This BW "Blue Star Original Grand Party" is so massive it's almost ridiculous.

I still remember last year’s BW event. As the first in-person demo exhibition following its announcement, access to *Blue Star Origin: Travel Ballads* (hereinafter referred to as *Blue Star Origin*) was extremely sought-after. Nearly a thousand wristbands (granting demo access) for the first day were snapped up in an instant just after 10:00 a.m.I was truly amazed and deeply impressed by just how skilled the *Blue Star Origin* players were in combat.

A year later, *Blue Star Field* is back at BW. This year, they’re taking last year’s excitement up a notch.

Last year, Manjiao built an authentic stage modeled after the village scenery in the game, attracting countless passersby to stop and take photos.This year, for the *Blue Star Field* BW stage, Manjiao set up a small amusement park that felt more like a “party” than an exhibition booth—they even brought rides like a roller coaster and a carousel to the event venue!

On the first day of the expo, everywhere I looked, I saw either outdoor promotional materials for *Blue Star Field* or players carrying cheap backpacks… It’s clear that *Blue Star Field*’s investment in BW this year is “huge” in every respect.

However, BW's Party Land is just an appetizer.

Recruitment for the "Journey Test" (Third Beta) of *Blue Star Field* began yesterday (the 10th). This larger-scale test is Manjiao's real "big move" this summer.

01

Manju brought the amusement park to BW, and the joyful atmosphere spilled out of the venue.

On Friday in Shanghai, under the influence of the outer cloud bands of Typhoon “Bavi,” the sky was blue with white clouds, and the temperature was considerably milder than in previous days.As soon as they stepped out of the subway station, a southeasterly breeze swept over them, dispelling some of the restlessness of midsummer. The heat has never deterred these enthusiastic fans; whether dressed in heavy cosplay costumes or hauling suitcases, they rushed headlong toward the National Exhibition and Convention Center, heading straight for their dream ACG cultural festival.

Before coming to Shanghai, I’d actually already been “spoiled” by the booth layout diagrams circulating in the *Blue Star Field* community. I knew that Manjiao was pulling out all the stops this year and was planning to host a *Blue Star Field* “big party” at BW.

However, when I actually stepped into the National Exhibition and Convention Center, I was still moved by the grand scale of *Blue Star Field*.

• That billboard is really huge.

As I walked down the pedestrian overpass and made my way around to Hall 4.1H, where *Blue Star Field* was located, I could already see the game’s large outdoor billboard.

Although the promotional board is public material, seeing the gluttonous mascot “Abi” and the “newbie” Chibo on the back instantly struck me as adorable, instantly dispelling the irritation caused by the heat.

Following the directions on the promotional boards, I walked briskly toward Hall 4.1H. When I looked up, I saw several large outdoor display boards already standing between Halls 3H and 4.1H. That’s right—this year, Manjiao has taken over the entrance area right next to the hall where *Blue Star Field* is being exhibited.

The display boards, banners hanging in the central hall, and everything else have all been replaced with *Blue Star Field* visuals. Silhouettes of the “noobs,” the “Big Three’s” Qibo, and popular characters like Lumi are spread across the display boards; wherever you look, almost everything is a familiar element from *Blue Star Field*.Walking through the exhibition, I couldn’t help but feel as if I had the place all to myself.

But the most visually striking feature has to be the giant 6-meter-tall Abi inflatable in the venue’s atrium. Seen from afar, the cute and cuddly mascot—holding a “chicken” and with her little legs stretched out—stands guard in the central plaza, forming the “Manju Twin Stars” alongside the “Xiao Jiajia” inflatable from *Azur Lane* next to her.Players unfamiliar with *Blue Star Origin* would often stop by and ask, “Which character is this? She’s so cute!”

Manju's Twin Mascots

I know that, little by little, *Blue Star Field* has won over yet another potential fan!

Upon entering Hall 4.1H, the first thing that catches your eye is the “amusement park” from *Blue Star Field*.This year’s *Blue Star Field* stage design is uniquely creative: the front features a stage bearing a massive game logo, while the sides are adorned with Qibo roller coasters and carousel installations, with characters like Abi and Terala weaving through the center.Seen from afar, the entire booth in Hall 4.1H remains incredibly popular, with crowds seemingly spilling out.

Of course, the color scheme of the stage and amusement park area, along with the wooden flooring, still retain the natural, rustic charm of the Promelia Continent. The overall park design doesn’t feel out of place; rather, it enhances the festive atmosphere and builds anticipation among players.

"Let's go check it out!"

I was practically swept along by the crowd as I slowly made my way toward the *Blue Star Field* stage, where the stifling heat was finally somewhat dispelled by the cool air from the central air conditioning.The smiles of the cosplayers on stage, the endearing “newbie” plushies, and the background music booming from the speakers—that unique, intense atmosphere of an ACG convention enveloped me from all sides.

• A Grand Stage Event

Around noon on Saturday, the emcee got the crowd fired up, and amid cheers and excitement, several mobile game content creators and well-known cosplayers took the stage to kick off the *Blue Starfield* stage event.

Afterward, the content creator and the cosplayers played some interactive games. Do you remember that challenging mini-game, “Zuzanka’s Ladder,” from Xia Lulu’s Village? The game made the leap from the screen to the real-world stage, where the guests competed to stack boxes: seeing who could build the tallest tower and who could do it the fastest.

Don’t underestimate the “Zuzanka’s Ladder” mini-game—during previous tests, the community generally agreed that reaching the 14th level was a sign of true skill. Of course, when guests play the mini-game on stage, their goal isn’t to stack boxes as high and fast as possible, but rather to liven up the atmosphere.Just watching these content creators—who are usually so articulate—scrambling around in a fluster was enough to bring a smile to the faces of the players gathered around the stage.

Beyond the stage, the entire venue is actually the home turf of *Blue Star Field*.

While walking around the expo that afternoon, I happened to catch the most social episode of “Second Tour.”Cosplayers from *Blue Star Field*, plushie fans, sign-wavers, and people announcing the third beta test recruitment—more than twenty people in all—formed a massive “Blue Star Field Grand Parade” procession that shuttled back and forth between the exhibition halls. It was hard for passersby not to take a second look.

If it were just a parade, that alone wouldn’t be enough for me to call it “the most socially awkward.” It was clearly a big gaming parade, but the cosplayers and those amateurish mascots actually stopped in an open area and, to the beat of the music blaring from the speakers, began performing calisthenics with military precision!Combined with the cosplayers’ unprofessional moves and the amateurish dolls’ clumsy movements, bursts of laughter erupted from the crowd every now and then. If it had been me, I would’ve been so embarrassed I’d have died of social awkwardness right there on the parade route.

Noob Tour

I think most players of the sequel can probably appreciate the “atmosphere” that Manjiao has carefully crafted.

• The rewards for players are substantial enough

The most eye-catching giveaway was that huge, dorky backpack. While other exhibitors were handing out lightweight goodies like foldable eco-bags, stickers, and pins, Mianjiao went all out this time and gave away a backpack that’s not only super practical for walking around the expo but also actually looks pretty good.

When the official *Blue Star Field* account teased the BW merchandise, many of us—myself included—had no idea just how big the “Noob” backpack would be; we assumed it was just a “Plus” version of a standard foldable eco-bag. But in reality, it was so much bigger than I ever expected.

The "Noob" is already the most recognizable character in the game, and turning it into a backpack makes it even more instantly recognizable. Plus, getting this backpack is super easy—just pre-register for the game and follow the official account to claim it. No hassle of having to play the game.

As a result, on Friday, long lines formed at the pickup stations around the *Blue Star Field* booth, creating the most “photogenic” scene in the venue. When I left after the venue closed that afternoon, I noticed the place was filled with players carrying those clunky backpacks.As these “walking noobs” shuttled around the venue, I couldn’t help but marvel at how *Blue Star Field* had once again invaded the real world.

This might be the most eye-catching BW merchandise of the year.

This year's selection of BW merchandise is also more varied than last year's.

In addition to the "Newbie Back Pain Pack," players can also earn Qibo cards by playing the "Qibo Capture Mini-Game." You can also pick up a postcard by checking in at the Abi inflatable figure in Central Square…

A very fruitful experience

After taking a tour, players will most likely come away with plenty of loot.

Every aspect of Manjyu in BW is interconnected by the theme of “big.” This truly lives up to the tagline “The Blue Star Grand Party” and serves as a preliminary test report for this upcoming new game, which is about to enter its third beta test.

02

Manjiao’s “big move,” which has been in the works for quite some time, is on its way

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the BW event in *Blue Star* serves as an appetizer for the Journey Test. Manjyu has been building up to this “big move” for quite some time, and it’s about to be unleashed.

After the “Constant Sequence Test” (Second Beta) in April, the development team has really built up my anticipation for the Third Beta with a few teasers they’ve dropped. For example, the prototype of the dorm system shown in the Constant Sequence Test version, as well as the expansion of more casual gameplay features.After months of development, how much will the depth and playability of these features have improved? Will the development team have come up with some new gameplay elements? I’m genuinely curious.

As for the upcoming third beta test—the "Journey & Footprints" beta—the name itself evokes the concepts of "journey" and "footprints." By choosing this name, Manjiao seems to be inviting players to join the game's characters once again on a journey deep into the continent of Promilia.

On the eve of BW, Manjiao officially announced that pre-registrations for *Blue Star Origin* had surpassed 15 million. After the big BW party, I think even more players have come to recognize the name *Blue Star Origin*.

As the flagship new game from long-established content developer Manjiao, which has been years in the making, *Blue Starfield* has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Following BW, the journey has only just begun for them.