On August 15, 1980, there was still half a month before the end of the summer vacation. A machine that is not too conspicuous is put on the shelves of shopping malls on such a day when there is nothing else worth noting except for some heat.

Something odd though. Different shops have different locations for this machine. Some of them are placed under the category of household appliances, and other "learning machines" that are somewhat similar to it are placed together. Others, on the shelves of toys, are placed on the shelves. and boxes of Ultraman, as well as little monsters, standing side by side.

On such a calm surface, there are internal undercurrents that are turbulent, and not many people know. However, I can still see a clue from the many people who are squatting at the entrance of the mall, wearing a formal suit and holding a notebook.

In the entire video game industry, as long as it is a slightly larger manufacturer, almost everyone sends someone to secretly record the sales data of Chiba Games, a home game console.

During this period, there were "acquaintances" from different companies who were engaged in the same work, and when they saw each other, they would nod and smile, which was a bit of a special period and a staff member engaged in special tasks.

Lin Yan didn't have much hope for the first-day sales of this home game console named "home computer".

Because, its exposure is not high, and it has only been on the paper advertisement of Haruka Kishimoto's "Game Pass". As for the advertisements of the TV station, there are no advertisements on the radio.

Originally, he wanted to hold a new product launch conference, because the new product launch conference is indeed a good way to attract the attention of reporters. If so, give a small gift to the journalists, or simply a product that was launched at a press conference. Then the probability of getting a check-in is a little higher.

After all, journalists are not saints, and they take people short and eat people with short mouths.

In fact, the press conference has been around for a long time. It wasn't invented by the Apple God Cult's Joe gang leader. The most monumental press conference in history should perhaps be said to be Mr. Edison's electric light conference.

At the time, electrical appliances were a novelty. There wasn't even a big power plant at that time. Because, the technology at that time did not solve the problem of loss caused by long-distance power transmission.

So. The electric light that Edison made at that time actually did not have much market. At the time, the kerosene lamp was a competitor to his electric lamp.

At that time, the technology of kerosene lamps was not bad, and basically there was no black smoke. There is a lampshade that will not be blown out, and kerosene can be added freely. It seems to be in every sense of the word. Both are stronger than Edison's electric lights.

Even the kerosene lamp boss at that time specifically ridiculed Edison's electric lamp, saying that he couldn't sell it at all.

Under such circumstances, Edison decided to hold a press conference. The launch was at his company. And it's at night.

That night, many celebrities in the upper class at that time accepted Edison's invitation and came to the agreed venue.

At first, it was pitch black. It's not like a development conference or a party, but it's like a silent and uninhabited mass grave.

Just when everyone was wondering, all of a sudden, countless electric lights turned on. Although their individual brightness is not much higher than that of kerosene lamps. But who made it more?

The dense sparkling light gave everyone who attended the meeting an illusion, an illusion that they were in a dream world.

Because, these electric lamps are like crystal lamps. What looks good couldn't be prettier. At this time, even if Edison didn't say a word, his electric light would be famous the next day. From Ireland to Khitan, everyone knows about it.

In this way, there was hardly any prospect of electric light at that time. With an order. There are local tyrants who connect the engine with electric lights, and the whole solution is bought.

At the time, the nature of the electric light was a bit like a new Apple product. Force-Grid, that's called a high. It seems to have a set of electric lights. can become the most fashionable person in the world.

This is almost, the most educational press conference. At that time, electric lights were not as reliable as kerosene lamps, and there was an impression of high-end, extravagance. Then, after continuous improvement, it entered the homes of ordinary people. And then later, there was no night in Paris. Night Shanghai.

If there were no electric lights, it would be pitch black at 6 p.m., how could there be such a rich nightlife.

The launch of home game consoles, of course, will not reach the level of shock that lights up the night. However, it is better to do it than not to do it.

However, after the sum of him and Yuki Chiba, he finally gave up the idea.

Because, at this time, it is still on the cusp of turmoil in the arcade hall. If the press conference doesn't go well, you may be in trouble. Moreover, Chiba Yuki is also full of confidence in this home game console, thinking that there is no need for so many gimmicks, and there is no problem at all.

Although it has entered the modern era, there is almost no longer the kind of peace that is not afraid of the deep alleys with the aroma of wine. However, as long as the product is good, you don't have to jump up and down all day to brag about yourself, maybe such boasting plays a completely opposite role.

In other words, I think that my product will definitely sell. In fact, every company that launches a new product, thinks so. No company is ready to lose money until it loses money until it loses money before the release of its new product.

Of course, there may be companies that will lose money for a short period of time to sell products. This is because it is a very good idea for a new product to be able to quickly distribute it and keep its price as low as possible.

Once, there was a famous person who once said. There's no product that can't sell, as long as it's priced low enough.

The product is sold at a loss in the early stage, which can cultivate the entire market. With the improvement of shipments and technical level, the unit price of manufactured products will gradually decrease, as long as it goes smoothly, there will always be a day when the cost will be earned. What's more, you can sell hardware cheaply, and then sell content or consumables at a high price.

Canon's printers, Sony's music disc players, almost all of them are such a routine.

In view of this, the price of "home computers" is really not too high. Because it uses existing mature technology, coupled with the "huge" order volume promised by Lin Yan, it has further lowered the "home computer". Therefore, the price of a machine is only 25,000 yen. If you buy it with a cassette, you'll also get the benefit of the first discount. For a total of 29,999 yen, you can take a machine and a game card home with you.

"Not a single one." Said a man in a black suit who looked like an office worker.

"yes, I didn't even see anyone who bought that 'home game console'. This time the Chiba game is a big loss. I heard that they have made a lot of money, and they have placed more than 100,000 orders. ”

"yes...... Maybe they're in too much of a hurry. Seeing the new rules for arcade halls, there is no way. After all, now the market for arcade machines has begun to saturate. It's not the kind of situation where as long as you make one, you don't need to enter the warehouse, and you sell it directly. ”

"Hmm...... Let's take a look at it......"

Just like these two people who are communicating with the number of sales, in fact, most people are not optimistic about this "big move" of Chiba Games.

Home game consoles are such a thing, Chiba Games is not the first to eat crabs. The video game league, as well as several small companies, have launched this type of console.

But. It's basically called a learning machine. Because, after some market research, they think. The main customers of home game consoles are small children, and parents of small children will not like to have a machine named "game" at home. On the contrary, they will want their children to learn more, so if you put the word "learning", you can justify today's family.

So far, the best "learning machine" has sold only 30,000 units. It's still far from 100,000 units, let alone a million units.

Chiba Yuki is also the kind of person who says he is relieved, but his body is very honest. She can't sit firmly on the Diaoyutai like Lin Yan, who is still sleeping at home today. Because. The future is not visible to her, but layers of fog, and only when she walks to the front can she know what she is facing.

She persuaded her grandfather to use the sales channels of the Chiba Group. Shop for home game consoles. Although, there is no need to sell one by one, and there are major shopping malls across the country. However, whether anyone buys it or not, it is not necessarily.

In the "home computer" sales proposal, it is said that it is better to take out a prototype and use it with a TV as a demonstration and demo. However, it is impossible to say whether it will be too troublesome to do so.

Dressed in men's clothes and wearing a peaked cap, Yuki Chiba walked the streets of Akihabara almost like a thief. Why is she here, and it's not the location of the biggest mall. Although there are indeed many electrical stores, in this era, the radial force of this street is really not as good as that of a large shopping mall.

However, unlike anything else. Akihabara has a special meaning for video game products. Not only was it the birthplace of the first video game arcade machine, but it is now also the incubator of the video game industry. It's like a lot of professions, and you can only find a job in Tokyo.

Engaged in video game production, almost only by coming to Akihabara can I survive. One is that there are jobs here, and the other is that the atmosphere is good. If you want to experience the latest video game achievements, you can go anywhere else in the world. Didn't come to Akihabara to be reliable.

Perhaps, two weeks ago, California in the United States, and even Silicon Valley, could compare the atmosphere of video games with Akihabara. But now, the whole of America is a desert of video games. These two beautiful flowers of Mr. Hara's fertile soil have also withered as a matter of course.

The collapse of the video game market in the United States is actually due to others, who let them be garbage and disrespect players.

If you don't respect me, why should I support you?

Yuki Chiba burrowed into an electrical appliance store, which, although it did as suggested for the sale of a "home computer", equipped it with a TV as a display. But,It's not turned on.,The position of the placement,It's also relatively inside.,If you don't come in to see.,Can't see it at all.,Even if you come in.,No one knows what this box plugged into the TV is for。

No way, most small electrical stores, basically it is impossible to display all the products are turned on, how much voltage does it cost? Generally, only when the buyer comes to inquire, the machine is turned on and the buyer can see the display effect.

Although Chiba Yuki is said to be an eldest lady, she is not a big lady who doesn't understand anything and doesn't eat fireworks in the world. It was impossible for her to cross her waist, point to the head of the power supply and say, quickly move this machine to the old lady, face the window, and then open it well. Otherwise, the old lady moved a finger and balabala......

That kind of trash talk, basically useless. A good-natured guy may do it, but, in general, a guy will scold in his heart with a smile on his face.

As for why they don't scold with their mouths, they still have a look of deferencing and submissiveness on their faces. This is because they are engaged in the service industry and do not lose their temper with customers, which is the most basic professional quality.

Chiba Yuki shook his head in disappointment, and walked into the second house, the third house......

It wasn't until she walked to the street and Tianno Electric that she suddenly felt a light in her eyes. Because, this store not only listened to the guiding advice, but also did more. They set up a special row of tables with a TV on top of it, and next to it was a red and white "home computer". The TV is also on, and the picture is automatically demonstrated when the cassette is inserted and the machine is turned on and the machine is unmanned.

There are several machines in total, and the cassettes inserted by no machine are different. Some are empty, some are in front of one, and there are many people around.

Yuki Chiba stood on the periphery, stood on tiptoe and took a look, and found that the machine, the game it was running, was Super Mario.

She actually played the game before, albeit badly. However, she can't deny that this game is really fun. At least, it wouldn't be like those spaceship games, and it wouldn't be a little interesting for her.

A slightly cheerful bearded uncle in bib pants walks in a world full of bricks, mushrooms, and turtles, which is really a very interesting picture.

The child who was playing the game with the controller died, and the children in the queue behind wanted to grab it and play it by themselves.

The child in front, waiting for a pair of small eyes, hid the handle behind his back and said nothing.

And the kid who grabbed the handle was not much older than the one he hid, and he didn't have the overwhelming power to dominate.

He shot for a long time, panting, and said angrily, "If you don't play with me, I'll find a cart of bread people to beat you later, are you afraid!" ”

"Poof......" Yuki Chiba, who was wearing a peaked cap, smiled, attracting the attention of others.

Bread Man ...... What the hell is that...... (To be continued.) )