章節 595: Chapter 595: The video game industry
**Xia Jun** and **Xia Lei** were still young, and despite their strong self-control, they couldn't help but be drawn to the allure of arcade games. They played until just after eleven, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
"Level cleared!"
The words "Level Cleared!" flashed across the screen of Xia Yu's console, and he stretched with a triumphant grin, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over him. It was his sixth game of the night, and he had finally beaten it.
Xia Yu felt exhilarated, but beside him, Xia Jun and Xia Lei were stunned. Distracted by his success, they both lost their games and decided to give up playing for the moment.
They leaned in closer to Xia Yu, watching the game screen with a mixture of awe and admiration. "Ah Yu, your mind works differently," Xia Lei marveled. "We're still stuck on the early stages, but you've already cleared the whole game. It's unbelievable!"
Xia Jun nodded in agreement. "Yeah, playing against you is just frustrating!"
Xia Yu chuckled at their reactions, his laughter filling the small arcade. But then, his tone shifted as he turned to Xia Lei and said, "Lei, running a game arcade could be a lucrative business. You think the profits are low, but that's only because the current business model isn't optimized."
Xia Lei immediately perked up. "Tell me what you're thinking, Yu. I'm all ears."
Xia Yu began to lay out his ideas. "You currently have seven game arcades with a total of just 35 machines. That's too few. When we walked in earlier, you saw how many people were waiting for a turn, right? Demand is already higher than supply."
He continued, "You're charging four game tokens for a Hong Kong dollar, which is cheap. I also noticed the games are fairly easy; with one token, a player can go for a long time. This low difficulty is cutting into your profits."
Xia Yu's eyes sharpened with insight. "If you can adjust the difficulty settings, make the games more challenging. Players will lose quicker and feed more tokens into the machines."
He went on to explain, "And think bigger. Kowloon City is huge. Seven arcades aren't nearly enough. You could probably fit 200 game machines across the area. Increase the difficulty, keep them running 24 hours, and each machine should easily bring in around 60 Hong Kong dollars a day."
Xia Lei was already doing mental math. "So, with 200 machines, that's over 10,000 Hong Kong dollars daily, and at least 300,000 to 400,000 a month," Xia Yu continued. "Plus, you could sell cigarettes, alcohol, and snacks—none of which you're currently offering. You can source those directly from my retail company."
Xia Lei's eyes widened as Xia Yu spoke. "That could add an extra 40,000 to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars a month, just from retail sales," Xia Yu added. "And don't limit yourself to Kowloon City. Since arcades are considered a legitimate business, you can expand to all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The potential profits are massive."
Hearing Xia Yu's breakdown, Xia Lei's excitement was palpable. He could see it clearly now: if everything went according to plan, he could establish arcades throughout Hong Kong and earn millions each month—all from a clean, legitimate source.
He also realized the strategic advantage this would give him in employing more of his men. Each arcade would need someone to manage and guard it, offering jobs and keeping his gang members busy and off the streets.
Of course, there were risks. Opening arcades on rival turf could provoke jealousy or even aggression from other gangs. But Xia Lei wasn't overly concerned about that. "Business is business," he thought. "If worse comes to worst, pay some protection money and keep the peace. If they're still not satisfied, we'll handle it."
His experience as a gang leader had sharpened his instincts. He knew how to leverage his connections—especially those of Xia Yu and Xia Jun—to mitigate risks. He didn't believe others would want to risk a full-scale conflict over a few arcades.
"Ah Lei, if what Yu says works out, you could become the arcade king of Xiangjiang," Xia Jun joked, a hint of envy in his voice.
Xia Lei grinned widely. "I'll start implementing your ideas tomorrow, Yu."
Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction, and after a bit more chatting, they decided to call it a night. As they parted ways, Xia Yu couldn't shake the thoughts racing through his mind.
On the way home, he leaned back in his car, closing his eyes to rest. But his mind was active, buzzing with thoughts of the gaming industry. The impulse to play arcade games had been partly driven by nostalgia, but there was more to it—he was thinking strategically about the future of video games.
He remembered that the coming decade would be a golden age for the video game industry, with immense potential for growth and profitability. Video games were also central to his broader cultural and entertainment strategy. They could not only generate immediate profits but also have a long-term impact, creating a lasting legacy.
He envisioned the possibilities: transforming arcade games into home consoles, handheld devices, and eventually, computer and mobile games. Famous titles could become cultural phenomena, with limitless potential. Even something like "The King of Fighters," which had been adapted into a movie in his previous life, albeit with poor execution, had the potential for great success with the right team.
Xia Yu's thoughts turned to his current businesses, particularly Jiuding Animation Co., Ltd. The comics and characters they had created could be developed into games, especially the "Pokémon" series.
In his past life, it was the "Pokémon" game by Nintendo that had sparked a global phenomenon, leading to manga, anime, and an entire franchise. In this life, with his intervention, the manga and anime were out first, but the game had yet to debut.
Nintendo had continued to profit from "Pokémon" for decades, generating billions in revenue. Xia Yu saw no reason why his version couldn't do the same, if not better.
Moreover, the video game industry was inherently a high-tech field, involving advanced technologies like chip development. Building a strong foothold in this sector would not only generate substantial income but also contribute to the technological advancement of Hong Kong and mainland China.
With these benefits in mind, Xia Yu knew he had to pursue this opportunity. Guiding Xia Lei to expand the arcade business across Hong Kong was just the first step. It would provide a distribution channel and build a market presence, making it easier to launch his own game company later on.
If everything went as planned, his arcade machines could quickly dominate the Hong Kong market, and word would spread to dealers worldwide. By the time his game company was ready, he would have a solid foundation for immediate success.
That night, Xia Yu lay awake, his mind racing with plans. There were still many unknowns, and he lacked detailed information about the current state of the global video game industry. But he was determined to learn more.
The next morning, as soon as he arrived at the office, he called in Fok Kin-ning. "Kin-ning, I need you to investigate the global video game industry. Use the full resources of our consortium. Focus on the island countries and the United States. I want a comprehensive report ready when I return."
Fok Kin-ning, taken aback by the unusual request, quickly nodded. "Yes, sir!" He jotted down notes, knowing that Xia Yu's requests were always driven by far-reaching plans.
Xia Yu understood the importance of knowing one's competitors. To succeed in the video game industry, he needed a thorough understanding of the market landscape, the key players, and the emerging trends.
He realized that this research would take time, but it aligned with his upcoming travel plans. Xia Yu had to leave Hong Kong again, this time for the UK.
Over the past month, he had received news from London that Gerard Pat had defeated his two rivals, winning the mayoral election with 63% of the vote.
Additionally, the Conservative Party had solidified its lead in the general election, securing 322 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, just three seats short of a majority needed to form the government.
The momentum was clearly on the side of the Conservatives, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would officially take power.
The Conservative Party's victory also meant new opportunities and challenges. Xia Yu's plans for acquiring Rolls-Royce Motor Cars were closely tied to this outcome, and he needed to be there to ensure everything went smoothly.
Moreover, he had made significant investments in both the Conservative Party and Gerard Pat's campaign. With the elections nearing a conclusion, it was time to make his presence known and secure his position.
With this in mind, Xia Yu put his plans for Hong Kong on hold and boarded a flight to London.
When he arrived at Heathrow International Airport, he was greeted by Liu Jiao and the rest of his team, waiting for him in the VIP area.
Once settled in the car, Xia Yu immediately got down to business. "Liu Jiao, fill me in on everything that's happened since I left."
Liu Jiao nodded, preparing to brief Xia Yu on all the latest developments.
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