NIP #427 - Faced with the company's difficulties, Mr. Lu made the following choice (2 in 1 order)
#427 - Faced with the company's difficulties, Mr. Lu made the following choice (2 in 1 order)
After this disturbance, the atmosphere within Taoyuan Township Company became incredibly oppressive. The employees' faces were filled with struggle and anxiety.
In the research and development department's office area, the once bustling work scene was now filled with a heavy atmosphere. Engineers lowered their heads, silently coding and debugging. Several people occasionally looked up at the window, their eyes wandering, as if seeking some kind of strength. Occasionally, a sigh or two could be heard, but then everything would return to silence.
Even the usually active technical exchange group was unusually quiet. Everyone seemed to deliberately avoid that "tricky" topic, only briefly reporting a few words when there was new progress, encouraging each other. The atmosphere seemed particularly heavy.
The office area of the artists and programmers presented a different scene. People gathered in small groups, quietly reading the opinions from various online sources, their brows furrowed. From time to time, sighs of disappointment could be heard.
"Ah, those Sony fans online are too much. Our Dream Realm is clearly a revolutionary breakthrough, how can they be so critical?"
"Yeah, I'm also quite worried. If, as the netizens say, our technology can't properly showcase the immersive experience of the open world, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?"
Even more people showed worried expressions, muttering to themselves in concern: "If Dream Realm really doesn't do well, it would be such a pity for CEO Lu and CEO Liu. After all, they've invested so many years of effort into it."
At the same time, the writers in the testing department looked even more dejected. They were supposed to be evaluating game scripts and writing preview drafts, but now they could only listlessly fiddle with their keyboards, occasionally glancing at the online public opinion trends.
"Hey, look at that popular post. Someone said that Dream Realm's 'No Night' is simply not going to work."
"I took a look, and their reasons are quite valid. Fully rendering open-world scenes really tests the limits of the technology."
"Ah, I really hope Chief Supervisor Chu can come up with a good solution soon, otherwise, we won't be able to hold on much longer."
Even the usually energetic new media operations editors had lost their former vitality. They should have been actively interacting with netizens online, fully supporting the new work. But now everyone looked dejected and listless.
Even in the draft box, the brand marketing copy, which should have been unstoppable, was filled with hesitant and stammering sentences.
"Dear players and friends."
"Knowing that the path of Dream Realm will face many obstacles."
"But we are still."
This scene, in anyone's eyes, would evoke a sense of shared confusion and anxiety.
Throughout the entire company, even the management and core members couldn't help but show worried expressions. Discussions, both loud and soft, could be heard from the meeting room.
...
Lu Yu noticed the unusual behavior of the company's employees and was trying to figure out what was happening when Chu Xiong rushed in anxiously:
"Brother Lu, it's bad, our new flagship 'No Night' has encountered a very significant research and development bottleneck, I'm afraid..."
His lips were pale.
Lu Yu was quite calm: "Don't panic, speak slowly."
Chu Xiong:
"Our consistent vision has been to fully construct an open-world Xianxia world through Dream Realm's ultra-powerful rendering capabilities, allowing players to freely roam within it as if they were truly there. But now it seems that simply relying on our existing dream rendering technology, we simply can't achieve our expected results.
As you know, the setting of 'No Night' is a vast and boundless fictional Xianxia world, encompassing mountains, rivers, cities, towns, and historical sites. We originally planned to render and model the main parts of this world first, and then automatically generate random terrain through program algorithms, supplementing the details through player exploration.
But the current situation is that even if we have spent a lot of manpower and resources, the rendering of the main geographical environment and historical sites is still acceptable, but once the surrounding terrain is dynamically supplemented, the overall rendering quality and immersive experience will significantly decrease. The scenes will have a lot of cracks and gaps, and the integrity and continuity will be greatly reduced.
For example, we hope to render continuous mountains and winding rivers, but the actual rendering effect is often uneven and lacks texture. The mountains will have obvious gaps, and the water surface always presents a hard, flat effect, completely failing to achieve the "swallowing mountains and rivers, thousands of miles of waves" realm.
For another example, we want to render some villages wandering in the valleys, with intricate alleys and unique residential styles. But the actual effect is often monotonous and boring. The overall layout of the villages and the details of the houses are quite rough and simple program generation, making it difficult to show the atmosphere of human life.
Not to mention the cities and historical sites, every detail of the city walls, towers, temples, and pavilions is hollowed out, and it is almost impossible to achieve a lifelike effect. We are already stretched to create a blurry effect for the overall building complex, so how can we talk about rendering every detail in a penetrating way?
The problem lies in the bottleneck of our current technology!
Although the dream rendering ability is strong, it is still too thin and simple for such a large-scale open world scene. There is still a considerable gap to achieve a truly immersive, seamless experience.
If we force such a rendering, I am afraid that the quality and artistic level of the entire game will be greatly reduced, making it difficult to bring players a high-quality virtual reality experience. So I am now also at a loss, not knowing what to do."
...
Seeing this development difficulty, Lu Yu was overjoyed!
Great, another excuse to lie down!
So, Lu Yu interrupted, using the excuse of solving this difficulty to take his employees out to enjoy life, to the Jiuzhaigou tourist group, a scenic spot in China full of immortal energy.
He gathered all the employees of the research and development project team together:
"Okay, okay, everyone, don't be so anxious.
Chu Xiong, I completely understand the development difficulties you just reported. It is indeed an extremely difficult challenge to perfectly construct a vast and unparalleled open Xianxia world through the current dream rendering technology.
However, I believe that this is not an insurmountable technological gap. In fact, the bottleneck we encountered this time has made me realize a very critical issue - we have been bound by a framework of thinking for a long time!"
"Huh? What kind of thinking framework?"
The other employees looked confused.
Lu Yu thought for a while and continued to fool around:
"Everyone, think about it, why can't we automatically generate high-quality natural landscapes and humanistic buildings through program algorithms? Why are the effects we render always so rigid and simple, lacking texture and detail?
Isn't it precisely because our understanding of this "dream dimension" is still too superficial and unchanging? We always regard Dream Realm as a purely virtual space, and want to completely construct this "real world" with limited data and code.
But think about it, how vast and boundless is the real natural world, and how broad and profound is the crystallization of human civilization.
To perfectly reproduce all of this, relying solely on limited data and programs is obviously water without a source and a tree without roots. We must face the original appearance of the real world, wholeheartedly feel its breath and core, so that we can restore the purest essence in the Dream Realm.
So, encountering this bottleneck this time, I see an opportunity instead. A great opportunity that can allow us to break through traditional shackles and turn passivity into initiative!"
"Hiss... Could it be that CEO Lu is going to..."
The employees of Taoyuan Township suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Lu Yu's Yan State map was pulled to the end:
"Let's temporarily put aside all technical research and get away from the city of reinforced concrete together, and personally feel the original and simple beauty of nature! Look at the most vivid and fresh appearance of nature, and appreciate the essence of humanistic heritage.
You must find it hard to imagine that when we truly experience the original flavor of reality in this regard with a completely new mind that "understands nothing", we will surely suddenly realize unprecedented inspiration!
By the way, I'm also planning to relax everyone.
I can see that the Sony press conference has affected you, and you have been exhausted recently, so why not come with me to the most beautiful Jiuzhaigou scenic area in China? There are mountains, rivers, grass, trees, forests, and springs, as well as extremely spiritual Tibetan villages, whose architectural style and humanistic atmosphere are almost a depiction of the Xianxia world in Dream Realm!
Let's linger there for a few days and enjoy the charm of nature. I believe that as long as we completely get rid of our preconceived notions and prejudices about the dream space and immerse ourselves in nature, we will be able to experience unprecedented inspiration! By then, the Xianxia scenes you render will be lifelike and full of spirituality!"
"CEO Lu, but the construction period..."
Mo Xiaoxuan tried to argue.
"Okay, okay, the construction period is not a problem."
Lu Yu thought for a while and continued to fool around: "If you really affect your rhythm because of Final Fantasy 17, you will fall for Sony's trick!"
Everyone looked at each other and had no choice but to nod reluctantly.
...
The air in Jiuzhaigou is fresh and pleasant, and the surrounding peaks are verdant, like a natural oxygen bar.
In the early morning, the entrance of the scenic spot was already bustling with activity. The company's employees happily sorted out their luggage and waited for the arrival of the tourist bus.
Technical Director Chu Xiong patted Lu Yu on the shoulder, "Okay, Brother Lu, you finally brought us here to relax! Everyone has been overwhelmed recently, and now we finally have a chance to catch our breath."
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Lu Yu smiled, "Don't worry, this time I'm not just here to let everyone rest, but I also hope that everyone can feel the charm of nature here. Just treat it as a learning experience, maybe you can break through the current technical bottleneck."
At this moment, Liu Mengyuan walked over gracefully, with a sweet and gentle smile on her face: "Lu Yu, the bus is here."
Lu Yu nodded to her, his eyes full of pampering.
The tourist bus slowly drove into Jiuzhai, and along the way was a shocking visual feast. The surrounding area was a continuous stretch of towering mountains, and green pines and cypresses constantly changed angles in front of the car windows, forming a beautiful natural painting.
Liu Mengyuan leaned out and breathed in the fragrant earthy atmosphere in the air, pleasantly surprised: "The air here is really fresh! It's so refreshing, even breathing becomes easier."
Lu Yu pulled her hand and gently kissed the back of her hand:
"Yeah, everything here is so pure and natural, making people almost forget the hustle and bustle of the city. Look at those verdant forests, aren't they like a dreamlike fairyland?"
Liu Mengyuan was shyly smiled by his romantic gesture, and the two of them chatted endlessly, showing their affection as if no one else was there.
Zhang Fan, who was sitting in the back row, looked at him with emotion and said to Yao Jun beside him: "Ah, they are so affectionate at such a young age, when will we be able to find a partner?"
Yao Jun waved his hand: "Hey, I'm already married, don't include me, otherwise your sister-in-law will misunderstand."
...
The bus gradually went deeper into the scenic area, and the surrounding scenery gradually changed. One moment it was a lush primeval forest, and the next it was a magnificent snow-capped mountain, sometimes a verdant meadow, and sometimes a clear lake and stream.
This is just a corner of the road, and there is a different world when the tour officially starts. The first thing that catches the eye is Jiuzhai's famous calcified pool waterfall, which is like a group of colorful stepped waterfalls, shining brightly under the refraction of sunlight.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Hua Wu, who has always been silent, couldn't help but exclaimed. Producer Mo Xiaoxuan took out his camera and kept taking pictures: "The scene quality is too high, it's just like a virtual dream!"
Looking at the excitement of his teammates, Lu Yu smiled with satisfaction. He put his arm around Liu Mengyuan's waist and whispered in her ear: "Dear, look at these pools, aren't they canvases that artists use to blend colors? Nature is so amazing."
Liu Mengyuan nodded and leaned shyly in his arms.
Lu Yu put his arms around the beauty in his arms, happily watching the various leisurely points rolling in from the system.
...
Next, they first walked to Jiuzhai's core scenic spot - Nuorilang Waterfall Group. There are layers of waterfalls here, which are extremely magnificent, and it is simply a dreamlike fairyland. Lu Yu walked with Liu Mengyuan by the clear pool, and the figures of the two were almost rendered into a poetic picture with the lake and waterfall.
And on the Tibetan Lover's Bridge, Lu Yu was even more in a "difficult to get off the tiger" situation.
He hugged Liu Mengyuan's delicate body and gently kissed her forehead, and said in a low voice: "Such a beautiful lake and mountain scenery, can't it be immortalized in our Dream Realm?
In the future, let's settle down in that dreamlike country and enjoy our love day and night, how about it?"
Liu Mengyuan was so blushed by his romantic love words that she was almost embarrassed to answer. At this moment, there was a burst of crisp whistles from the side. It turned out that the programmers Zhang Fan and the producer Hua Wu were a little blushing and embarrassed to disturb the two.
Gradually, the sky darkened and the lights came on. At this time, the entire Jiuzhai showed another charming style. The clusters of lights flickered and jumped in the clear pool and waterfall, shining brightly, reflecting in the water, sparkling, and extraordinarily dreamy.
Everyone sat on the ground by the pool, tasting the local Tibetan delicacies and enjoying the scenery under the night, which has a special meaning.
Lu Yu filled a glass for Liu Mengyuan, his eyes full of infatuation:
"Look at this night, paired with the scenery here, isn't it the most dreamy painting? Cough, when I save up more money, I will definitely create a dream residence here especially for you in the Dream Realm, so we can live happily forever in a wonderland."
Liu Mengyuan rolled her eyes at him, playfully scolding, "Do you think the scenic area can be modified at will? You might as well buy Dongming Island from the Liu Group."
"Dongming Island?"
Lu Yu had a vague impression; wasn't that the small island where their company had their first team building event?
"That's also an option..."
Throughout the romantic journey, everyone was deeply captivated by the fairyland scenery of Jiuzhai. Its pure and natural charm was almost like the prototype of a dream world, inspiring everyone with an unprecedented new vision for the 'Dream Realm' concept.
As the bus left Jiuzhaigou, the sky gradually darkened. Filled with inspiration and insights, everyone returned to their hotel in high spirits.
The next morning, the sunlight was dazzling, and the morning air of Jiuzhai was particularly pleasant. Liu Mengyuan pushed open the window, took a deep breath of fresh air, and turned back to Lu Yu with a coquettish smile, "It's truly a treasure land; it would be wonderful to stay here for a few more days."
Lu Yu stepped forward, embraced her, and gently kissed her fair neck, "Don't worry, as long as you want, we can stay here for as long as we like."
Liu Mengyuan's cheeks flushed crimson at his sweet words, and she nestled in his arms, nodding repeatedly.
She suddenly said, "I think the enclosed courtyard outside this hotel has a nice view. How about we just do it once, between heaven and earth, in nature?"