The so-called win-win situation.
Russell happily signed an order for the first batch of tens of thousands of engineering cards, and we have to thank Lin Lixin for his generosity.
Gamenova, on the other hand, solved the sales problem for the first batch of graphics cards.
After all, it's not easy to sustain a consumer-grade graphics card production line in today's still immature PC market.
Now that we have General Motors as a major customer, this problem has been solved once and for all.
When the other car manufacturers hear the news, it will be another huge source of income.
"Mr. Lin, shall I take you to see the interior design center next?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."
Lin Lixin nodded.
With the graphics card issue resolved for now, it's time to discuss the vehicle licensing problem.
The original Need for Speed was developed by EA's Canada studio.
Whether due to size or financial constraints, the initial licensing model was actually quite clever. What EA actually obtained was only trademark licensing and vehicle appearance licensing.
As for the remaining parameters, data, and engineering documents, they didn't get a single bit of them.
To solve this problem, EA directly approached the automotive magazine "Road & Track".
What car enthusiast magazines love to do most is, of course, test vehicle data.
0-100 km/h acceleration, braking distance, slalom, top speed, acceleration...
Consumers like to see these kinds of things.
EA can also use this data to deduce some of the engineering data that can be used in the game, thus solving the problem of realism.
It has to be said that it was indeed a very clever approach.
But Gamenova is not EA.
If Lin Lixin needed it, he could simply ask for it directly.
"Mr. Lin, look, this is one of the engineering masterpieces that General Motors is most proud of."
The two arrived in front of a pristine white sports car with a low-slung body. The value of the wind tunnel test finally materialized at this moment, displayed before Lin Lixin.
Completely modern aerodynamic design.
It is quite different from the style he is familiar with after the millennium, but it also has the characteristics of the golden age.
Despite its compact appearance, this car is equipped with a 5.7-liter LT5 dual overhead camshaft all-aluminum V8 engine.
It's definitely a performance monster.
Lin Lixin recognized the car at a glance.
" The Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 truly deserves its reputation as a world-class high-performance sports car, a source of pride for United States."
In the realm of high-performance and luxury sports cars, the United States, frankly speaking, wasn't particularly strong in the 1980s and 90s.
On the contrary, it was somewhat desolate.
It's not that our technology is lacking, but rather that we simply can't compete with a few major Europe manufacturers.
Ferrari and Lamborghini from Italy alone are enough to put a whole host of other car brands to shame.
It wasn't until the birth of the ZR-1 that it was finally proven that the America flag could also stand in the first tier. Top-notch advanced engine technology and chassis tuning are things that Chevrolet is very proud of.
If Russell were to choose a car to demonstrate General Motors ' capabilities to Lin Lixin, he would choose this one without hesitation.
As General Motors ' design center on the West Coast, this place practically gathers all of General Motors ' best products.
The Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z is also a classic high-performance car.
Although its design is still quite different from the Bumblebee of later generations, it has already developed its own unique design style, finding a perfect balance between muscle cars and performance sports cars.
With the third-generation Camaro, there will naturally be a third-generation Pontiac Firebird based on the same platform.
It's also a high-performance muscle car equipped with a small V8 engine from GM.
Low-slung body and sharp lines are almost standard features of American sports cars of this era.
All of these models are equipped with the most advanced digital instrument panel and four-wheel independent suspension.
Besides these performance cars, there are also plenty of luxury sports cars.
The Cadillac Allanté is a high-end convertible designed in Italy and built on General Motors's own chassis. The body is entirely manufactured in Italy and then shipped to Detroit, United States for final assembly, making it a pioneering global product.
In this era, this transoceanic production model is simply inconceivable.
Buick's Buick Reatta, Oldsmobile's Toronado Troféo...
This place is the epitome of the United States automotive dream.
Anyone who loves car culture, no matter who comes here, will probably go crazy for it.
"Mr. Russell, as you probably guessed, I've come here specifically for more than just discussing graphics cards and a tour."
The two returned to the Corvette ZR-1.
"Is it... a new game?"
Russell asked tentatively.
This was something that made his heart race even more than the graphics card.
A little promotion from Gamenova would be far more useful than making a lot of GGs.
Sports cars are inherently a cultural phenomenon geared towards young people. And Gamenova holds absolute authority and dominance in this area.
Today, General Motors is striving to shed its outdated and Volkswagen image by introducing numerous more youthful models.
Faced with the influx of sports cars from Japan and Europe, and the rapid loss of its young customer base, General Motors, though still seemingly thriving, has indeed reached a critical juncture.
Otherwise, General Motors wouldn't have gone so far as to invest huge sums of money in digital design, nor would it have been so easily swayed by the grand vision outlined by Lin Lixin.
General Motors desperately needs an opportunity to turn the tide and launch a counterattack.
"That's right, and it's a racing game, a true 3D racing game."
Lin Lixin nodded and glanced at the Corvette ZR-1 in front of him.
Russell immediately understood and opened the car door for him to get in.
"I plan to use real-world car prototypes as the selectable vehicles in the game, whether it's the exterior, interior, or even... specifications."
Lin Lixin spoke as he experienced the ride.
It must be said that although the interior looks a bit dated, it is surprisingly very comfortable.
It's certainly much more comfortable than the Porsche 911 in his garage. While it can't compare to a true business-class comfort car, it's definitely in a class of its own in the realm of sports cars.
The seats are wide and moderately soft, providing a noticeable sense of envelopment as soon as you sit down, without collapsing too much and lacking support.
This car doesn't sacrifice comfort for ultimate performance.
If you're traveling long distances, the experience is far superior to those in Europe supercars.
Since it's stationary in the exhibition hall, the suspension can't be felt very precisely.
Even with Lin Lixin's engineering design skills, he could only barely reverse engineer the general structure.
Independent suspension, transverse composite leaf spring.
It might be a bit lacking for city commuting, but the experience on highways is absolutely superb.
"While we can't make players experience things like interior comfort firsthand, we can convey it indirectly through other means."
Lin Lixin nodded in satisfaction.
This car isn't one of those decorative models designed purely for collectors; it's a genuine performance car.
It's drivable. "However, that's on the condition that Gamenova can obtain the complete engineering data."
The scene fell silent for a moment.
Russell was surprised that Lin Lixin would so bluntly ask for engineering data.
In his mind, Lin Lixin probably wanted common requests such as design licenses and trademarks.
He was already prepared; he would agree as soon as the other party asked.
Unexpectedly, Lin Lixin made an outrageous demand.
Engineering data is not the kind of publicly available parameters that car magazines measure.
This contains complete wind tunnel test data, suspension and chassis tuning, weight distribution, engine power curves, and other detailed data.
It's practically equivalent to handing over one's manhood.
"Mr. Lin, in that case... I might need to discuss this with the board of directors."
"Of course, I'm just suggesting this idea. If it really can't be done, that's fine too. I can do some testing and roughly deduce some of it." Lin Lixin nodded and continued.
"What I want is not just a Corvette ZR-1 with a physical appearance, but a truly digital, virtual real car. All the data is based on a real car."
"That's a very bold idea; it'll definitely be interesting."
Russell responded with a sound of agreement, unsure of how to respond.
Lin Lixin laughed and got out of the car.
"Not everyone has the time, energy, or even the inclination to experience a short Test Drive."
He placed his hand on the roof of the car.
"But if it's a video game, we can let a teenager play Corvette tirelessly for dozens or even hundreds of hours at home."
"Of course, the premise is that its performance is strong enough that if you want to win the championship, you must choose this car."
"For young men who are not yet adults and haven't had the chance to touch their own cars, their first encounter with and understanding of cars will be in the virtual world."
"And this is a seed, a seed deeply rooted in their hearts, which will one day sprout and grow into a towering tree."
What one cannot obtain in youth will ultimately haunt one for life. Those things that take root early on will gradually swell and grow, transforming into a lifelong obsession.
It transformed into Corvette ZR-1 poster displayed on the wall.
This manifested as repeated hesitation and indecision at the used car dealership.
"Therefore, I still hope to obtain the most authentic, first-hand data to showcase to players the most perfect United States automotive industrial miracle created by the engineers."
"We hope that players can 'touch' the car they dream of owning through video games."
"This is the 'digital twin' concept we're trying out, and frankly, I can't be sure if it's really feasible."
"But you know, Gamenova is that kind of company, we'll definitely give it a try."