Core Viewpoint - The launch of the domestic game "Mingmo: Yuanshu Zhi Yu" faced significant backlash due to optimization issues and operational failures, leading to a sharp decline in player reviews despite initial high media ratings [3][4][19]. Group 1: Game Development and Features - "Mingmo" was developed by Lingze Technology and is a domestic action RPG set in the late Ming Dynasty, featuring a unique blend of ancient Shu culture and Cthulhu narrative [5][20]. - The game had a development budget of 200 million yuan and aimed to showcase the potential of domestic games in content innovation, particularly through its fantasy reconstruction of ancient Shu culture and intricate map design [4][26]. - The game utilized advanced technology, including drone and DSLR photography for high-quality scene rendering, and involved extensive field research to accurately depict historical sites [7][9]. Group 2: Initial Reception and Criticism - Upon release, "Mingmo" received a low approval rating, with only 13% positive reviews from the first 10,000 Steam evaluations, contrasting sharply with the 92% approval rating of "Black Myth: Wukong" [3][4]. - The game quickly fell into the top ten of Steam's negative review charts, marking a record for a popular game to drop from bestseller to negative reviews shortly after launch [3][4]. - Major criticisms focused on optimization issues, gameplay mechanics, and narrative controversies, with many players reporting frame drops and gameplay difficulties [16][23]. Group 3: Marketing and Pricing Issues - The game's pricing strategy led to significant backlash, particularly in the Chinese market, where players felt misled by price discrepancies compared to other regions [14][20]. - The official apology from the developers acknowledged operational errors, including incorrect pricing configurations and optimization failures, and promised to address these issues through patches [17][19]. - The marketing approach initially emphasized the protagonist's action but later shifted to highlight cultural elements and gameplay quality, which improved player and media reception [21][20]. Group 4: Industry Implications and Future Directions - The challenges faced by "Mingmo" highlight the need for improved distribution, optimization, and content control within the domestic gaming industry [26][27]. - The game's experience serves as a lesson for future domestic titles, emphasizing the importance of refining operational strategies and enhancing cultural expression while maintaining gameplay quality [26][27]. - The incident reflects broader industry trends, where the success of domestic games relies on a combination of technical capability, marketing strategy, and cultural depth [26][27].