GDYARVE # Chapter 8: Player Recognition!
# Chapter 8: Player Recognition!
One has to admit, netizens are incredibly resourceful. After a series of speculations, people felt they had uncovered the truth.
‘I have a cousin working inside the company. He told me they wanted the designer to sell the copyright for a quick buck, but the designer ruthlessly rejected them.’
‘A certain game platform, huh? Isn’t that just standard practice?’
‘I heard *Shoveling Over It* is already in production and will be released soon.’
‘Not even dogs would play it.’
…
Some viewers were indignant about the game being taken down, but most players didn’t have strong feelings. To them, it was just a trending rage game, much like any other internet sensation that has its brief moment of fame.
Maybe because of the previous example, Yogame acted extremely quickly.
In just about a week, they actually released a new game.
*Shoveling Over It*
The game was priced at ten yuan, much like the original, with no significant changes overall.
The only difference was that the character in the pot was now various figures holding an array of items, from shovels to sickles, and even rakes...
Each weapon had different buffs.
And these items required additional purchases to unlock.
For example, the sickle and rake were much more stable for climbing than the hammer.
Seeing this, Ye Feng couldn’t help but sneer.
The charm of *Getting Over It* was never about life extensions or switching weapons to make progress.
Games like *Hollow Knight*, *Celeste*, and the *Dark Souls* series derive their appeal from honing one’s skills through repeated failures.
Skill development never came from using more convenient or powerful weapons.
Indeed, once *Shoveling Over It* was released, players flocked to download it immediately.
Those who had already purchased *Getting Over It* could continue playing, but new players had no way to buy it. Though the platform claimed it wasn’t banned, it had been removed from the store.
Despite this, the game remained a hot topic online.
Players who learned about the takedown watched videos and could only say, “I really want to play it.”
This craving persisted until the new game *Shoveling Over It* was released.
The same game setting, similar map models, and even the familiar homecoming tree were perfectly replicated.
The only possible difference was that *Getting Over It* had crude graphics, whereas this new game had slightly more refined artwork.
‘Huh, not banned this time?’ Yin Ge bought the game and prepared to try it out.
He looked at the chat with a mocking smile, “No one’s warning me about violent tendencies now.”
He used the complimentary rake trial card and climbed the mountain with ease.
Upon reaching the orange mountain, the trial period ended, and the rake turned into a shovel.
With the shovel’s edges hooking onto the mountain's ledges, the game was much easier than the original *Getting Over It*.
The sense of disappointment quickly set in for everyone. Even so, it couldn’t replicate the careful calculations and precise swings of the hammer.
After just ten minutes of play, Yin Ge uninstalled the game and swiftly requested a refund.
“Before playing, I was worried that this game might surpass the original designer’s work, overshadowing the original game,” Yin Ge said seriously during his stream.
“Haha!” He laughed, as if everything was clear without words.
“It can’t even make me rage quit, so no violence here indeed.”
Curious netizens who tried the new game couldn’t help but mock it,
‘So this is the game that made you rage and slam the desk?’
‘I thought it would be hard, but I casually reached the snowy mountain.’
‘Ugh, just a hyped-up game, nothing special…’
‘Luckily, I played for only an hour and a half, got a refund smoothly.’
‘A bunch of people who never played the original bashing the original with pirated versions…’
…
Such comments filled the internet.
Song Shan, reading these discussions, had been sulking for days since the game was taken down, feeling unwilling to let Ye Feng’s work be buried.
“Look at these comments, so satisfying! Let them take it down, let them copy! Now they face the backlash!” Song Shan pumped his fist in excitement.
“Feels great!”
“Hey, why aren’t you reacting!” He walked over to Ye Feng, showing him the content on his phone.
Ye Feng scrolled through the comments on *Shoveling Over It*. Seeing the content, his eyes reddened.
All the comments highlighted how extremely difficult it was.
For a game, receiving recognition from players as extremely difficult meant success.
It’s like the highest compliment among boys: ‘You’re really good.’
**Extremely Difficult**: The game is indeed hard, haha. Without spending money, it’s unplayable. I’m a poor guy, I’d rather play the cheap, simple one that got taken down.
**Yes, extremely difficult. The coveted praise from across the street is now yours.**
**I just want to enjoy the game, why force me to spend money!**
**Playing ‘that game’ stopped my heart for 30 seconds, but even so, I’d rate it very easy!**
…
Ye Feng read the comments in silence.
He couldn’t help but think, the system really has had it tough with me…
“Are we releasing the next game on Yogame?” Song Shan asked, looking at the mostly completed game.
Ye Feng had handled most of the work, with Song Shan only contributing about a fifth, which had already exhausted him.
The game had a perfect story setting, ever-changing captivating levels, a rich weapon system, and thrilling action gameplay.
Initially, Song Shan thought it was just a game where collecting cells made you stronger, but after seeing the entire game setup, he realized,
Submitting cells was a scam.
Every permanent upgrade in the game was a driving force, like a snowball rolling down a mountain—growing larger and unstoppable.
Song Shan believed that once released, this game would amaze everyone once again.
“No,” Ye Feng shook his head, not wanting to make the same mistake twice.
Song Shan glanced at Ye Feng, who was seriously working on the game.
This snowball was rolling down from the mountaintop.
(End of chapter)