In ancient Chinese teachings, there's a saying: "Excess leads to loss, humility brings gain; this is the way of heaven." It's from a passage in the Book of Documents: "Excess invites loss, humility receives gain; this is the way of heaven."
First and foremost, one must worry about the company's financial situation. Yostar currently has 150 employees, and each individual's livelihood is at stake, adding to the complexities. Additionally, China's policies have a significant impact, causing constant concerns.
Indeed, it's something fellow business owners can empathize with, isn't it? (laughs)
Absolutely.
In the early stages of entrepreneurship, dreams abound, propelling one forward. However, as the team grows, the time spent facing the practical aspects increases, posing a significant challenge.
While we may not have widespread recognition or achievements, we've been immersed in Japanese content for a long time, and there are observations to be made.
The Japanese gaming industry and its content seem to be heading towards a bit of stagnation, possibly a topic under discussion within the industry.
The impression is that generating new game ideas might be challenging.
This is a common scenario in China as well. Merely imitating aspects like graphics or game systems without surpassing previously successful games is, in my opinion, impossible.
I understand what you're saying. In our case, the development teams Manjuu and Yongshi, along with Yostar's operational staff, all deeply love Japanese anime and games. They've cherished them for a long time, and sometimes sneak their personal preferences into character creation. This connection with users might be the reason for our enthusiastic fanbase.
However, such actions are a double-edged sword. Eventually, it can lead to self-harm. So, for games, maintaining originality is crucial. I believe following the current path of respect might not be sustainable in the long run.
Yes, creating a completely original game is incredibly challenging.
Currently, most companies, including ours, create games by adding their own ideas to existing works, an arrangement of sorts.
Another crucial point is that a "completely original game" may not necessarily be interesting.
While thinking of our unique originality, deriving good ideas from existing works and creating a more engaging game is, in my opinion, the way to deliver enjoyable experiences to users.
In analogy to cooking, the ingredients available are limited globally. Even with the same ingredients, everyone's dish has a distinct flavor. The key is not finding new ingredients but rather creating one's delicious taste with the same menu.
Lately, there's been an increase in imitations again. As you may know, there was a time when imitations were prevalent, and people who genuinely love games cannot tolerate that. It's a product of the flow of history, I suppose.
Indeed, that makes sense. Instead of simple imitations, gaining insights from good works and creating something original is the best approach.