Reboot the age of gaming

Chapter 210 Intelligent Module (3300, 3400 both order plus)
Listening to Yang Chengye's description, Zhong Ming also roughly evaluated the prospect of this smart module.

Still pretty good.

If it is to make a smart module similar to other companies, it must be nothing to do, and Zhong Ming will not be interested.But the micro-projection technology that Yang Chengye said is equivalent to a killer feature of this holographic projection module, which is completely different from other smart modules.

The cost will inevitably increase, and the price will also increase, but as long as the effect is good, it can be sold to local tyrants.

Whether it is taking the cost-effective route or the luxury route, as long as you can make a difference, you will be successful.

Zhong Ming asked: "Why did you think of using the image of Chanel?"

Yang Chengye smiled: "Speaking of which, there are actually two points."

"First, I personally like the image of Chanel very much, and I think it is very suitable for our target group!"

"Smart modules are mainly used by young people. Older people generally reject smart devices. They basically don't buy smart modules. Even if their children buy them, they usually just buy the cheapest ones. That kind, a small box of two or three hundred yuan, placed on the coffee table, can play the simplest and most basic function of controlling all smart appliances, and that’s enough.”

"Young people like games and virtual idols. For this group of people, Chanel is more popular than other virtual idols. Before Chanel was popular all over the Internet, it attracted a lot of big anchors. cos, and won the first prize in the Virtual Idol Contest, all these can show that this image is very popular among young people.”

"Moreover, around the image of Chanel, an internet-addicted girl, we can also launch some new functions, such as smart companion play..."

"Second, there is the issue of cost performance. To be honest, our company's budget in this area is also limited. If we want to cooperate with well-known virtual idols such as Su Bai and Dina, the asking price is too high, and the company will not approve it. "

"Of course, I don't mean to underestimate your side. We prefer to cooperate in the form of sharing. If the smart module is really successful, then your income will definitely not be less!"

Yang Chengye was very careful with his words, for fear of causing Zhong Ming's misunderstanding.

But what he said was also true. The endorsement fees for those very well-known virtual idols were too high.

It's not that Zhihuan Technology can't afford the money, the main reason is that the price/performance ratio is not suitable, not to mention that the risk is too great.

Whether such a smart module can become popular, even Yang Chengye himself is not sure, he has not made any money, and it is a bit irrational to spend tens of millions of endorsement fees first.

In this world, the first-line stars in the Huaxia circle, the endorsement fee is basically 2000 million. Those first-class virtual idols are cheaper than real people, but not much cheaper.

After all, endorsement by a real person is just a matter of showing a face and taking a few commercials. The heat won, why should the price be lowered.

Yang Chengye wanted to reduce the endorsement fee in the early stage and calculate the money by sharing, but a big company like Xinghua Interactive Entertainment would never agree.

Just kidding, you used Su Bai as an endorsement, but the smart module was not completed, and the follow-up revenue was not much. Doesn't that mean prostitution for nothing?
The bottom line of Xinghua Interactive Entertainment is to sign a VAM agreement. For example, if the sales volume does not reach XXX, Zhihuan Technology will have to compensate an additional endorsement fee, which Yang Chengye certainly cannot accept.

If the endorsement fee quotation is not high enough, then they can only buy some virtual idols with relatively low popularity, such as Shangguan Yun, but Yang Chengye doesn't like it.

Therefore, Yang Chengye also found Zhong Ming here, hoping to discuss cooperation with Chanel.

After talking for half an hour, both parties had a good impression of each other.

Of course, this matter mainly depends on Zhong Ming's attitude. After all, Chanel's image is placed here. Yang Chengye has nothing to be dissatisfied with. The key depends on Zhong Ming's willingness to cooperate.

"Well, Mr. Zhong, let me take you to see our company's products first, so you can have a good idea."

Yang Chengye first took Zhong Ming to see the finished product of the smart module, probably because he wanted to show the research and development strength of Zhihuan Technology.

"This is our smart module, which can be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall, like this."

What Yang Chengye held in his hand was a small black box, which looked like a square brick, square and about two fingers thick.

The smart module also has some other accessories. After installation, the module will automatically scan the structure and layout of the room, perform intelligent analysis, image, and then project the image in the room.

You can connect audio, TV, game consoles and other equipment, and you can also bring your own radio and audio equipment, so you can communicate with the owner without barriers.

"Because there is no corresponding virtual idol, I only use the most basic development version to replace it. Let's make do with it. It can be optimized in the future." Yang Chengye said.

The current intelligent module projects a female robot, which is a general material used during development. It looks a bit spicy, but it has a high level of intelligence.

After all, Zhihuan Technology started as an AI company, and it will be very powerful if you do it casually.

"Play games with me." Yang Chengye said to the smart module.

"Okay, which game do you want to play? Clash of the Titans, or Dark Dawn?"

Yang Chengye said: ""Dark Dawn", two-player mode."

The game console in the room is automatically turned on, a stand-alone game "Dark Dawn" is started, and the two-player mode is selected.

Yang Chengye picked up the handle and could play games with the artificial intelligence directly.

During a two-player game, the AI ​​looks like a real player, sometimes being very reliable and sometimes making mistakes.If you make a mistake, you will be embarrassed and apologize, and basically there is no behavior of dumping the blame.

"Let's finish playing today. Sweep the floor." Yang Chengye put down the handle and said to the smart module.

The sweeping robot next to it automatically starts to sweep the floor.

Yang Chengye also demonstrated some other functions, such as turning on the TV at regular intervals, reminding important matters, and so on.

In fact, other smart modules also have these functions, but the difference of this smart module is that the virtual image generated by this holographic projection will always act like a real person in the living room.

For example, when playing a game, the virtual idol will find a place to sit facing the TV, or stand or sit on the ground if there is no seat.

The owner can also make some settings, such as setting the performance in standby mode, the avatar can disappear directly, or doze off and read a book in the room, all of which can be adjusted.

What's even more weird is that there is also a special "nostalgic mode".

In the "Nostalgic Mode", if the owner says "turn on the TV", the avatar will actually run to the TV and press the button, and then the TV will turn on.

When the owner says "sweep the floor", the avatar will run to the sweeping robot and press the button, and then the sweeping robot will start.

Although the opening is still automatically opened with permissions, but with such a dynamic display, it seems that there is really a butler in the living room listening to your words and busying himself.

"It's quite interesting." Zhong Ming praised.

If it is an ordinary smart module, there is really no need to let the virtual idol speak for it, it is useless.

However, the good thing about this smart module is that it has a holographic projection, which can make the virtual idol really come alive in the living room!
It feels like a pretty good benefit for some empty-nesters, or empty-nester singles.

"Okay, then let's talk about the contract in detail. In addition, after the contract is signed, we will prepare for Chanel's action collection and dubbing. The action collection is easy to say, mainly for dubbing and facial expression capture. You still need to cooperate." , give the gatekeepers."

……

Yang Chengye sent a copy of the terms of the electronic contract to Zhong Ming.

Zhong Ming couldn't see such a long clause at the scene, so he had to take it back and study it carefully, so as not to be tricked.

On the way, Zhong Ming was still thinking about recruiting people in the next year, and he had to find someone to be in charge of the legal affairs. The whole studio was legally illiterate and semi-legally illiterate, which was not easy.

At that time, this kind of more complicated contract clauses can be directly shown to the legal counsel and it will be over, so you don't have to worry about it yourself.

The contract is a relatively common endorsement contract, but the initial endorsement fee is not much, only 200 million, and every time a smart module is sold in the future, Weiguang Studio can get 30% of the income as a share.

According to the pricing of Zhihuan Technology, the price of this new type of smart module is about 998 yuan, and it may be sold at a price similar to 150.After deducting OEM fees, research and development costs, etc., a smart module earns about [-].

The price is not low, but it is not too high, because the profit margin of hardware is almost the same. Take a wristband of about 50 yuan as an example, the low one earns 80-100, and the high one earns 150-[-]. After all, smart hardware is now more competitive. Intense, there are still many manufacturers taking the cost-effective route, with small profits but quick turnover, price butchers, and profits will not be too high.

If one earns 150 yuan, then every time Zhihuan Technology sells a smart module, Weiguang Studio can get about 40 yuan, and 10 units are sold, which is 400 million.

Obviously, this quotation is definitely unacceptable to Xinghua Interactive Entertainment, and the virtual idols like Su Bai will directly cost tens of millions.

As for the higher sales?Not very realistic.After all, this is a smart module, not a bracelet.

Bracelets are considered a necessity, and most people have a large demand for replacement. The shipments of several major wristband manufacturers are in units of [-] million.

But smart modules are not a necessity, and not many people even use them. Can you buy a million-level one?

It's a bit difficult, Yang Chengye himself doesn't have much confidence.

However, Zhong Ming has confidence in Chanel, not to mention the million-dollar level, as long as it sells 50 yuan, then Weiguang Studio can get 2000 million yuan, which is an income that cannot be ignored.

……

Three days later, the two parties formally signed the contract.

Yang Chengye packed and sent Zhong Ming a file, which contained two folders, namely "Expression Capture" and "Recording".

In the "expression capture" folder, there are many videos, the left half is the real person's expression, and the right half is Chanel's expression after processing.

The principle of expression capture and motion capture is actually very simple. It is to install a tracker on the face and body of a real person. When the real person makes expressions and movements, it can be transmitted to the computer and applied to the virtual character.

This kind of technology has been widely popularized, and it is basically bound to be used when making some 3A masterpieces or making virtual idols.Shimmer Studio doesn't have any equipment for the time being, just because they can't afford it yet, and they must have their own motion capture studio when they want to make large-scale games in the future.

This time, if Zhihuan Technology wants to use the image of Chanel, it must solve all the problems of movement, expression, and sound source.

Zhong Ming looked at the "Expression Capture" column.

The performances of these actors are similar, and Zhong Ming hasn't seen any particularly brilliant ones for the time being.

Listened to the recording again.

There are many voice actors who have recorded the lines according to Chanel's lines, and Zhong Ming needs to pick the most suitable one as Chanel's voice source.

After selecting the sound source and recording, Chanel can speak like other virtual idols.

At the same time, this set of sound sources can also be used for other purposes, such as making sound sources for some navigation software and radio software. When the time comes, turn on the bracelet map: Chanel will continue to navigate for you!It's also pretty good.

The sound source can be said to be the second life of the virtual idol. If the sound is not good and has no characteristics, the virtual idol will be half cold, so we must be cautious.

However, Zhong Ming turned on the recordings and listened to them one by one, but there was nothing particularly satisfying.

It's all a little... too mediocre.

Zhong Ming replied to Yang Chengye: "Expression capture, I'll take another look. The sound source is not very good, it feels too ordinary and has no special features."

Yang Chengye: "Uh... this is already an excellent voice actor in Huaxia. They have dubbed movies and animations, and they have also dubbed some games. You said 'no special features', what kind of features do you want?"

Zhong Ming: "First of all, it is definitely different from movie dubbing. It should have a cuteness and a secondary feeling, that is, it is two-dimensional, and at the same time, it is a little playful or even mischievous."

"Uh..." Yang Chengye hesitated, and replied, "These voice actors should already be working hard to express what you said."

Zhong Ming shook his head: "Not very good, at least I didn't hear it."

Yang Chengye: "Okay, then I'll look for it again. If you have any suitable candidates, you can also recommend them. After all, this virtual idol was designed by you, and you have the absolute right to speak."

You have to be careful when choosing a sound source, and Yang Chengye obviously knows this very well.

Since Zhong Ming was not satisfied, he had to keep looking.

……

night.

get off work.

Jiang Wanna and Zhou Sen worked overtime for a little while, and were urged by Zhong Ming to go home quickly.

There is no need to rush the progress of the project, as long as it can be completed on schedule.

After dinner, Zhong Ming suddenly remembered something.

The helpful dice aren't working yet!

This thing can be used after helping others. I have done such a big favor to Fantasy Time Studio, how can I say it is helping others?

Although there will be a lot of rewards afterwards...

Zhong Ming tried to take the helpful dice out of his bracelet, but this time he succeeded.

"Heh, I don't care about anything else, I just want to increase my luck tenfold, can you satisfy me, the system?"

(End of this chapter)