aircannonsinc Chapter 76 Handheld Console Launch
Chapter 76 Handheld Console Launch
In March 1968, in Hong Kong, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, but the conference room at the Chung Wah headquarters in Yuen Long was already packed. At the head of the long conference table, Lin Zhou lightly tapped his fingertips on the surface. In front of him, an open folder contained neatly stacked hand-drawn drawings and densely packed text descriptions. Sunlight streamed in through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the paper and illuminating the expressions of curiosity, doubt, and caution on the faces of those present.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've invited you all here today to discuss a brand new product—a handheld game console." Lin Zhou's steady and powerful voice broke the silence in the conference room. He raised his hand and pushed the top sheet of paper to the center of the table. The sheet depicted a rectangular device with sharp angles, and the positions of the screen and buttons were clearly marked. "You can take a look at these materials first. This is the prototype of my product, as well as the design ideas for some core functions."
Wang, an engineer from the technical department, was the first to pick up the blueprints. He adjusted his glasses and carefully traced the outline of the screen with his fingers. He had been engaged in the research and development of electronic devices for many years, from radios to air fryers, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a device. "President Lin, what... is this thing used for?" Old Wang frowned, his tone tinged with confusion. "It looks like a small radio, but it has so many buttons and a screen."
"It's for entertainment," Lin Zhou explained with a smile. "At its core is a built-in video game program. By operating these buttons, you control the movement and interaction of patterns on the screen to achieve the purpose of leisure and entertainment." He paused, got up and walked to the blackboard at the front of the conference room, and quickly drew a simple square and a few small dots with chalk. "For example, we can design a game where the square on the screen is the player, and you control it to dodge or catch falling dots by pressing buttons. The higher the score, the greater the difficulty of the game."
These words immediately sparked whispers in the conference room. Li Zhiqiang, the newly arrived sales manager, scratched his head and hesitated before saying, "President Lin, this thing… will anyone buy it? These days, people entertain themselves with the radio or watches movies; who would spend money on a little box specifically for playing with?"
"This is exactly what I wanted to talk about—its prospects." Lin Zhou's gaze swept over everyone present, his tone confident. "As Hong Kong's economy develops and people's living standards rise, their entertainment needs will become more diverse. Young people and children, in particular, need more convenient and interactive forms of entertainment. This handheld game console is small, portable, and can be played anytime, anywhere, perfectly meeting this need."
He picked up a market research report and read aloud: "According to our preliminary survey, there are currently over 30 children under the age of 12 and nearly 50 teenagers aged 12 to 20 in Hong Kong. If each child spends an average of HK$100 on entertainment each year, this market is worth nearly HK$8000 million. And once game consoles are launched, they will inevitably become their new favorite."
"Moreover," Lin Zhou changed the subject, a sharp glint in his eyes, "there are currently no mature competitors of this kind of product anywhere in the world. If we can be the first to develop and produce it, we can not only seize the Hong Kong market, but also export it to Southeast Asia and even Europe and America. This will be a huge cash cow, bringing a continuous stream of profits to the group."
A young engineer named Amin, who came with Engineer Wang from the technical department, lit up. He took the blueprints and looked through them, becoming more and more excited as he looked: "President Lin, this design is ingenious! The screen uses a CRT display, which has low power consumption and long battery life."
The buttons are made of conductive rubber, offering a good feel and high durability. With our current electronic technology, this is entirely possible!
Old Wang nodded, his doubts gradually fading: "Indeed, we can procure the core electronic components, and the circuit design isn't too complicated. As long as we solve the problems of programming and miniaturizing the equipment, mass production shouldn't be a problem."
"And patents!" Attorney Zhou, the head of the legal department, immediately added. He was recruited by Lin Zhou from the law firm. "For this brand-new product, we must apply for patents as soon as possible, including design patents and core technology patents, to prevent it from being counterfeited."
Lin Zhou nodded approvingly: "Well said. Patent applications and R&D production must proceed simultaneously. The legal department should prepare the relevant materials as soon as possible, making sure to get ahead of everyone else." He looked at the key personnel present, "Regarding production, we have several idle air fryer production lines that can be slightly modified to produce game consoles, which will save a lot of time and costs. As for the R&D department, I'll give you two months to complete sample testing and reach mass production standards before May."
The group exchanged glances, all seeing confidence in each other's eyes. Lin Zhou's analysis was logical and well-founded, the product design was novel and feasible, and the market prospects were enticing. "We'll all listen to President Lin!" Old Wang was the first to declare, "The technical department will definitely go all out to ensure the timely completion of the R&D task."
"The sales department will also make preparations in advance, contact distributors, and formulate sales strategies." Li Zhiqiang followed up immediately.
"Our production department will also complete the modification and debugging of the production line as soon as possible!" Zhou Minghui, the former factory manager of Zhonghua Home Appliances Factory, who has now been promoted to production manager, also said hurriedly.
The meeting concluded amidst a lively discussion, with everyone leaving the conference room full of enthusiasm. Lin Zhou looked at the blueprints on the table, a smile playing on his lips.
He knew clearly that this handheld game console was not only for seizing the market, but also for realizing a long-term plan in his mind—cultural export.
In his past life, Nintendo's handheld consoles swept the globe in the 1970s, deeply embedding Japanese gaming culture in people's minds. In this life, he wants to bring Chinese-style games to the world. The martial arts novels and mythological stories serialized in the Zhonghua Daily can be adapted into game storylines; Chinese elements such as dragons, phoenixes, and pandas can become characters and scenes in the games. Letting the world understand Chinese culture through games in a subtle way is more powerful than simple textual propaganda. Moreover, the popularity of the games can, in turn, boost the sales of the novels, creating a virtuous cycle with numerous benefits.
For the next two months, the entire Zhonghua Group was caught up in a tense yet well-organized flurry of activity. Engineers in the R&D department worked day and night, overcoming one technical challenge after another. From programming and circuit debugging to surface finishing, every step was executed with meticulous care.
Lin Zhou also frequently spent time in the R&D department, using his memories from his previous life and the information in his phone within the spatial dimension to provide engineers with crucial suggestions. These included improving battery design to extend battery life and adjusting the button layout to enhance the user experience.
Inside the production workshop, idle production lines are being intensively modified. Workers are working overtime to replace equipment and debug production lines to ensure mass production needs can be met. The purchasing department is also actively seeking out suppliers to procure raw materials such as LED screens, conductive rubber, and electronic components to ensure uninterrupted production. The legal department has also successfully completed its patent applications, obtaining design patents and core technology patents for the handheld game console, paving the way for the product's market launch.
As the general manager of the industrial park, Su Wanqing proactively planned the sales channels. Leveraging the connections and experience she had accumulated from promoting air fryers, she contacted major department stores, electronics stores, toy stores, and even convenience stores scattered throughout Hong Kong. The distribution plan for "Zhonghua Palm" was quickly finalized, starting with Hong Kong as a pilot city, and then gradually expanding to Macau, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
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