Irvine, California, located southeast of Los Angeles, is one of the satellite cities of Orange County and the most famous Asian American community in California, with more than 40% of the city's population of more than 200,000 people.

Most of the residents here are middle- and high-income earners, and they are basically engaged in high-tech industries, and Irvine is even nicknamed the second Silicon Valley.

Today, Blizzard Entertainment, which is becoming more and more famous in the gaming industry, is located in the city of Irvine.

At Blizzard Entertainment's headquarters, President Mike Mowmi welcomed two guests.

One is an old acquaintance, German director Uwe Bauer, who comes at least twice a month, a scoundrel who gives people a headache.

Another from Relativity Entertainment Group and arguably a big name in Hollywood, Robert Lee, vice president and director of the Copyright & Legal Department at Relativity.

If it weren't for the latter, Mike Mowymi would never have met Uwe Ball, the head of the headache.

At the beginning, Uwe Ball came to visit Blizzard, and he received him warmly, but when he saw the movie adaptation of Uwe Ball's game and learned that he wanted to win the adaptation rights of Blizzard's games, Uwe Ball was on Blizzard's blacklist.

For the past few months, Mike Mowhmi has asked the PR department to send the German director away at will.

But Robert Lee is different, not only has Relativity Entertainment sent a formal business negotiation intention before, but even Blizzard's predecessor, Vivendi Group, has someone to call him.

It's a lot of pressure.

Although Blizzard Entertainment maintains a certain degree of independence, it has long been combined with Xuele Mountain and has become part of Vivendi Games.

The head office called and asked for a good reception and negotiation, how could there be no pressure?

Mike Mowymi seems to be listening to Uwe Ball and has actually been thinking about how to respond.

"I have a complete plan for the adaptation of Warcraft. Uwe Bauer said enthusiastically in the face of the love of his heart: "From the orc invasion, to the fall of Lothar, to Arthas's ascension to the Ice Throne, I have a very detailed plan, this will be a whole series of films, we can shoot a trilogy with Lothar as the protagonist, a trilogy with Alsace as the protagonist, and a trilogy with Gianna Prodmore as the protagonist......"

Robert Lee didn't speak for a while, and Uwe Ball was the pawn he let out to be tempted.

Although I knew a little bit about Blizzard and its games before I came here, and I heard some things from Uwe Ball, I couldn't compare to my own observations.

Mike Mowmi, as the president of Blizzard, is still very generous and personable, came back to his senses, and said to Uwe Bauer with a smile: "I'm sorry, Blizzard really has no plans to sell the rights to its game movies. Some time ago, our creative director was a little agitated in an interview and said something that went too far, and I apologize to you for him. But he's not right about people, and Blizzard has never thought of licensing any studio. ”

The love of his heart repeatedly refused, but Uwe Bauer became more and more frustrated: "Mike, don't be busy refusing first, listen to me, okay?"

Mike Mowami was quite helpless, glanced at Robert Lee, and could only listen patiently to what Uwe Ball said.

Uwe Bauer added: "I know that you rejected me because I didn't make a good enough film, and I was afraid that I would ruin your game. ”

Now that you know, why bother with it? Mike Mowami was even more helpless.

"But my abilities are always improving. Uwe Bauer has always been confident: "'Dungeon Siege' is better than 'House of Death', and I'm sure the next film will be even better......"

Hearing this, the muscles on the side of Robert Lee's mouth couldn't help but twitch, and he could only try to control it, and he couldn't tear down the stage for himself.

Mike Mowmi would like to say that your ability has improved by two or three times, and it is still a big bad movie!

In front of Robert Lee, this is really hard to say.

Uwe Bauer's confident words continued: "The first two adaptations have allowed me to accumulate experience in game adaptations, and no one is better suited to film adaptations of Blizzard's games than me." ”

In the end, Mike Mowami didn't hold back and said, "Director Bauer, you're really not suitable for adapting Blizzard's game, and we have no plans to make the game cinematic for the time being. ”

Uwe Bauer gave full play to his stalking skills and gushed again.

Robert Lee roughly saw the problem from the perspective of a viewer: the main thing is that Blizzard Entertainment does not have any confidence in Uwe Ball, and does not believe in Uwe Ball's ability at all.

Having said that, he doesn't believe that Uwe Bauer's next movie will be very good, "Dungeon Siege" is indeed a little better than "House of the Dead", but it is really limited.

From the perspective of actual investment, this point of strength should be the natural advantage of the $3.5 million budget over the $1.5 million budget.

Dungeon Siege marketing is excellent, and there's not much to say about the movie itself.

Taking advantage of the gap between Uwe Bauer and Mike Mowaimi, Robert Lee interjected at the right time: "Director Bauer, can you let me have a few words with Mr. Mowami alone." ”

Uwe Bauer glanced at Robert Lee, thinking that he needed to cooperate with the other party in order to be able to knock through the stubborn defense of Blizzard Entertainment, and quickly nodded and said, "Okay, no problem." ”

Mike Mowymie also had enough of Uwe Bauer, and hurriedly called his assistant over and advised: "You take Director Bauer to visit the company's exhibition room." ”

The assistant left the reception room with Uwe Bauer.

When the door closed from the outside, Robert Lee went straight to the point and said, "Mr. Mo Huaimi, Relativity Entertainment is very interested in the game adaptation rights under Blizzard, and we are here with sincerity. ”

With sincerity, let Uwe Bauer direct the movie? This kind of sincerity is not enough! Mike Mohuaimi said lightly: "We are honored that Relativity Entertainment can value Blizzard's games, but Blizzard really has no plans to make the game cinematic. ”

Robert Lee is calm and direct: "I know, you have doubts about Uwe Bauer, but have you noticed that the two films directed by Uwe Bauer, "House of the Dead" and "Dungeon Siege", have been great commercial successes, especially the latter, which has caused a strong response from the whole society, and how much influence has it brought to the game "Dungeon Siege"?"

Mike Mowymi didn't know about it, so it's not very clear.

Robert Lee was prepared, handed Mike Mowami a data report, and said: "The first half is the sales and attention of the Dungeon Siege game before the movie was heavily promoted, and the second half is the sales and attention of the game after the movie became popular." ”

Mike Mohuaimi looked at this data statistics seriously, as a game producer and publisher, although he has not done a detailed understanding, it is actually very simple to verify these data, and it is impossible for the other party to falsify.

The numbers are staggering, and the most intuitive is the sales of game discs, in the last half month, the sales of "Dungeon Siege" games are equal to the sum of the past year!

Many people who don't play games also buy games because of movies and try to play them, and some of them are likely to become loyal users.

Mike Mowmi coughed lightly, put down the data sheet, and said to Robert Lee: "The impact of the movie 'Dungeon Siege' is truly amazing. ”

Once again, Robert Lee emphasized: "Commercially, the film was a huge success. ”

The game production company is also a commercial company, Robert Lee doesn't know, but Ronan knows very well that the so-called conscientious Blizzard, in fact, has a limit to conscience, what are all kinds of feelings and eating books for?

Robert Lee has worked for many years, has been immersed in the business circle, and knows very well that as long as the profit is large enough, the attitude of commercial companies will change.

"I heard that your company is turning the game of Warcraft into an online game?" Robert Lee added, "Can you ask, when will it be released?"

Mike Mowymi said vaguely: "Next year." ”

Robert Lee continued the topic just now: "The success of a game, like a movie, also needs to be vigorously promoted, if Relativity Entertainment can cooperate with Blizzard Entertainment, Relativity Entertainment's movie, entertainment and Internet platform will be combined with Blizzard's game entertainment platform, the publicity effect will be better." ”

He gradually incorporates his own pace: "As we all know, the audience for movies is more common than video games, and the release of a popular movie can bring more popularity to video games and even cultivate a loyal group of users. ”

"I admit it. "Mike Mowami is well aware that movies are entertainment for a much wider audience than video games, and that across the United States and around the world, popular movies can have a much greater impact than video games. He frowned slightly: "Mr. Li, it is precisely because movies are more influential than games that once the film adaptation fails, it will also seriously drag down the development of the game." ”

Robert Lee smiled, with confidence in his smile: "Relativity Entertainment can even run successfully in "House of the Dead" and "Dungeon Siege" directed by Uwe Ball, not to mention the Blizzard games that we attach more importance to?"

"Let's put it this way. Robert Lee secretly changed the concept to give the other party the illusion of psychological identification with the adaptation: "We will invest far more money, manpower and other resources in the Blizzard game adaptation than Dungeon Siege, and operate it as a key project of the group company." ”

Anyway, the production budget of "Dungeon Siege" is only $3.5 million, and the investment of $8 million is far exceeded.

Mike Mohuaimi is no longer as exclusive as before, not to mention the explosion like Relativity Entertainment's "Pirates of the Caribbean", as long as it can get the same popularity as "Dungeon Siege", the game is bound to go to the world.

But he would not let go easily, and he did not dare to let go easily, and said: "We need to have a meeting to discuss, and you may have to wait for a long time." ”

Robert Lee stood up and shook his hand: "It's okay, Relativity Entertainment has been sincerely waiting." ”