"I think you have great potential, but your audience is a bit small."
In Shanghai, in MiHoYo's dilapidated office, a potential investor was giving advice to the three giants Liu Wei, Cai Haoyu, and Luo Yuhao.
"What do Chinese people like? Martial arts, immortals, and immortality games are very popular now. Look at the "Zhu Xian" series, which makes hundreds of millions or more than a billion a year.
But their game is a client game, and what we make is a mobile game, small and sophisticated. I will invest in you to develop a mobile game about cultivating immortals. Don’t do this beautiful girl killing zombies!"
"Uh, that's it..."
Neither of the two friends was good at sociability. Only Liu Wei spoke up and explained: "Our company is positioned for the otaku group. This group is interested in animation, comics and other elements."
"Oh, then you guys will do the Three Kingdoms!"
The other party didn't want to listen at all, so he slapped his thigh and said: "There are also animations and comics on the Three Kingdoms theme. They are very popular in Japan, and they are even more popular in China. Yes, this is good, you can make the Three Kingdoms theme!"
"I'm really sorry, our wish is to make an otaku game and become a spiritual holy place in the second dimension. In fact, you can play "Honkai Academy" carefully, it contains..."
"OK OK!"
The other party interrupted impatiently and said: "I admire you for sticking to your original intention and not talking too much. I wish you good luck and I'll take my leave!"
People don't have ink marks, they leave as soon as they say.
"..."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled bitterly. Cai Haoyu asked: "Which number is it?"
"The fourth one, why don't these people understand us? There are immortals, Three Kingdoms, and martial arts all over the place, and they're all bad at it!"
"There is no way, the results of "Honkai Academy" are not good, and I have no confidence in negotiating."
"Hmph! If our grades are good, we won't be looking for investment."
"You said..."
Cai Haoyu paused and said, "Do you think we made a mistake? There are not so many two-dimensional audiences in China?"
The three people fell silent.
Then they all shook their heads: "No! Definitely not. I believe there are a lot of like-minded people. The problem is that we didn't do a good job in distribution."
"Yes, it's a distribution issue!"
After "Honkai Academy" was released, they were still half-dead. It can't be said that they didn't make any money. They still made some money every day to maintain their food, clothing and daily operations.
Now a few people are tightening their belts and devoting themselves to the next game.
Everyone knows very well that if the next model hits the market, this crappy company should be disbanded and everyone will go back to their own homes to find their own mothers.
That’s right, MiHoYo also wanted to find investors and go public in the early days, but it didn’t work out. It was forced to become a unicorn in the model of later generations.
Just like Guo Degang wanted to be a dog in the mainstream cross talk industry, but people didn't want him, so he had to fight his way out... looking back at these things, it seems that chance and cause have been determined long ago.
"Okay, cheer up, we have a guest coming this afternoon, and this one is a heavyweight!"
"Who?"
"99's!"
Hiss!
The otakus suddenly became excited.
"99 has taken a fancy to us?"
"Wow, 99 will definitely not be as vulgar as those people, and they will definitely be able to discover our value!"
"So, cheer up and make a good impression."
Liu Wei clapped his hands to encourage everyone.
…………
Appointment is at 2pm.
At 1 o'clock, Liu Wei ran downstairs and waited. Fortunately, Gu Jiaming was punctual.
Shanghai was already quite hot in May, and it was the rainy season again. The air was stuffy and humid. Gu Jiaming came over with an umbrella and a big bag in his hand, and felt a ring of white sweat on his neck.
"Mr. Gu!"
"Hey guys, I wore too many clothes. I saw it was raining and even wore long sleeves. I got wet inside and out."
"..."
Liu Wei blinked, why are you so down-to-earth?
"Liu Wei, right? Why are you still waiting here? Go up and talk!"
"Oh, please!"
The three giants rented a shared house for accommodation, but there were 6 people in the company and they still had to have an office space, so they reluctantly rented a shabby office space.
Gu Jiaming felt nothing but darkness when he went upstairs. He passed through the honeycomb-like corridor and entered a room. All five people inside stood up and recognized that this was the boss of 99 Games. He was the one who determined life and death for the small studio.
At the same time, I am quite proud that I came here in person!
"This is Cai Haoyu, this is Luo Yuhao, this is Zhang Qinghua, our art director..."
Liu Wei introduced him, and Gu Jiaming shook hands one by one and said with a smile: "I know you are all depth enthusiasts. I am also from the second dimension, but I am young. I watched "Slam Dunk", "Ranma" and "Yu Yu Hakusho"
"These."
"Hahaha!"
A kind of tacit understanding between men floated in the air, and the distance between them suddenly narrowed.
"So I can understand you. When we first met, I also prepared some small gifts. It's not a sign of respect."
Gu Jiaming carried the big bag up and took out the items one by one. Every time he took out something, several people's eyes widened.
""EVA" limited edition figure!"
"Original Gundam!"
"Bujima Saeko!"
"Wow!"
Cai Haoyu picked up a card and almost went crazy when he saw the signature on it: "This, this is..."
"Anno Hideaki's signature!"
Hideaki Anno is the director of "EVA" and was the first to work with Hayao Miyazaki.
In an instant, the three giants looked at Gu Jiaming like they were looking at gods, especially compared with the grandson in the morning, 99 was really 99!
"Okay, if you accept the gift, it means you accept my bribe. Let's talk about business."
Gu Jiaming took full control of the situation and said with a smile: "Since I am willing to come, I fully recognize your potential. I won't nag you anymore, I will just say a few practical things.
99 Games has invested in more than a dozen independent studios and can theoretically hold up to 49% of the shares, but currently only one has reached this figure. Because we consider your income, channel sharing, enthusiasm and other issues, it usually does not exceed 30%.
The same goes for MiHoYo, you three are all shareholders, right?"
"Um!"
"Then I want 24% of the shares. Even if you divide the rest equally, each of you will still have 25.3%."
"..."
The three people hesitated, and Liu Wei said: "When we started our business, we already gave 15% of our shares to Skye Network, so..."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about it. I'll talk to Skye. His 15% + your 9%."
"this……"
This was the first time the three of them had encountered this matter, and they felt a little embarrassed and felt sorry for Skye.
Gu Jiaming further said: "Although Skye provided you with start-up capital, did he take care of you in the future? You are in a difficult situation now. Did he continue to invest money in you, or did he try to help you find an issuer?
He didn't do anything!
His investment is equivalent to buying a lottery ticket. If you win, you will win, but if you don't win, there will be no loss. I am sincerely helping you develop. Apart from other things, as far as channels are concerned, can Skye compare?"
This is the truth.
The three giants thought about it for a while and shyly agreed.
"Okay, after I invest, I will not participate in any management or creation. You can do whatever you want, and I will only provide channel resources. We have this plan for every independent studio.
If possible, can we draft an agreement now?"
Immediately, several people drafted a simple agreement: Gu Jiaming would handle Skye Network by himself, and then each of the three would take out 3% of the shares, totaling 9%, for a price of 1 million.
After completion, 99 Games will hold 24% of the shares!”
A few years later, this share will be worth more than 12 billion.
After signing the agreement, Liu Wei asked curiously: "You said that only one studio holds 49% of the shares. Which studio is it?"
"Oh, Coconut Island."
(There is another chapter tonight...
Have you ever watched "Fengshen" or "Super Family"? Let me know how it goes, I'll go watch it later.)