to a mod is not out of the question.
In China, flexibility is a helpless yet compromising art.
Of course, these are all things that "above" people do.
For players.
What they saw was Spark teaching the penguin how to use a reverse grip.
Both are online versions, but Spark's sincerity is clearly much greater.
Not only are there mods to enhance the experience, but the servers are also better prepared. Unlike Tencent's multi-layered censorship, where you have to play another game to get a CD key before you can even enter the game, this one offers a different experience.
More importantly, there are a huge number of players.
At this time, Spark could be described as a paradise for veteran gamers worldwide.
Many Chinese players noticed this when they watched the Heroes of Might and Magic 3 multiplayer demo.
They are often matched with foreigners.
At least five out of ten games were played by foreigners.
Speaking of this, there's a very interesting little anecdote about it.
Chinese streamers often remark that there are so many foreigners playing this game.
Foreign streamers often remark on how many Chinese people are playing this game.
Furthermore, in the Heroes of Might and Magic III comment section, players from various countries began engaging in heated "mutual reviews."
Chapter Sixty-Three: For the Spark Plan, Penguins Are Asked to Die
The English and French players are the most ridiculous.
The controversy started when a French player created a ranking list, outlining the strategies, hero choices, and playstyles of players from various countries.
This was originally a very normal discussion.