"Boss, our station is negotiating a program collaboration with GAMENOVA, and we're confident in the ratings..."
"That's why I contacted you! What's wrong with you?"
On the other end of the phone was a specialist from the parent company of the television broadcasting company, who was responsible for liaising with their Channel 29.
His tone was irritable, and he showed no mercy to this branch office that was performing at the bottom.
"I told you to go buy broadcast rights for local boxing matches, what the hell are you doing contacting game companies? What the hell is this?"
"Do you know this has already been reported in the magazine? Damn it, all my colleagues are laughing at me today."
McCoy was sweating profusely, trying to keep up with the other party's lecture.
"Boss, I think GAMENOVA's program planning is very innovative, and with their audience reach, it's worth a try. Maybe..."
"Maybe? Maybe the higher-ups will shut down Channel 29 next month. Then I'll risk my life for you guys! Do you think everyone who watches TV is a NovaPocket die-hard nerd?!"
"Bang!"
He wasn't given a chance to argue further; the other end of the phone abruptly hung up, seemingly ready to leave them to their own devices.
Only at this moment did the assistant outside the room cautiously push open a crack in the door.
Only after confirming that McCoy had indeed hung up the phone did he push open the door and lead Sam in.
McCoy breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally received the written contract from GAMENOVA.
Looking at the contract in his hand, which was nothing short of an unfair contract, he signed it without the slightest hesitation.
Where would I have any room to be picky?
Only after Sam left with the documents did his assistant dare to come closer and probe for information.
He could tell from McCoy's expression just now that the contract probably wasn't so ideal.
This will not be very advantageous for their Channel 29 at least.
"Senior, what's GAMENOVA's offer? How much is it for one installment?"
According to his estimate, a new experimental program, even if it uses the GAMENOVA name, would at most earn $50,000 per episode.
Although the cost is high, it's worth emptying the budget of Channel 29 to gamble on a transformation.
McCoy shook his head.
"They wouldn't be that generous if it weren't a program sales model."
"Huh? You sold our GG time slot? They're willing to accept this price?"
If it's not program sales, then it can only be a time-sharing model.
In other words, GAMENOVA offered their programming to Channel 29 at a very low price in exchange for a certain percentage of GG time on Channel 29.
Whether GAMENOVA decides to sell or use these GG slots themselves is entirely up to them.
If that's the case, then it's actually a good thing for Channel 29.
After all, their GG slots are really worthless.
"If that's the case, then we've actually made a huge profit."
McCoy shook his head helplessly.
"They demanded a revenue-sharing model, with all sub-licensing of the programs belonging to GAMENOVA, including all brands and IPs used in the programs. Our Channel 29 would only act as a broadcasting platform, and the sales revenue from GAMENOVA during the broadcast time would be split 30/70."
"Huh? Only 70%? Isn't that blatant robbery?"
"Seventy percent belongs to others; getting thirty percent is only because Mr. Lin thinks I'm a good match."
The assistant stared blankly at McCoy. What was the difference between this and simply selling all Channel 29?
"So we're going to have to beg on our knees?"
"It's worth the gamble; if things continue like this, the whole of Taiwan will be begging on the streets."
McCoy sighed; he certainly wanted to secure more benefits for Channel 29.
"Don't delay, quickly gather the others and figure out how we can promote their program."
Under this model, the show's performance directly affects the very survival of Channel 29.
They must spare no effort to fully cooperate in the promotion.
This is a do-or-die attempt.
Santa Clara, Hardware Department.
Lin Lixin and Vivian sat together, each holding a controller and typing at high speed.
The screen displays a test demo that is still under development.
"No, Lin, it's too fast, I can't take it."
Vivian broke out in a cold sweat, her thumb straining as she dragged the joystick in circles.
I don't know if it was Lin Lixin's doing it on purpose, but the [ Mai Shiranui ] she played required her to swing her arms around almost every skill.
Super special moves like the Dance of the Waterfowl often involve shaking the character twice.
"I'm exhausted too, let's take a break and recharge before continuing."
Lin Lixin also exhaled a breath of stale air, and somewhat exhausted, tossed the handle aside.
I had been testing on the arcade platform, and it was only when I returned to the NovaBox that I could feel the world of difference in feel between the gamepad and the arcade joystick.
Lin Lixin originally thought that by adding a graphics enhancement chip to the cartridge, he could easily port " The King of Fighters " to the console.
In retrospect, the input feel is actually the biggest limitation.
Even without a console version of the King of Fighters, Street Fighter players still need input devices that can match the arcade experience.
"Mr. Gerald, do you understand what I'm saying now?"
Lin Lixin flexed his aching thumb and walked over to Gerald.
"Since we haven't had any new peripherals for NovaBox lately, why not take this opportunity to develop them?"
This game controller was Gerald's masterpiece. Although it couldn't achieve the modern mushroom-shaped micro joystick due to limitations in workpiece precision and the era, it was still unparalleled in its time.
As someone who was personally in charge of the peripherals, Gerald knew very well that Lin Lixin's words were not meant to be provocative.
To improve grip and reduce space, the NovaBox's joystick doesn't require one hand to control like in arcade games.
It can be easily used by simply holding the handle with your left thumb.
But this design, which he once considered a key advantage, doesn't work well in fighting games!
It's not just the soreness in the thumb caused by prolonged use.
He had noticed it when Lin Lixin and Vivian were fighting.
The joystick's return time is much longer than the D-pad's travel distance, making high-speed input extremely difficult for players.
Don't underestimate the difference of just a few milliseconds; in a game where character movements are measured in frames, 10ms can change a lot.
"So you're planning to develop an arcade-style joystick input device for NovaBox?"
Gerald approached the arcade machine cabinet used for testing.
This requirement is not complicated; it doesn't even require the contract manufacturer to open a new production line.
Just take this part from the arcade machine, put a shell on it, and you're done.
After all, GAMENOVA's own interface protocol is consistent with its own; if you can plug it in, you can use it.
"Yes, but besides that, we can also make a differentiated device."
Peripherals are to gamers what sneakers are to star athletes.
Keyboards, mice, gamepads, and even headphones will become frequent sponsors in future esports events.
Developing a peripheral culture could diversify GAMENOVA's revenue streams.
"We can simply remove the joystick and replace it with four independent directional buttons; I call it 'Hitbox.'"