Chapter 8: The Feeling of Selling a Dream Is Amazing!

You Were Told to Lose Money By Making Games, and You Actually Did It? 

Chapter 8: The Feeling of Selling a Dream Is Amazing!

Being niche was good!

If it weren't niche, Chen Xu wouldn't have chosen it in the first place!

If it weren't niche, how could he use this game to lose money in the early stages?

How could he drain the system's treasury?

Looking at the surprised—and even worried—expressions on everyone's faces, Chen Xu nodded in satisfaction.

Finding a direction that both made sense and would naturally lead to losses was far more difficult than anyone could imagine.

If he deliberately chose an obviously bad direction, not only might the employees immediately realize he was doing it on purpose, but the system itself might judge it as a violation.

Worse yet, just like President Pei and the other predecessors with money-losing systems, unexpected accidents could occur and stab him in the back.

This situation was completely different.

The project he had selected was already a proven success in his previous world.

It only looked somewhat niche in the environment of this parallel world.

The grand plan can succeed!

"If all we're going to do is follow trends and make another formulaic action-adventure game, what's the point?" Chen Xu said.

"I'm sure you've all heard some rumors already. Our company has changed its name to Morning Star Games."

"Why call it Morning Star?"

"Because I want us to become a giant in the gaming industry—not a small studio that only makes safe, predictable games."

"Just like those classic games that defined the FPS genre, defined ACT games, and defined RPGs—why can't we be the ones who set the next trend?"

"We shouldn't worry about costs! We should pour our hearts and souls into game development!"

"If we refuse to try something just because it's niche or because we're playing it safe, then how will we ever achieve a breakthrough?"

Looking around the room, Chen Xu seriously ladled out bowl after bowl of motivational rhetoric and grand promises.

Why had he changed the company name?

Because he wanted the company to become obscure.

Even though the previous studio, Target Games, wasn't particularly famous, it still had some recognition.

Its official blog and video platform accounts had over 200,000 followers.

The company's previous two games also had fairly good reputations.

If they kept using the Target Games brand, then when the new game launched, wouldn't there immediately be a wave of sales?

The revenue might not be huge, but even a mosquito's leg was still meat.

Not knowing Chen Xu's "sinister" intentions, everyone in the room was becoming increasingly fired up.

Especially Gong Qi and Ying Gao.

Both of them unconsciously clenched their fists beneath the table.

What they had wanted was a stable, profitable project that could keep the company afloat.

But President Chen clearly thought differently.

His vision, ambition, and aspirations were on an entirely different level.

"Why can't we be the ones who set the next trend?"

That single sentence instantly ignited their passion.

Why had they entered the gaming industry in the first place?

Wasn't it because of their dreams?

And why had President Chen acquired their company?

To make money?

What money could be made from a company that had lost so much it practically had to sell its own children?

Wasn't it because President Chen had seen that they still had dreams?

But after being acquired, why had they immediately started thinking about playing it safe?

At that moment, both Gong Qi and Ying Gao lowered their heads and engaged in some serious self-reflection.

Seeing everyone's reactions, Chen Xu was extremely satisfied.

Although he had no experience being a boss, he knew how to serve motivational speeches.

After all, in his previous life he had been force-fed enough corporate inspiration for several lifetimes.

Now it was finally his turn to do the feeding.

And this feeling… It was absolutely fantastic!

After briefly explaining the new project's details to Gong Qi, Ying Gao, Xiao Dao, and Xiu Fu, Chen Xu led everyone out of the meeting room and back toward the office area.

Technically, announcing a new project could have been done through the company chat group, but considering the recent acquisition—and the fact that this was his first time being a boss—Chen Xu wanted to make a personal appearance.

Looking at the employees sitting upright at their desks, he nodded approvingly.

"I believe most of you have already entered work mode."

Work mode?

The employees looked at the snacks piled around their workstations.

Their expressions became rather complicated.

To be honest, they wanted to work.

But during the past two days at the company, there had barely been any work to do.

At most, they had pulled old 3D models out of the company's asset library and polished them to make them more detailed.

For the rest of the time, they had mostly been immersed in the excellent food provided by the new company.

Many of them had made a tragic discovery:

They had worked here for less than a week, and yet somehow gained two pounds.

"Next, we're officially entering the development phase of our new project."

"The specific details will be communicated by your department managers."

Chen Xu continued addressing the staff.

"But there's one thing I hope everyone understands. The company's goal is to release this game by the end of the second quarter next year, so the amount of time we have isn't particularly generous. I hope everyone can prepare themselves mentally."

Chen Xu spoke with a serious expression.

He couldn't help it.

The system was pushing him too hard!

As soon as Chen Xu finished speaking, Xiao Dao and Xiu Fu, who had already joined the company, immediately began clapping as the designated hype squad.

Gong Qi and Ying Gao quickly caught on and enthusiastically joined in.

When the locomotive moves, the train follows.

With people taking the lead, the office instantly filled with applause.

But at the very moment they started clapping, every employee—including Gong Qi and Ying Gao—felt a chill run through their hearts.

It's finally coming!

Overtime is finally coming!

The hell of 996 work schedules is finally here!

Everyone's expression became solemn.

As employees, very few people actually liked working overtime.

But in the internet industry—especially the gaming industry—everyone knew that overtime was often unavoidable.

And compared to working overtime at companies with poor benefits...

The new boss had upgraded all the hardware to luxurious levels.

The work environment and meals had improved dramatically.

If the workload wasn't too excessive, then perhaps overtime wouldn't be completely unacceptable?

"Also, I'm sure many of you have noticed that the company has replaced the access control system and time clocks. From now on, we'll be implementing a clock-in system."

"Its primary purpose is to record everyone's overtime hours so that overtime pay can be calculated and distributed afterward."

"As for overtime pay, it will be based on your actual salary. Workdays will be paid at 150%, weekends at 200%, and statutory holidays at 300%."

Clearing his throat, Chen Xu pointed toward the newly installed clock-in equipment by the entrance.

Originally, he hadn't planned to implement a punch-in system at all.

He had considered simply letting employees report their own overtime.

But then he thought about it again.

Wouldn't self-reporting essentially be a test of human nature?

And could human nature withstand that kind of test?

Of course not!

Although, thanks to the system, higher expenditures were better for him, that didn't mean he wanted everyone to think he was an idiot.

Unaware of Chen Xu's true thoughts, every employee was stunned.

There was actually overtime pay!

And not only that—it was overtime pay calculated according to the standards specified by labor law!

Everyone's eyes widened.

Including Gong Qi and Ying Gao.

After all, overtime pay was something that, for most office workers, practically existed only in legends.

And labor-law-standard overtime pay?

That was even more unheard of.

Aside from some large publicly traded corporations with stricter compliance standards, most smaller companies didn't even have the concept of overtime pay.

Even when the company had still been Target Games, overtime pay existed only in name.

It had been calculated based on the region's minimum wage standard, not the employees' actual salaries.

But now?

Everything was different.

The entire office instantly became excited.

Although their base salaries hadn't changed, the overtime compensation had!

In fact, based on the amount of overtime they had traditionally worked, it wouldn't be unusual for someone's monthly overtime pay to exceed their regular salary.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Chen Xu nodded in satisfaction.

Excellent! The momentum is fantastic!

Since he couldn't easily increase salaries, social insurance contributions, or housing funds for the moment, couldn't he at least raise overtime expenses?

Still, Chen Xu couldn't help feeling regretful.

What a shame!

Why is holiday overtime the only one that pays at triple the rate?

Just make regular overtime triple pay too!

His heart was filled with disappointment.

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