Bushnell is definitely a hardcore enthusiast in the game industry, and even at the age of 72, Bushnell still hasn't stopped making games. At the age of 72, he pursues to combine video games with education, trying to make subject education the same as video games.

Sure enough, Lin Qi asked a little, and Bushnell no longer concealed it, and would fade out of Chuck Cheese's management and hire a team of professional managers to maintain the operation of the listed company.

Bushnell, who owns more than $1 billion in shares of listed companies, has no plans to retire or die of a drunken dream. It's about preparing to start a business again, and the direction of this entrepreneurship is naturally the game industry.

Of course, the market in the gaming industry has changed.

Especially. The impact of Pangu and PC on the game industry makes it not only expensive to develop game consoles alone, but also difficult to succeed.

Even if Bushnell invests more than $1 billion in the gaming industry, he may not be sure that he will build a new console platform that is powerful, inexpensive, and worthy of third-party game developers.

Over the years, new console platforms have been introduced every year around the world, but the vast majority have quickly disappeared.

On the contrary, some game software companies that specialize in making games for the platform have a relatively strong development trend.

For example, Activision, EA and other companies in the United States, after the collapse of Atari, these third-party game development companies only adjusted their platforms and replaced them with games on the PC and Pangu platforms, and soon ushered in a new wave of game market growth dividends.

Of course, when Atari collapsed, game development companies that only bet on the Atari platform and couldn't adapt to other platforms basically hit the streets.

After the collapse of Atari, the lesson for many game development companies is that they can't bet on one platform, but need to develop across platforms. In this way, even if a platform is finished, it will not be finished with the game development company.

"Are you going to develop a game?" Lin Qi asked, "May I ask, what type?"

"Similar to Chuck Cheese, the player takes on the role of a business operator, investing in different restaurants in different cities, etc., which is a puzzle game to a certain extent. This game doesn't require a high graphics card, but it does require a high CPU. ”

Bushnell didn't give a clear position, but Lin Qi did.

Bushnell is talking about business simulation, although it is a niche theme, but after the release of "The Sims" and "SimCity", this kind of game also ushered in a large audience.

In later generations, there are countless simulation games that simulate workplaces, entertainment circles, farms, cities, restaurants, shops, railways, airlines, etc. There are many such games, and even contain certain workplace principles, so that people can gradually understand some business principles through playing games.

In a sense, a good simulation game is to play the role of entertaining and educational, so that people can learn more about common sense.

Of course, there are some players who just enjoy this kind of leisure and farming.

For Bushnell, a veteran of the game industry, and even a person known as the father of video games, Lin Qi felt that it was undoubtedly disrespectful for him to discuss how to make games.

For this kind of reliable person, Lin Qi only needs to cooperate and invest, and after that, professional financial personnel can track the financial situation.

Let Bushnell do the rest himself, after all, if he interferes too much, he will be disgusted by Bushnell.

Lin Qi negotiated with Bushnell that the new game company would be named "Bushnell Game Company", with a capital of $100 million, and Lin Qi could invest $10 million, accounting for 10% of the equity.

After all, Bushnell is not short of money now, and the reason why he is willing to accept investment is mainly because he is interested in the distribution channel of the Pangu platform of the new entrepreneurship department.

After the agreement was signed, Bushnell Games was quickly established, and even the team has been formed.

It turned out that as early as '85, Bushnell accepted the refuge of some former Atari employees who had left the company. Since then, he has been funding these former employees to develop mini-games. It's just that it used to be a petty fight and didn't really pay attention to it.

Now it can be regarded as an official comeback, and the game industry is an important direction.

……

On March 15, '89, Bushnell announced that he would retire from the management of Chuck Cheese and retire into the background.

After this news, the capital market reacted modestly. After all, it was a long time ago that Chuck Cheese had faded out of management, and around '87, Bushnell had promoted the management team to take over the management of Chuck Cheese, and he was only the chairman and majority shareholder.

But the gaming industry, with its own interpretations of Bushnell's moves, is a great deal of commentary.

Lin Qi, the boss of the new startup, also came to the United States, and it seems that he has already met with Bushnell, and at this time he announced that he would fade out of the management of Chuck Cheese, and the intention could not be more obvious. ”

"Although Chuck Cheese is a fast food restaurant, it has always been about game contact, and the game consoles purchased are all the best on the market, and they have always been replaced every six months. Moreover, Chuck Cheese has been conducting questionnaires on users, and it is in-depth research on players' preferences. ”

"I'm afraid it's not good this time, we all have to be careful. ”

The streets and alleys are full of news.

The news media could not sit still, and all had to find out the latest news and predict Bushnell's new movements.

"The last time the CEO of the new venture came, he predicted the collapse of Atari, and invested in Chuck Cheese very wisely, and exchanged 10 million dollars for 40% of the equity, so far, he has obtained more than 100 times the return!

In Silicon Valley, almost all major game manufacturers are in a state of agitation, and even after leaving the game industry for ten years, Bushnell's movements are still extremely concerning.

Many people are guessing that Bushnell will definitely raise the banner of the father of games and return to the game industry.

……

On March 20th, Bushnell officially announced that the future entrepreneurial direction is mainly the game industry, and based on Chuck Cheese's operation, he will develop a simulated operation of "Simulated Restaurant".

However, when the poster of this game was posted on Chuck's Cheese Restaurant, it was complained about by a lot of people in the game industry.

"Simulated restaurant, what kind of game is this, how have never seen it. ”

"The game feels a bit shoddy, the graphics aren't polished, and it's a bit dated. ”

"Atari originally focused on quantity over quality, in fact, there were already signs of it during the Bushnell period, but it was only after he left that he got out of control. ”

"Bushnell is still old!"

You must know that the movie-level picture quality of "Resident Evil 1", which was just launched this year, has made many players become a little admirer of picture quality.

And "Restaurant Sim" is not the kind of game where the graphics are very delicate and exquisite. In the case of one, the main selling point is the business strategy, which leads to different results.

In terms of creativity, this game can be called ahead of its time, but the art style is a bit outdated compared to the current "masterpieces".

"Bushnell is not good after all, he has said goodbye to this industry for too many years, his standards and thinking are afraid that they have been solidified, this is not the original "Space Wars", such games are no longer attractive. ”

"But in this way, those who have a beginning may not be able to stand on the commanding heights. ”

Even under such reviews, "Restaurant Sim" was still on sale, and it was first released at the Chuck Cheese chain. And, it's not a console version, it's an arcade version.

"Mr. Lin, there seems to be some problems with this game? Will Bushnell hit the streets?"

Lin Qi smiled and said: "Less, you should still remember the rebound of Pechoin last year, on the contrary, the market reputation is also a kind of propaganda." ”

"But Chuck Cheese doesn't need to be advertised anymore, players want a high-quality game. "Less than the road," the father of the game is naturally expected to be too high, if the game cannot meet the player's expectations, it will fall very hard. ”

"Yes? I don't think so. Lin Qi said indifferently, "'Simulated Restaurant' will definitely be a good game, and, if you work hard for a long time, you can create a blockbuster game series." ”

"How is that possible?"

"We'll see!"