Qiu Hong sighed softly and continued, "The closed and unique operating system that comes with the home console is a strong protection for the copyright of standalone games. Although it can also be cracked, this line of defense has become a guarantee for foreign game manufacturers to be able to make profits."
"No matter how online games developed, the market share of standalone games overseas was more than 60%, surpassing online games. In our domestic market around 2001, this proportion was almost zero.
"The lack of home consoles caused the proliferation of piracy, and the booming piracy destroyed the standalone game market.
"Those who did not experience that era would have no idea how tragic the standalone game market was at that time. Simply put, the standalone game market was so tragic that even if the price was reduced to 15 yuan per copy, gamers would still choose the 6-yuan pirated version.
"At that time, domestically-produced games were just in their infancy. Because of the cultural barrier, they could not sell overseas, so they could only fight in the domestic market.
"Before that, many domestically-produced standalone games could be sold at a price of dozens of yuan, and the profits were good. However, in just one or two years, the original games had to fight a price war with the pirated games. In order to fight against piracy, the retail price of the Four Seas was reduced to 18 yuan. They even gave away a batch with the magazine, but it still did not help.
"The reduction of the game's price did not achieve the effect of small profits but a large reduction in revenue. With lower revenue, production costs could only be reduced, and the quality of the game would also be reduced.
"In addition, some rubbish companies developed many rubbish games, which seriously overdrew the enthusiasm of a small number of supporters of the original games. In the end, it became an endless cycle, and domestically-produced standalone games were equated with inferior quality.
"When an 18-yuan original game still could not beat a 6-yuan pirated game, everything was destined. No matter how much we struggled, it would be useless. The trend of online games gave game designers like me a way to survive. It allowed me to make online games and continue to stay in the game industry. Otherwise, I might have found an internet company and become a product manager.
"Therefore, on the contrary, standalone games did not die because of online games, but because of pirated games. On the contrary, online games gave these manufacturers a lifeline. "
Pei Qian was silent for a long time. "However, if the product is good enough, there will still be people who will pay, right? I heard that there are AAA masterpieces overseas that do not have anti-theft measures. "
Qiu Hong nodded. "Yes, Boss Ma, you're right. That's exactly the case."
"The only question is, what kind of standard is' good enough '?"
"A triple-A game that's on the same level as the big foreign companies? Or should I say, become one of the top manufacturers in the country? "
"That means that only the top 1% of the entire industry can be considered good enough. Only then will enough people be moved by you and pay for you."
"Some people say that piracy will increase the potential market share. First of all, this sentence is nonsense. Secondly, even if it is true, it will only have a little effect on the top 1% of the industry. "
"If you can achieve a monopoly like a computer operating system, then perhaps piracy can help you fight against competitors and maintain your market share."
"However, how many companies can make it to the top 1%? How many companies can monopolize the market? "
"Is there any company that is born to be a big company or a monopoly company?"
"Should we just let the remaining 99% die?"
"It's meaningless to discuss the top 1% of an industry. How many people can make it to the top 1% in their own field? If someone told you that in your industry, only the top 1% can be recognized and survive, while the remaining 99% can only starve to death, would you stay in this industry? "
"Didn't a big shot like He An, who had made many successful standalone games, switch to online games? When the base of the tower dies, the entire market will shrink. How can one or two companies at the top of the tower change the entire market? "
"Therefore, a healthy industry should be like a pyramid or an iceberg. The tip of the tower or the part of the iceberg that floats out of the sea is the top 1% that enjoys glory. The base of the tower or the iceberg under the water is the cornerstone of an industry. "
"If the base of the tower no longer exists, how can the tip of the tower exist?"
"Therefore, whether the top 1% lives well or not will not determine the industry. What really determines the survival of the industry is whether the bottom and middle can survive. "
"This is an endless loop:"
"Manufacturer: I need you to buy the original version so that I can develop the game better!"
"Player: Then give us the best experience first! If you do the best, we will give up on pirated versions and buy the original! "
"Manufacturer: But you have to reject pirated versions first and pay first before we have the money to provide a better experience!"
"Player: Then you have to give us the best experience first before we will reject pirated versions!"
"Therefore, the manufacturers could only go to online games."
"This is the market. It is the choice that the players vote with their feet. The players said that as long as we accept online games, we will only accept pirated standalone games and not the original standalone games. Therefore, as everyone wished, the original standalone games died. "
"To the players, there is no problem with the concept of 'only paying for the good enough things'. It should not be criticized, but the premise is that this is a healthy and orderly market."
"If this market is full of unfair competition, then 'only paying for the good enough things' would mean that other than the top 1% of content producers, the remaining 99% of ordinary content producers would be killed by unfair competitors and people who break the rules of the market."
"Just like now, many video creators work hard for three days to make a video, but some people copy and paste it and steal it. You need three days, but they only need one second. What do you have to compete with them? If the audience does not have this awareness and think that it is the same content anyway, they can watch it from the person who stole the video. Who cares about the original author? Then, other than the top few, how many video creators do you think will really be able to stay? "
"That's why I have to thank ESRO for the establishment of the official platform in 2006. Without it, the domestic standalone game market would still be a barren wasteland with not even a blade of grass growing."
"Even if there were one or two seedlings, it would only be a flash in the pan and would never grow into a towering tree."
"That is because no one really cares about this matter."
Qiu Hong sipped his coffee, looking disappointed.
After a moment of silence, Pei Qian asked, "Then … since the survival environment for domestically-produced standalone games improved in 2006, why didn't you persist in your dream and continue to make standalone games?"
Qiu Hong smiled self-deprecatingly. "Because I gave up on my dream."
"Do you remember what I said at the beginning? Persistence in one's dream is the biggest failure factor. "
"When I first entered the industry, I made a standalone game. I persisted for more than two months without a salary, and in the end, no one even knew its name."
"Therefore, I gave up on my dream and made a xianxia themed pay-to-win online game. This game allowed me to get a project bonus of one million yuan a year. It could be said to be a success."
"So, does it matter what my dream is? Does anyone care? Who am I persisting in this dream for? If I can only drink cold water and eat instant noodles every day while giving up on my dream allows me to live a carefree life and gain the attention of tens of thousands of players, why should I persist? "
"Therefore, from then on, I made up my mind that I would only make games with pay-to-win. My goal was to earn more money. As for the great mission of revitalizing standalone games? What does that have to do with me? If I don't even care about the players themselves, who am I persevering for? "
"In fact, all the game producers who entered the industry at the same time as me, who did not have a dream?"
"However, these people who persisted in their dreams have already left the industry. Only people like me who gave up on their dreams can survive."
"Boss Ma, you might think that my experience is not applicable to this era."
"That's because domestically-produced standalone games are getting better and better. There are no pirates now, and more and more people are paying for domestically-produced standalone games."
"However, the principle remains the same. Only a handful of people can have both dreams and reality. Most people can only make a cruel choice: either give up on their dreams or be taught a lesson by reality. "
"Boss Ma, these are my last words from the bottom of my heart."
"It is not suitable for everyone. Maybe it is right, maybe it is not. However, no matter what, I hope it can give you some inspiration. "
Pei Qian sipped his coffee and did not speak for a long time.
That was because this topic was indeed a little heavy.
Pei Qian really did not know the relationship between ESRO's official platform, the extinction of piracy, and the normal development of standalone games in this world. Only now did he know that the establishment of ESRO's official platform and strict control over piracy had saved the domestic standalone game market and made this world different from the world in his memory.
The difference of a millimeter was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Qiu Hong said that without ESRO's official platform, domestically-produced games would be a desert until today.
Pei Qian knew very well that he was right.
That was because all of this had really played out in his memory.
However, it was also because of this that Pei Qian felt that he should say something.
The current environment could already be said to be heaven. The reason why Qiu Hong felt that he was in hell was only because he had not seen real hell.
Pei Qian thought for a moment and said, "Boss Qiu, I know that it is impossible for people to really empathize with each other. Many people can accept it only because they have not experienced that kind of pain. Therefore, persuading others to be magnanimous is something that can easily be struck by lightning. "
"However, I still want to say a few words to you, can I?"
Qiu Hong nodded. "Of course, Boss Ma, we are bosom friends. Just say it."
Pei Qian said seriously, "I know that it feels very painful to work hard but not get what you deserve in return. Anyone would feel angry when their own efforts are plagiarized. This world is full of unfairness. Sometimes, you can't even tell who is right and who is wrong. Not every disaster can find a person responsible."
"There is a life creed that not everyone can adhere to, but everyone knows that it is right. This saying is: do good, don't ask about the future."
"Boss Qiu, don't let the tragedy of the era become your personal tragedy."
Qiu Hong read the last sentence repeatedly and was speechless.
After a long time, he looked up. "Boss Ma, it's really good that you can think that way."
"Thank you."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
