"This must be what they call the 'curse of knowledge.'"
Lin Lixin looked at everyone bustling about again and sighed helplessly.
Regarding the issue of Street Fighter's adaptability to different player groups, I had been considering this aspect since its initial release.
However, his thinking always revolved around simplified combo systems like the "modern model".
If you just look at it from a different angle, the answer has already been there.
As the rules and player base of fighting games matured, a new idea emerged in Lin Lixin's mind.
When Sam returned to his apartment from the store, Lin Lixin was sitting cross-legged in front of the television.
However, today he wasn't playing games on NovaBox like before; instead, he was watching a program.
"WWF? You like watching this?"
Sam stared blankly at the three wrestlers tearing at each other on the screen.
This show is so out of character for Lin Lixin.
In 1985, Hulk Hogan, the most popular wrestler of the year, lifted Blackwell, who weighed 500 pounds.
This was the second time today that he had lifted up the villainous wrestler known as "The Giant".
" Hulk! Hulk! Hulk!"
The wave known as " Hulkamania " was on full display at this moment.
The entire audience was chanting his name.
"Bang!"
Blackwell was slammed hard to the ground.
At this moment, almost all the cameras were focused on Hulk, whose signature white beard made him look like an invincible god of war.
What do you think?
Lin Lixin's voice was somewhat loud.
Such a simple, brutal, and pure aesthetic of violence directly stirred up the mania in his heart, causing his heart rate to rise involuntarily.
Sam sat down in front of Lin Lixin and shrugged.
"It's alright, I'm not really interested in these things. Aren't these all part of the script for a performance?"
Before the 1980s, wrestling was not the exaggerated and performative sport it is today; it was a serious competition like boxing.
The show only began to become increasingly entertainment-oriented after McMahon bought WWF from his father in 1982.
"At least the viewing experience is much better than before. It's precisely because of these scripted, dramatic plots and the spectacular battles that were never seen before that this show has become increasingly popular, isn't it?"
Sam glanced at Lin Lixin and sensed the hidden meaning in his words.
"Are you planning to make the King of Fighters in an exaggerated style like WWF?"
"That's right, video games have a unique advantage over reality in terms of visual presentation."
Lin Lixin nodded. Another major feature of " The King of Fighters " is that it hardly adheres to real-world martial arts styles, but rather goes for the most flashy and cool ones.
This is precisely why iconic skills such as [ Orochinagi ], [ Yaotome ], and [ Sunshine ] were created.
"But that's not all; I actually wanted to express something else."
Lin Lixin's gaze returned to the screen.
"You said... how about we organize a professional event? Like WWF or boxing matches, broadcast on TV."
Sam was taken aback by Lin Lixin's abrupt and seemingly unrelated statement.
"You're going to organize a wrestling competition?... Pfft! You want to organize a video game competition? On TV?"
"Hiss..."
Sam suddenly gasped, making the room feel a bit warmer.
"It seems... there might actually be some potential?"
It's not just promising, it's extremely promising!
If they can make this happen, then GAMENOVA will become the founders of the concept of esports.
"Breaking the ice in video games is only a matter for this year. Isn't it too early to do it now?"
Sam calmed down and considered the potential problems in the matter.
Just last year, "video games" were considered by many to be a dead thing, a sunset industry that had long lost its hope.
It was the aggressive entry of Gamenova and its competitors that revitalized the market.
However, changing mindsets cannot be done overnight. Even today, with the NovaPocket becoming a phenomenal product, there are still conservatives who have been heartbroken by Atari and are unwilling to accept video games again.
Furthermore, broadcasting game shows on television?
This has never happened before.
While game footage has appeared on television before, those were promotional videos from game developers, which are completely different from producing a competition program.
The potential returns are high, but the risks are also quite significant.
Despite GAMENOVA's current huge profits from games, after deducting manufacturing costs and losses from console sales, they are not yet wealthy enough to freely venture into completely unfamiliar territory.
Organizing a competition requires money for promotion, venue, TV station contracts, facilities, and "actors," or rather, contestants.
And even more.
If the show fails, there's no way to get the money back.
"That depends on how well we can achieve with ' The King of Fighters '."
From a purely competitive standpoint, Street Fighter might be more suitable for an esports tournament in the long run.
But TV shows aren't like EVO; they need visually stunning scenes and exhilarating action sequences.
"We'll get involved with Street Fighter and the King of Fighters, and even... Pokémon battles can be incorporated into the tournaments."
The Pokémon series once released a spin-off game on the N64 that focused purely on battle gameplay, namely Pokémon Stadium.
"As for television stations, we don't need to sign a broadcasting contract with a major television station like WWF did right away; we can take it slowly."
After an afternoon of market research, Lin Lixin found a suitable target.
California, Sacramento.
KRBK-TV29 is an independent television station on the West Coast.
"Mr. Lin, please come in."
Station Director McCoy hurriedly instructed his subordinates to prepare for the reception and welcomed Lin Lixin into the meeting room.
In an era where the three major television networks and Fox affiliates dominate the broadcasting industry, independent UHF channels like McCoy are almost at their wits' end.
If it weren't for the recent purchase of several inexpensive programs, their Channel 29 might not even be able to fill all their time slots.
Let alone a popular program like WWF, he would be willing to try and sign them to a small boxing match with little fanfare.
If this continues, let alone California, they should be grateful if their Channel 29 can even hold onto the Sacramento market.
At that very moment, GAMENOVA suddenly showed up with a program planner.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lin. I was at Stanford when I received the call, which caused a slight delay."
McCoy still looked travel-worn from his long journey, as if he hadn't had a moment's rest.