This Is Not a Bug but a Game Feature-Chapter 33: GuMua Sect
End of December, moving day.
This process took an entire morning, mainly because the equipment was pretty heavy, especially the computers, printers, scanners, and ergonomic chairs, making the move quite strenuous.
Considering that these were the only "physical assets" of the studio, Chen Ba didn’t bother hiring a professional moving company.
As expected...
The studio’s three strong men plus Wang Kun who came to help, a total of four laborers, were all exhausted after moving the stuff.
"This place is pretty spacious."
After taking a sip of water, Wang Kun sized up the new office of Tianba Studio and couldn’t resist asking, "With this space and location, the rent must not be cheap, right?"
"It’s okay, three hundred thousand a year."
Chen Ba shook his head and said, "For commercial properties like this, which aren’t actual office buildings, the rent is actually acceptable."
It’s a funny story.
The landlord initially didn’t plan to rent to Chen Ba because someone wanted to rent the place to open a card room, offering a much higher rent than Chen Ba.
But just before the contract was signed, the card room tenant was suddenly invited for a "tea time," due to illegal gambling activities that scared the landlord.
So he decided to rent to Chen Ba at a cheaper rate rather than risk renting it for a card room.
"Haha, something like that really happened?"
"I just found out too!"
Chen Ba laughed, "The landlord has other businesses, the rent is just pocket money, renting to us is much more reassuring than renting for a card room."
"That makes sense." Wang Kun nodded, looked around, and asked, "By the way, since this place is so empty, you probably need to hire more people, right?"
"Already recruiting, but no takers."
Chen Ba sighed.
The game sales revenue from the past two months had already hit the studio’s account, and with money in hand, he definitely wanted to hire more people.
Unfortunately, the recruitment notice had been out for a week, and not a single decent employee had been attracted so far.
He posted on the Dream Building Forum too.
Times are different now; previously, Tianba Studio felt embarrassed to recruit on the Dream Building Forum, but now, with representative works, it naturally attracts some interested peers to join in.
But they are either in Zhonghai or Pengcheng...
Unless Tianba Studio moves to a first-tier city, it’s difficult to attract industry peers to join. After all, when people hear that the workplace is in Jiangning, they immediately lose interest.
The location of Jiangning is not remote.
From the city center to Zhonghai is only about 140 kilometers, which is a drive of an hour and a half.
It’s also just a two-hour drive to New First-tier cities, which are also internet talent hubs like Lin’an.
But the awkward part is here...
You think it’s far? It’s really not! The journey is short, and the commute is convenient. But it’s precisely this hundred kilometers or so that makes many people reluctant to come.
"In the end, we’re still lacking in reputation and talent attraction."
Yang Dong came over and said with some regret, "If it were an offer from Tencent or Pig Factory, not to mention a hundred kilometers, even a thousand kilometers wouldn’t be a problem for people to come."
"That’s true!"
Chen Ba and Wang Kun nodded in agreement.
Why can’t Tianba Studio recruit people? Is it really because of the city of Jiangning?
Partially yes.
But more importantly, the studio’s reputation is too low, lacking a certain level of attraction for high-quality industry talent.
This is also why most internet startups usually root themselves in first-tier or new first-tier cities like Zhonghai, Pengcheng, or Lin’an.
In these big cities, even startups recruit easily. If the work location is not in these cities, and the company has a low reputation, people seriously consider whether it’s worth it.
"Take it slow, no rush!"
Chen Ba had a good attitude; lacking attraction for now doesn’t mean it will be forever.
As long as Tianba Studio consistently releases new works, they’ll eventually make a name in the gaming industry, attracting countless talents to join.
"It’s a pity my parents don’t agree, otherwise I would really want to resign and join you, to be one of the founding members..."
Wang Kun clicked his tongue, "In another twenty years, you all might be multi-millionaires, and I’ll still be in the office drinking tea and goofing off!"
It’s a lie if he said he’s not tempted.
With Tianba Studio succeeding with consecutive games, any smart person would know that following Brother Ba, the future is secure.
But there’s no way; the pressure from the family is just too much.
His parents could never accept him resigning from a state-owned enterprise to follow Brother Ba into some unreliable startup, as in the older generation’s eyes, a state-owned enterprise job is a "permanent iron rice bowl."
"Who knows about the future."
"Instead of thinking about all that, you might as well come clean, are you the Sect Leader of the Cowherding Sect?"
Chen Ba stared at Kun Kun, serious, "Honesty gets leniency, resistance leads to severity, quickly confess! Does the Cowherding Sect have anything to do with you?"
"Cowherding Sect..."
Wang Kun looked dumbfounded, "What does that have to do with me? Don’t speak nonsense, since when did I become a Sect Leader?"
Still won’t admit it?
Chen Ba smirked, already seeing through Wang Kun’s true identity.
The forum displays IP addresses.
The Sect Leader of the Cowherding Sect and the High Priest both have IP addresses showing as Jiangning.
According to his investigation, two people entered his view, one is the well-known game area UP master Qian Duoduo from Thunderbolt, and the other is good buddy Wang Kun.
The Sect Leader and the High Priest must have something to do with the two of them!
The only suspense is, who is the High Priest among them, and who is the Sect Leader?
Recently in the "Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator" comment section, stirring up trouble is the "GuMua Sect," which is probably also related to these two.
How annoying!
One Cowherding Sect was already unbearable, and now a GuMua Sect appears, which is even more ridiculous than the Cowherding Sect.
"Auntie is the greatest! Auntie YYDS!"
The players of this new sect simply adore the auntie in "Living Under Someone’s Roof Simulator" to the extreme.
All this crazy literature and abstract love confessions are just a small part!
The most outrageous is a certain UP master who altered the lyrics of "The World Only Mothers Are Good" to "The World Only Aunties Are Good," and sang it passionately, touching countless players instantly.
Chen Ba had also watched that video.
I can only say that the video’s comment section and barrage, are somewhat abstract.
Remarks like "Auntie, how can I live without you," and "Auntie, I want to turn into a werewolf for you," made me cover in goosebumps.
One shouldn’t, at least shouldn’t...
Forget it!
There’s already the precedent of "falling in love with Old Huang." This time the GuMua Sect is unexpected, yet within reason.
As for why there are two factions within the GuMua Sect, one being "Auntie is the Greatest" and the other "Uncle, please hit me hard"... that’s an unknown.
I can only say that you should never underestimate the players’ abstract antics ability at any time.
Just like how Chen Ba could never have guessed, someone would wash dishes day and night at a restaurant for a full ten years just to buy a house set in a game...
