Rebirth of the Internet Overlord

{Time: January 19, 2004}

{Location: United States-California}

Far away in Torrance, California, a negotiation is also going on at this moment.

One of the parties involved in the negotiation was the person who supported Ning Zimo in pursuing his dream - Elon Musk.

Ever since Ning Zimo said "wegame is a dream", Elon Musk has supported him to pursue it even when there is little hope. Even in order to cooperate with Ning Zimo, Elon became a partner with Vivang

The character who contacted Dee Headquarters.

In the past few months, Elon has tried to launch several trials. But after all, Ning Zimo had no money at that time. But this time it was different. After Ning Zimo finally sent a message to confirm the billion-fold pairing

After the acquisition of skrpe, Elon launched a "formal" acquisition intention for Vivendi's gaming unit.

Perhaps, if Ning Zimo was at the negotiation site in California, he would admire the person he entrusted to him very much. Because this time's "formality" was only created by Elon.

…

"Elon, you have to understand. Although you are from Silicon Valley, you are now in Vivendi, and we cannot let you do whatever you want!"

"Reno, I understand where I am now, and I know very well what I am doing..."

In 2003, Vivendi's transition to a debt model for development resulted in high financial risks, resulting in a net loss of 23.3 billion euros. Their CEO Messier also resigned due to this, and the company faced disintegration.

So in July of the same year, the new CEO Jean Renofo came to power and announced the reorganization of Vivendi Universal.

The person Elon Musk was talking to was none other than Vivendi's new CEO, Jean Renofo, whom Ning Zimo had mentioned.

"However, we have negotiated twice since December last year, and this is the third time so far. But throughout the whole process, I have never known what you were worried about.

As you also know, this month is the deadline we give you. If we have not reached an agreement within the final time, then we will withdraw from this negotiation table. At that time, we will move forward under pressure until

[World of Warcraft] When this game is launched on the market, we will reverse the current form! So, we are not without options!"

Elon With a smile on his face, Elon made a hand-pressing motion on Renault, who was already showing signs of getting angry.

Seeing him calm down, Elon said, "Renault, you have to understand that we are not without substantial progress. We have always had it, but you are too aggressive on the price. Renault, although I really want to reach an agreement with you."

deal, but lately we've been struggling with the sale price of Vivendi's gaming unit.

I have emphasized many times that in the Vivendi game department, the four core figures of Northern Glass Slag have all left, and a quarter of its core staff have also left. And another branch of the Vivendi game department has left.

Ministry, Xuele Mountain exists in name only under your command.

You said that of the three studios under Vivendi Games, almost only Glass Slag has combat effectiveness. And the latest [World of Warcraft] game you mentioned seems to continue Glass Slag's usual delaying style."

The triangle between Elon's brows was frowning tightly. Although he was sitting far away from Renault, it gave him a great intimidation.

"Renault, I'm just saying these things to let you understand. As Vivendi's new CEO, you are going to help the board of directors sell the gaming department to improve Vivendi's current predicament, and that's no problem.

But we should be more honest. This is very important. This is the biggest difference between you and the previous CEO Messier. This is also one of the reasons why I am willing to try to enter the game world after you take office."

Elon's highly concealed flattery was very useful to Renault opposite him. He proudly fiddled with the tie on his chest before answering, "Elon, I can tell you frankly, whether it is Northern Glass

Slag, or Xueleshan, it is exactly what you said. But, as an outsider in the gaming industry, you are."

When Renault talked about Elon's layman, he deliberately stared at the corner of Elon's eyes.

But from Elon's face, he didn't have any special reaction.

Although a little disappointed, Renault continued, "You must know that in the sale of Vivendi's game department, the most important thing is the subsidiary company of Glass Slag. Whether it is the "StarCraft" series, or the "Warcraft" series, or even

Northern Glass Slag's "Diablo" series, these are all classic games.

If your company takes over these projects and operates them properly, they can be profitable projects."

When Renault finished speaking, he noticed that Elon, who was sitting opposite him, was sneering at the corners of his mouth, and he realized that he had gone too far.

Because this guy said before he came here that he also likes games. Although in terms of game development and game publishing, this guy is indeed an outsider in the gaming industry. But Elon Max has already won consecutive awards at a young age.

The next two entrepreneurial projects are worth hundreds of millions.

His reputation in the industry has always been that whatever he wants to do, he must do it the best.

"Reno, you French people are indeed romantic. If I were a girl, I believe I would fall in love with your romantic descriptions, but now I am not lost in the beautiful scenes you described."

Renault actually didn't like Elon's expression very much. The man's serious expression was in direct conflict with his inherent romanticism as a Frenchman. But despite this, he still had to listen to the man's story.

"The StarCraft, Warcraft, and Diablo games you mentioned were indeed popular masterpieces in the past. However, they have been out for a long enough time. The peak of their sales curve has been taken by you Vivendi.

It was pressed cleanly.

Even if they still have a certain sales volume in the future, they will still have to invest in new research and development to maintain their vitality after I take over. Once I do this, it means that I want to eat the cake you mentioned, in addition to spending a lot of money.

Money buys the entire Vivendi game department, and it is even more necessary to spend enough money on these foundations to be able to produce anything."

Elon saw that Renault was about to open his mouth, so he spoke faster and suppressed the words from the guy opposite him in his throat, "You don't have to talk about the upcoming launch of World of Warcraft. You yourself know the usual style of Glass Slag. Although I am a

For the uninitiated, isn’t there a mocking slogan among players about glass slag, ‘No bouncing tickets, no glass slag’?

Combined with everything I just said, do you think I am going to use more than two digits and US dollars in hundreds of millions to take over a project from Vivendi headquarters that has been squeezed out of its remaining value, and at the same time I don’t know what investment is needed?

How much R&D spending will it take to activate the potential value of the gaming sector?

After only pausing for less than a second, Elon continued, "So, all the money I threw in, it was said that there were three subsidiaries, but in fact only one was viable? So, Renault, if I am wrong, you can refute it."

Me, but the actual situation I face is this. I sincerely want to take over your mess now, and how much should Vivendi charge you?"

"600 million?"

"700 million?"

Elon's voice was like a magic voice, piercing directly into the mind of Reno on the opposite side.

The two figures reported casually by Elon Musk immediately made him stand up excitedly.

Putting his hands on the table, Renault almost shouted, "Impossible! It is impossible for Vivendi headquarters to allow such a transaction to exist. If there is no 2 billion, don't think that we, Vivendi, will sell the game department to you!

"

This is the first time Elon Musk has mentioned the purchase price in the past two months, but the price is so low that Renault is a little angry.

He feels that it is precisely because the Vivendi game is in California, right on the American land.

If he were in Europe, he would definitely let the American know the strength of the French.

But while his delusion was still in his mind, he saw Elon across from him spread his hands and smiled with the corners of his mouth raised:

"Okay, man. Then this time, we need to talk about the price!"