"The province has set up a special working group. You ask that it be finalized before March next year. However, based on the current progress, I think most of the process can be completed by the end of the year. After all, it is a project worth 1 billion. The current negotiation progress information is passed to you, check the email address. Haha, and I have not been able to rest in peace because of this matter recently. My parents and people around me are the same. They all want to invest. The country is short of money now."

"Then let's take a look. If there is really a suitable one, just vote."

"You have a lot of money now?"

"I really can't spend it all. I just cashed out $3 billion from Nasdaq this month."

"Ha, big capitalist."

Manhattan, Westeros headquarters.

It is September 19th.

Saturday.

After spending a few days with the women, Simon finally returned to the office. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a difference between working days or weekends. He is currently having a video call with Lin Su, who is far away in China, mainly about the $1 billion refining project that he agreed to casually last time, as well as some other recent matters.

As he spoke, Simon quickly browsed the Lin Su email that Girl A had just printed out, and only discussed some details and did not have a deep chat. After all, this is not a familiar area that Simon is, and it still has to be left to the professional team to do it.

Then we talked about another topic.

About "The Kingdom of the Wind" which will be launched on September 11.

Compared with the 272,000 users activated in three days of "Counter-Strike OL" launch in June. As of yesterday, the number of users activated in one week was only 173,000.

Of course, this is only relative.

Taking on such a project as the first large-scale role-playing game in mainland China, with the current scale of China's Internet users and the size of Paradise Online itself, it attracted more than 170,000 users to the game in seven days in the first week, which is definitely an excellent result.

Not only that, unlike turn-based games like "Counter-Strike OL", because of the strong continuity of "Wind Kingdom", once players are "entered", it is difficult for them to get rid of it. Therefore, even in order to adapt to the current market environment, after the initial three-day free experience time, the strategy formulated by the game operation team did not limit the free player level to level 20 like in World of Warcraft, but continued to give 1 hour of free game time every day.

Of course, you have to pay for more than 1 hour.

The problem is that compared to a turn-based game like "Counter-Strike OL", which can enjoy a few rounds in one hour, "Wind Kingdom" can't do much in one hour.

In addition, free players also have restrictions on props and other aspects.

The result is that the payment ratio of 173,000 activated users in the week after "Wind Kingdom" was launched reached an astonishing 27%, far exceeding the 19% of "Counter-Strike OL" three days after it was launched.

Of course, there are still a large number of major promotions such as opening Yifubao-bound accounts to get free points cards. The proportion of paid users who can truly provide stable flow for Paradise Online will have to wait at least 1 month after they are launched. Various promotional activities will be over and will be viewed at that time.

However, as Simon considered before, a girl launched the "Wind Kingdom" that was uneven and uneven to test the waters, and it is likely to create a phenomenal game like "Legend" in advance.

It was a strategy that Simon personally finalized to start such a large-scale promotion and various gifts.

Lin Su had obviously raised doubts on behalf of the operation team before.

Simon also explained patiently.

In one sentence, if you want to take it, you must give it first.

Free is always the most expensive. First, pull players in through various promotions that cost almost no money. When it’s time to pay, you want to get out of it... Then you go.

Walk?

Can you leave?

"According to your reminder, we should keep a low profile as much as possible. However, several games during this period, from "Counter-Strike OL" to "Happy Farm" and now "Wind Kingdom", have attracted the attention of public opinion because they are too popular. Some time ago, there was a case of a few children robbing them in order to buy game points. They were almost suppressed quietly. Simon, what do you think we should do next?"

"This is mainly an Internet cafe issue," Simon also worried, saying: "Try to promote relevant public opinion and push the finger at Internet cafes. Well, you don't have to worry about this matter. I'll let Xiaoqing do it."

On the computer screen, Lin Su nodded with a smile: "She is very suitable for doing bad things, but I was wondering whether she could promote legislation to force Internet cafes to prohibit minors from entering?"

"The legislation is simple, and the key is whether it can be implemented," Simon said. "China has issued a ban on game consoles and has banned domestic black game halls on a large scale, but I am sure that not to mention remote areas, even in core cities, there will still be game halls in many places, which cannot be banned. The same is true for Internet cafes."

“It’s better to have it than not?”

“Then do it.”

Lin Su smiled again and said, "I'm not familiar with this kind of thing, so let Xiaoqing do it."

"Well, I'll say hello to her."

Then he briefly discussed the Su-Hangzhou Expressway, Xiaoshan Airport, the Nongfu Spring brand that grew rapidly, a real estate company in Hangzhou called Greentown, etc. More than an hour passed, and as the call ended, Lin Sucai pretended to be unintentional, "Did you say last time, you are going to come to China?"

"Don't worry, everything has been arranged, I'll set off next Monday."

Lin Su couldn't hide his joy: "Next Monday?"

Simon broke the cold water in a small way: "First go to Europe and finally China."

Lin Su rolled her eyes lightly, but it was relieved to be able to get confirmation from the man and said in his words: "Is it about Russia?"

"I'm going to Moscow this time."

Lin Su also sighed: "I really didn't expect that from childhood to adulthood, the Soviet Union was always aligned with the United States. I didn't expect that it would fall into this way so soon."

Simon said: "It's your own fault."

Lin Su was slightly puzzled: "I'll blame you?"

Simon said: "There is a big but undestroyable statement in the field of business. If a company reaches a certain level, it will not fall. Although this theory has been falsified in South Korea in the past year, it actually has a certain rationality. Extending to the country, it was difficult for the Soviet Union to fall down in the size and external forces of the Soviet Union. In my opinion, there was a considerable historical accident. In the last years, the top leaders of the Soviet Union made too many mistakes and eventually ruined themselves. In recent years, the various actions of the former Soviet Union franchisees can only be described as stupid."

Lin Su listened carefully and finally said, "I thought you would say that the Soviet Union was defeated by the United States?"

"Yes, Americans think so. I think they will pay the price for it sooner or later," Simon said, seeing Lin Su wondering again, and explained with a smile: "As a Westerosian, I am more accustomed to looking at many things from the perspective of God. The United States, the Soviet Union, China, or Russia now have something to do with me, and it has nothing to do with me."

Lin Su bent her lips: "No wonder Xiaoqing said when she was chatting with me recently that you always say something strange from a very strange standpoint."

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Bad words."

"I dare to say bad things to me in private and deal with her next time."

"hehe."

"Don't be too happy too early, the complainant will be cleaned up together."

Lin Su's face turned slightly red: "Then you come to China first."

After chatting for a few more words, ending the video communication, Simon began to review the pile of documents at hand.

First is a recent film industry briefing.

The summer season has concluded, and Daenerys Entertainment’s movie release continues.

Last Friday, the film "Celebrity" produced by Woody Allen was launched by Gaomen Pictures.

In the original "Celebrity" in order to pay tribute to the master and commemorate the golden age, Woody made it into a black and white film. As a result, although Little Little Zi, who had just reached the peak with "Titanic", the box office was still bleak.

When the project was launched last year, Simon personally intervened, not only dispelling Woody Allen's idea of ​​black and white films, but also went the other way and made a strong contribution.

The result is pretty good.

In the first week of release, a group of big names, including Li Zi, still made guest appearances with a stronger lineup. The media score of the new version of "Celebrity" reached 8.1 points, and earned $9.67 million in the first week.

Compared with the summer blockbusters, this result is obviously deserted.

However, considering the type of film, the first week is $9.67 million, and the total box office is expected to be around $30 million over the long-term trend.

The production cost of the project is US$15 million, and the local box office is 30 million. It basically makes the money back. It sells a little overseas and can also recover the marketing budget and then enters the profit cycle.

Moreover, Daenerys Entertainment invested in Woody Allen not mainly to make money.

The key is to promote people.

One thing I have to admit is that Woody Allen is indeed one of the best directors in Hollywood to shoot women. For young actors, as long as they can show their faces in Woody Allen's movies, they will soon attract the attention of the circle and get more opportunities.

Then there is a new box office week that started yesterday.

A director who Simon also attaches great importance to has released his own new film.

Christopher Nolan.

After making his mark with "Following" last year, the same group of Christopher Nolan and Guy Ritchie received a large number of olive branches from other Hollywood studios. However, both of them were not stupid, and they eventually chose to continue to work with Daenerys Entertainment.

Compared to the first plot of "Following", Nolan's second movie is much more conventional.

It's also a crime suspense film.

The script originally tells a very mediocre story about a serial murder case that took place in Florida, somewhat imitating the traces of "The Silence of the Lambs" back then.

Simon got it and made some modifications personally.

First, the story took place from Florida to Alaska, and then changed its name to "White Night Chase".

That's right, it was the "White Night Chase" that Nolan and Al Pacino collaborated on. In fact, the official English name is literally translated as "Insomnia", but Simon still thought that the Chinese translation of "White Night Chase" was even better, so he turned from Chinese to English.

I changed some details a little, and then threw them to Nolan for trouble.

25 million US dollars of investment, medium and low level, it’s okay to mess it up.

In addition, it was Simon's interference that the male lead was still replaced by Al Pacino this time, but he did not invite Robin Williams to play as a guest star as before. Influenced by Simon's big butterfly, Robin Williams, who was once popular in the 1990s, is not very popular at the moment.

Al Pacino is also tepid.

In short, this is also the reason why the project can keep the cost at $25 million.

In Hollywood, the best actors can't be eaten for the rest of their lives.

Perhaps because of the first time he controlled the standard Hollywood project, Simon did not interfere too much, and Nolan still filmed quite restrainedly. However, as a personality director, even if it was just the second movie, his own style has been cleared.

The result is also pretty good.
To be continued...