Ah, a maimai Addict

In fact, back when the novaswift was a 16-bit handheld console, Lin Lixin had already considered whether to add a touchscreen to it.

For this purpose, they even specially commissioned Corning to customize high-standard glass substrates.

Touchscreens have always been an important branch of technology in the field of human-computer interaction.

However, due to limitations in technology and other aspects, there was still no standard solution until the 1990s.

The final answer is actually quite simple: it's a capacitive screen.

Aside from being expensive, it's almost a perfect solution.

In modern times, whether it's mobile phones, tablets, or various touch-sensitive panels, they have all been replaced with high-end capacitive screens.

Besides these, there's only resistive touchscreen manufacturers.

Inexpensive, durable, and precise, it's perfect for use with machines and similar devices.

The drawbacks are also quite obvious; just look at Apple's recently released Newton PDA.

To type on this thing, you have to poke it hard with the stylus.

Both resistive and capacitive touch solutions have their own advantages and disadvantages. In the realm of touchscreens, these two are far from the only competitors.

"Let me see... this spot is perfect, let's put the first set of infrared transmitters here."

Yu Suzuki was fiddling with the frame, constantly marking the position coordinates.

Infrared touch, in essence, means filling the screen with infrared emitters.

These devices emit infrared beams invisible to the human eye, which are then directed into a receiver at the other end.

When the system detects that the light beam is blocked, it can determine the location of the touch by observing the blocked beam.

It's a bit bulky, so it can't achieve the same elegance as capacitive and resistive screens.

However, the cost is also very controllable; regardless of the size, it can be done at a similar unit price.

In fact, this thing has been a common sight in human society even in modern times.

With the advancement of information technology, many schools have begun to introduce multimedia teaching.

It means installing a huge screen on the blackboard in the classroom.

Whether used for displaying PowerPoint presentations or showing movies to children, it's a good choice. Considering cost, many multimedia players actually use infrared touchscreens.

Children who often help teachers erase the blackboard must have noticed that there is often a row of raised bumps at the bottom of these screens that easily collect chalk dust.

Through the black glass panel covering it, you could vaguely see something red inside.

This thing is actually its infrared touch module.

With proper design, it's entirely possible to make it so that users barely notice it.

More importantly, this thing is not picky about screens; it can be used with any panel.

Ultimately, it's just a laser pen that hangs in front of the screen.

"Suzuki."

After Suzuki finished handing over his work and told his subordinates to continue working, Lin Lixin called him over.

"Yes, Chairman Lin."

"While it's incredibly stupid to focus on LCD screens, you can definitely put more effort into other areas; you don't need to be so rigid about cost control."

"Then what about its pricing? Selling a rhythm game at the price of a motion-sensing arcade machine is a bit much..." "Oh, you're concerned about that?"

"Well..."

Suzuki scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

He also realized that what he said might have been a bit of a double standard.

When he was indulging in his passion, he never cared about the life or death of President Nakayama.

"In short, there's no need to worry too much about the price; this is a service-based game, and its operation cycle will be quite long."

Lin Lixin gazed at the test frame not far away, recalling the machine from his memory.

Maimai, also known as "Mai Meng" arcade machine, is fundamentally different from most arcade games.

In the past, arcade machines were usually finalized after production. Once the manufacturers sold them, they would only take a cut from the coin insertion and there were almost no other additional steps involved.

This is a very standard cycle, which was already established long before arcade games were even born, when people were still playing physical machines like pachinko.

Buy the machines, set them up, and players spend money to play.

There won't be any other random stuff. But maimai is different.

It's an arcade game that strongly emphasizes social interaction.

Because of its internet access, maimai continuously updates songs, hosts special events, maintains online rankings, and even persistently saves players' personal account data.

This means that as long as the developer continues to operate the game, it will be able to continuously generate new revenue.

In a sense, for arcades, the lifespan of this machine is even longer than that of fighting game machines, second only to coin pushers and pachinko machines.

"Understood, so we need to install an imported ADSL modem on it?"

"Yes, it is necessary. Sega also needs to invest money in building servers and its own backbone network."

Lin Lixin nodded.

Nexus isn't really making much of a splash in Japan.

To advance the construction, we need Sega as an anchor point.

"Of course, more importantly, we need to promote World Wide Web, and... Vocaloid software, along with a comprehensive producer reward system."

"P-host?"

"Yeah, producer, which refers to independent musicians who create songs using our sound library."

Lin Lixin explained,

"It's certainly good to be motivated by passion, but if there are incentives, it will be beneficial for both us and these producers."

This is the most powerful aspect of Vocaloid.

With Sega's own development team, the speed of music production was extremely limited.

However, if we can mobilize the skilled individuals among the civilians and help these home security guards, who have nothing to do during this downturn, find their own way out, they can truly become Sega's loyal followers.

"Given the limited market share of PCs and the low internet penetration rate, we need to release physical versions of the audio files and Vocaloid software, but only for Gamenova CD-ROM drives. You understand what I mean?"

"Yes, Chairman Lin."

Yu Suzuki replied thoughtfully.

Everyone knows that Lin Lixin wants to sell his own CD players to compete with Sony.

There's nothing wrong with pursuing exclusive content and promoting products. "But this increases costs for creators."

"Therefore, we need incentives, such as tiered bonuses, rankings, events, campus recruitment submissions, CD releases, album pressing... Sega must be fully prepared for all of these things so that producers will definitely receive positive feedback as long as they produce qualified works."

Just like it is now.

Developers only need to write the game using novascript to submit it directly to Activision.

Once the verification is successful, you can lie at home counting money and living off your GG bonus without doing anything.

The process is simplified, the revenue is transparent, and independent creators are encouraged.

This is a complete community ecosystem chain.

Never underestimate the power of the masses.

Lin Lixin, who lives in the era of the explosion of self-media, understands this well.

Countless creators, whether due to personal issues or factors such as identity and education, are unable to join large corporations like Sega and Nintendo.

But this doesn't mean they lack creativity.

It's just that no one has given them a chance to express themselves. If only Sega were willing to show this attitude and let everyone see it.

It turns out that you can make money just by staying at home and tinkering with your computer. Creators with their minds full of ideas about the Inland Empire and nowhere to vent their frustrations will flock to this platform.

"President Nakayama will understand what to do."

Lin Lixin waved his hand, indicating that Yu Suzuki didn't need to worry too much.

For this project, Yu Suzuki could only be considered a hardware engineer.

This is a massive undertaking that requires the coordinated efforts of all departments.

If managed properly, it could theoretically provide Sega with a very good and continuous source of revenue, as well as content production.

Although Nintendo is extremely dominant in its home country, the otaku subculture is still an uncontested virgin territory.

Gamenova had the backing of Tokimeki Memorial, Gainax animation, and Illusion, giving it a stronger starting point than any other company.

"Getting back to the machine, since we're building a player community, player save data must be taken into account. What are your thoughts?"

"Now that we have internet access... how about registering an account?"

Yu Suzuki pondered for a while before giving a somewhat moderate answer. "If it were a console, this would be understandable, but Suzuki, this is an arcade machine. You don't expect players to spend several minutes logging into their accounts every time they come to play, do you?"

Arcade games are all about fast-paced gameplay.

Players walk over, insert coins, and can start playing.

This should have been its area of advantage from the start.

"Then... what should we do?"

"It's actually very simple, Suzuki. Gamenova solved this problem years ago."

Lin Lixin's lips curled into a smile.

After so much planning, it's finally time to put it to use.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a note he had always carried with him for years.

It was a plastic card, black with gold foil patterns on the surface, and embedded with a microchip.

"GameNova All-in-One Card, universally accepted, compatible with all arcade machines."

Originally designed for the Temple Run arcade machine, this thing was added to the game to encourage players to keep playing.

To this day, many arcade machines under Gamenova are compatible with the All-in-One Card.

Players can save their scores to the cloud and participate in a nationwide online ranking.

You can even use this card at Pokémon Center.

It's like an identity card within the Gamenova community.

However, if we really want to trace its origins, the original prototype of this card was... the Aime Card.

In other words, it's a universal membership card for arcade platforms created by Sega.

It supports several of its titles, including "maimai DX", "CHUNITHM", and "pjsk".

However, due to the underdeveloped network infrastructure at that time, and the lack of resources to develop Vocaloid, the "Mai Meng" project never had the opportunity to be released.

Now, he owns the anime IP of Shiori Fujisaki, the complete audio industry of Hans Zimmer and Skywalker Sound, the huge song copyright library of Game Records, and the subsidiary of Sega, Japan pillar.

Now is a good time to enter the market.