webnovelvip Chapter 102 Game Research
Chapter 102 Game Research
Sophia, dressed in a smart dark gray suit, sat in the simple meeting room of Icecloud Investment Company, a brand-new laptop spread out in front of her. This was her eighth day at the company, just past the adjustment period. This morning, she received direct instructions from her boss, Ling Yun.
Ling Yun pushed open the door to the reception room and walked in, carrying only a thin folder in his hand. His eyes were calm but carried an undeniable focus.
"Sophia, how are you settling in?" Ling Yun sat down opposite her and got straight to the point.
"Very good, boss. I'm familiar with the company's processes and environment now." Sophia sat up straight, ready to take notes.
"Very good. Now I have a special research task for you." Ling Yun opened the folder, pulled out two sheets of printed paper, and handed them to her.
The first page is titled "Valve Software," followed by the company address, founder background, and limited other information. The second page is "id Software," which contains slightly more information, including sales summaries for Doom and Quake.
"Your task is to conduct as in-depth research as possible on these two game development companies within a week," Ling Yun said calmly and clearly. "The key areas include: the core team's technical background, the products they are developing, the company's financial situation and financing needs, and their technology roadmap in 3D graphics and web technologies. Use publicly available information, industry reports, and you can also gather information indirectly through your personal connections. Ultimately, I need a detailed evaluation report that focuses on analyzing their core competencies and investment value."
Sophia quickly browsed the information. Valve was founded by two senior engineers who left Microsoft and currently maintains an extremely low profile. id Software, on the other hand, is already an industry legend, and its game engine technology is considered the industry benchmark.
"A gaming company?" Sophia asked cautiously. "Does IceCloud invest in this area?"
"Now it is." Ling Yun's answer was brief. "The reason is simple: the appeal of computer games to ordinary people is growing exponentially. The popularization of personal computers, the price reduction of 3D graphics cards, and the maturity of multimedia technology—these factors combined will lead to a qualitative change in the computer game market within the next three years. It will no longer be a niche entertainment, but will become a huge mass consumer market and cultural phenomenon."
He paused, then added, "More importantly, a phenomenal game can drive hardware sales, define technical standards, and even shape user preferences for operating systems. This is crucial for the future ecosystem development of the Starry Sky system."
Sophia quickly jotted down keywords on her notebook: mass market, hardware driver, ecosystem leverage.
"You mean you want to develop a major game product on the Star System?" she concluded.
"Yes. But we need to find the right partners or investment targets." Ling Yun stood up and walked to the window. "Valve's technological philosophy is very advanced; they're thinking not only about games, but also about the future of interactive experiences. id Software, on the other hand, possesses the most powerful real-time 3D engine technology and a passionate player community. Both companies are worth paying attention to."
He turned around: "Your report will directly impact our subsequent engagement strategy and potential investment decisions. Therefore, I need objective, in-depth, and accurate information, not generalities."
"Understood." Sophia closed her notebook, her tone firm. "I will finish the report within a week."
"Very good." Ling Yun nodded. "If you need any support resources, contact me directly. This task has the highest priority."
After Sophia left, Ling Yun returned to his office. He turned on his computer and logged into Goldman Sachs' online trading system—a service still accessible to only a select few in this era.
The screen displayed his holdings: 13 million shares of Yahoo stock, currently priced at $8.75. He bought in last July at an average cost of $3.80. In just six months, his unrealized profit exceeded $64 million.
He calmly looked at the number; the historical trajectory was accurate, Yahoo's stock price was soaring amidst the internet frenzy. But he knew this was far from the peak. He remembered that Yahoo's stock price would continue its meteoric rise in 1997, exceeding $100 at the height of the internet bubble in 1999.
他的目光移向桌上的日曆。今天是1997年1月1日。春节在2月7日。
"After the Spring Festival," he muttered to himself, "we'll start selling them off gradually."
His investment in Yahoo stock was already too large to liquidate all at once without causing market turmoil. He needed to devise a meticulous exit plan, gradually withdrawing in batches and at different price levels over the next few months.
He switched screens and pulled up an analysis report on economic data from Southeast Asian countries. Thailand's foreign debt, the Philippines' exchange rate, Malaysia's real estate bubble, Indonesia's current account deficit... a series of alarming red indicators.
The timeline I remember is drawing near. Thailand announced it was abandoning its fixed exchange rate system, and the baht plummeted. The crisis then swept through Southeast Asia like dominoes, with currencies depreciating, stock markets crashing, and asset prices halved.
A lavish feast is about to begin.
Ling Yun's capital is nothing compared to international speculative funds; Soros' Quantum Fund and his partners are the main force behind this hunt. He only needs to be a keen wolf, following behind the lion, and devouring the fattest parts of the fallen prey.
He planned to use most of the funds he cashed out from Yahoo, through offshore accounts and multiple trading seats, to gradually establish short positions in Southeast Asian currencies and stock markets around May 1997. His main targets were forward contracts for the Thai baht, Indonesian rupiah, and Malaysian ringgit, as well as stock index futures for the relevant countries.
The economic collapse of these countries stemmed from their own unbalanced economic structures, over-reliance on foreign investment, and rigid exchange rate systems. International speculative capital was merely the final straw that broke the camel's back, not the root of the problem. It simply followed the trend, taking its rightful share before the tide receded.
The war between operating systems and browsers is a war of attrition, an ecosystem war, requiring continuous investment. The confrontation with Microsoft has just begun; the subsequent legal battles, media battles, and talent wars will each require massive financial support. Dell's $350 million investment is merely a drop in the bucket.
For him, the crisis in Southeast Asia was a timely boon. It was a crucial battle for him to raise "military funds" for the upcoming technological war.
He shut down the trading software and data analysis reports, and wrote down the key milestones for the next few months in his notebook.
1997 will be a pivotal year for his strategic planning. On one hand, he needs to withstand the pressure from Microsoft in the Silicon Valley software battlefield and build an ecosystem; on the other hand, he needs to make a precise harvest in the global financial market to stockpile ammunition for the future.
Fighting on two fronts is extremely risky. But it's the path he has to take.