Game development begins with destroying Girls' Frontline.

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However, given the current scenery, it seems quite reasonable.

If we hadn't made so much money, how could we have met here?

"Yosuke Shiokawa has done a great job in operating FGO. It is the stable operation of FGO that has supported the expansion of Spark Japan and the development of Destiny Trail."

One of Yao Meng's best qualities is that he doesn't take credit for others' work.

After briefly explaining the situation at Spark Japan, he began to praise the operation of FGO.

Before Shiokawa could speak, Tomohiko Deguchi spoke first when Yao Meng mentioned FGO.

"Indeed, every time I approve funding for Fate/stay night's development, if I feel the cost is too high, I look at FGO's revenue, and then I realize it's not so expensive after all..."

Tomohiko's words made the others burst into laughter.

Only Yosuke Shiokawa spoke very modestly.

"This is not my achievement. FGO's success is thanks to Mr. Lin. We still have a lot to learn from Mr. Lin in game development. Galaxy Paradise Exploration is also a huge hit in Japan."

"Alright, this isn't a compliment contest, let's get down to business."

After chatting for a few minutes...

The topic has finally circled back to itself.

"This year is a very important year for Spark Games..."

Let's start with this sentence.

Lin Li briefly outlined the plans for 17.

Just like he said.

17 was indeed a very important year for Spark Games.

Many games that were initiated at the end of 16 will enter the development phase, including Destiny Track, Endless Lost, Arknights, and Galaxy Paradise.

Two of them are mega-projects.

Both Galaxy Paradise and Destiny's Trajectory are large volumes.

Not to mention the huge number of IPs that were snatched from Tencent before, which by 17, whether they were self-developed or like "The Long Night" and "Arknights".

The project will definitely be launched.

Chapter 154 The Expanded Spark Project

Lin Li currently owns eight IPs.

Obviously, he couldn't possibly have it all.

A person's energy is, after all, limited.

Managing one to three projects directly is already the limit.

Any more than that, and it becomes impossible to talk about management.

Therefore, the best option for these IPs is to adopt a project subcontracting system similar to that used for Arknights and The End of Time.

Specifically, Lin Li has already reached an agreement with Bilibili for 8 IPs. Among them, the IPs of Bleach and One Piece will be handed over to Bilibili for operation after Xinghuo Games completes its production.

Naruto and Gundam were developed and operated by Spark Games itself.

The remaining four IPs, including Gintama, will be put on hold for now, awaiting a better opportunity.

Originally, when the spoils were divided, Xinghuo and Bilibili directly split the copyrights.

Lin Li wanted Naruto and Gundam, while Bilibili wanted Bleach and One Piece.

However, Chen Ruisi thought it over and over again.

I feel that Bilibili is really not confident in developing such a big IP on its own.

He also personally visited the development department of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

This is a game developed jointly by Bilibili and Mobcast.

This also served as the starting point for Bilibili's subsequent self-developed games, which is why Chen Rui took this work very seriously.

To be honest, if there were no comparisons, Chen Rui was quite satisfied with the development team behind Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

But after he returned from his inspection of Spark Games...

Then I discovered a very sad but bloody truth.

Compared to the numerous and successful games on the platform, Bilibili's game department is utterly incompetent, and even its collaboration with Mobcast is a complete disaster.

If popular IPs like Bleach and One Piece are handed over to them, it's very likely that they'll suffer a complete financial loss.

This is not just his judgment alone.

This is also the judgment of many investors in Bilibili.

Since that's the case, we might as well go to Lin Li.

Although Linli will have to share the profits, the probability of success can be guaranteed.

While capital pursues profits, it also seeks stability.

As a result, Lin Li acquired four popular IPs.

Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach will all need to find suitable people and initiate projects, just like indefinitely lost and Arknights.

The development will be carried out according to the existing development standards of Spark Games. During development, the copywriting, art, and monetization strategies will all be developed in accordance with the existing standards of Spark Games.

The operational approach will be adjusted from simple and crude short-term operations to long-term operations.

In this way, the final product should not be worse than the one from the previous life.

Lin Li only needs to control some core parts, and won't have to spend too much energy on them.

The only IP that Lin Li wants to establish and manage himself is the Gundam IP.

After all, it's a real shame about this IP from its previous life.

Lin Li only briefly mentioned these projects to give everyone a heads-up.

More details were not discussed at this meeting, and this was not the focus of the discussion.

"I want to expand the Spark Program and make it more of a platform..."

"A platform? Like Steam?"

Lin Li shook his head.

"No."

It's 2017 now, not 2007. At this point in time, it's extremely difficult to create a new gaming platform.

Unless it's like EPIC, which uses resources to forcefully carve out a market.

Otherwise, relying solely on the efforts of manufacturers, it would be very difficult to create a game platform that players would accept.

Ubisoft can't do it, EA can't do it, Rockstar can't do it.

All three companies had previously invested heavily in developing their own platforms and attempted to separate themselves from Steam, releasing their titles only on their own game platforms.

But in the end they all failed.

As it turns out, players are not buying into the idea of ​​having to download a separate platform to play a particular game.

Lin Li doesn't think Xinghuo Games can achieve what these big companies haven't.

not to mention.

Spark Games' main focus is still on mobile games.

There is even less room for gaming platforms to survive on mobile phones.

Whether it's TapTap or NewGameBurst, these platforms aren't really game platforms; they're more like download centers.

"Not making Steam? Then what are you planning to do?"

Lin Li put down his teacup, then used tongs to pick up a few candies and placed them on a blank plate.

"Although these candies look and taste different, they are all produced by the same manufacturer."

At this point, Lin Li tapped the candy packaging with the clips.

"Although this is the first time I've met this manufacturer, I found that many of their candies are delicious."

"Next time I see this brand in the supermarket, even if it's a flavor I've never tried before, I'll buy it because I think all the candies from this brand must be delicious."

This theory is very simple; it's actually the logic behind the creation of a brand. However, everyone present was puzzled as to what it had to do with games.

Seeing everyone's puzzled expressions.

Lin Li smiled.

"Simply put, I want to establish a standard and then promote that standard."

"As long as the manufacturer is willing, and after our evaluation we deem it suitable, they can join the Spark Program..."

The more Lin Li talked, the more confused the people at the scene became.

Lin Li thought for a moment and decided to give an example.

So he took out an orange from the fruit basket.

"Let's say a company develops a... well... a ship girl game today."

"Then, he came to us and said he wanted to join the Spark Program. After checking, we found that the company was quite good in all aspects, so we agreed to let him join the Spark Program."

"What will he get in return?"

"He can get funding, licenses for the Spark game engine, our motion capture and sound effects studio that we're building. We can help him with anything he needs."

Hearing this, Yao Meng roughly understood.

"What does he have to give up?"

"It's very simple. Since the developers used Spark's resources, they have to accept Spark's standards, such as the copywriting rules we currently use internally. Secondly, the game's distribution and operation rights have been handed over to us..."

What Lin Li is talking about is actually very similar to Xiaomi's Mijia ecosystem.

Xiaomi's Mijia is a case study that Xiaomi didn't quite succeed, but it wasn't a failure either.

The basic logic is that Xiaomi uses its own design language and focuses on cost-effectiveness to attract some manufacturers to produce customized products using the Xiaomi model for sale.

Xiaomi's products are divided into three categories.

One type is purely self-operated, the second type is OEM, and the third type is Mijia.

Although Mijia products have the "Mi" in their name, Xiaomi generally does not participate in the design or branding; it's just a collaborative relationship.

This is equivalent to Xiaomi providing distribution channels.

However, to join this channel, one needs to adhere to certain standards and maintain a certain design language with Xiaomi.

This model wasn't just used by Xiaomi; Huawei also used it in its later automotive ventures.

Chapter 155 Azur Lane

And this corresponds to the Spark Games.

Linli currently has two models.

Firstly, there are self-developed games, such as Girls' Frontline, Galaxy Paradise, and Destiny's Path.

These games were all initiated and developed by Lin Li himself.

Secondly, there are rebranded games, such as Arknights, Unfinished, and several major IP works that have not yet been developed, and even FGO can be considered.

These games are also part of the Spark Games project team, but Lin Li usually only oversees the general direction and controls the quality, and they are also advertised under the Spark Games logo.

The last type is what Lin Li hasn't done yet, but wants to do.

This is the new Spark Program.

Specifically.

It refers to the output standard. When a game company approaches Linli and wants Xinghuo Games to operate the game, Xinghuo Games will evaluate the entire game.

We will assess its quality, share some of the resources of Spark Games, and help it improve the game.