Chapter 168: Cheating on the pirate ship
When Zhang Wei said one million per month, Yao Xiaoguang thought Zhang Wei was joking.
"One million per month? Don't kid me! Do you know what one million is?"
When Yao Xiaoguang was working on "Phantom Ranger", he could make 1 million per month. Received a bonus of 30,000 yuan.
"Phantom Ranger" was also a relatively popular game at the time. Yao Xiaoguang's monthly bonus of 30,000 yuan was the top income for domestic game developers at that time.
Zhang Wei said one million a month, but Yao Xiaoguang would only think it was a fantasy.
Zhang Wei had no choice but to take out a bankbook and handed it to Yao Xiaoguang.
“Brother Xiaoyao, I’m not kidding you, I can really spend one million.”
This passbook is used by Zhang Wei to collect royalties, "Dead Ghost Blows Out the Lamp" 》The royalties are all recorded in this passbook.
Now the third volume of "Dead Man Blows Out the Lamp" has been published, and Zhang Wei has received more than one million yuan in royalties from it.
Moreover, the popularity of "Dead Man Blows Out the Lamp" has just begun. As the popularity becomes higher and higher over time, Zhang Wei will receive more and more royalties.
Yao Xiaoguang looked at the numbers on the passbook, rubbed his eyes subconsciously, and then counted the seven digits before the decimal point again, and then showed a surprised expression.
"Here I go, Zhang Wei, you really have a million! Are you a rich second generation!" Yao Xiaoguang looked at Zhang Wei curiously, as if he wanted to get to know this new friend again.
“I am not a rich second generation, but I wrote a book and published it some time ago and earned some royalties.” Zhang Wei replied with a smile.
"Write a book? How old are you, just writing a book? Can you still earn more than one million?" Yao Xiaoguang asked in surprise.
"I happened to bring the first two volumes. Brother Xiaoyao, if you are idle and bored, just kill the time." Zhang Wei said, taking out the first two volumes of "Dead Ghost Blows Out the Lamp" from the bag and handed it to Yao Xiaoguang.
"I didn't expect you to be a writer! "The Dead Man Blows Out the Lamp"? A horror novel? Then I have to read it carefully!"
"Don't worry about the novel for now, let's talk about starting a business first Let’s go!”
“Okay, let’s talk about starting a business.” Yao Xiaoguang laughed and asked with interest: “What salary are you going to give me?” ? It’s said that I started a business, how can I get a salary?” Zhang Wei said immediately.
"It's just a waste of work!"
"How can I let you work in vain? Since it is a partnership, I must give you shares!"
Yao Xiaoguang pondered for a moment and said: "According to you, this is my technology investment?"
"What I want is not only your technology, but also management. You are also more experienced than me in business management. My main plan is Put in the money and you will do the rest," Zhang Wei said.
"It sounds like you are going to be a hands-off shopkeeper! Aren't you afraid that I will spend all your money carelessly?" Yao Xiaoguang asked with a smile.
"If you want to stand on Blizzard's shoulders and surpass Blizzard, then I bet you won't do that!" Zhang Wei said calmly.
"Beyond Blizzard?" The longing in Yao Xiaoguang's eyes flashed, but then he said: "You still want to surpass Blizzard? Your ambition is really big enough!"
For that For game practitioners of the era, Blizzard is a mountain that can never be crossed.
Especially role-playing games, 2D copies of "Diablo" and 3D copies of "World of Warcraft" were almost the basic operating rules of the game production industry at that time.
And many game companies even regard imitating Blizzard as a very honorable thing.
For example, when many 3D games are promoted, they will try to capitalize on the popularity of "World of Warcraft" and flaunt which systems in the game imitate "World of Warcraft" to attract players.
If a game designer says that he wants to make a game that surpasses Blizzard, he will definitely be regarded as arrogant and attract ridicule from countless peers.
However, every game designer has a dream to surpass Blizzard. They really hope that the game they design will surpass Blizzard on a certain day, month and year.
If you don’t even have the dream to surpass Blizzard, it is probably difficult to make a good game.
Zhang Wei continued: "Brother Xiaoyao, I actually think that this DOTA map update is very suitable for you now. You have just had surgery and your body is still in the recovery period. You definitely cannot work as hard as before. work.
Updating a map does not require a lot of work. Your current physical condition can fully cope with it, and it can be considered a return to the field of game development. "
When it comes to his body, Yao Xiaoguang sighed lightly: "That's right. In my current physical condition, I really can't do the entire game project. I guess I can only edit the map. "
Zhang Wei could feel that Yao Xiaoguang's mood was down again, so he continued to persuade: "Brother Xiaoyao, don't underestimate this DOTA map. I think the potential of this map is greater than any other in the country currently. An online game must be huge!
DOTA is the RPG map of Warcraft 3. The game Warcraft 3 already has a player base of tens of millions, which means that DOTA has tens of millions of potential customers from the beginning.
Which online game has such a huge potential customer base? Even "Legend", which was popular all over the country, is not as good as one-tenth of it, right? From this perspective, you must have never done such a big project!
Moreover, the player base of Warcraft 3 exists not only in China, but also in various countries around the world. When we make DOTA maps, we are actually making a game that is played all over the world.
It is difficult for our Chinese online games to go abroad. Even if there are occasional ones that can go overseas, at most they can be sold to surrounding countries, but the European and American markets have never been able to enter. And our DOTA map can be promoted to the whole world with the help of Blizzard's Warcraft 3 platform, so that European and American countries can also see the games made by us Chinese! ”
Zhang Wei’s painting of a pie immediately made Yao Xiaoguang a little excited.
With the domestic game environment at that time, a game could have hundreds of thousands of players. With tens of thousands of players online at the same time, it is already a very successful game
"Legend" is a popular game all over the country. The highest number of online users was only 650,000 in 2003. And "Fantasy Westward Journey", the pinnacle of domestic games, had only 100,000 people online during its free public beta, but after charging, the number dropped to 30,000.
In comparison, Warcraft 3’s global player base of tens of millions is indeed an unimaginable behemoth.
And the temptation to enter the European and American markets is indeed quite tempting.
European and American players have very high requirements for the quality of games. Historically, European and American games have entered the Chinese market, but no Chinese game has yet entered the European and American markets.
Finding that Yao Xiaoguang was a little moved, Zhang Wei continued to persuade: "Brother Xiaoyao, how about I come up with a compromise. During this period, you first make the DOTA map and take a look at the global distribution of the DOTA map. What's the response been like in the range?
If after a while, the response to the DOTA map is very good, then we will talk about a joint venture. At that time, we will use the DOTA game IP to independently develop a DOTA2 game and promote it to the world.
If the response to the DOTA map is not good, then just pretend that I didn’t say anything and we will have a breakup meal then. I will return to Tsinghua University to continue my scientific research, and you will go to other game companies for interviews. How about it? "
"In other words, let me try it first? If I think it's feasible, then we can talk about the follow-up? If I think it's not feasible, I can leave at any time? "Yao Xiaoguang asked.
"Yes! That's what it means. "Zhang Wei nodded seriously.
At this moment, Yao Xiaoguang couldn't help but look at Zhang Wei with admiration.
He can be considered an old man in the field of game research and development in China. He has worked for many companies and met the bosses of many game companies. He even worked for the richest man like Mr. Chen of Shanda.
Most bosses are a little preoccupied and always want to keep the project in their own hands. The R&D staff have to report every major issue.
This is the first time I have encountered someone like Zhang Wei who is willing to invest money and be a hands-off shopkeeper, and also has a reason to let Yao Xiaoguang give it a try before making a decision.
“I don’t know if this is really courageous, or if I am too young, have not been beaten by society, and lack social experience!”
Yao Xiaoguang sighed and finally nodded: “ Give me a few days to think about it.”
"Well, I'm looking forward to the good news from Brother Xiaoyao!" Zhang Wei smiled and nodded.
……
Late at night, Yao Xiaoguang lay on the hospital bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep for a long time.
The four words "Beyond Blizzard" kept flashing through Yao Xiaoguang's mind, always giving him a feeling of excitement.
How can I sleep peacefully when I am so overwhelmed!
At this time, Yao Xiaoguang couldn't help but think of himself in college. At that time, he also dreamed that one day he could create a game that surpassed "Diablo".
However, when he entered this industry and really started to lead the development of a game, he realized how difficult it was to surpass Blizzard!
The game produced by Blizzard is so good that it is disappointing!
Yao Xiaoguang, who has experienced severe beatings from society, has buried his dream deep in his heart and plans to seal it forever.
But Zhang Wei's words during the day opened this seal, and Yao Xiaoguang's mind began to become active again.
Although Yao Xiaoguang also knew that Zhang Wei was trying to spread the pie, at least Zhang Wei gave him a hope!
"Stand on the shoulders of Blizzard and surpass Blizzard!" Yao Xiaoguang repeated this sentence silently. He, who was not sleepy at first, became more energetic!
Beyond Blizzard, that is the ultimate dream of every game practitioner!
Yao Xiaoguang, who had just experienced a failure, was still in self-doubt, but now he found that the fire of fighting in his heart was still burning.
“Otherwise, just promise Zhang Wei to make this DOTA map. Anyway, Zhang Wei also said that you can let me try it first. If this DOTA map really has potential and can attract people If it’s a global player, then it won’t be too late for me to continue to cooperate with him!”
At this moment, Yao Xiaoguang finally made up his mind and planned to agree to Zhang Wei.
After making the decision, Yao Xiaoguang felt much better, but the side effects of the surging heartbeat just now still continued, and he still didn't feel sleepy at all.
“My mind is full of that DOTA map, I can’t sleep! By the way, Zhang Wei also gave me two books! Why don’t I just read for a while, reading can help me sleep, and I should read it. I fell asleep.”
Thinking of this, Yao Xiaoguang took out the book "Dead Man Blows Out the Lamp".
He obviously doesn’t know that tomb robbery novels have a strong sense of curiosity and are not suitable for reading before going to bed.
A few minutes later, Yao Xiaoguang was completely immersed in the novel, and now he couldn't sleep anymore!
(End of this chapter)