The Nether Dragon Venerable, who had been rampant for half a year, was nerfed, and players were overjoyed!

But the death of a Nether Dragon Venerable can’t change the fact that "Star Emperor," this old game, is already on a decline.

Active players are decreasing year by year!

The GAL League, on the other hand, is in full swing, almost becoming the world’s top esports event, surpassing League of Legends in terms of prize money and scale.

The only area where it’s weaker than League of Legends is attention and viewership.

It’s just not comparable...

Even though the GAL League has more prestigious sponsors, and although it’s lavish, with transfer fees for popular players starting at tens of millions, and top players exceeding billions.

But honestly, in terms of event attention, the GAL League still can’t match the more widespread audience base of League of Legends, which is also more popular among the youth.

There’s nothing to be done; these two games have different player bases, and even given ten years, the GAL League can’t catch up.

But speaking of which...

As a game from over a decade ago, damn, League of Legends is still the world’s number one online game, that’s really something.

Chen Ba is also convinced.

He still remembers a few years ago, when Tianba Studio was just starting, people online were already saying that League of Legends was done for, that LOL was going cold.

Fine, fine, it’s going cold!

Why is it, after a few years, that this broken game is still No. 1 in the PC market, and consistently at the top of various charts?

You call this going cold?

Honestly, everyone in the gaming industry knows that while Riot’s game development skills might not match those top-tier teams, their level of game operation is truly unparalleled.

Especially when it comes to hosting events, developing game-derived IPs, and so on, Riot is simply divine!

Chen Ba even wants to learn from them.

While playing the game he might complain, but if he sincerely reflects on the past decade of the PC market, it’s obvious that in the realm of online games, Riot is like a god.

"Their MMO is also up and running!"

Huang Qing was peeling a banana, speaking as he ate: "This should be the most successful new MMORPG in recent years."

"After all, it’s Riot..."

Chen Ba finds it quite normal; a game from Riot, it’d be strange if it didn’t get popular.

Rather than being surprised that the game is popular, it’s better to think about why Riot would make an MMORPG game in a time when PC games are declining.

"MMOs still have potential."

Huang Qing didn’t speak, but Yang Dong explained: "Do you remember more than a decade ago when online novels, especially those about online games, were particularly popular?"

"Of course I remember; I loved reading them back then, titles were always something like ’The Online Game of XXX...’"

"Exactly!"

Yang Dong nodded and said: "Do you know why the source material for these stories was mostly MMORPG games?"

"Immersion?"

"That’s part of it, but more so because both authors and readers believed that even in a 100% virtual game era, it would still be the era of MMORPGs."

Yang Dong couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, saying: "In other words, in the eyes of many back then, games played in a virtual world with helmets or game cabins had to be MMORPGs to be authentic."

It’s a stereotype.

To what extent is it stereotypical?

Even today, if a company announced they had developed epoch-making virtual world technology and would launch a game for it, the genre would likely still be MMORPG.

No doubt...

If such technology really existed, if it were to be applied to virtual games, the genre would have a more than 90% chance of being MMORPG, not any other genre.

League of Legends is super popular, right?

Games like Honor of Kings, Dota 2, and others are also very popular; at first glance, MOBA games seem to have taken over half of today’s PC and mobile game markets.

But if we enter the virtual era, no one would think games like League of Legends could still be big hits.

FPS games might still carve out a place in the virtual era with their unique gameplay mechanisms. Most other game types might be eliminated or replaced by MMORPGs in the virtual era.

"Makes sense..."

Chen Ba nodded, Yang Dong’s words had answered a question that had puzzled him for a long time.

No wonder all those online game stories back in the day were about MMOs; it turns out they thought these games would still be popular in the virtual era?

"Of course, there are also era influences."

Yang Dong laughed and said: "Back when online game stories were popular, the most popular games on the market were all MMORPGs, so that’s what these authors wrote about."

"Do you see anyone writing those stories in recent years? Aren’t they all writing things like ’I am the top player in LOL’ or ’I am the three-time champion in League of Legends’ esports stories now?"

The era background is also part of the reason.

Living in that thriving MMO era, both authors and readers believed MMORPGs were the future.

This idea can’t really be called wrong, nor can it be called right!

"Who can say what the future holds? MMOs might not be the future, but relatively speaking, this genre does have a strong vitality and a chance to thrive into the virtual era."

Chen Ba remarked: "A true virtual game might turn out to be another form, not necessarily the traditional MMORPG."

You can’t be sure about such things.

But one thing is certain: judging by Riot’s development of an MMORPG game based on the League of Legends universe, this genre indeed has potential.

Haven’t you seen how the online player base for their MMO has been skyrocketing, getting more popular by the day?

And that’s a point card system game!

Chen Ba’s eyes were nearly red with envy; very few people understand what it means for a point card system game to be exploding in popularity.

Don’t compare it to free games!

The point card games were at their peak, and also the most profitable period. Take "Legend" for example, it directly created the first internet tycoon of Hua Country.

At the same time, the two Ma-bros were outside the top hundred, still hustling for investment, trying to keep their companies afloat!

Although the wealth of that era’s richest seemed less significant compared to the trillions that came later, and many people didn’t quite recognize it.

But isn’t it possible that...

The wealth of the richest isn’t just for comparing with the second richest but can also be compared with an ordinary person’s monthly salary?

By relying on a single game, leaping to the richest in an era where monthly salaries were only a few hundred bucks, that’s the glory "Legend" once created, and it’s a scene that every gaming person finds shocking every time they recall it.

Besides "Legend," another notable point card system game is "World of Warcraft."

Its success is unquestionable. Saying it’s one of the world’s most profitable online games, surely no one would object, considering how many point cards have been sold over the years.

Ever since free games became mainstream, with in-game purchases becoming the norm, it’s been a long time since a truly popular point card system online game has appeared on the market.

Obviously, the League of Legends-themed MMO that they’ve created this time is one of a kind!

Chen Ba checked their pricing model. It isn’t a traditional point card system but leans towards a subscription model, with a monthly card costing 60 yuan for unlimited play that month.

yuan per player per month!

If this game has 100,000 active players, all buying the monthly card, that’s 6 million in monthly revenue, and 72 million in a year!

What about 500,000 or 1 million players?

This isn’t a one-time sale but a steady stream of point card system revenue. As long as the player base doesn’t plummet, the money can keep coming in.

"Unfortunately, we can’t do it."

Chen Ba thought about this and sighed helplessly.

Domestic players have been spoiled by free games and heavy in-game purchases. Trying to charge using point cards locally would be thankless, and free games have a brighter future.

"Nothing can be done; the market is different."

Huang Qing casually tossed a banana peel into the trash can and then said, "Besides, there’s nothing wrong with free games. Making quick money is still money!"

"So, are we making an MMORPG game?"

"I’ve thought about it..."

Chen Ba mused, "Wasn’t there a joke about when we’d make an immortal-themed game? I think an immortal MMO could have potential."

"Whether it has potential or not, nostalgia is definitely maxed out!"

Huang Qing laughed and said, "Immortal + MMO, a trap for mid-aged and young players!"

No kidding.

Domestically, any MMORPG that follows the martial arts or immortal theme or buys a classic novel’s rights pretty much succeeds.

Don’t ask why...

Just know that martial arts/immortal + MMO fits perfectly with local players’ tastes. Countless times the market has proven they love this combo; others just don’t work as well.

If you insist on doing swords and magic, you’re just forsaking the bonus that the theme brings, not a wise choice.

An immortal martial arts MMO is nostalgia-fueled...

No matter how bad the game might be, even disgustingly so, if it’s an immortal martial arts MMO, a bunch of nostalgic players will come just to support it.

Whether they leave after playing a few days, it doesn’t matter, you just see if people come or if the game is popular!

"If we were to make an immortal MMORPG, would you believe that as soon as the news is released, the whole internet would explode?"

"I believe it!"

Chen Ba couldn’t not believe it.

If it were him, he’d probably pay attention to such news too.

If even he is like that, much less the average players. They couldn’t resist the allure of a pure immortal MMO game.

Let alone causing an internet explosion, by that time, marketing accounts and self-media would be hyping up the new immortal MMO by Tianba Studio 24/7.

A few screenshots, endlessly analyzed and interpreted, then turned into various posts, hitting over a billion views and millions of video plays. Editors would laugh themselves awake at night.

No need to doubt its authenticity.

It’s real!

Totally real, as long as Chen Ba dares to release the news, this will surely happen, maybe even more exaggerated.

By then, Tianba Studio wouldn’t even need to buy any traffic or trending searches; the news would spread across the country, with all sorts of streamers and influencers coming to chase the hype.

No joke!

When "Annihilating World" was initially announced, wasn’t it like this?

One promotional video was screen-captured repeatedly, the image wore out from being shared so much, even groups infamous for sharing risque pictures were discussing it.

Sadly, the game tanked.

But just because other games fail doesn’t mean immortal MMOs can’t work. From the eager eyes of players and their enthusiasm in discussing such games, it’s easy to see that if these games are done well, the market is indeed vast.

The premise is, the game has to be good!

A good game paired with an immortal MMO combo punch can unleash maximum power. If the game’s no good, even the best concept is just wasted effort.