Top of the big era

In the afternoon, Zhou Buqi met Wei Zhe. There was nothing more to say. He expressed his attitude simply and clearly, and chatted for half an hour.

If you are interviewing ordinary executives, it will usually be a round-robin battle.

Especially Internet companies.

The most common routine is to talk all night, day and night, about astronomy, geography, society and humanities, and talk about everything that can be discussed from all angles.

Not only does it test each other's knowledge and understanding of the world, it is also a physical endurance test. If you can keep this kind of high-intensity brain cell beating for two days and two nights, and can endure without being rigid, you will be considered a pass. Just like when many large companies in traditional industries are looking for senior executives, they have to drink heavily. If you can't drink, you will basically be dismissed.

However, at the next level up, it is no longer necessary.

Zhou Buqi wanted Wei Zhe to serve as the president of Lianjia and assist Boss Zuo in building this self-operated rental platform. This was more of a mental understanding and a strategic design.

What's more, this person came from Ali, so his mental attributes and combat effectiveness must be the same.

Zhou Buqi explained his thoughts and expressed his outlook on the future prospects of the rental market. This is an industry that deeply integrates offline and online, and ordinary people cannot play with it.

Wei Zhe was a little confused.

Zhou Buqi asked him to contact Boss Zuo and asked them to continue chatting.

This is not an easy choice.

However, it feels about the same.

After resigning from Ali, it was not easy for Wei Zhe to find another job. It was too low to look down on him, and too high to trust him. The position introduced by Zhou Buqi is more suitable.

Zhou Buqi asked Wei Zou to go back and think about it.

This is a rare opportunity!

However, Zhou Buqi didn't have time to talk to Wei Zhe. He wanted to get out of the way quickly and go to Changyou. It's not that something went wrong in the game business, but that an uninvited guest came - John Ricciettilo.

He is the executive director and CEO of EA.

It was he who led EA's transformation towards social games over the past few years and the acquisition of Friends Studio.

Zhou Buqi was surprised by this man's sudden visit. In the morning, I heard Mattrick say that when EA's CEO came to China, Zhou Buqi couldn't believe it. He came so recklessly?

Don Mattrick's explanation makes sense, "There is no other way. If he doesn't work hard, he will really be dismissed by the board of directors. He served as the CEO of EA twice in the 1990s. If this time Being impeached again is the third time he has stepped down."

Zhou Buqi frowned slightly, "What is he here for?"

Mattrick smiled and said: "Apologise!"

"Apologize?"

"What happened to the British game company Codemasters."

"Is apologizing useful?"

Zhou Buqi sneered.

It caused Changyou an economic loss of more than 100 million pounds, and it makes sense to come here and apologize?

However, Zhou Buqi could also hear something from Don Mattrick's words.

EA's current CEO, John Ricciitiello, served as EA's CEO in the 1990s. And that time period was when Mattrick was working at EA!

In other words, Mattrick has been promoted step by step from an ordinary game producer to an important figure in the game industry. He was cultivated by John Ricciettilo.

This basic human relationship should still be respected.

Mattrick sighed and said: "You know, EA's intention to acquire Codemasters studio was not his request. It was the conservatives within EA who were actively promoting it. He has even been opposed to it."

"It doesn't make sense."

Zhou Buqi remained unmoved.

Mattrick said with emotion: "Indeed, he is in a difficult situation now. He went to see you this time, in addition to expressing his apology, there is another thing."

Zhou Buqi asked: "What's the matter?"

"He didn't want to get into the game of football," Mattrick said.

"What?" Zhou Buqi was slightly startled, "Did you tell him?"

The news that Changyou is going to make a football game has not been announced to the outside world, and even few people within Changyou know about it.

How did the people at EA know?

Mattrick quickly explained, "I didn't say anything. EA found out from other channels."

"What channel?"

"FIFA."

"Um."

Zhou Buqi nodded.

This is not surprising.

The contract between EA and FIFA has entered the final year. It needs to restart negotiations with FIFA to complete the contract renewal and obtain the naming rights of "FIFA" for the next 10 years.

At this time, Changyou had already contacted FIFA and expressed its interest in the name "FIFA". If EA got hold of this news from FIFA, it would not be difficult to guess Changyou's plan.

Mattrick said: "He may be trying to persuade you not to make football games. In the past two decades, dozens of football games have failed. Including Japan's Sega, after the failure, even several of its sports All game studios were sold to take-two, which led to the rise of take-two in the sports game industry. But even with the rise of take-two, it has surpassed EA's games in basketball games, baseball games and other fields. But they never dare to enter the realm of football games."

Zhou Buqi said: "It's too late! I have already taken action and will soon get the copyright of "Pro Evolution Soccer"!"

Mattrick continued: "If Changyou insists on making a football game, he hopes that Changyou will not raise the price to grab the 'FIFA' trademark. EA said that they have cooperated with FIFA for twenty years, and FIFA Football has become EA It is impossible for them to let this authorization fail under any circumstances for their flagship series. If they raise the price, it will also be cheaper for FIFA."

Zhou Buqi was a little funny, "What kind of reason is this?"

Mattrick said: "He said that if Changyou agreed, FIFA would be willing to share some technical intellectual property rights with PES."

"It's just a game, how much can you cherish your intellectual property rights? Changyou has a strong R\u0026D team. You can research it yourself without their authorization!"

Zhou Buqi thought this proposal was absurd.

Last year, Changyou completed the acquisition of the game division of Ziweixing International. This is a game department located in Silicon Valley with more than 200 employees and top-notch technical capabilities.

Silicon Valley is where technology is strongest.

Many major game companies and studios are located all over the world. The main reason why this can be achieved is that games actually have little technical content and do not require the participation of top engineers in Silicon Valley. Almost all countries in the world can do it.

Previously, Ziweixing International’s game division was a game development team with strong development capabilities established under Shen Xiangyang’s technical concepts.

In terms of technology, Changyou is not bad at all.

Don Mattrick had already guessed this outcome, and said with a smile: "I talked to John twice in the past two days, and he was really embarrassed. But I told him, I can't do anything, I can't decide. .So he went to China to find you."

Zhou Buqi did not answer the question and suddenly asked: "How many years has this John Riccietti been the CEO of EA this time?"

"Six years, maybe."

“What’s the stock price like?”

"Uh..." Mattrick was helpless, "It dropped by 65%. When he took office, EA was the world's largest gaming giant with a market value of nearly 30 billion US dollars. Now it is only over 10 billion US dollars."

"I'll go!" Zhou Buqi was stunned, "Isn't it natural for him to be dismissed by the board of directors after he has built the company so well? What is he still tossing about? Are you refusing to accept his fate?"