"A little faster than I anticipated."
"The appeal of 'Ark of the Apocalypse' is even greater than in the previous life."
"I wonder if it's due to the lack of competitors."
Leaning against the table, Lu Li took a long sip from his thermos.
The first two hundred players to clear 'Dark Souls' had successively contacted him, and only now had he distributed all the beta codes for 'Ark of the Apocalypse'.
The preview version primarily focused on introducing the game's plot, not significantly different from the official version, though it contained less content.
The test version only released the storyline of Main Mission 4, with a very limited selection of operators available.
After all, if all content were released in the test version, there would be less anticipation for the official server.
Familiarizing players with the main storyline worldview and cultivating the habit of following it was also crucial.
This way,
When the "knives" were delivered later, players would have a stronger sense of immersion.
And cry even harder.
The official version's Main Mission 8 concluded the Integration of the Reunion.
Subsequently, side story plots and new operator launch events would be updated.
After Lu Li finalized the related content for the test version, he coincidentally played a prank on the 201st player to clear the game.
Upon learning that he was just one step away from a beta code, that player almost went berserk.
Lu Li immediately gained fifty thousand resentment points.
His grin widened.
The pranks concluded, and Lu Li busied himself.
He could sense that VR games were being promoted intentionally or unintentionally both domestically and internationally, with many outdoor billboards updated with dynamic videos of VR games.
Stocks related to the upstream and downstream VR game industry chains had already skyrocketed.
This was a significant manifestation of the technological tree being illuminated.
Furthermore, VR technology was not solely applied to gaming; it had extensive uses in life, aerospace, and medicine.
However, Lu Li, being in the gaming circle, only received information related to VR games.
To be honest, Lu Li was also looking forward to this day.
Putting on an experience suit and a helmet to have an immersive gaming experience.
He also wanted to feel it.
"System, how much resentment value have you collected so far?"
【Ding! Remaining Resentment Value: 854 million】
"It seems not enough."
"System, check the resentment value required for all versions of 'Titanfall'?"
【Ding! 'Titanfall' PC Version: Eighty million resentment points, processing fee for commissioned manufacturing: Twenty million resentment points】
【Ding! VR Standard Edition: 1 billion resentment points, VR Adaptation Edition: 2 billion resentment points, VR Jo-Grade Unbeatable Supreme Edition: 5 billion resentment points, processing fee for commissioned manufacturing: 100 million resentment points】
"Damn it!"
"So expensive!"
"Also, why do your processing fees keep increasing? When making 'Ark of the Apocalypse', it only required ten million resentment points..."
Lu Li's face turned purplish. He, who usually manipulated others, was now being manipulated by the black-hearted system.
"Sigh."
"I originally intended to leave you all some room to breathe, but this darn system shows no mercy."
"Since that's the case... then I won't hold back either."
"System, list all the 'UT' fanfiction AU works for me..."
"System, find 'Rebirth of the Cell' for me..."
"System, find the 'Siming Summoning' soap opera DLC for me..."
...
While Lu Li was preparing a ton of "knives" for the players, the small community surrounding 'Ark of the Apocalypse' exploded!
Most of the two hundred players who received the preview version source code immediately redeemed and downloaded the beta version.
A small number of players directly listed them on the game circle trading market, with prices sometimes reaching tens of thousands of yuan.
A quick profit.
These were mostly purchased by major live streamers, with some also bought by large game companies for research.
Unfortunately,
The system's intervention, with its excellent code security, prevented much valuable information from being researched.
As expected.
This was a trade secret. Lu Li had long prepared eight hundred layers of precautions against industry rivals and hacker intrusions.
This was also one of the reasons why games produced by Ling Jing maintained such good reputations to this day.
No hacks, a fair game environment with absolute restoration.
However, due to the tight security system, the wishes of many players who looked forward to skin customization in 'Love Soul' were dashed.
Breaking the classic saying of, "Once it's on PC, you get to decide what you wear."
...
Inside the room.
Chen Yingying looked at the activation code and a link in her Weibo private messages, feeling hesitant.
"Honey... should we sell this beta code? I heard it's worth tens of thousands of yuan, which is more than our entire year's food budget."
Despite her great anticipation and desire to play, compared to reality, this devoted wife always prioritized the family.
"But isn't this a game you've been really, really looking forward to?"
Tang Wanqiu was somewhat undecided.
"But it's valuable now. It feels like playing a game that costs tens of thousands of yuan, and I'm a bit nervous."
Chen Yingying's eyes curved into crescent moons as she linked her arm with Tang Wanqiu's. "Besides, it's only twenty days, it'll pass quickly. There's no significant impact from not playing the game early, but with this money, our family can have an extra serving of pork ribs every day."
"And I think this game won't serve much purpose in our hands. It's better to sell it to streamers so they can utilize its potential, let more people know and understand 'Ark of the Apocalypse', and then we can all play together! We can watch the game through the streamers' perspectives."
Chen Yingying's words moved Tang Wanqiu, or rather, his wife's filial piety touched him.
"You... marrying you is truly the most, most, most correct decision of my life."
Their foreheads touching, the couple playfully nuzzled each other.
Tang Wanqiu lay on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. "Who are you planning to sell the beta code to?"
"To Mo Zhi, I think she's quite suitable."
Remembering Mo Zhi's collapsed and stubborn state after Youling fell, she felt a pang of heartache for no reason.
Chen Yingying could tell that this streamer was a true fan of the games designed by Lu Li. She believed that handing the beta code to her would allow it to fulfill its intended value.
"Alright, then how do we contact her?"
Tang Wanqiu rolled over and sat up, looking at his flushed wife.
"Weibo, I follow her on Weibo. Should I send her a private message to ask if she wants it?"
"Okay!"
...
Mo Zhi was feeling very frustrated. Despite considering herself technically skilled, she had failed to be among the first two hundred players to clear 'Dark Souls'.
She was the 201st!
When she learned from the official channels that she was the 201st lucky one, she wished she could die!
She completely broke down on the spot!
This was more unbearable than being killed!
Beta access was not only about skill level but also had a significant impact on the future traffic direction.
Just as people have habits for reading books, they also have habits for watching livestreams.
Cultivating this batch of potential viewers' live-streaming habits now offered a much greater advantage than cultivating them twenty days later.
In twenty days, this batch of potential viewers would have long been divided among the streamers who bought beta access.
One step behind, every step is slow.
By the time she realized it and prepared to buy a beta code, the unactivated beta codes were long gone.
The beta code was bound to a phone, and once activated, it couldn't be used again.
Some people even bought the phone bound to the game along with it.
Truly a 'hard-to-find item'.
Ding-dong!
Just as Mo Zhi was at a loss, a private message arrived on Weibo.
【Does the streamer require an unactivated 'Ark of the Apocalypse' beta code? (Screenshot)】
"Holy crap!"
"It's real, an official unactivated beta code!"
Even with it obscured, Mo Zhi recognized it immediately. She quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll buy your account for 100,000 yuan at the market's highest price, is that okay?"
The other side paused for about a minute, clearly surprised by Mo Zhi's high offer.
Mo Zhi thought the offer was too low and prepared to add another twenty thousand, when the other side replied, "Deal. Add me on WeChat, we can use Taobao as an intermediary."
Success!
Mo Zhi was overjoyed. Buying a beta access for a hundred thousand yuan was a huge profit for her!
After the transaction was successful,
Mo Zhi changed her livestream title to: "Live Streaming 'Ark of the Apocalypse' Beta Version, featuring the 201st Cleared 'Dark Souls' Average Streamer."
Then, she turned on her webcam...
...