Chapter 896: “Give In”

Eric was very proud. He could feel that IOI was walking on the right path under his guidance. The gap between IOI and GOG was shrinking for the first time.

He looked at Zhao Xuming. “Boss Zhao, Finger Games will release some news about IOI mobile games in the next two days. Long Yu Corporation’s mission is to cooperate with Finger Games so that the news can spread better.”

“Of course, there is another very important thing. Once IOI’s mobile version is released, Long Yu Corporation will be in charge of contacting channels and promoting mobile games.”

Zhao Xuming quickly nodded. “No problem, that’s my job.”

Obviously, IOI’s mobile version had always been in Eric’s plan. He had already started to make preparations after he took over the operations of IOI’s domestic server and became the “Vanguard General” who fought directly with Tengda Corporation.

On one hand, it was to update the version and start the money-burning war. On the other hand, it was to urge Finger Games to arrange special personnel to develop IOI’s mobile version.

Of course, changing the client-side game into a mobile game was not something that could be done overnight.

At the beginning, Tengda Corporation was able to change GOG into a mobile game very quickly because the design of GOG itself had some elements of mobile games. The gameplay was short, the map was smaller than IOI, and the game mechanism was simpler. Thus, there were fewer obstacles in modifying it.

It would not be easy for IOI to change the client-side game into a mobile game.

Even so, he could still release the news to warm up.

He would first use the resources in IOI to create a simple DEMO, pick a few heroes that were more suitable for mobile game operations and then use this DEMO to create a few trial videos. Then, he would upload these videos online and hype them up so that IOI players would know about this.

It would be of great help in the promotion of IOI as long as he gave everyone the feeling that IOI was catching up and competing with GOG.

Zhao Xuming also supported this matter with both hands. After all, in his opinion, the arrival of mobile games was unavoidable. IOI could learn from GOG and make the game into a dual-terminal game. This was indeed a move that followed the trend.

What’s more, Long Yu Corporation had a very close relations.h.i.+p with the local mobile game developers. In fact, Long Yu Corporation even controlled some mobile games channels. It might be more convenient to promote mobile games than to promote client-side games.

Once IOI’s mobile game was released, the old gamers would definitely go and play it. Many gamers who were tired of playing GOG’s mobile game would test waters and take a look. If they could think of a few good marketing plans…

It would definitely be effective!

Eric and Zhao Xuming were full of confidence with IOI’s operation strategy.

Although GOG’s current position in the country was very stable and difficult to shake, everything was difficult at the beginning. They could quickly form a positive cycle as long as they persevered and allowed IOI’s domestic server to gradually recover its vitality. At that time, everything would have a turnaround!

…

February 17th, Friday…

Ye Zhizhou hurried to Tengda Games and found Min Jingchao, who was busy creating the new version of GOG.

“Finger Games is doing something new!”

“They released a few trial videos of IOI mobile games just now. They seem to be of good quality.”

“However, I suspect that… They are using IOI’s ready-made client-side game material. It is still far from the official development of the game. It is now in the stage of ‘demonstration deception’.”

“However, IOI’s mobile game development has obviously been put on the agenda. We have to be cautious.”

“At the moment, these videos have produced quite a good response on video websites both domestically and overseas. Many players are looking forward to it.”

“Some people have been comparing it to GOG’s mobile game to generate popularity. Most likely, Long Yu Corporation’s fake reviewers are doing it.”

Ye Zhizhou handed his cell phone to Min Jingchao and showed him a few videos of IOI mobile games as he spoke.

There were a few trial videos of IOI’s cla.s.sic heroes in the video. For example, Chaos Misfortune, Storm Swordsman, Specter Blacksmith and other outstanding heroes in the global finals. There were also some commonly used noob heroes.

All of these heroes had one thing in common, and that was that their operations were not particularly complicated. It was not too difficult to transplant them from the client-side game to the mobile game.

What’s more, these heroes had their own popularity, and heroes like the Storm Swordsman were more handsome, so the video gave players a good impression.

If one had not played the game yet, this video alone was very attractive.

“They’re not here with good intentions.”

Min Jingchao immediately saw through Finger Games’ intentions.

The current situation could be said to be “attacking and defending differently”. In the past, GOG would take the initiative to attack, IOI would be forced to defend and would be beaten to the ground.

However, the situation had completely reversed now.

The mobile version of GOG was a pioneer. Now, a huge group of gamers had gathered. Due to the size of the group, it was not appropriate to take too many risks. It was a pa.s.sive defense.

On the other hand, IOI’s mobile version was a new game. It had many advantages: it could directly refer to GOG’s existing gameplay and avoid detours. It could directly tie itself to GOG’s mobile version and publicize it. It could easily obtain huge popularity.

The ‘freeloaders’ would often have a very good effect. On the other hand, the party who was being freeloaded did not have a good solution. The more responsive they were, the more popular the other party would be.

On the other hand, if they chose to deal with it coldly, the other party would be even more unscrupulous and would still gain a lot of popularity.

Ye Zhizhou asked, “What should we do?”

Min Jingchao pondered for a moment. “How about… we ask Boss Pei?”

Even though the two of them could think of some countermeasures, this was a serious matter after all. If they did not handle it well, the consequences would be very serious. Neither of them dared to make the decision.

GOG was currently the game with the largest number of players in Tengda Corporation, the most influential, and the most popular. It also involved GPL, the money tree. Neither of them dared to treat it lightly.

After some discussion, the two of them felt that they had to consult Boss Pei about such important matters. Only then would they feel at ease.

He sent a message to the front desk and found out that Boss Pei had just arrived at the office today. The two of them went to the 16th floor and knocked lightly on Boss Pei’s office door.

“Enter.”

Boss Pei’s voice came immediately from the office.

Min Jingchao pushed the door open and entered with Ye Zhizhou following closely behind.

“Boss Pei, we’re here today to report the movements of Finger Games…”

Min Jingchao briefly explained how Finger Games had released IOI mobile game trial videos and how Long Yu Corporation had hired fake reviewers to ride on GOG’s popularity.

Pei Qian almost slammed the table and cheered.

Eric did well!

He did not let me down!

From the previous price war to the current IOI mobile version and buying fake reviewers to ride on popularity, Pei Qian was very satisfied with every step Eric took.

The more Finger Games pressed on, the more reason Pei Qian had to burn money to fight back.

However, how should he deal with it…

Pei Qian thought about it briefly.

His first reaction was to fight back. If they wanted to be popular, he would give them popularity. Tengda could also spend a lot of money on this. Why not?

However, on further thought, it seemed a little dangerous.

At the moment, GOG and IOI were not on the same level in terms of size in the country. If they fought back fiercely, IOI would indeed gain a lot of popularity, but GOG would also gain a lot of popularity.

What if both parties’ pa.s.sion for each other and their interest in each other caused GOG’s popularity to increase and the players’ cohesion and recognition to become stronger?

It seemed inappropriate.

What if he did not bother at all?

It did not seem to be very good either. While it would not bring GOG popularity, IOI’s popularity would also acc.u.mulate very slowly. Gra.s.s would grow as the horse starved, it would need a really long time to pose a threat to GOG. Distant water could not quench the immediate thirst.

After some consideration, Pei Qian decided to follow his previous plan.

“Continue to pay attention to IOI’s movements. We will follow no matter what strategy they deploy. However, we have to ‘give way’ to them.”

“For example, if they spend ten million yuan on publicity, we’ll spend seven million yuan; if they reduce the price of the skin by ten percent, we’ll reduce the price by seven percent.”

“It’s the same for public opinion. If they provoke us and want to ride on our popularity, we’ll fight back. However, we have to leave some leeway when we fight back.”

Min Jingchao was stunned. “Er… do you have any other requests, Boss Pei?”

Pei Qian shook his head. “No.”

Min Jingchao and Ye Zhizhou looked at each other and saw confusion in each other’s eyes.

Just like that?

They had thought that Boss Pei was going to start his ‘killing spree’ immediately, but in the end, Boss Pei said that he was going to ‘give way’?

Boss Pei always seemed to be able to give very subversive and creative suggestions previously. However, this time, Boss Pei’s suggestions seemed to be quite standard. There was nothing special about them.

“Give way” sounded nice, but in fact, it was nothing more than pa.s.sively defending. What’s more, Boss Pei had specifically emphasized that one had to spend less money than the other party in a price war?

What kind of logic was that?

However, it was obvious that Boss Pei had said all that he wanted to say looking at his expression. All that was left was an expression that said, “Go figure it out on your own.”

Thus, the two of them could only take their leave.

After leaving Boss Pei’s office, Min Jingchao and Ye Zhizhou looked confused. Obviously, asking Boss Pei this time had not achieved the effect they wanted.

There were no reliable countermeasures to deal with the threat of IOI.

In other words, Boss Pei had given them a reliable plan, but they had not understood the deeper meaning behind it.

The two of them returned to the 17th floor and sat down in the lounge. They sipped their drinks as they stared at each other.

Both of them saw the same att.i.tude in each other’s eyes.

“Do you believe that Boss Pei is that simple?”

“I don’t believe you. What about you?”

“I don’t believe it either.”

“That only means that Boss Pei has deeper thoughts that we have not uncovered.”

“Think hard, don’t leave if you can’t!”

The two of them drank their drinks as they thought hard.

Ye Zhizhou said, “I think there’s something fishy about this.”

“When has Boss Pei ever lost to anyone else in spending money?”

“Before this, we had to spend more money than the other party, be it in games or in physical industries.”

“Yet, Boss Pei is asking us to ‘give way’ this time? How is that possible! It’s not in line with Boss Pei’s usual style!”

Min Jingchao nodded. “Indeed.”

“The key is that Finger Games and Long Yu Corporation are our arch-enemies. They are our compet.i.tors whom we do not have any cooperative relations.h.i.+p with.”

“They started the price war but we have to give way to them? Why! This is not in line with Tengda’s usual style!”

“That’s why Boss Pei must have a special motive behind his ‘giving way’!”

The more they discussed, the more they felt that something was amiss.

However, no one could tell what was wrong.

Min Jingchao left the lounge and returned with two laptops moments later.

“These are the relevant data for GOG and IOI in the country, including changes in market share and other data. We might be able to see something from our research.”

Ye Zhizhou nodded and took one of the laptops.

The two of them began to look through various doc.u.ments aimlessly, hoping to find some clues.

Suddenly, Ye Zhizhou seemed to realize something and said, “I noticed something. It’s the market share of other games like IOI and GOG’s MOBA games and the release of new games.”

“There’s no need to talk about the market share of GOG and IOI. At the moment, GOG has the overall advantage in the domestic market. Both sides are equally matched overseas. GOG has a small advantage, but it’s not very big. Both sides are fluctuating.”

“However, the situation of other MOBA games is worth pondering about.”

“On one hand, their market share is declining. On the other hand, lesser new games are being released.

“There are at least five or six versions of MOBA mobile games in the same period as GOG, but they are still barely operating. There are only one or two left, and they are in a half-dead state.”

“They died very quickly.”

Min Jingchao nodded. “Didn’t we already know about this?”

“Our compet.i.tion with IOI will definitely squeeze the survival s.p.a.ce of all other similar games. In the end, only one winner will survive.”

“Even an old game like G.o.ds Rising has been severely affected.”

“Based on the data, G.o.ds Rising still has a group of loyal gamers that are hard to shake. However, there is almost no fresh blood flowing into it.”

“More importantly, there was news that a big company wanted to buy G.o.ds Rising to create an online game similar to IOI or GOG, but it was delayed again and again.”

Ye Zhizhou said, “What if we dig deeper into the reason behind this?”

“Why are these companies giving up on MOBA games?”

“I think that intense market compet.i.tion is only one aspect. Another important reason is the anchor effect!”

“Boss Pei’s pricing of GOG has actually formed an anchor effect. After IOI was forced to fight a price war with us, this anchor effect became even more stable. This made it extremely difficult for other companies to start, so they did not plan to follow!”

Min Jingchao nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

The so-called anchor effect was actually very easy to understand: the operating model was similar for MOBA games. It was nothing more than selling heroes, buying skins, and various value-added services.

They could not possibly sell their battle prowess, right? That would be courting death.

Players would not find it strange if all MOBA games set their skins at tens of yuan.

This price would allow many new MOBA games to survive.

they would only be able to develop and grow after surviving.

However, Boss Pei had forced GOG’s skin to be priced like cabbage. He had also forced IOI to engage in a price war and reduce the price of the skin. This had formed an anchor effect: all players felt that the skins of MOBA games should be so cheap!

Thus, even if other games companies created MOBA games of similar quality to GOG and IOI, there was basically no chance of success.

These companies would face a dilemma due to the existence of the anchor effect: if the price was higher than GOG, gamers would think that they were unscrupulous; but if the price was the same as GOG, they would not be able to continue operating.

GOG’s skins were priced at a low price, but there was a huge group of players. There was also the GPL league so there were many ways to maintain profits. There were few other MOBA gamers to begin with and they only relied on the skins to earn money. If the skins were priced like cabbage, how could they earn money?

Therefore, the first casualties of the price war between GOG and IOI was not IOI but all other MOBA games.

Initially, MOBA games were the type of games that the winner takes all. GOG had already made use of its huge number of users to gain the upper hand and set the price so cheaply. What else could the other MOBA games play with?

Ye Zhizhou continued, “Therefore, Boss Pei’s strategy of ‘giving way’ is worth digging deeper.”

“On the surface, Boss Pei is deliberately allowing IOI to expand its user base. However, on careful consideration, isn’t Boss Pei using IOI’s power to continue attacking other compet.i.tors?”

“GOG has a huge user base and an advantage. Even if we only use 70% of our publicity budget, we can still fight a protracted war with IOI. Let IOI persevere burning their money. The more we fight, the more difficult it would be for the other MOBA games to survive.”

Min Jingchao frowned slightly. “However, it’s good to get someone else to do the dirty work. What if IOI burns us out? What if their market share rises and enters a virtuous cycle?”

Ye Zhizhou said, “There is indeed such a possibility. However, Boss Pei must think that IOI would not be able to burn us seeing how confident he was.”

“Boss Pei said that no matter how much they burn, we will follow but ‘give way’.”

“This ‘giving way’ will not put us at a disadvantage. It will also entice Finger Games to continue burning money to help us eliminate our other compet.i.tors while expanding their market share and it will also consume the funds of Dayak Corporation and Finger Games.”

“The ‘giving way’ that Boss Pei said is not for the enemy to advance while we retreat. Instead, it’s to give them respect for helping us s.n.a.t.c.h market share. However, if you want to challenge me if you dare, let’s see who will last longer!”

Min Jingchao suddenly understood. “Indeed, that should be what Boss Pei meant! We should hold back and play with Finger Games, burn money with them to get rid of the other compet.i.tors. When the time is ripe, we can give Finger Games a fatal blow!”

Both of them felt much more at ease.

What was there to worry about since Boss Pei had already planned everything out with full confidence? He felt that he would definitely win even if he reserved thirty percent of his strength!