Top of the Great Era

Chapter 2166 Apologize
In the afternoon, Zhou Buqi met Wei Zhe, so he didn't have much to say. He expressed his attitude simply and clearly, and chatted back and forth for half an hour.

If you are interviewing ordinary executives, you usually have to fight on wheels.

Especially Internet companies.

The most common routine is to talk all night long, chat during the day, chat at night, astronomy, geography, society and humanities, talk about everything that can be talked about from all angles.

It not only examines each other's knowledge and understanding of the world, but also a test of physical endurance.If you can maintain this high-intensity brain cell beating for two days and two nights, and you can survive without rigidity, you will be considered a pass.Just like many large companies in traditional industries have to drink a lot of wine when they are looking for executives, they are basically banned if they can't drink.

However, at the next level, you don't need it.

Zhou Buqi wanted Wei Zhe to go to Lianjia as the president and assist Boss Zuo in building this self-operated rental platform. It was more of a mental understanding and a strategic design.

What's more, this person came from Ali, and his mental attributes and combat effectiveness must be the same.

Zhou Buqi explained his thinking, and expressed his outlook on the future prospects of the rental market. This is an industry that combines offline and online deeply, and ordinary people can't handle it.

Wei Zhe was a little confused.

Zhou Buqi asked him to contact Boss Zuo, and asked them to continue chatting.

This is not an easy choice.

Still, it feels about the same.

After resigning from Ali, Wei Zhe wanted to find another job, but it was not easy. Those who were too low looked down on him, and those who were too high were worried about him.The position introduced by Zhou Buqi is more suitable.

Zhou Buqi asked Wei Zhe to go back and think about it.

This is a rare opportunity!

However, Zhou Buqi had no time to tell Wei Zheduo that he had to hurry up and go to Changyou.It's not that something went wrong in the game business, but an unexpected guest—John Richtilo.

He is the executive director and CEO of EA.

It was he who led EA's transformation into social gaming over the past few years and the acquisition of Friends Studio.

Zhou Buqi was surprised by this person's sudden visit.In the morning, when Mattrick said that the CEO of EA was coming to China, Zhou Buqi couldn't believe it. He came so recklessly?
Don Mattrick's explanation is very reasonable, "There is no way, if he doesn't work hard, he will really be removed by the board of directors. He served as the CEO of EA twice in the 90s. This time if He was impeached again, and he stepped down for the third time."

Zhou Buqi frowned slightly, "What is he doing here?"

"I'm sorry!" Matt said with a smile.

"apologize?"

"About the British game company Codemasters."

"Is an apology useful?"

Zhou Buqi sneered.

It has caused more than 1 million pounds of economic losses to Changyou, so it makes sense to come over to apologize?

However, Zhou Buqi could hear something from Don Mattrick's words.

The current CEO of EA, John Riccitilo, once served as the CEO of EA in the 90s.And that period of time was when Mattrick worked at EA!
In other words, Mattrick has been promoted step by step from an ordinary game producer to an important figure in the game industry. He was cultivated by John Richtillo at the beginning.

This basic human relationship should still be respected.

Mattrick sighed, and said: "You know, EA's acquisition of Codemasters Studio was not his instigation, it was the conservatives inside EA who were actively promoting it, and he even opposed it all the time."

"It doesn't make sense."

Zhou Buqi remained unmoved.

Mattrick said with emotion: "Indeed, he is in a difficult situation now. He has another thing to do besides expressing apology when he visits you this time."

Zhou Buqi asked, "What's the matter?"

"He didn't want to swim into the football game," Mattrick said.

"What?" Zhou Buqi was slightly taken aback, "You told him?"

The news that Changyou will be making a football game has not been announced to the outside world, and few people in Changyou even know about it.

How did the people at EA know?

Mattrick quickly explained, "I didn't say anything, EA found out from other channels."

"What channel?"

"FIFA."

"Ah."

Zhou Buqi nodded.

This is not surprising.

The contract between EA and FIFA has entered its final year, and it is necessary to restart negotiations with FIFA to complete the contract renewal and obtain the naming rights of "FIFA" for the next 10 years.

At this time, Changyou had already contacted FIFA, expressing its interest in the name "FIFA".If EA has grasped the news from FIFA, it is not difficult to guess Changyou's plan.

Mattrick said: "He may be trying to persuade you not to make football games. In the past 20 years, dozens of football games have failed. Including Japan's Sega, after the failure, even several of its sports games have failed. The studios were all sold to take-two, which led to the rise of take-two in the sports game industry. But even if take-two rises, it has surpassed EA's games in basketball games, baseball games and other fields. They were always afraid to enter the football game."

Zhou Buqi said: "It's too late! My side has already taken action, and I will get the copyright of "Pro Evolution Football" soon!"

Mattrick went on to say: "If Changyou insists on making football games, he hopes that Changyou will not raise the price to grab the 'FIFA' trademark. EA said that they have cooperated with FIFA for 20 years, and FIFA football has become a subsidiary of EA. It is impossible for them to let this authorization fail anyway. If the price is raised, it is also cheaper for FIFA."

Zhou Buqi was a little amused, "What kind of reason is this?"

Mattrick said: "He said that if Changyou agrees, "FIFA Soccer" is willing to share some technical intellectual property rights with "Pro Evolution Soccer."

"It's just a game, how much intellectual property can you cherish? Changyou has a strong R&D team, and you can research it yourself without their authorization!"

Zhou Buqi thought this proposal was absurd.

Last year, Changyou completed the acquisition of Ziwei Star International’s game division, a gaming division located in Silicon Valley with more than 200 employees and top-notch technical capabilities.

Silicon Valley is where the technology is strongest.

Many large game companies and studios are located all over the world.The reason why this can be achieved is mainly because the game has no technical content and does not require the participation of top engineers in Silicon Valley. Almost all countries in the world can do it.

Previously, the game business department of Ziwei Star International was a game development team with strong development capabilities formed under Shen Xiangyang's technical concept.

In terms of technology, Changyou is not bad at all.

Don Mattrick had guessed this result a long time ago, and said with a smile: "Two days ago, I talked to John twice, and he was really embarrassed. But I told him, I can't do anything, I can't decide .So he went to China to find you."

Zhou Buqi didn't answer the question, and suddenly asked: "How many years has this John Richtillo been the CEO of EA this time?"

"Six years."

"How's the stock price?"

"Uh..." Mattrick was very helpless, "It fell by 65%. When he took office, EA was the world's largest game giant, with a market value of nearly 300 billion U.S. dollars, but now it is only more than 100 billion U.S. dollars."

"I'll go!" Zhou Buqi was stunned, "Isn't it reasonable to be dismissed by the board of directors for the sake of the company? What is he still tossing about? He refuses to accept his fate?"

(End of this chapter)