“I came here for nothing!” exclaimed Feng Ji, the director of Black Myth: Wukong, after the 2024 Game of the Year award went to Astro Bot. The Game Science CEO had prepared his acceptance speech for two years, only to be left disappointed.
One of the standout surprises of 2024 was Black Myth: Wukong, an action RPG that wowed the gaming community with its stunning graphics, Chinese mythology-inspired narrative, and stellar combat system, particularly its brilliantly designed boss fights. The game earned the love of players, even winning the Best Game of the Year award in the Lenovo 3DJuegos readers’ choice category. It became the year’s best-selling title and inspired an entire nation to delve into console game development. Yet, this success was not enough to satisfy its director.
Game Science CEO Feng Ji expressed his frustration on the Chinese social media platform Weibo after Astro Bot took home the coveted GOTY award. “This year’s gala coincided with the release of a major update for us. Personally, this project, which has taken me seven years, is officially coming to an end. The four nominations for Black Myth: Wukong are a milestone for China, being the first of its kind,” he began.
“I must admit, though, that there is a certain sense of loss and some disappointment, but mostly I feel liberated from expectations. The games nominated this year are exceptional, but I honestly don’t understand the criteria for choosing the Best Game of the Year. I came here for nothing!” he said. Feng Ji revealed he had been preparing his acceptance speech for two years. “I’ve seen the strong frustration of many players expressed on social media,” he noted (via MP1ST).
“Even though [player frustration is] shrouded in humor and satire, the dissatisfaction is still palpable. I completely understand and share those feelings, because I know that behind that frustration there is no pain or malice, but pride and confidence. It’s normal to feel upset when you’re confident and not getting praise from others. Personally, I have to say… I’m even more confident than you guys! I had my Game of the Year speech prepared two years ago, and I didn’t even use it!” he added with laughing emojis.
Feng Ji went on to highlight that Black Myth: Wukong owes its success to a unique blend of talent, Chinese cultural elements, industry support, and global player engagement. He expressed optimism that the momentum for Chinese console games would continue after the success of Black Myth: Wukong. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in the face of challenges, promoting video games as a medium for sharing universal values and joy in an unjust and unequal world.
Source: 3djuegos
