SEC Chapter 85 Let's produce an e-sports program!
Chapter 85 Let's produce an e-sports program!
"This must be what they call the 'curse of knowledge'."
Lin Lixin looked at the crowd bustling about again and sighed helplessly.
Regarding the issue of Street Fighter's adaptability to the player base, I had been considering this issue since its initial release.
However, my thinking has always revolved around simplified combo systems like the "modern mode".
If you just look at it from a different angle, the answer has already been there all along.
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 Li-hsin.
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".
"Hooker! Hooker! Hooker!"
The wave known as "Hooke Mania" 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 Hooker, whose iconic 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?"
Before the 80s, 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 McMann bought WWF from his father in 82.
"At least the viewing experience is definitely 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 focuses on being as flashy and cool as possible.
This is precisely why iconic skills such as [Orochi Nagi], [Yamokujo], and [Sunshine] were created.
"But that's not all. What I actually want to express is something else."
Lin Lixin's gaze returned to the screen.
"What do you think... how about we organize a professional event? Like WWF or boxing matches, and broadcast it on TV?"
"?"
Sam was taken aback by Lin Lixin's abrupt and unsure what he was trying to say.
"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 founder 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 a dead industry, a sunset industry with no 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, what about broadcasting game shows on television?
This is something that has never happened before.
Game footage has appeared on television before, but 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 high.
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.
To host an event, you need money for publicity, venue, TV station contracts, facilities, and "actors," or rather, contestants.
Even more are needed.
If the show fails, then there's no way to get that money back.
"That depends on how well we can achieve with the King of Fighters game."
From a purely competitive standpoint, Street Fighter might be better suited 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're going to do both Street Fighter and King of Fighters, and even... Pokémon battles can be included in 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.
……
Sacramento, California.
KRBK-TV29, 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 reception 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 29 channels 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 get them to sign him to a small boxing match that doesn't have much buzz.
If this continues, let alone California, they should be grateful if their 29 units can even hold onto the Sacramento market.
At this very moment, GAMENOVA suddenly showed up at their door with a program planner.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lin. I was at Stanford when I received the call, so I was a little delayed."
McCoy still looked travel-worn from his long journey, as if he hadn't had a moment's rest.