"The idea sounds really good..."
Vivian frowned slightly.
Judging from the target audience, this thing is mainly aimed at female groups like her.
However, Lin Lixin's idea has a very serious problem.
Are you sure this will work in the United States?
This is a very, very Asia product.
Vivian could clearly sense it.
Delicate, meticulous, refreshing, and adorable.
This product of solitary companionship... is very much not suited to the tastes of the United States market.
Just look at how popular Mortal Kombat is among the new generation.
These people don't have those delicate thoughts in their heads.
Instead of this kind of thing, they might prefer a competitive arena mode. "Hmm... that's true."
Lin Lixin nodded noncommittally.
That is indeed the case.
In fact, the Pokémon IP's success in the United States was a completely different story from its success in Japan.
"Unless it becomes part of popular culture... that's not a problem."
Vivian pondered.
Given Gamenova's brand recognition, if they really wanted to forcefully promote this product, getting Madonna and MJ to endorse it would have been enough.
"Its main battlefield... I think it should be the campus?"
"Pretty much. We don't need to limit ourselves to the North America market; we can launch it simultaneously in Japan. They should really like this there."
Now that we've decided to do it, the next step is naturally to determine the hardware specifications.
What level of hardware does an electronic pet need? Theoretically speaking, with Gamenova's current semiconductor capabilities, creating a next-generation handheld console to run this thing is not a problem at all.
However, given the lessons learned from 3DO, this path is clearly not suitable.
The most important thing about electronic pets is that they are cheap.
At least in the early days before the concept of trendy toys took shape and people started speculating on them, this thing was indeed considered cheap.
"As for cost control... our 2-micron production line should be enough, right? There aren't many contract manufacturers lately, so that line is quite idle."
Vivian considered the requirements for the machine and offered her opinion.
The more advanced the technology, the higher the cost will be, and the more circuit-related issues need to be considered.
As manufacturing processes become smaller, a large number of analog circuits need to be redesigned to address issues such as interference.
Circuits that generate a large number of analog signals, such as radio frequency, power management, and audio circuits, are not suitable for more advanced manufacturing processes.
Theoretically speaking, an electronic pet doesn't need those advanced production lines at all.
"No, no, no, you can't see it that way, Vivian."
Lin Lixin waved his hand. Vivian's understanding wasn't wrong, but it wasn't suitable for electronic pets.
The relationship between manufacturing process and cost is actually very complex and ambiguous.
Smaller process sizes, while requiring higher R&D costs, also allow for the production of more wafers from a single wafer.
A 0.5-micrometer chip, while performing the same function, can have an area that is less than a quarter of that of a 1-micrometer chip.
The cost of a wafer must take into account the wafer area, and cannot be calculated solely based on research and development costs.
While processing a single wafer using a large-scale process is cheaper, it also reduces the number of chips that can be cut.
"Besides, if we use 2 micrometers, what about the size? Are you planning to use a handheld console-sized device as an electronic pet?"
"Huh? So what you mean is?"
"0.8 micrometers—we want to make it smaller than the palm of your hand, even smaller than an NPC."
Upon hearing this, Vivian was slightly taken aback.
At 0.8 micrometers, this is already one of Micron's most advanced production lines.
She initially thought this thing would be a transitional product, something cobbled together from unsold hardware to clear out inventory.
But judging from Lin Lixin's current expression, it seems I've completely misunderstood.
It will use the most advanced manufacturing process currently available.
Noticing Vivian's confusion, Lin Lixin didn't keep her in suspense and explained:
"Vivi, for mobile devices, power consumption control is paramount."
The smaller the transistor, the lower the dynamic power consumption.
In addition, the shorter gate allows for higher frequencies, which, combined with Gamenova's renowned edge circuit management technology, enables extreme power consumption compression.
"Using 0.8 micrometers, I only need to design one SoC, and I can fit all the chips I need into it with extremely low power consumption."
Although Lin Lixin didn't say it, Vivian's understanding was not wrong in a certain sense.
This thing is indeed a transitional product.
However, it wasn't the kind of product she envisioned as a transition to the next generation or the next stage.
Rather, it's a kind of... technology verification. Mobile-end technology verification.
Highly integrated SoC, power management, lithium battery, low-power LCD screen...
These are all core technologies that future mobile devices will be inseparable from.
If we can use this little gadget for technology verification and also earn some budget for the wafer fab's upgrades, that would be perfect.
"I understand... but in that case, we need to ensure sufficient stock distribution."
Vivian seemed lost in thought, trying to understand Lin Lixin's ideas.
"The R&D expenses are there; if we only sell a few hundred thousand SoCs, the costs simply won't be covered."
This project isn't about showing off skills like before; it's about genuinely making money.
If we were to lose money to gain market share like we did with ADSL internet and graphics cards, we would be putting the cart before the horse.
"That's not a problem. I'll make it a necessity for everyone."
From today's perspective, Tamagotchi's success can be considered inevitable.
It cleverly tapped into a persistent but unmet need in society: low-cost pets.
In fact, the zhuzhupets that were created during the " Hamsterball " era were an attempt by Gamenova and Mattel in this direction.
Traditional pets are very good.
They are cute, comforting, and can keep you company.
It's like a little baby that devours all unhappiness.
But it's not perfect either.
Expensiveness is an unavoidable topic.
Veterinary care is expensive, food and related supplies are expensive, and pets themselves are expensive.
It also requires a certain amount of space.
Mice and reptiles are fine, but it's really impossible to keep a dog comfortably in a small apartment.
Of course, besides material costs, time costs are also extremely high.
A typical adult human being has to go to work and can't possibly take care of a pet all day. This long-term responsibility that binds the owner can sometimes become a... heavy burden.
After a long, busy day, I was so tired that my eyelids were drooping. When I opened the door and saw that my house was a complete mess, I felt like I wanted to die.
But I still had to force myself to walk the dog before I could finally go to bed.
Real pets aren't necessarily suitable for everyone.
Perhaps this is why there's still a niche for pet-themed sections in the modern information age.
There is no shortage of coin owners in this world who, on a whim, keep a coin because it looks cute.
Many people actually enjoy the therapeutic effect of owning a pet, but deep down they don't want to accept the costs of pet ownership.
And so Tamagotchi was born.
It turns pets into electronic ones, making them a lower-cost meal replacement.
No more worrying about the unpleasant chores that come with owning a pet; all you need to do is pay for the machine.
Of course, despite being electronic, it still requires the player's care.
It will get hungry, get sick, have its own emotions, grow up... and of course, die. "Stop, stop, stop... it will die? Are you serious?"
Hearing this, Vivian, who had been completely lured in by Lin Lixin's rosy promises, suddenly snapped back to reality.
"You mean if it's not taken good care of, it will die just like a real pet?"
"Yes, literally permanent death. You will lose it forever and will have to raise it again."
"Huh? But doesn't this contradict what you said earlier? Wouldn't this just increase the psychological cost again?"
When the pet is going to die, the situation changes completely.
The burden of responsibility that was lost after digitization will suddenly be placed back on the players' shoulders.
The core mechanism of electronic pets should be to reduce the cost of owning a pet, retaining only the enjoyable aspects.
"Perhaps, but it's necessary."
Lin Lixin did not deny it.
Death is always a particularly heavy topic, no matter the time.
But this seemingly harsh punishment mechanism is precisely what made Tamagotchi successful. "What we're making isn't a simulation game, but digital life, with a beginning and an end. It won't be a voltage difference living inside a transistor, but a real life living in the virtual world."
It subtly creates a sense of dependency.
"Look, Vivi. The bond between owners and pets is actually a two-way process."
"Mutual?"
"Yes, I like it, so I'm willing to take care of it. But it's precisely because I've been taking care of it that I like it more and more."
Lin Lixin snatched Gloria (something like that) from Vivian's hands, looking at the adorable little one.
"Attachment theory, although it's generally used to describe infants and caregivers, I think it can be generalized and applied here."
Electronic pets are dependent on their owners; without their owners' care, they will get sick, starve, or die.
This sense of dependence naturally and easily triggers the attachment system, allowing "both parties" to establish an emotional relationship.
"The proximity of demand makes us want to turn on the machine and check on it every day, even during every spare moment."
"The existence of separation anxiety makes us feel uncomfortable about leaving it and makes us worry about its situation."
"And... a sense of security; we feel at ease when we see it's functioning normally." Are these fabricated attachments fake?
It's hard to say.
The human brain is very good at forming these kinds of relationships, even if the other person is not a real person, or even a human being.
[I want to be Shiori Fujisaki's dog. jpg]
But one thing is certain.
This sincere feeling must be genuine.