Dev Diary #6: Beta Version 0.1

  “Greetings, players! It’s your dearest promotional manager here once again to walk you through the latest and most exciting update for Magus Academy Online. As I’ve said before, this update will mark the start of our closed-beta phase, and we’re thrilled to unveil what’s in store.”

  “It’s been a while since our last update, but we’re back with a massive release, one of the biggest to date! This update not only brings tons of new features but introduces our very first expansion — content that’s bound to keep everyone busy for several updates ahead.”

  “But in order to bring you this update, the company has to hire more dedicated programmers and chain them (voluntarily, of course) to the computers for some serious overtime. Luckily, they’re mostly young and single, so we’re safe from angry wives storming the office — though perhaps not from a few annoyed phone calls from their girlfriends wanting to break up! Huge applause also goes out to our scripters and designers, who meticulously planned and foreshadowed this expansion, weaving it seamlessly into the game.”

  “Regardless of their contributions, let’s go over everything that’s new and improved in Beta Version 0.1!”

  “First, let’s talk about our major new addition: The Land of the Dead expansion. This is our first-ever expansion, and it brings with it an eerie, undead twist! Players can now venture into new, darker regions of the Thornwood Forest, where a foreign invasion has transformed the terrain into undead territory. Along with this, you’ll be facing an entirely new faction, complete with challenging missions, enemies, and a full-scale war brewing between the academy and these ominous invaders. And don’t worry, we’re in it for the long haul — this storyline will span several versions, with new twists and threats to keep you on your toes!”

  Despite being the one who wrote this, Victor complained under his breath, “What expansion bullshit! This is basically a cataclysm against the academy, and by extension, my life.” But he paid no more mind to it and continued typing.

  “Additionally, we’re introducing a time-limited currency called ‘spirit coin.’ These coins are actually virtual coins that can be used to buy special items in the academy’s physical store — more on that later. This is the first event currency in the game, and players can earn it by completing event-related missions, and tasks, and hunting down undead creatures. We hope this gives everyone extra motivation to jump into the event and make the most of it!”

  Actually, this was Victor’s scheme to limit players’ purchases of the special items listed on the physical store so that rich players wouldn’t be able to sweep in and buy out everything in a jiffy. It had to be noted that the items would include Mana Aptitude Enhancement Elixir and the high-grade magic tools from the gacha as the top prizes. As an added bonus, the setup would push players to become even more proactive in joining his cause and in defending the academy.

  “But beware that this expansion isn’t just about exploring the undead’s land; players should also brace for an unknown threat lurking on the horizon. While the undead invasion is the main event, something else — an ‘unknown enemy’ — has been sighted in the forest’s depths and could strike at any moment. So, for all the horror and RPG forest-theme fans out there, get ready. This time, you’re in for something chilling.”

  “Next up, I rarely talk about titles because they’re just for showing off on the forums. However, I want to announce that this time around there will be not one, not two, but three exclusive new titles. The details have been mentioned in the update announcement, so I will skip that. Just a little spoiler, title holders will receive special privileges in future updates, like being able to purchase special items that are previously limited to event currencies.”

  This was another of Victor’s plots of riling up the players. By creating exclusive perks for having titles, he was encouraging players to go all out, maximizing their involvement. If they contributed more, Victor would benefit. If they earned rewards, they would grow stronger, which would further benefit him. And with greater strength, they would continue contributing even more. In the end, he would create a cycle where their progress fed directly into his own gains.

  This meant that no matter what happened, Victor would always benefit.

  “Master, it’s a good thing I’m used to seeing that sly grin of yours,” Lizbeth remarked, her tone laced with her usual sass, something he hadn’t heard in a while. “If Lillie were here, she’d be hiding under the desk instead of trying to learn from you.”

  “What? You’ve said that a thousand times already. And for the record, I wasn’t even smiling!” By now, Victor had learned to keep a straight face, not that it mattered with Lizbeth around.

  “Teehee, it seems that my lie is found out,” she said, flicking her head playfully. This little mischievous fairy…

  Ignoring her antics, he refocused on the dev diary and continued typing.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “Next on the list will be about the season change. In about a month, the game will transition into winter, and we’re excited to see how players adapt to the new season. Since the game operates on a 2:1 time dilation, the pace of seasonal changes is faster than in real life. Winter is harsh, but it’ll come with its own unique opportunities.”

  Moving on, Victor went on to detail the update on the physical store according to the one he had in mind. He wanted to surprise the players by not mentioning everything, as he would actually include a single diluted Gender-Changing Potion with a limited one-hour effect. Truthfully, he wasn’t quite sure how players would react, but with the Shadowlink Mark restrictions in place, he had nothing to worry about. All he was aware of was that this would lure a player like Storm to grind like crazy.

  “One of the most significant quality-of-life enhancements in this update is the new virtual spell market. We wanted to streamline spell trading, and this feature does just that! Players can now list their custom spell models on the market, making it much easier to share and trade with others. Gone are the days of waiting idly for customers to stumble upon your stand!”

  There were actually several benefits to introducing this feature: First, players could focus on completing missions or hunting in the forest instead of wasting precious time searching for customers. Second, buyers would have access to an extensive list of available spell models, eliminating the hassle of manually scouring the market for what they needed. Lastly, Victor himself will find it much more convenient to browse through the compiled data, allowing him to access any spell models effortlessly. Players often come up with interesting and useful spell models that push the boundaries of creativity, after all.

  “Content creators have always had a chance to prove themselves on the Hall of Fame leaderboard, but this is of not much use for players who aren’t content creators. We have been planning to improve on this since the creation of the game, and we think it’s the perfect time to introduce a ranking system for all players. Similar to ranking systems in other games, this, technically speaking, will allow players to gauge their levels and overall power. So, players, I hope you can use this chance to be the one on the top.”

  The “ranking system” was just the cherry on top of Victor’s grand scheme to ignite the players’ enthusiasm. He’d held off on implementing it earlier, knowing they were still too weak and hadn’t yet grasped many spell models. But now, with some players nearing third-stage Initiate Attunement acolytes, it was the perfect moment to launch this system. It would serve as another layer of motivation, spurring players to push their limits and rise in the ranks.

  “Last but not least, as noted in the announcement, we’ll be loosening the restrictions on in-game internet access. Many players have requested more flexibility to handle real-life matters while in the game, especially given the faster in-game time, and we understand it. However, this is still a game in essence, and certain restrictions will remain in place so that players can maintain a semblance of life and don’t end up fully merging their lives with the game world.”

  “I guess this wraps up the sixth installment of the dev diary. Hopefully, this expansion will bring you exciting experiences and help you progress further in the game. Happy gaming!”

  With a swift motion, Victor tapped the Enter key to upload the development diary. The content of this update was bound to spark an uproar among the players, given that it marked the transition to the closed-beta phase and introduced the game’s very first expansion.

  After double-checking that everything was in place, he rose from his seat.

  “Are you not going to stick around to read the comments?” Lizbeth asked with a curious glint.

  Victor shook his head. “Nah, I’ve got something more pressing to handle. I need to make a delivery to the citadel so the repairs can start as soon as possible. With a few hours left until sunset, most players are still logged in and the server ‘maintenance’ will not happen yet.”

  “Mhm, then I’ll handle things on the virtual spell market in the meantime.” She giggled.

  “Good plan,” he agreed, heading out with a satisfied nod.

  ***

  As Victor was making the delivery, the official website forum was hit by a storm. How could it not be when it was the transition to the closed-beta phase as well as the first-ever expansion in the game?

  Just like usual, many players raced to be the first to comment on the post, flooding the section as if there was no tomorrow. Given that there were more and more people on the forum and players could access the forum while still in the game, hundreds of comments poured in within the first ten minutes. It was pure chaos. But the chatter only got more interesting once they started diving into the actual contents of the update.

  ProcrastinatingPanda: “Who’s ready for the Land of the Dead expansion pack?! ???? Just gotta warn my mom that I’ll be hunting ghosts.”

  Hornycrab: “New titles, event currency, AND a full expansion?! Finally, something to make me forget that I’m still jobless… lol.”

  Castlefrost: “It hasn’t been three months since the game dropped, and we’re getting an expansion? Shouldn’t it be something we get after a full release? I feel like the game devs don’t know how capitalism works. ?_?”

  Storm Bringer: “Hold up. Mana Aptitude Enhancement Elixirs in the store?! Those are mine! Time to grind!”

  Gigglebelly Grumblefart: “But like… I know that we barely get into the closed beta, but do we have to wait for a random update each time? I need, like, a three-day notice so I can prepare in advance.”

  Prominence: “Wow! There’s a ranking system now! I will definitely claim first place, and that Holy Knight title is surely MINE!! Bow down, peasants!”

  ChickenSmackdown_MaxLevel: “Peasants? Lol, alright, buddy. I’ll be smacking undead like a maniac, you’ll see who’s the peasant!”

  Beyond the usual hype, players began sharing eerie testimonies related to the foreshadowing hinted at in the dev diary — specifically, sightings of the rumored “unknown enemy.”

  Zylvern: “I’m telling you, I saw it. Right there, just beyond the Thornwood Flower field. This thing... It was like some twisted monstrosity made from wriggling flesh. Picture a gorilla — now, make it four times bigger, with a mouth on its stomach filled with razor-sharp teeth. And it didn’t stop there. It had these… writhing tentacles on its back, each as long as a tree branch. Ten meters, easy. It was pitch black when I saw it in the far distance… And then, and then…”

  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xKJBakTc5m8?feature=share