Interstellar Travel: Becoming a Dress-Up Game Designer

Chapter 106 Bamboo Heart Carries, Myriad Intentions Unfold

The player replied, "It's not very expensive, only 300,000 gold ingots per month. You can only rent it for one month at a time, and you can renew it for the following month."

The remarks of a nouveau riche are very offensive.

"Rich guy, what are you planning to sell?"

Three hundred thousand gold ingots is a lot; according to the recharge ratio, that's thirty thousand interstellar coins!

For some wealthy people, it's a small amount, perhaps only two months' salary, but for most people it's still a luxury.

Shouldn't we sell some good stuff to recoup our costs?

"Is this even a question? It's definitely a super hot item. Right now, the hottest item is absolutely the rocket launcher. One shot can take out a lot of NPCs in the wedding kidnapping scene."

"Haha, I agree. And the flying crossbow is really useful."

"My circle is the most popular in the Plum Garden Corridor. Our pavilion has received so many orders, it's incredibly popular."

The person who spoke is a player who focuses solely on building houses and doesn't engage in combat or costume changes.

"I think Huameng Mingshang is the most popular; it's selling like hotcakes at our store. Here are some pictures; feel free to purchase if you like them!"

The image shows a modified clothing set. The outer cape wasn't hemmed, so the player added a row of pearl tassels to the cuffs. Depending on the player's needs, these tassels can be replaced with bells, teardrops, or gems of different colors. These bells, pearls, and gems are obtained using withdrawal tokens from existing hairpins and other items.

The cash withdrawal symbol has remained at the top of the sales charts since it appeared.

"Hua Mengmingshang is absolutely stunning. Orders are piling up now, it's definitely the hottest item."

"Pshaw, even if it's popular, it's not as popular as fat sheep. I raise 600 head of sheep a day, and there are plenty of rich people lining up to buy them."

"When it comes to farming and animal husbandry, I'm wide awake now! Look at my fresh grass sales volume—three thousand tons a day, and it's still not enough. The price has already gone up for the third time. (Image attached)"

"If you ask me, shouldn't the best-selling item be the withdrawal token? Without the withdrawal token, nothing else could exist."

"We're talking about player-created content, bro. You dare compare yourself to the official stuff?"

"There's nothing to sell anyway. Are you going to sell rare, discontinued items? Or buy them at a high price and sell them at a low price?"

"Isn't there a lower price than the official price?"

........

The wealthy player replied, "I'm not selling anything. I'm going to exhibit all my rare, discontinued items and open a rare item exhibition hall. Ten copper coins for a visit, how about it?"

Many players were confused by this move. Ten coins?

The monthly rent is 300,000 gold ingots, which is 10,000 per day. At 10 coins per person, it would take almost 100 million to break even.

"Rich guy, won't you go bankrupt doing this?"

A wealthy man commented, "Brother, that's a great idea. I want to open one too. My exhibition hall will be the most comprehensive, encompassing all currently discontinued items. I'll charge one tael of silver for the entrance fee."

"Pshaw, that only covers all the discontinued editions. I have more than two versions of each of those!"

"I'm opening a special flower fairy exhibition hall with 160 flower fairies, including twins. How about that? I'll also have the corresponding flowers. Admission is free, just give me the title of Best Flower Fairy."

"How about I open a bird exhibit? I have all kinds of birds, including at least ten rare varieties such as white peacocks, golden pheasants, giant eagles, birds of paradise, and snowy owls. What do you think?"

"Alright, alright, I've displayed the goldfish and the corresponding Lungmen video, outfit, and items. I should be the player who has triggered all the Lungmen legends, right? Hahaha."

"What are you thinking? You don't even have a one-of-a-kind men's and women's set, at least not the opposite sex one. You're just bragging without thinking."

"I bought it! Humph, the video."

The video released by this wealthy man features several unique outfits from the "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" game. Although it seems like a long time ago now, it still excites people.

Especially the rare, discontinued ones; it's truly impressive to be able to get your hands on them all.

"Ahhh, I still love this event so much! I really look forward to Qingfengyi coming back again. This time, I'm going to fly!"

"Ahhh, it's the treasure I missed out on, I'm so sad!"

"Me too, I was so unlucky that I didn't keep a single fish. I had to leave a lot of bad reviews, sob sob sob."

As the discussion progressed, many players who initially didn't understand began to comprehend why the wealthy individual would invest in hosting an exhibition hall at a loss.

It's not an exhibition hall, it's a showcase of treasures!

Before the availability of shops, these wealthy individuals could only invite friends or teammates to visit their homes or hold offline banquets. However, with shops available for rent on the streets, their desire to show off has become uncontrollable. They can't wait to prepare their exhibition halls in a second and put their treasures inside one by one.

Everyone who walks in sees his smugness and swagger. Is there anything more satisfying than that?

Absolutely not!

The saying "holding gold and not engaging in worldly affairs" applies to those who lack strength and ability. Those who possess wealth and are powerful enough would love to have a sun in their arms, shining brightly and attracting the attention of everyone around them.

The point of bringing a treasure is to show it off, hehe.

After chatting in the chat channel for half an hour, the special effects update officially began. This time, a panda delivered the message. An adorable little cat appeared, no bigger than a palm, sitting on a bamboo leaf.

It blinked its big eyes and handed the envelope to the player, who was completely charmed!

Pandas are cute to begin with, but Lin Shuying's design is a miniature, adorable cartoon version, round and fluffy like a ball of fur. Players couldn't resist reaching out to touch it; that soft fur was simply irresistible!

"Aaaaaah, what a powerful beast this is! I've been hit hard, and my health bar is empty."

The rain has stopped, and a faint scent of bamboo lingers in the air. Many bamboo leaves flutter in the night sky, creating a dreamlike scene. Only indistinct, dark shadows can be seen; there is no moonlight, only the starry sky.

Many players deliberately ignored the messages, just to keep the panda around a little longer.

"Qingfengyi is going too far! How can such an adorable child be used as a messenger? Doesn't he know how to play games?"

"Exactly! If we put it up for sale, it would sell like hotcakes!"

Of course, there has to be a panda; it goes perfectly with bamboo.

After waiting for ten minutes and the player still hadn't answered, the panda angrily said, "A guest has come from afar, showing great respect and affection, yet you're not even welcoming him? Humph! Are you deliberately ignoring me? I'm angry!"

He then placed the letter heavily in the player's arms and disappeared.

Those pouty lips puffed out her cheeks, she was so cute!

Unfortunately, the panda ran away, and the disappearance effect was that the bamboo leaf it was sitting on turned into smaller bamboo leaf fragments and disappeared with a 'pop'.

The player's heart also disappeared; they couldn't stop thinking about it.

It took me a minute to tidy up before I could open the letter. The envelope had a reddish-brown freehand bamboo painting on the background. The letter paper was an old, faded yellow, carrying an antique feel.

If you savor it carefully, you can also taste a faint bamboo fragrance.

This paper is made from the finest bamboo fiber, resulting in a soft, delicate surface with a subtle bamboo scent. The grain is excellent, preventing ink from becoming fuzzy.

The following is a recent update from Qingfengyi:

Dear Qingfengyi players, the ninth event, "Bamboo Heart Through the Ages, Myriad Thoughts Unfolding," has officially begun!

Bamboo symbolizes a virtuous person, upright and unyielding. With an open heart yearning for the Way, its roots strong and tall, it would rather break than bend. As one of the symbols of Chinese spiritual civilization, bamboo has long been a model praised by countless scholars. However, bamboo not only symbolizes spiritual civilization, but it is also an indispensable material in life. Things made from bamboo range from a pair of chopsticks to multi-million dollar luxury goods, spanning a vast range, making it a rare existence that connects the lowest levels of society to the highest levels of civilization.

This event features numerous crafting blueprints, allowing players to personally cut bamboo and create a variety of exquisite items. Additionally, twenty exclusive items are available during this event; accumulate crafting points to redeem them! Many more items will become available for purchase after the event ends; please check the service center for details.

This event features a new mystery guest and a variety of bamboo bonsai!

Let's explore the world of bamboo together!

More exciting content awaits in the next update!

Are there any new guest advisors?

Players were very curious, and no matter how dark the night was, they would put on their clothes and run to the dungeon.

This instance has two entrances: a blue door labeled "Material Acquisition Area" and a warm yellow door labeled "Housing and Construction Area."

Players were unsure which door to enter, resulting in a wall of obstacles blocking the dungeon entrance.

"Hey, get out of here! What are you doing blocking the way?"

"Hey you in front, hurry up and move along, don't block my way!"

"Stop pushing! Step on my feet!"

"Aaaaaah, I've fallen! I've been trampled!"

The players in the middle were squeezed chest to back, unable to move an inch. Some players fell down and couldn't get up, getting trampled to death and going home.

The players in front were pushed into the instance, the doors on both sides were so crowded they couldn't get through. The players behind pushed hard, and the lucky ones got in directly.

The player was stunned upon entering.

Lin Shuying built a very high platform in the bamboo forest, right on the mountainside. There was nothing in front of it, and behind it was a mountain covered with bamboo.

The wind blows, creating waves that are very beautiful.

The bamboo leaves rustled, and the wind smelled wonderful on my face.

In the darkness, moonlight peeked through the clouds, illuminating the bamboo grove below in a deep, hazy blue. The atmosphere was exquisite; the players who entered remained completely silent, sitting on the edge of the platform, swinging their legs, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Qingfengyi is really good at designing."

"I love this peaceful atmosphere; it's completely different from fighting games."

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but I always feel at peace."

Qingfengyi's approach to the game is somewhat aimless and chaotic. At first glance, it gives one a sense of confusion, as if they don't know what they should be doing.

However, new players who actually enter won't feel confused. The room they enter only has one door, which is the shop door.

Upon entering the shop, there is a guide leading players to make purchases and earn money. If a player's inventory is empty when making a purchase, the first thing that appears is a list of ways to obtain in-game currency: planting flowers, exchanging with other players, recharging, and exploring the world.

Unlike other games that give players some in-game currency at the beginning, leading to an overwhelming influx of purchases, in Qingfengyi, you start with no money, and earning money through quests is your primary objective.

StarCraft players have never seen such a setting before; it's so novel.

Once the shop is unlocked, all tasks are unlocked; there's no requirement to complete the first step before you can complete the second. Build a house if you want, farm if you want.

If you don't want to farm or build houses, you can just start playing from the latest dungeon.

Even in the martial arts world of China, acquiring weapons isn't difficult; you can simply buy them. If you're short on money, you can open treasure chests to gather materials and obtain items beyond the limited editions.

The game has a very relaxed and carefree atmosphere, and many designers who played it found the character's underlying meaning extremely difficult to understand.

Just as the players were engrossed in the Bamboo Forest Breeze, a media outlet on StarNet submitted an interview request. This media outlet was quite large, and Lin Qiaoqiao did not refuse.

I originally planned to go myself, but they only wanted to interview Lin Shuying.

Lin Shuying thought about it and agreed, since today was the day for the interview.

The reporter asked, "Designer Lin, many people don't understand the core concept of Qingfengyi. Recently, you've been heavily criticized by various designers. Could you explain why you wanted to design such a game?"

Lin Shuying laughed and said, "At first, it was to make money; this was the only thing I knew how to do."

When I first arrived, I was penniless.

In addition, as long as the original owner's job was legitimate and the working environment was good, most transmigrators would continue to do the original owner's job.

The reporter was surprised by Lin Shuying's response. She asked with a laugh, "If it's for making money, why set the price so low?"

This is something most designers and even players can't understand. Before StarCraft and Breeze, there was only one free-to-play game with ads. But that game's purpose was advertising, unlike other games.

Lin Shuying: "Because StarCraft is so good, the benefits and various survival resources it provides are enough to support me so that I won't starve even if I don't have any income. So I designed the game from a player's perspective, which is probably the biggest difference between Qingfengyi and other games."

In her past life, many game developers advertised games that were designed from the player's perspective, promising a satisfying experience like coming home.

But are there really games made like that?

Yes, there are independent designers.

But independent designers simply cannot survive in the environment they live in.

Just like a dream, if you chase it alone, you'll lose it; if a group of people chase it, it will become just one person's dream.

Actually, that person doesn't even know if the dream they're pursuing is still the same dream they originally had...

Thinking of this, Lin Shuying continued, "After people learn to think about the value of the intellectual dimension, they will do foolish things. When survival is guaranteed, they will become obsessed with foolish things. Some people will even be willing to be moths to a flame if they can't even guarantee their survival. This is the value of dreams. I hope that Qingfengyi will continue to develop, carrying all my beautiful fantasies, and bring players what I think is beautiful."

When the later interview videos were released, many of those who had been criticizing Qingfengyi fell silent.

"No wonder Qingfengyi makes me feel at home; it turns out the designer put all the things she likes—gentle, beautiful things—into it."

"No wonder Qingfengyi is so peaceful~ Ahhh, I want to love it for the rest of my life!"

.......

The next day, Qingfengyi Studio was jolted awake by a thunderous exclamation. Everyone gradually came downstairs, staring blankly at the second-floor office.

While yawning, Xia Chunqi voiced everyone's questions: "Who is it that's up so early? Ah~ waking me up so early in the morning, I'm so sleepy."