Chapter 2151: Divide and Conquer

In the two aspects of game development and game operation, operation is relatively simple. For example, The9 City only acts as an agent to operate other people's games. After making money, at least half of it must be given to the developer.

Some of the more ambitious game operating companies are unwilling to share the money in their pockets with developers, so they will slowly transform and begin to develop and operate their own games, with all income belonging to them.

This is how Shanda grew up.

Changyou operating Capcom's European and American markets will certainly be profitable for Changyou. For example, "Resident Evil 5" and "Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition" sold nearly 5 million units in Europe and the United States, with sales of nearly 300 million US dollars.

Changyou gets half of the sales, which is also US$150 million.

Even if the expenditure on channel fees is high and additional sales shares are required for advertising and promotion, Changyou's main channel resources must be concentrated in the "Ziwei Galaxy" industry.

The fat water does not flow to outsiders' fields.

The money is transferred back and forth in the company's account.

Using classic games from Japanese game companies to create revenue for oneself is a free benefit. With or without Capcom, Changyou still needs to build a large and mature game operation system in the European and American markets. Just as one sheep is being herded, a group of sheep must be herded. Of course, the more excellent game products, the better. The more games there are, the lower the marginal cost.

This is only one aspect.

Because after the game is operated, it will be easy to develop in the direction of game development.

Such as "Resident Evil"

If Changyou wants to operate this game, it must obtain all the game code and make appropriate adjustments to the code according to the customs and language systems of different countries.

It is equivalent to a second creation of "Resident Evil".

Over time, Changyou's operations team has a thorough understanding of all design, process, art, code, packaging, testing and other aspects of "Resident Evil".

Changyou can easily develop a game that is highly similar to "Resident Evil" by itself.

This is how Shanda grew up.

At the beginning, I was very weak and didn’t understand anything, so I had no choice but to represent South Korea’s “Legend”. After working for several years, Shanda's familiarity with "Legend" is no worse than that of Korean game developers. Shanda has the strength to cut ties with South Korea and develop a Shanda version of "Legend" to make a lot of money.

This is also what Ding Youfeng, the president of NetEase Games, said when Zhou Buqi went to NetEase to investigate before. NetEase's games will not be handed over to third-party agents, and there is a risk of leakage.

Of course, Changyou, as a world-class gaming giant, will not engage in such demeaning "stealing" behavior. However, the shortcomings of Japanese game companies will become opportunities for Changyou to further develop.

Zhou Buqi said with a smile: "The most important thing for Changyou is the mobile game market. Capcom's response was too slow. We just discovered the market for computer games that have been popular around the world for more than ten years. When Capcom makes mobile games, I don’t know the year of the monkey and the month of the horse!”

Ren Yuxin smiled and said: "Yes, if they don't do it, we can help them do it!"

Zhou Buqi said: "Well, so Changyou has to work hard to help Capcom's games operate in the European and American markets. During the operation process, learn and have a deep understanding of Capcom's game mechanics. Once you learn it, you can go A mobile version was developed.”

Ren Yuxin pondered and said: "Well, it's not without opportunities. Capcom is now transforming into computer games. Not only "Resident Evil", but all its games will be launched on the computer version, which means they have to Expand their business and recruit more employees. Changyou’s strategic investment this time can help them solve the capital problem required for business expansion. At the same time, Changyou helps them operate the European and American markets, only taking a low commission of 50%, which is another help A favor."

Zhou Buqi nodded, "Yes, that's what I mean. Changyou has helped Capcom twice in a row, and only made one request. Changyou wants to develop a mobile version of Capcom's game."

Ren Yuxin said: "It is very feasible, as long as we avoid the Japanese market."

Zhou Buqi couldn't help laughing, "We are trying to exploit every opportunity."

Ren Yuxin smiled and said: "Yes, find every opportunity. Japan's game industry is very developed, with a tradition of more than 40 years. There are also many older players. The reason why many game companies do not make mobile games or computer games , in fact, it is a worry that once the mobile game version is launched, the sales of handheld game console versions such as Sony's PSP and Nintendo's 3DS will plummet."

Zhou Buqi gave him a thumbs up, "Let's get to the key point. This is the core systemic issue!"

Ren Yuxin nodded, "Yes, this systemic shortcoming is the root cause of Japanese game companies and even all Japanese companies being conservative, rigid and unable to keep up with the times. It is the lifetime employment system. Those who develop PSP and 3DS versions of games Many of them are in their fifties or sixties, and their knowledge structure has been solidified. It is simply impossible for them to transform and develop computer versions or mobile game versions. Once a game company really transforms into mobile games, once the mobile games become popular, it will It may affect the sales of PSP and 3DS versions."

This is the most fundamental reason.

Computer games compete with TV games, and mobile games compete with handheld games.

Once computer games become popular, TV game sales will plummet.

Then the most acute question comes, what to do with the video game department?

Cut off?

Impossible, they are all employed for life.

Let them transfer to work on video games?

It's also unlikely. There are specialties in the art industry, and the technical directions are different.

In particular, video games have been around for more than 40 years, and many employees in the TV department are old men in their fifties and sixties, and they cannot change jobs.

This problem cannot be solved by layoffs and business closures, so the video game department can only be maintained.

How to raise it?

Limit the development of the computer version, and don't even develop a version of the computer game. If players want to play this game, they can only play the video game version. The sales of the video game will be guaranteed, and the video game department will be able to live a prosperous life.

Capcom has really been unable to do anything in the past few years, and its life is almost unbearable, so it can only learn from the painful experience and develop a computer version of the game... As expected, the market has exploded.

There are hundreds of millions of computer game players in the world; there are tens of millions of TV game players at most.

This is not the same level of play at all.

This is a dilemma faced by most Japanese companies.

Such as Sony.

It is simply shocking that such a technology giant cannot make an excellent mobile phone. Domestic companies like Xiaomi and OV, which have little technical expertise, make better mobile phones than Sony.

Why?

Because Sony's camera department is too strong, if users all buy Sony mobile phones to take pictures, won't the sales of Sony cameras decrease?

As everyone knows, if you don’t do it, someone else will do it.

Zhou Buqi said: "Another reason is the distribution of power within the company, or infighting. For example, Capcom has developed through video games and handheld games in the past few decades. So Capcom The vast majority of Kong's board of directors and senior management are people from these two departments. Of course they want to protect the interests of the TV game department and handheld game department, and they will suppress emerging game categories."

Ren Yuxin nodded, "So Japanese game companies are becoming more and more closed and pay more and more attention to the local market. Because all game companies do this, Japan's TV game consoles and handheld game consoles have the highest sales, and Europe's The total sales volume combined with Asia is not as good as the domestic market.”

Zhou Buqi said: "Yes, this is the overall interest of Japan's entire gaming industry. Even if Changyou is a dragon across the river, it cannot suppress so many local snakes."

Ren Yuxin glanced at him and said, "Then avoid the Japanese market?"

Zhou Buqi said: "In the short term, this can only be the case. When talking to Capcom, there can be such an additional condition. The mobile version of the game developed by Changyou will not enter the Japanese market. Capcom can continue to dominate To sell their handheld games in the Japanese market. It’s a pity that Japanese gamers will suffer and will not be able to experience the joy of gold-based games.”

Ren Yuxin suppressed a smile and said solemnly: "It doesn't matter. Changyou will develop several mobile games in-house and enter the Japanese market. Local players can still feel the excitement and sense of accomplishment brought by the in-game consumption. "

Zhou Buqi deeply agreed, "Well, it should be! Japan's game market is very large, and it is the country with the highest density of game players in the world. Changyou should carry out acquisitions of some small companies and cooperation with large companies as soon as possible. Learn more , learn more to develop games that meet the needs of local players."

The general idea is settled like this.

"What about "Pro Evolution Soccer"? Do you have any ideas?"

Ren Yuxin was completely confused about this matter. This was a temporary decision made by Boss Zhou and was not part of his original plan for his trip to Japan.

For Changyou, it is enough to win over Capcom first.

There is no rush to use the "point" of Capcom to drive this "side" of the Japanese game industry.

The big boss suddenly fell in love with "Pro Evolution Soccer", which was a bit unexpected.

However, as CEO, he still has to implement the big boss's plan.

This time I went to Konami, mainly to understand the situation internally, and based on the feedback I received, I came up with a way to cooperate with Konami.

It is impossible to acquire Konami as a whole. It is also very difficult to invest in Konami at this time.

Even wanting to acquire the game "Pro Evolution Soccer" as a whole is unlikely, unless a super offer is given that far exceeds the true value of "Pro Evolution Soccer".

That's not a good deal.

Zhou Buqi had some ideas, "As I just said, you can divide and conquer. Japanese game manufacturers may focus 90% on the local market. Leave the local market to Konami and Changyou to operate overseas. market. We should still focus on this idea, not to infringe on their core interests, and at the same time help them create more profits from overseas channels and induce them to cooperate."