Chapter 749: Project Z
For GA, *Lost Treasure* was a very painful failure.
This IP was a hot property they had purchased at a high price. The game's production was entirely at a triple-A standard, with a massive investment in VR development. A significant amount of funding was also spent on the game's promotion.
But in the end, despite all the advertising for *Lost Treasure* and its popular IP, it seemed like all of it had served *Uncharted* instead. Chen Mo effortlessly reaped all the players who loved adventure games, while GA didn't even get a sip of the broth.
The designer of *Lost Treasure*, in particular, felt extremely frustrated. This game could have been his ticket to the top, since there had never been such an innovative adventure game before. But with the arrival of *Uncharted*, his dreams were abruptly shattered.
For GA, the IP was certainly not the problem. If the game didn't succeed, it had to be the designer's fault. Being completely outclassed by *Uncharted* in terms of gameplay—what more was there to say?
...
Many players noticed that on GA's official website, *Lost Treasure*, which had once occupied a prominent position, had been "demoted" to a relatively insignificant spot. In its place on the most eye-catching recommendation slot at the top of the homepage was a brand-new game, temporarily unnamed, simply referred to as "Project Z."
The failure of *Lost Treasure* was a foregone conclusion, and GA saw no need to waste more promotional funds on it. Moreover, GA urgently needed to release a new game to divert players' attention away from *Lost Treasure*. Being constantly mocked and ridiculed over it was grating on GA's higher-ups.
This forced launch of a new game felt like "rushing a duck onto a perch." Many players joked, "Isn't this diversion tactic a bit too clumsy?"
But after looking into the designer and related information for "Project Z," many players realized: "GA is serious! Are they planning a comeback?"
Although the game didn't have a specific name yet, its designer was very famous: Josh Wilson. He was one of GA's veteran designers, known for developing "Western masterpieces" highly praised by domestic players, especially skilled in depicting game scenes and the inner thoughts of game characters.
While Josh Wilson might not have had any particularly innovative ideas in gameplay, his strength lay in game atmosphere, plot, and character development. In terms of "storytelling," he was a well-known designer worldwide.
Upon hearing that Josh Wilson was personally overseeing the new project, players stopped mocking the "diversion tactic." Everyone knew that any game he made would be a classic in terms of storytelling. He was one of GA's few designers with a conscience.
After this, the attention of players and gaming media did indeed shift away from *Lost Treasure*. Everyone began to wonder: what exactly was this so-called "Project Z"?
Players were curious, and GA was pleased—this was exactly the effect they wanted! It was time to forget the past unpleasantness and start a new journey!
TGN even arranged an exclusive interview, hoping to get some inside information about the new game from Josh Wilson.
Soon, the interview video was released. Facing the TGN reporter, Josh Wilson spoke confidently, clearly optimistic about the project's prospects.
"I can't reveal too much about the specific content of this game yet, but I can tell you that the reason it's codenamed Project Z is because its keyword is 'zombie.'"
"Of course, I'm well aware that players are tired of traditional zombie themes, and those survival-style gameplay mechanics are a bit outdated. However, this project we're developing focuses more on the storyline."
"The reason I chose the zombie theme is mainly because it highlights human nature in an apocalyptic setting. We want to create an unprecedented, despair-inducing world, which will better emphasize the difficulty of the player's 'survival.'"
During the interview, the reporter also asked about his views on *Uncharted* and *Lost Treasure*, as well as his outlook on the Game of the Year award.
Josh Wilson seemed somewhat dismissive: "I think *Lost Treasure* is a good game. It's just that today's players might not fully appreciate its beauty."
"Of course, I'm not saying this to excuse *Lost Treasure*'s failure. What I want to emphasize is that success and failure in the gaming industry are hard to define clearly. Many good games don't sell well."
"As for *Uncharted*, I have to admit it has merits in its visuals, but I don't think its plot has any particularly memorable points."
"I'm not saying its story is bad. In fact, it's a very entertaining popcorn plot, but... well, it lacks a bit of depth."
"As for Game of the Year... we all know the judges prefer works with innovative gameplay and profound storylines and worldviews. Take last year's *Dark Souls*, for example. I really liked its obscure narrative. But in *Uncharted*, I'm a bit disappointed that Silent didn't continue his previous style."
"So far, the winner of this year's Game of the Year is still unclear, but I believe this honor should go to a work with deeper meaning."
This exclusive interview was quickly reposted on domestic video websites, sparking heated discussions among players.
On one hand, many players looking forward to Project Z were excited about the new game. Although the zombie theme wasn't particularly novel, a zombie game personally crafted by Josh Wilson was definitely worth anticipating.
On the other hand, the video also drew mockery from many domestic players. You could practically smell the sour grapes through the screen!
Of course, as a designer under GA, it was normal for Josh to speak up for *Lost Treasure*. After all, having suffered such a loss on this project, GA was probably pretty frustrated. But using a veiled narrative to subtly disparage *Uncharted* was quite underhanded.
However, many players felt there was no need to dwell on it. While Josh's words were a bit inappropriate, they had some validity.
*Uncharted*'s plot wasn't truly a classic. As an adventure title, its story was very good—featuring brotherhood, camaraderie, and romance, shaping Nathan into a vivid character. But no matter how good it was, it never strayed from the "popcorn" category. There was nothing particularly thought-provoking or worthy of being hailed as a masterpiece.