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

7 month 25 day.

Yangcheng University.

This is a typical male dormitory.

The smell of instant noodles and stinky feet filled the dormitory room.

At this moment, the three of them were sitting around the only computer in the dormitory, working hard.

"Old Lu, go! Speed ​​up!"

"That's the bend, drift! Seriously, are you even capable?!"

"Damn! Second again."

Lu Bowen pushed the keyboard away in frustration, a hint of resentment in his voice.

Lately, everyone in the dorm has been playing the new Penguin Racer game.

But for some reason, I always lose more than I win, and my opponents are always exceptionally strong at crucial moments.

"Hey, it's my turn. We agreed to each take one."

Wang Xuan, who was still waiting anxiously on the side, urged.

Lu Bowen got up from his computer and stretched to loosen up his muscles.

Qiu Zihao, his roommate, was curled up on the bed, occasionally letting out lewd "hehe" sounds.

"Brother Hao! What are you doing!"

Lu Bowen, with a mischievous grin, patted the edge of Qiu Zihao's bed.

"Holy crap! You scared me to death!"

Startled, Qiu Zihao suddenly stood up, and only after seeing that it was Lao Lü did he pat his chest.

"What are you looking at? Is there something good?"

Old Lu had a sly smile on his face, knowing that you hadn't been up to any good in bed.

"Get lost! You think everyone's like you?"

"So what are you doing?"

"Look! Do you recognize this?"

Qiu Zihao rolled over and sat up, holding his phone in front of Lü Bowen.

"This is... the latest iPhone 3G?"

Upon seeing the phone, Lü Bowen immediately recognized it as Apple's latest release.

After all, this is a university, and university students are always the most willing to try new things.

"Of course! I asked my uncle to buy this specifically from America's Apple store!"

Qiu Zihao said proudly.

"How do I use it? Let me try it."

Lu Bowen pleaded with Qiu Zihao with a hint of envy in his voice.

"Go away, can't you see I'm playing a game?"

"You can even play games?!"

Lu Bowen was even more surprised, as he had never seen a game on a smartphone before.

On the screen, a row of birds were hopping and jumping under a slingshot, while several green pigs grunted nearby.

At first glance, Lü Bowen was completely captivated by the game's visuals.

"What kind of game is this?"

Lu Bowen's eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge.

"Angry Birds, you don't know? It's the hottest game in America right now!"

"Is it fun?"

Who cares if America is the most popular? The most important thing is that the game is fun.

"Look, pull back the slingshot, aim at the green pig, and then fire."

Qiu Zihao demonstrated it to Lü Bowen.

In an instant, Lü Bowen was completely stunned. He had never imagined that games on smartphones would be so unique!

"It really is different! Let me try it!"

Lu Bowen was eager to play.

Qiu Zihao wasn't stingy either, and generously handed his phone to Lü Bowen.

Lü Bowen immediately took the phone.

He was already hooked after playing just a few levels.

This was Lü Bowen's first time playing smartphone games.

This game is different from the games that came pre-installed on his old Nokia phone, which was as bulky as a brick.

It's even completely different from computer games!

There are no elaborate models, no complicated controls, and no lengthy game mechanics; it's just the simplest thing: drawing a bow and firing.

But this game is more appealing than those made by Tencent and NetEase!

Not long after, Wang Xuan and his other roommate Tan Ming urged:

"Old Lu, it's your turn this time!"

"You guys go ahead and have fun, I'm still busy here."

Lu Bowen didn't even lift his head.

"What are you doing? You can't even play games?" Wang Xuan asked in surprise.

"He's playing Angry Birds."

"I'm lying in bed," Qiu Zihao explained.

"angry Birds?"

"How come I've never heard of this game?"

Qiu Zihao's words immediately drew their attention.

Like cats that have smelled blood, the two quickly gathered around Lü Bowen.

Lu Bowen skillfully aimed and fired, and a bird accurately crashed into the TNT box set up in the level.

The crate exploded, and the towering green pig fortress collapsed instantly.

Unfortunately, several green pigs were hiding under a lot of buildings.

The two were stunned.

This is a game format I've never seen before.

You can play with just one finger; no complicated operations are required.

"Let me try it!"

"I'll go first!"

The two started fighting over it.

"Hey, slow down, my new phone!"

Qiu Zihao quickly stopped him.

So, the four of them in the dorm each turned off one of the buttons and became engrossed in Angry Birds.

The sky was getting dark.

"Gurgle..."

A growling sound came from someone's stomach.

Hunger finally brought the four of them back to reality from the game.

"What?! It's already eight o'clock."

"Hurry up, there might still be food left in the cafeteria."

"Yes, yes, yes."

The four of them rushed downstairs and ran all the way.

But the game was still lingering in my mind.

"Hey, what do you think about me working for this game company after graduation?"

"You? Whether America wants you or not is still up for debate."

And what they don't know yet is that Angry Birds was made by a domestic company!

……

8 month 11 day.

Journey Technology.

It has been a full month since Angry Birds officially launched.

For the past month, everyone at ZhengTu Technology has been on tenterhooks.

The first thing I do when I get to my workstation every day is to put my hands together and pray sincerely that Angry Birds sales will be high.

If the game flops, the company will go bankrupt, and I'll be left with nothing.

Unlike his employees who live in constant fear, Lu Chen's life has been much more leisurely lately.

His complexion has improved significantly recently.

My dark circles have disappeared, my face is rosy, and I can climb eight flights of stairs without getting out of breath.

He spends his days leisurely drinking tea and reading newspapers.

They even somehow got hold of a money tree that was half a person's height.

Water the money tree and wipe its leaves every now and then.

What a wonderful day!

Right now, Lu Chen is tending to his precious money tree again, slowly watering it with a watering can while muttering incantations to himself.

"Little tree, little tree, you must live well and help me steal Tencent's fortune."

Susie, who was about to enter the room to report to Lu Yun, was surprised to hear Lu Yun's words.

"Boss, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Tencent is so big because it's powerful, okay?

It's not because Little Ma (Chow Yun-fat) takes good care of his money tree.

Upon hearing Susie's words, Lu Yun slowly put down the kettle and sat back down in the boss's chair.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you little kid, how do you know if Brother Ma keeps money trees? Do you even understand business warfare?" Lu Chen shook his head.

He continued calmly.

"You don't know, some people can't win in a head-on confrontation."

So, they sneaked into the other party's boss's office in the middle of the night. Do you know what they were doing?

"What are you doing? Stealing trade secrets?" Susie asked curiously.

"Pour boiling water on the money tree!"

Look at that, those methods are so dirty!

Lu Chen spread his hands and said disdainfully.

Upon hearing this, Susie opened her mouth, but remained silent for a long time.

He then gave Lu Chen a speechless look.

Whose child is it anyway!