Reborn in 08, a heretical cultivator starting a business

Chapter 194 WeChat's Rise to Power, Tencent Steps In! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Like WeChat Farm, Angry Birds was also personally managed and overseen by Wang Junshan.

However, the actual development was handled by 10 full-time iOS engineers, including Hou Yaoyang, the head of ShouChuang Games, and 5 intern iOS engineers, including Lu Chuan.

A core development team of 15 people is already quite high.

We'll arrange another 3-5 artists/sound effects artists later.

With Wang Junshan's guidance, it won't take more than three months to complete.

It will be another groundbreaking blockbuster game!
It can only be logged in via WeChat, and the friend ranking system is another major boost to the surge in WeChat users.

In its previous version, Angry Birds was released several years after its launch, and the friends version required Facebook login.

But this time, the first version of Angry Birds already has a challenge mode, a friend points ranking system, and the ability for friends to send each other items.

The goal is to further increase WeChat's user base, scale up operations, and compete fully with QQ!

To put it bluntly, making money was secondary for Angry Birds; increasing the number of WeChat users was the top priority!

With things on track, Wang Junshan went to the WeChat department and held a meeting:

"After New Year's Day, WeChat's monthly active users exceeded 1 million, which is a great success and very good."

"But it also means that we can't hide it anymore; Tencent couldn't possibly be unaware of it!"

"WeChat has developed to the point where it's basically playing its cards right in front of Tencent."

"The only option left is to launch a full-scale war!"

Everyone nodded in agreement; it was only natural.

"And the most important competition is in the mobile arena!"

"QQ has 300 million unique monthly active users, while WeChat has 100 million. On the PC platform, it's very difficult for us to compete with QQ, it's even an impossible task. Even in terms of unique users, we can't surpass QQ."

"On the contrary, mobile is our opportunity."

"Or rather, the mobile internet is WeChat's chance to fully rise and catch up with QQ!"

"The first major move of 2009 was the launch of WeChat's mobile app!"

"iOS sales in China are very low, so there's no rush."

"But Nokia has a huge user base, so we have to move forward quickly."

Chen Lanzhou, the head of WeChat's department, nodded:

"Chairman, please rest assured, both versions of WeChat for Nokia phones have been developed and are ready to go live!"

"What about WeChat Farm? Has it all been integrated?" Wang Junshan asked.

This is the key.

Many users now use WeChat specifically for "WeChat Farm".

This is why over 90 million of WeChat's 100 million monthly active users are provided by "WeChat Farm".

Therefore, the development of "WeChat Farm" did not stop.

The capital city's first game division is responsible for developing Westernized overseas versions.

The initial headquarters in Binhai City is responsible for the development of the new version 2.0 of "WeChat Farm" and the development of the mobile version!
"Both mobile versions of 'WeChat Farm' are ready and perfectly integrated with WeChat, and can be launched at any time."

"Very good, this is good progress. However, we'll have to experience it in person to see the actual effects."

"Come on, let's not rush into a meeting today. Let's all experience WeChat on mobile!"

"Yes, Chairman, everything is ready."

Chen Lanzhou waved his hand, and someone immediately brought over some Nokia phones.

“Everyone should have one, let’s experience it together,” Wang Junshan said with a smile.

I took an N95 to try it out.

Everyone else also picked up a phone, some high-end and some low-end, and started experiencing them.

Practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

The n95 comes pre-installed with a premium version of WeChat, which integrates basic chat, Moments, WeChat Pay, and a virtual farming game into a single app.

U-Tuan.com, on the other hand, leaves an icon, allowing users to place orders via a WAP webpage and finally settle payments via WeChat.

This mode allows high-end models such as the N95 to run the WeChat app smoothly.

After all, high-end models like the N95 have 70% of the performance of the iPhone 3G, and with the design of priority grading and dynamic exit of inactive modules, they run without any pressure.

Wang Junshan tried it out and found that the chat notifications were timely and the Moments refresh was smooth. He also used the YouTuan.com icon to jump to the YouTuan.com WAP website and tried browsing products, deleting items from the shopping cart, placing orders, and making WeChat payments without any problems.

Finally, Wang Junshan opened WeChat Farm and started planting and stealing vegetables.

"It's running very smoothly so far, which is great. Will it overheat and lag after running for a long time?"

"Don't worry, Chairman, you can play for an hour straight without any problem."

"That can."

Wang Junshan then took a low-end Nokia phone, which couldn't run the high-end version of WeChat and could only install the WeChat Lite version.

The Lite version of WeChat has simpler functions, with only basic chat capabilities.

Other apps like Moments, WeChat Pay, WeChat Farm, and YouTuan.com all have only one icon, and you need to click the icon to be redirected to a WAP browser to access them.

There's no way around it; low-end phones have too poor specs and can't handle too many features.

Moreover, the web versions of "WeChat Farm" are all simplified versions, and all involve text-based vegetable stealing!
Wang Junshan tried it out and smiled: "Although the text-based version of stealing vegetables is a bit useless, it's still fun and will be a good experience for many people."

Years later, when I recall that time, lying in bed in the dormitory, using my phone to play online games, it will be a precious memory!

These days, many users who don't own a computer or can't afford a high-end Nokia also want to play the "vegetable stealing" game.

What should I do?
A text-based online version of the game "Stealing Vegetables" is the best choice.

It has achieved technological equality, allowing even low-end Nokia phones to use WeChat, play "WeChat Farm," and even shop on platforms like YouTuan International and Vipshop.

The problem is that some phones have such slow 2G network speeds that they can't load images.

After experiencing it for a long time, Wang Junshan nodded: "Not bad, it's already very good to have achieved this level."

"Yes, both versions of WeChat are very good, and we can release them directly."

"Okay, Chairman, we'll go live tomorrow."

“Okay.” Wang Junshan nodded: “We also need to make an iOS version of WeChat.”

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room fell silent.

iOS development? No way!
Wang Junshan looked around at everyone and calmly asked, "Among you, who has taught themselves iOS development?"

Everyone fell silent, except for four people who raised their hands.

"Great! You can't just sit around doing nothing in programming. There are three career paths you can take!"

"The first path is to switch to administration, which has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on whether you are suited for it, whether there are suitable opportunities, the prospects, and also involves great risks. Once you put down coding, it may be difficult to come back later."

Everyone nodded in agreement, understanding that administrative matters couldn't be transferred so easily.

"The second is to develop existing programming languages ​​to their fullest potential, reach the pinnacle, and become a top talent in the field."

"But it's very difficult, extremely difficult."

"To be honest, you all know your own capabilities."

Everyone nodded in agreement. They were no longer the naive young people they once were, and they had a clear understanding of their own abilities. They no longer thought that their future would be limited to either Tsinghua University or Peking University.

"The third option is to keep learning, keep learning new languages, actively transform, and enter new fields."

"These four people who raised their hands are the ones."

"Your chance has come."

"We will establish a WeChat iOS development team, with the four of you in charge. We will also recruit a few other engineers who are familiar with iOS development to work together on the project."

"Yes." The group was in high spirits.

This is the opportunity.

Wang Junshan changed the subject: "How's the development of WeChat Farm 2.0 going?" "WeChat Farm 2.0 is finished, but it still needs some time for testing and improvement," said Xiao Hui, the development director of WeChat Farm.

"Okay. Let's continue working on version 2.0, and also the iOS version, let's get started as soon as possible."

"Okay, Chairman."

After the meeting, everyone went about their own business.

Wang Junshan then began to experience version 2.0 of "WeChat Farm".

Its most distinctive feature is the addition of a weather system.

Games like "WeChat Farm" are incredibly addictive; hundreds of millions of users love playing them.

But after playing for a long time, new users may find it enjoyable, but even veteran users will get bored.

This necessitates the release of a new version to enhance user interest.

The weather system in version 2.0 is a new gameplay element.

Wind, frost, rain, snow, and constantly changing weather have different effects on the farm, making it more realistic.

Users need to respond promptly to maximize benefits and minimize risks, otherwise they will suffer losses.

But this is a double-edged sword.

The weather system in the previous QQ Farm was launched on PC at the end of 2009, but the mobile version was only available after smartphones became widespread in 2011.

It brought a huge boost in the early stages, and players found it novel and fun, with daily active users increasing by 20% initially. However, the daily active user growth rate dropped to 8% in the later stages.

However, the complaint rate surged by 35%!

Simply put, it's too expensive to pay for.

The weather changes every 2 hours, forcing players to log in frequently.

If you want to know the weather in advance, you have to buy a weather forecast card!

Rainy days accelerate ripening, but also increase insect infestation, requiring more animals to go online.

In snowy weather, the ground freezes for 12 hours and must be thawed using items, which requires spending real money.

Other products, such as Sunshine Capsules, also require in-game purchases.

The addition of a weather system makes growing vegetables more realistic and interesting.

But it's also become more pay-to-win!

In its previous life, while it significantly increased the number of paying users for QQ Farm, it also caused many other users to quit the game.

In particular, a field planted with high-end crops was destroyed by severe weather, resulting in heavy losses.

Once users log in, they feel like the sky is falling and are very likely to abandon the game.

There are also users who are online but haven't spent any money on the game. They can only watch helplessly as their crops are destroyed, which is just as frustrating and makes them more likely to quit.

It can be said that weather systems are an absolute double-edged sword.

The key is not the gameplay, but the balance!
If you're too aggressive in your pursuit of spending money on in-game purchases, you're undoubtedly ruining your future.

Wang Junshan is worried that version 2.0 of "WeChat Farm" will also go down this wrong path.

Therefore, Wang Junshan didn't even go to the group buying department of YouTuan, and started to fully experience version 2.0.

Tencent headquarters.

The room was filled with people, all with solemn expressions.

Chairman Ma, who was at the head of the group, had a frosty expression on his face.

After a long while, he finally sighed:
"According to reliable estimates from third-party organizations, WeChat's monthly active users have exceeded 100 million!"

"What? So many!"

Even though many people were mentally prepared, they were still taken aback.

I never imagined it would break 100 million!

QQ is in danger!

The relevant senior executives of the QQ business unit remained silent in fear.

"Today, I will not hold anyone accountable, but I want everyone to reflect on how we could have stood by and watched WeChat develop to this point without doing anything!"

Chairman Ma said in a deep voice, "This is the part that he finds most difficult to accept!"
Before we knew it, a social media giant was born!
This is so scary!
Liu Cheng, president of the QQ business unit, was somewhat helpless:

"Chairman, the responsibility for this lies with me. I was just being presumptuous."

"It is common knowledge that social networking among acquaintances has no future."

"When WeChat came out, it mainly focused on social networking among acquaintances, so I didn't take it seriously."

"After all, there are so many acquaintances in social circles these days!"

"Xiaonei.com, Kaixin.com, 51.com, HaiNei.com, Tongxue.com, Sohu BaiShehui, Mayi.com, WeChat..."

"With so many platforms, Tencent simply can't handle them all, nor can it possibly suppress them all."

"On the contrary, within two years, these platforms will either go bankrupt or close down, leaving very few behind."

"The outcome for WeChat will most likely be the same. That's why Tencent didn't target it immediately."

"Later, WeChat Farm appeared and the number of WeChat users increased rapidly, and we realized the problem. But at that time, the investment department was preparing to invest in YouTuan Technology and Vipshop as a strategy to restrain Alibaba."

"It's even more inconvenient for us to directly take action and shut down WeChat."

"And this gave WeChat the opportunity to grow rapidly, expand and become a major player, with over 100 million users thanks to 'WeChat Farm'!"

Liu Cheng was sincere and his words were reasonable and well-founded.

Yes, it was all an accident, it's really not my fault.

Blame the investment department!
It was their insistence on investing in YouTuan Technology that delayed our best opportunity to destroy WeChat, allowing WeChat to grow bigger and stronger!

Yao Mingchen, president of the group's investment department, twitched at the corner of his mouth. This old guy is no good!
They're trying to shift all the blame onto themselves!
Sure enough, Chairman Ma looked over and said, "President Yao, what do you have to say about this? You should know WeChat very well!"

Yao Mingchen looked distressed: "Chairman, this is all Wang Junshan's fault for being too insidious. He hid all the data and misled us."

"It wasn't until recently, when the number of users exceeded 100 million, that we realized it, but it was too late."

"WeChat's dominance is now established."

"I know it's too late to say anything now."

"But the most crucial element is still 'WeChat Farm'!"

"Yes, WeChat Farm is the most important!"

Cui Zhen, manager of QQ Space Business Unit, was somewhat excited: "Chairman, WeChat, as a social networking platform for acquaintances, was originally not meant to grow big."

"It is precisely because of the strong performance of WeChat Farm that the number of users has surged."

"WeChat currently has 100 million monthly active users, of which at least 90 million are playing 'WeChat Farm.' There are very few users who are purely shopping or social."

“I strongly advocated from the beginning that we must take over WeChat Farm, but you wouldn’t agree.”

"Do you regret it now?"

"If WeChat had acquired 'WeChat Farm,' it would have been impossible for WeChat to grow so large, let alone have over 100 million users."

"Our QQ monthly active users (MAU) after deduplication are expected to exceed 4 million. QQ Zone's MAU is also expected to exceed 1.5 million!"

"But unfortunately... you... sigh, nobody listens to me!"

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Chairman Ma didn't know what to say.

But upon closer examination, Cui Zhen is quite right.

It was Cui Zhen who strongly advocated for taking over "WeChat Farm" in the first place.

But unfortunately...

“However, Chairman, it’s not too late for us to acquire WeChat Farm now; we still have a chance!” Cui Zhen said.

(End of this chapter)