America: The Godfather Game Development, Chapter 688
Thanksgiving Day.
The last major holiday before the Christmas season, and also a signal that the end of the year is approaching.
On this day, United States reunite with their families, gather together, and roast a large stuffed turkey.
However, besides these, Thanksgiving is often a very important occasion in the business world.
Thanksgiving is typically celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year.
Black Friday, on the other hand, is the first Friday after Thanksgiving.
On this day, people of all ages, from elderly men and women in their seventies and eighties to underage children, gather at major supermarkets to prepare for this year's shopping spree.
It's not just because businesses run promotional activities.
It's also because after a busy year, we finally have this precious Christmas holiday.
All the money that people have been saving up for a year will be completely devoted to consumerism on this day.
No company would miss this important holiday.
The same principle applies to the gaming industry.
Based on data from previous years, the entire Christmas shopping season, which lasts for a month, can contribute several tens of percent of the total sales for the year.
Compared to the off-season, average sales can even double.
Just like those convenience stores that keep their discount lists as trade secrets until the very last minute before Black Friday.
Game developers often choose this day to officially announce their final title of the year.
The same applies to GAMENOVA.
Black Friday is the day they release promotional videos and launch new products.
However, this year's arrangements are slightly different.
Because of the fifth-generation NovaFusion.
This year's sales will begin around Thanksgiving.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to GAMELINE99. I'm still your favorite host McCoy."
"This is Rebecca. Looking at the time, I'm sure everyone is already reunited with their families by now. Perhaps you're waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven, or maybe you're already sitting at the table watching our show."
"Yeah, Rebecca, but the two of us are stuck hosting the show here. Don't you think we should ask the boss for a raise?"
"You're right, McCoy, but this is a pre-recorded broadcast. Anyway, I believe our viewers have already heard about it, right?"
"Yes, everyone, I'm just as excited as you are. What I'm holding here is the new GAMENOVA console that will be released this Christmas season."
Configuration sheet for -NovaFusion!----.
McCoy picked up the document, pretended to take out his glasses from his breast pocket and put them on, adopting a solemn expression.
He spoke the words as if a pastor were reciting a hymn, reciting them word by word.
"ATHENA-II, with a frequency of up to 83.2688 MHz, utilizes the latest 0.8-micron process technology at Micro-Nova Semiconductor's Phase II factory."
As he spoke, the parameters of NovaFusion were simultaneously displayed on the screen.
"Oh my god!"
The female host, Rebecca, exclaimed in surprise at just the right moment.
"Yes, my God! Wait, did you understand what these numbers meant?"
"Okay, actually no, but I think our audience will understand. More than that, McCoy, I'd like to know what games it will include?"
"Let me see—my God! My Nova! A game compilation disc is included with the purchase of the console, featuring a large collection of 8-bit games from Gamenova."
"Wait, a compilation? You mean a lot of games together? How many? 10? Or 20?"
"None of them----"
McCoy's eyes widened as he stared at the contents of the paper, then he forced a horrified look at his partner Rebecca. "260 models! Wait, let me check—MotherFuuu—sorry, not 260 models, it's—two thousand six hundred models!!!"
This is a retro game compilation disc that brings together all the classic games from GAMENOVA.
This is practically flipping the Table.
This is an extremely frightening situation, whether for the viewers sitting in front of the TV, so stunned they've even forgotten to eat, or for the manufacturers watching closely.
Compared to the dazzling displays of video game consoles in the CD era, these pure numbers were more impactful for them.
It was as if from that moment on they truly realized what the CD era really meant.
In the past, storage was expensive; a game could only be stored in 32KB files.
A cassette tape is about the size of a palm.
Now, a single, paper-thin CD can bring together all the efforts of all manufacturers throughout human history.
2600 is exactly the model number of the Atari 2600, the best-selling console during the Atari era.
This also marks the official end of the golden age for that generation of gamers, and can be considered an explanation to Atari enthusiasts.
"2,600 games—even for retro 8-bit games, that's an astonishing number."
Rebecca spoke for the viewers at home, and then, as if guessing what they wanted to know, she continued, "But McCoy, you know, what we want to know is—what first-party title will Gamenova come up with to support them?"
Is it a sequel to Quake? Or a new generation of Pokémon? Or perhaps a sequel to some simulation game?
Gamenova has just too many popular IPs in its portfolio.
Regardless of which one it is, countless players are quietly waiting.
"Oh, you're right, Rebecca, let me see—aha!"
McCoy twirled the script in his hand mischievously, "(Please do not leak information about the first-party launch title ' Spore ' on the show --- 0h, I think I've messed up again.)"
"Ahem, let's quickly jump into NovaFusion's official promotional video."
A melodious, yet perfectly tuned, piano note rang out.
It deliberately dragged out the sound, as if intentionally creating this tranquil atmosphere.
The screen slowly lit up.
The camera is pointed directly at the bedroom window.
Outside the window, the tree canopy partially obscured the sky, filtering out some of the harsh afternoon sunlight.
"Ding!" Another note of music rang out.
Then, the music gradually entered its main melody.
This is an extremely languid melody, light music.
Among the rock and metal genres of the GAMENOVA camp, it stood out as something quite unconventional.
But this piece was definitely composed by a skilled composer.
The melody is simple in structure and lacks complex techniques, but it is enough to instantly transport you back to a peaceful midsummer night.
I don't know why.
Although nothing was shown on screen, everyone watching this promotional video at this moment had a vague impression in their minds.
This is an ordinary young United States man, spending a quiet afternoon in his room on a weekend.
The slow panning of the camera further confirms this.
This time, GAMENOVA deliberately avoided casting any Hollywood stars or bringing in Maikou.
Instead, they actually drew a prize from among their fans and found a lucky player to film this promotional video.
Only in this way can the sense of intimacy and naturalness that Lin Lixin desires be created to its fullest potential.
He leaned against the window, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.
The record player beside me was slowly turning.
The stylus scratched across the record, occasionally producing a faint, almost imperceptible hissing sound.
The camera slightly turned at an angle.
In the blurred background, you can vaguely make out a television set.
At this moment, although the television is on, it seems to have no signal and is displaying static.
The man took a sip of coffee, then stepped forward, placed the cup on the coffee table, and sank into the sofa.
It's easy to tell from the soft sofa that practically enveloped him that this guy must be thoroughly enjoying himself.
Especially after a busy week, coming home and being able to curl up comfortably on the sofa is truly the ultimate way to relax.
There was a remote control on the sofa, obviously used to change TV channels.
But instead of reaching for it, he reached for the small coffee table on the other side, which was placed in front of the sofa.
The camera focused, revealing what was there.
Those are—a pair of handles.
It was just unlike any handle they had ever seen before.
It has two joysticks.
One on the left and one on the right, along with function keys and directional keys, the overall shape and mold are consistent with the ergonomic style of GAMENOVA.
At first glance, it looks like something that could easily be used as a decorative item on a table.
This controller could be placed directly on Table as a decoration without looking out of place at all.
Strangely, however, the handle wasn't wired.
It was just sitting there on a small plastic stand.
The stand was designed with recesses that allowed the handle to rest securely on it.
It won't be too tightly stuck, but it also won't wobble easily.
The grooves appear to have an anti-slip treatment; slight shaking only produces a slight damping sensation, without causing it to wobble uncontrollably.
He picked up the controller and pressed the GAMENOVA logo on it.
A crisp beep.
Then, the television, which had been showing static due to the lack of signal, suddenly displayed a picture.
That's a screenshot from the game " Morality and Rule of Law ".
This ultimate United States dream masterpiece that recently swept the entire gaming industry is so distinctive.
But this player didn't do anything extra at all.
From beginning to end, he just sat on the sofa and picked up the controller.
There were no cables on the controller, not even a charging cable.
It just sat there quietly.
What's even more terrifying is that he didn't even touch the main unit.
There was no need for the old-fashioned power switch or ejecting CDs repeatedly.
All I did was sit there and do nothing.
The game was running the whole time, and it was even halfway through a car chase mission.
The high-fidelity sound of the V8 engine emanated from the television, and the originally melodious piano music quickly transformed into a standard Gamenova-style rock.
Clearly, he got into the zone instantly and returned to the game.
After a few seconds of montage, he had clearly completed the task perfectly, a satisfied smile on his face.
He lifted the handle, stretched lazily, and let everyone confirm once again that the handle had no cables connected at all.
Then, he casually put the controller back on the stand on the table, and then he simply slumped onto the sofa, closed his eyes, and fell fast asleep.
A few minutes later, the game console seemed to realize that its owner had fallen asleep and quietly entered standby mode.
The television also turned off silently.
The camera zoomed in, giving the handle on the pedestal a macro focus.
The small indicator light, symbolizing power, is now slowly flashing its breathing light.
It's obviously charging.
Finally, the camera focuses on the elegantly designed and modern NovaFusion TV on the TV cabinet.
"Click"
The nightlights went out at that moment.
The moonlight streaming through the window spilled across the treetops and fell onto the aircraft.
Be lazy. Be free.
[NOVA-FUSION]
[NOW AVAILABLE]