Rebirth 08: Can a mobile game company also build a tech empire?

Lin Bing stood beside Lu Chen.

Wearing a simple shirt and jeans.

He has a gentle demeanor, but sharp eyes.

He smiled and nodded to everyone.

Hello everyone, I am Lin Bing.

I'm very happy to join the dynamic team at Journey Technology.

Mr. Lu showed me the best plan.

I also looked at the design drawings for Conquer Online 1;

Honestly, it's absolutely stunning.

I never expected Boss Lu to come up with such an answer.

Therefore I believe,

We are doing something truly remarkable.

I probably have more experience.

But the work ahead will require each and every one of us to give our all.

Please feel free to offer your guidance.

There's no air of superiority, only honesty and pragmatism.

Lin Bing's first impression.

This allowed the core members of the hardware and gaming teams, who were initially under some pressure, to relax a bit.

to be frank,

When they learned that Lin Bing was going to join ZhengTu Technology, they were completely dumbfounded.

They had no idea who Lin Bing was.

However, when they searched for Lin Bing's relevant resume online...

No one could stay calm anymore.

Former Research and Development Manager at Microsoft Research Asia, now Vice President of Google Engineering Research Institute.

Boss Lu is simply a genius.

I went to Beijing.

They actually managed to recruit this great master.

No one would believe it if I told them!

Lin Bing's resume is like an insurmountable mountain in the world of Journey Technology.

The game development team's work wasn't really connected to Lin Bing's side.

But the hardware team has to work with Lin Bing.

This put a lot of pressure on Wu Zhixuan and others.

However, it wasn't until we actually met that we realized...

The big shots are just different.

The group felt a sense of warmth and comfort as they talked with Lin Bing.

Of course, they also discovered this.

Lin Bing's title is well-deserved.

They are truly capable.

Whether it's the product concept or the software ecosystem.

They can all speak eloquently and logically.

It broadened everyone's horizons.

same,

Lin Bing's integration speed exceeded everyone's expectations.

the next day,

He then immersed himself in the existing data and projects.

He carefully studied all the design documents, supply chain lists, production reports, and sales data for the Z1.

I spoke with each of the hardware engineers individually.

Learn about their expertise and the preliminary research they are conducting.

Lin Bing also spent time trying out the three built-in games.

He also exchanged views with Jiang Chang on the mobile game ecosystem.

A week later,

Lin Bing has a clear understanding of the current situation, strengths, and weaknesses of ZhengTu Technology.

He was in Lu Chen's office.

A three-hour in-depth report was given.

"Mr. Lu,

Our current advantage lies in...

First, the success of the Z1 demonstrates our capabilities in consumer electronics product design, supply chain management, and marketing.

Secondly, the game team is outstanding and can provide high-quality content for the hardware, which is a very valuable experience in combining software and hardware.

Third, the company has healthy cash flow and the ability to reinvest.

Lin Bing's analysis was clear and logical.

"And our challenges are also obvious."

First, they had almost no experience in mobile phone R&D.

The transition from MP4 players to mobile phones was a huge leap.

Radio frequency, baseband, communication protocols, and more complex structural designs, etc.

These are all projects I've never worked on before.

Second, the team is too small.

In particular, there is a severe shortage of top-tier hardware and system-level development engineers;

Third, the development of the ZUI system was a massive undertaking.

We need a strong software team that is familiar with the Android kernel.

"Therefore, the most urgent task is to recruit people."

Lu Chen concluded.

"That's right."

Lin Bing nodded and took out a list from the folder.

"This is a preliminary list of potential candidates."

Some of them are my former colleagues at Microsoft and Google.

Some of them are technical experts I know in the industry.

One of them,

I believe it is the core team that built the ZUI system.

Especially an excellent candidate to be in charge of application framework and user experience.

"Who?"

"Hong Feng"

Lin Bing said a name.

He's also working at Google China now.

He is a senior product manager.

Currently in charge of Google Music and Google Chinese Input Method.

His technical skills are extremely solid.

Has an almost obsessive pursuit of product experience, and is quick-witted.

and……

Yes, quite unique.

He values ​​the user experience.

Moreover, they also place great emphasis on localization.

He often said, "We can't just translate America's products directly into Chinese and throw them at Chinese users."

Therefore I think,

If we can persuade him to join...

Our early architecture and user experience definitions for the ZUI system

It will play a decisive role!

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this name, Lu Chen immediately remembered who he was.

Hong Feng

He is also one of the eight co-founders of Xiaomi.

And he is the youngest one.

Hong Feng is the founder of Xiaomi's MIUI system and internet service ecosystem.

He pioneered the use of mobile feedback via forums to update the development version weekly.

A three-tiered iteration system of "trial version - development version - stable version" has been formed.

Hong Feng in the MIUI system,

It includes a built-in app store, cloud services, music, and videos.

A closed-loop ecosystem is formed.

In 2021, he joined the core team of Xiaomi Auto.

Continue to leverage its strengths in hardware and software integration and system architecture.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen smiled slightly:

"Great, we have such talent!"

Only then can the ZUI system be developed.

Contact him and arrange a meeting as soon as possible.

"clear."

Lin Bing nodded.

"Oh, right."

Lu Chen paused for a moment, then continued:

We also have an MP4 product line.

Do you think it's possible to use the mold from Conquer Online 1?

"Do product iteration?"

"You want to be like Apple?"

Developing two product lines simultaneously, iPhone and iPod touch?

"That's right."

Lu Chen said affirmatively.

Seeing this, Lin Bing remained silent for a moment, then said:

"As long as the funding can keep up"

Actually, it's not a big problem.

"Then it's settled."

The new MP4 player is tentatively named "Zhengtu Z2".

Let Wu Zhixuan handle the specifics.

We can just hire another batch of people to fill the gaps.

Lin Bing nodded without saying anything more.

Lu Chen did this.

It was out of personal motives towards Wu Zhixuan and others.

Previously, when the hardware team was working with Lin Bing...

I could clearly feel that I couldn't keep up with Lin Bing's pace.

Therefore, Wu Zhixuan and his colleagues did not want to hold the company back.

During that period, I worked overtime like crazy.

All in order to catch up with Lin Bing.

However, there is a limit to a person's ability.

If they were truly capable, they would have achieved something long ago.

There's no need to wait until today.

Lu Chen saw the efforts of Wu Zhixuan and the others.

After all, they were among the first to start with the company.

We can't just give them "graduation" directly.

That would be too inhumane.

That's why Lu Chen took the initiative to bring this up with Lin Bing.

Put them in a position that isn't too difficult.

Continue to shine and generate heat.

Of course, this is not about marginalizing them.

The company will have some branch projects in the future.

We can definitely leave it to them to do.

Lu Chen felt reassured using it.

……

Hong Feng and Lu Chen meet.

We arranged to meet at a quiet coffee shop by West Lake in Hangzhou.

Hong Feng was younger than Lu Chen had imagined.

He was wearing a plaid shirt and jeans.

He seems more like a tech-focused programmer than a corporate executive.

Hong Feng speaks quickly and logically, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.