Reborn in 08, a heretical cultivator starting a business

Chapter 200 "Farm Ville": Radical Strategy, WeChat Internationalization

“Take advantage of Facebook’s free platform and develop Farm Ville as soon as possible. I have faith in you. Just let me know if you need any support,” Wang Junshan said.

"Don't worry, Chairman, Farm Ville will definitely become the hottest social game on Facebook!"

Luo Jingsong was full of confidence, then changed the subject:
"Chairman, I suggest that we also internationalize WeChat Farm."

"Although the concept of theft is not popular in Europe and America, it is very popular in other Asian countries."

"Especially South Korea, they must be ecstatic!"

Wang Junshan nodded: "That's true. People in Asia prefer stealing vegetables, unlike in Europe and America where they're so hypocritical!"

"Let's go international with WeChat. Then, if you like playing FarmVille, you can play FarmVille; if you like playing WeChat Farm, you can download WeChat!"

Wang Junshan had a clear idea: it was inevitable that "WeChat Farm" or "Farm Ville" would be copied in the future.

Instead of waiting for copycat games to steal the market, it's better for "WeChat Farm" to also go overseas.

After all, if WeChat Farm doesn't go overseas, the Asian market will be taken over by the knock-off version from Xiaonei.com.

Although Renren.com has been keeping a low profile lately, it doesn't mean they're dead.

Wang Junshan felt that this guy was definitely up to no good.

They're definitely copying WeChat Farm, and they're close to succeeding.

Even if it can't compete with "WeChat Farm" in the domestic market, it will go overseas and develop in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

In these places, stealing vegetables is very popular.

Such a huge market, and Renren.com has taken it all.

Wang Junshan could not accept this!

It would be better to go international with WeChat Farm and capture these markets ahead of time!
"Yes, that's for the best." Luo Jingsong agreed wholeheartedly, as the global market is enormous.

Wang Junshan nodded: "Farm Ville also needs to step up its efforts as soon as possible. Our competitors will copy it within six months!"

"Only by rapidly expanding and monopolizing the market can we be secure and afford to spend money on promotion!"

"I was just about to propose this," Luo Jingsong said, opening a drawer and quickly handing over a proposal.
"Referring to the development of 'WeChat Farm,' 'Farm Ville' is expected to reach 3000 million users in three months and 6000 million in six months by leveraging user acquisition activities such as virtual items."

"But if we invest some money in promotion, we can reach 6000 million in three months and 9000 million in six months!"

"Mainly three directions!"

"First, we will invest $500 million in virtual costs to increase incentives such as giving away fertilizer and rare seeds when inviting new users, thereby intensifying the inducement of user growth. Within three months, the number of users can reach 3500 million!"

"Spend $500 million on Facebook ads and go on a massive promotional spree, attracting an additional 2500 million new users within three months, bringing the total user base to 6000 million!"

"A $200 million budget for a defensive acquisition."

"I will have people monitoring Facebook. Once we discover a game that's a knock-off of Farm Ville, we'll immediately cut off its supply lines and poach its core development engineers with three times the pay!"

"Use these elites to establish an overseas R&D department to develop the mobile web version of Farm Ville."

"Regardless of how fast or slow Facebook's mobile gaming platform progresses, we will launch Farm Ville on mobile web."

"In this way, even if Facebook's mobile gaming platform doesn't catch up, Farm Ville can still be launched on Apple phones, Android phones, and high-end Nokia phones via mobile web pages in the future."

"Once it goes live, it can contribute another 30 million users."

"Furthermore, Facebook is also focusing on mobile, so if we follow suit early, we can reap the early benefits!"

"This is the huge potential of mobile devices that I saw from the Nokia version of WeChat!"

"Following this model, with massive investment in promotion, Farm Ville could reach 60 million users by the end of April and 90 million by July. If the mobile version launches earlier and the mobile version is further developed, it could potentially reach 120 million users!"

"Very good!" Looking Luo Jingsong over, Wang Junshan was even more satisfied: "No problem, do it this way."

"Moreover, we can't wait for mobile devices; we need to start implementing HTML5 hybrid development immediately."

"As long as we develop fast enough and our strategic planning is deep enough, our competitors will be left with nothing if they try to copy us or follow our lead!"

"Yes!"

"Thus, the Beijing branch of ShouChuang Technology was separated and renamed ShouChuang International Company, which focuses on the international market."

"You will serve as the Chief Research and Development Officer of First Creative International!"

"Huh? This..." Luo Jingsong was stunned.

Happiness comes too suddenly!

He was promoted directly from R&D supervisor at the Beijing branch of Shougang Technology to R&D director of Shougang International subsidiary!

How much was he promoted all at once?
What Wang Junshan valued in Luo Jingsong was not only his outstanding development capabilities, but more importantly, his innovative ideas and strategic vision!
Whether it's promotional strategies, defensive acquisitions, or even proposals to internationalize WeChat Farm...

These are all necessary and correct.

2009 was the best time for internationalization compared to ten years later.

These past few years have been a honeymoon period for both sides; why not take advantage of this opportunity to go international and reap global rewards?

If things fall apart ten years from now, it will be too late.

This strategic vision and overall perspective are often abilities that other technical talents and R&D engineers do not possess!

"Keep it up, do your best, Farm Ville will definitely become the hottest game on Facebook, and First International will become a global gaming giant, and you will definitely become famous all over the world!" Wang Junshan said with a smile.

"Rest assured, Chairman, I will certainly live up to your trust!"

Luo Jingsong was extremely excited.

A scholar dies for a confidant!

Chairman Wang values ​​him so much that Luo Jingsong even wants to kowtow to him!
Wang Junshan's words, about a super giant whose name resonates globally, further fueled his passion and ignited his fighting spirit.

I immediately decided that I wouldn't take a holiday during the Chinese New Year and would work my ass off!

In three months, we reached 60 million users, no, 70 million!
Otherwise, we would be letting down the chairman's trust.

In reality, Wang Junshan didn't make empty promises!
Zynga, which was founded in 2007, relied on copying the Chinese game "Happy Farm".

In 2009, they launched the Westernized version of Farm Ville, which propelled them to become a gaming giant!
Wang Junshan remembers it clearly.

With Farm Ville, Zynga earned over $1 million in just six months in 2009.

Next year's total revenue is $550 million, of which more than $400 million will come from Farm Ville.

That's right, that's how profitable the "vegetable stealing" game is.

Overseas, the company generates 30 billion RMB in revenue annually.

Even with a smaller domestic presence, revenue can still reach around 20 billion.

Currently, the average daily revenue of "WeChat Farm" remains at 500 million to 600 million.

That's 20 billion RMB a year.

If it were another game developer, the platform could pocket 14 billion to 16 billion of that 20 billion.

Ultimately, they would only receive 4-6 million.

It seems like a lot, but in reality, there are very few.

After all, the annual research and development cost is tens of millions.

The server and bandwidth costs for 100 million monthly active users would be over 200 million per year.

Supporting hundreds of millions of monthly active users requires a massive operations and maintenance team and customer service team. Add to that other costs such as payment channels, and the total will be tens of millions.

The total cost is over 3 million.

With revenues of 4-6 million, other game developers ultimately only have tens of millions to 3 million left.

Like the previous version of "Happy Farm", it didn't generate as much revenue as "WeChat Farm", but its commission was even higher.

Renren.com initially took a 60% cut, but after failing to reach an agreement on exclusive agency, they directly took a 70% cut!

4399、7k7k、开心网等渠道，也抽60%-80%。

Mobile channels like Mobile Dream Network are dominated by SP operators, who take 60%-80% of the revenue through layers of revenue sharing. This is why, despite the popularity of "Happy Farm,"...

But Five Minutes Tech didn't make much money and quickly declined.

There's nothing we can do, all the money has been taken!

However, the first game was different; it followed Tencent's approach.

WeChat Farm is developed, maintained, operated, and launched on its own platform!

The meat was all mushy in the pot.

All profits come from future technologies.

While Farm Ville was launched on the Facebook platform, it has been commission-free and has not taken a cut of revenue in recent years due to Facebook's ambitions.

To put it bluntly, after deducting R&D and maintenance costs, server and bandwidth costs, and marketing costs, the remaining profits from "WeChat Farm" and "Farm Ville" are all profits from Future Technology!
It's frighteningly tall.

This is also why Wang Junshan insisted on creating a game platform.

Making games alone won't make money; you only make money by building a platform!

Only by expanding the WeChat gaming platform can we avoid being exploited at every level.

And you can also earn commissions from other games!

With hundreds of millions of monthly active users on WeChat, it would be a waste not to use it as a platform for monetization.

More importantly, this area is extremely profitable and is one of the core battlegrounds in the competition with QQ!

For example, QQ's game lobby alone has hundreds of millions of monthly active users in the card and board game category.

It brings Tencent over 7 billion RMB in revenue and 4 billion RMB in sales annually, more than games like CrossFire and Dungeon Fighter Online.

That's right. Currently, the combined annual revenue of PC games like "CF" and "DNF" is only around 20 billion yuan.

The revenue from card and board games reached a staggering 40 billion!
Unfortunately, the high barrier to entry for games like CF and DNF results in fewer users.

QQ Hall's card and board games like Dou Dizhu, poker, and mahjong have simple entry requirements, yet their monthly active users are surprisingly high.

Especially those retired elderly people, who have a lot of pensions and are also fashionable.

Getting them to play CF or DNF is difficult, but playing Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game) and spending money on Happy Beans is no problem at all.

In recent years, card and board games have been the core of Tencent Games' business!
Too many people have opened memberships, purchased premium memberships, and topped up their Happy Beans accounts for this purpose.

Even now, though I joined WeChat just to play "WeChat Farm," I still frequently return to the QQ Games lobby to play card and board games.

Therefore, Wang Junshan also had to create a WeChat game lobby, introducing various card and board games, mini-games, and so on.

This is the only way to keep more users on WeChat and make them forget about QQ in the future.

Just like after 2015, more and more people stopped using QQ and only used WeChat.

Wang Junshan summoned Tang Jinghe and explained all these matters to her.

First Capital Technology's Beijing branch has been upgraded to First Capital International Company...

WeChat is going international...

"We also need to increase investment in the WeChat Games platform, especially in card and board games. Instead of developing them ourselves, we'll find a few decent studios, buy out the copyrights, and launch them on the WeChat Games platform as soon as possible so users can play them first."

"Those unwilling to sell can be strategically introduced, with a 64% revenue split."

In fact, some of the card and board games in QQ Games Hall are either bought out by Tencent or subject to a 91% revenue split.

"Yes, Chairman." Tang Jinghe carefully noted everything down.

However, this means that some of Future Tech's employees will have to work overtime again.

But it's okay, we can just take turns having holidays.

Tang Jinghe is very efficient; she has been recruiting people continuously during this period.

Whether it's the R&D center in the capital or the headquarters in Binhai City, Future Technology now boasts a large and well-staffed team.

Especially the R&D center in the capital, backed by so many prestigious universities, has an abundance of talent.

There are also many elites who have migrated to Beijing, making recruitment too easy.

If they were in the south, these top talents would still be hesitating between Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, ZTE, and other big companies.

But in the capital, it's simple.

Those who are conservative should go to Baidu, while those with ambition should come to Future Technology.

As for JD.com, it's too small to be considered.

Other established internet giants are not as promising or offer as high salaries as Future Tech.

Even Baidu, in the eyes of many, is not as good as Future Tech.

Especially in e-commerce and gaming, the gap is too large.

When Wang Junshan returned this time, he clearly felt that the headquarters in the capital city had added several more floors of office space and there were many more people.

It's necessary to find an opportunity to ask the Beijing Municipal Administration Commission for preferential treatment and acquire land to build a science and technology park!

We also need to make arrangements in Shenzhen.

The headquarters of the future mobile phone will be located in Shenzhen!

"Boss, the arrangements for WeChat's internationalization have been made. The holiday break arrangements have also been finalized."

Tang Jinghe handed over a form:
“未来科技1月24日（腊月二十八）至 1月31日（正月初六）休假，总共8天，2月1日，初七上班。”

"Employees who need to work overtime during the Spring Festival will hand over their duties on the seventh day of the first lunar month, take a holiday on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and continue until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, for a total of 9 days off. All employees will receive triple pay during the Spring Festival."

"Employees who work overtime will receive a nine-day holiday with triple pay, plus an extra week of compensatory time off! Meals and commuting will also be provided for all of them," Wang Junshan said.

"Okay, boss. With such high pay, I'm just worried that too many people will apply for overtime."

Tang Jinghe smiled and said, "Make the arrangements quickly."

Sure enough, all the work groups exploded.

"Great! Triple pay for working overtime during the Chinese New Year, meals and commuting included, plus 9 days of holiday and 7 days of compensatory time off, what a bargain!"

"What do you mean by 'good deal'? Chinese New Year is for going home. Don't you miss home?"

"That's right, everyone go home immediately. I can endure hardship, I'll work overtime for everyone."

"Ahem, are you worried that we'll steal your chance to work overtime?"

"Never mind, I've already made the call. I'm not going home for the New Year. It's triple pay, which is almost a month's salary. Nobody can take it from me."

"Oh my god, too many people in our department have applied for overtime. The supervisor has started to encourage everyone not to work overtime unless necessary."

"Our department has started a lottery system for hiring staff, and only the lucky ones who win will be able to work overtime."

"Our department is even worse. Employees who apply for overtime are given priority based on their performance, while the mediocre don't even have the right to work overtime. This is a disregard for human rights! I protest!"

Wang Junshan smiled upon seeing all this.

It's not that the employees aren't working hard enough; it's mainly that the capitalists have no conscience.

In the future, overtime work at tech companies will not only be compensated with double the time off, but also with triple the salary.

It's not just triple pay for the three days of Chinese New Year, but triple pay for all seven statutory holidays!
That's almost a month's salary!

It would be strange if they didn't fight tooth and nail for it.

"Boss, can I apply to work overtime too?" Shen Huaijin asked timidly.

Wang Junshan was speechless: "You're not short of money!"

"Hmph! I'm not after money!" Shen Huaijin snorted coldly and muttered to himself.

(End of this chapter)