Reinventing the Millennium

Friends Farm.

When Friends.com launched a farm game with the same name, Zeng Liqing didn't pay attention.

As the chief operating officer of Penguin, he has seen two mentions of Sina beta games in other department reports before, but new games are always emerging, whether on the market or within the Penguin game platform.

To be truly worthy of attention, we must look at the market’s response or the producer’s reputation and reputation.

Even if it is developed by Sina, tested internally, and then operated by friends.com, so what?

Will it definitely be popular?

Well, judging from the current situation, purely objective description, Friends Farm is becoming more and more popular every day after its launch.

In just one week, the two major customer groups, campus and workplace, have received clear feedback. They like such a small game based on social relationships. In addition to the increase in user activity on Friends.com, the growth rate of new users seems to have become faster. .

I have to admit that even though QQ Dating is backed by the huge traffic of its own chat software and the number of users is soaring very quickly, the medium and high active users who are really willing to share and interact are not as good as Friends.com.

The current competitive strategy of QQ Dating is to first crush the number of users, and then backhand to deeply cultivate the community culture and become the industry leader.

However, when the number of users of QQ Dating and Xiaonei Network is inextricably linked, and the other party seems to want to have a social game with a sweeping trend, it will be a bit difficult to handle.

The simplest way to compete is, of course, if the other party has it, then I have it too.

The problem is that……

The problem is that if QQ Dating really follows up like this, it will look very embarrassing!

Fang Zhuo's accusation of "following the same pace" and "I believe that QQ Dating will definitely be able to come up with something of its own, and I won't learn from Friends Network anymore. Let's cheer for Penguin and encourage me." The yin and yang words are still in my ears. If it is a private occasion, forget it.

By chance, he chose a venue for an exchange meeting between Chinese and American entrepreneurs. Leaders on the stage, Chinese and foreign elites, media on the sidelines, and the audience in the audience all witnessed each other's dialogue.

This is not over yet. On the first day after Friends.com launched the farm game, Zhihu asked a question - Will QQ Dating make micro-innovations in the latest farm game launched by Friends.com?

Such questions and related discussions soon began to ferment on the three oldest portal websites of Sina, NetEase, and Sohu.

Everyone is talking about it and wants to see the fun.

Zeng Liqing is very sure that as long as such an online public opinion atmosphere is handled coldly, it will not cause too much trouble.

But he also felt that if it was really treated coldly, would this buffer time be exactly what Fang Zhuo wanted to get?

If Friend Farm can really continue the popularity or even create higher popularity, will it be impossible to catch up with QQ Dating?

But, but, having said that, QQ Dating has now launched a similar farming game. Will the subsequent public opinion impact, brand damage and even damage to your own personal reputation be a bit unimaginable?

Zeng Liqing thought about this over and over again and felt a headache coming from him. Why is this Mr. Fang so cunning?

For several days in a row, there was no discussion in the department report, but there was a shy order from the person in charge of the QQ Dating business group - to develop an interactive game that belongs to the unique social relationship of QQ Dating.

One day later, the order was changed to discuss the need to develop interactive games that are unique social relationships in QQ Dating.

The orders from Mr. Zeng in the past two days made everyone in the department feel his inner struggle.

Is brand culture important? Should we step on the trap of public opinion? Is the future of the game worthy of micro-innovation?

These require judgment and decision-making.

So on November 11th, B2C e-commerce e-commerce Tesco once again held its annual promotional shopping event, which was still the same as last year's three-day event.

This also attracted Zeng Liqing, who had been troubled in recent days.

After finishing his lunch, he clicked on Tesco's promotion page before the afternoon meeting started.

Zeng Liqing turned his thoughts, subconsciously pulled the mouse, and browsed the webpage casually.

Speaking of which, Paipai.com, which entered the e-commerce track, also encountered competition problems. eBay completely declined in the second half of this year, but its vacated share was not divided with Taobao as Paipai.com expected. Most of them were absorbed by the latter.

Since its establishment, Paipai.com has developed quite well. It also relies on QQ traffic import and quickly attracted a large number of sellers.

However, this kind of traffic cannot solve the operational problems of Paipai. As eBay, which is difficult to localize, comes to an end, Paipai suddenly finds that Taobao, which is constantly conquering cities and territories, is a greater competitive test.

"Crack."

Zeng Li counted a cigarette and unconsciously considered Mr. Fang's e-commerce strategy. It was clear that C2C was far more popular than B2C in China before, but he resolutely spent money on the latter.

Will Mr. Fang be short of money if he is an asset-light C2C company?

Obviously not, but money is not everything. If you spend money to do C2C, sooner or later you will have to face Taobao, which has extremely strong resources and operational capabilities.

By analogy, is traffic omnipotent?

At the very least, its performance in the e-commerce field seems to have encountered a bottleneck.

Thinking about it this way, funds can maximize their value in the heavy asset field.

Zeng Liqing put out his cigarette and admired Mr. Fang's strategic vision.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Penguin Chief Operating Officer COO and head of the QQ Dating Business Group walked out of his office and arrived at the conference room, preparing to seriously discuss with everyone how to deal with competitors' social games.

If we really want to follow up, it must go through strict data evaluation and professional judgment.

What if this farm is just a sudden gust of wind?

Zeng Liqing did not have a predetermined position in his mind. He planned to have a full discussion and respected everyone's opinions.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, just when Zeng Liqing was having the most passionate discussion with the senior management of the QQ dating team in the conference room, the secretary knocked on the door first and then hurriedly walked in.

"What's the matter?" Zeng Liqing held back his displeasure. Since he was interrupted during the meeting, there must be something unexpected and important.

"Well, well, xxxx has launched QQ Farm." The secretary's voice in his ear was a little soft, and his tone was a little strange.

When Zeng Liqing heard that it was related to the farm game being discussed, he turned sideways and said directly: "I didn't hear clearly, please try again."

The secretary reported in a normal voice this time: "QQ Space has launched a new game, QQ Farm."

Zeng Liqing was shocked: "?"

The QQ dating team executives in the conference room were also shocked: "?"

Zeng Liqing suddenly felt a little confused, slowed down his speech, and asked: "Is it QQ Space, our Penguin's QQ Space? It has launched a game, if I understand correctly, a game similar to Friend's Farm, QQ Farm?"

As he combed his hair, his expression darkened unconsciously.

The atmosphere in the conference room also became silent.

What kind of thing is this?

Everyone knows that QQ Dating and Friends Network are in direct and fierce competition, including the embarrassing situation faced by Friends Farm this time and should be understood.

However, even if the brother department didn't help, he actually stabbed him in the back?

This, isn’t this a joke for outsiders!

Zeng Liqing's expression changed. For him, this was not only a matter of business competition, but more importantly, as the COO, he didn't know about it in advance!

I am still debating here whether I should learn from my friend’s farm, but the neighbor next door has quietly developed it and put it online!

"Snapped!"

Zeng Liqing slammed the table angrily and said angrily: "Go and call Zheng Zhihao!"

Zheng Zhihao is an executive who just joined Penguin in September this year. Because of his previous work experience, he is currently the general manager of Penguin QQ Space Product Center.

It stands to reason that Zeng Liqing has been in charge of Penguin's social network strategy since the first half of the year, and QQ Space should also be included in it. But in fact, he is mainly responsible for the QQ Dating Business Group. QQ Space, which has been well-operated since its establishment last year, has maintained a lot of success. large operating rights.

However, even so, Zeng Liqing still felt extremely offended!

Zheng Zhihao was two levels behind him. It was impossible that he didn't know the situation faced by QQ friends, so he went directly to QQ farm without even saying hello?

This is simply arrogant!

The secretary trotted out of the conference room and followed the instructions to find someone.

Soon, Zheng Zhihao, the person in charge of QQ Space, walked into the conference room calmly.

"Zheng Zhihao, why did you decide to launch QQ Farm without authorization?" Zeng Liqing looked at Zheng Zhihao and called him by his first name.

Before Zheng Zhihao could answer, Xu Chenye, who was also one of the "Penguin Five Tigers", walked into the conference room happily.

He glanced at the QQ dating team executives in the room and said kindly: "You guys can go out first."

A group of senior executives stood up and left silently. It was obvious that there was going to be a dispute.

The door of the conference room was gently closed, and there were only three people left here.

At this time, Zheng Zhihao calmly replied: "I have spoken to Mr. Xu and Mr. Wu."

Xu Chenye, who arrived at the conference room shortly before President Xu, despite his high rank, nominally does not have direct business decision-making power in QQ Space, but the President Wu mentioned by Zheng Zhihao is different.

Mr. Wu refers to Wu Xiaoyao. He is an old man in the company and has high qualifications. He is now responsible for the Internet business system.

Penguin has adjusted its internal structure since last year, integrating all businesses and dividing it into eight parallel systems. The Internet business system belongs to B2, including the Internet R\u0026D department, community product department and other businesses.

The QQ dating business group that Zeng Liqing is currently in charge of is also in this system. In name, his decisions must be informed to Wu Xiaoyao, but he also has an overall social network strategy, which creates an additional direct upstream and downstream line. Develop acquaintance social business.

Large companies not only make timely adjustments to market conditions, but also have subtle overlapping competition due to seniority levels and business conditions.

Zeng Liqing was not afraid just because he heard "Mr. Xu, Mr. Wu". Instead, he said angrily: "Zheng Zhihao, what do you mean?"

He turned around and also called Xu Chenye by his first name: "Xu Chenye, what do you mean? Are you here to support him?"

"Old Zeng, look at what you said." Xu Chenye said with a smile, "Mr. Zheng did talk to me and Xiaoguang about the game development and launch of QQ space. We both think this matter should be followed up."

He actually expressed his position and continued: "The reason why I didn't say hello to QQ Dating is because of your embarrassment. I don't want QQ Dating to be swayed by public opinion, and I want QQ Space to go through the water first. If it doesn't work, then that's okay. So that I don’t have to try QQ Dating again.”

Zeng Liqing sneered slightly: "Okay, it's better to say it than to sing it. QQ Space is on. To the outside world, what's the difference between this and QQ Dating? QQ Dating is really miserable. While bearing the infamy, you have to be QQ space pokes a knife, is this a colleague?"

Zheng Zhihao took the initiative to speak, and he said simply: "Mr. Zeng, QQ space needs to have farm games. This is the judgment of me and the team. I don't understand why you are so excited."

"Let's just talk about it. QQ Dating has yet to give feedback on the friend's farm. How much consideration does it have for you to be held up by Fang Zhuo?"

"Since you called me here today, let me ask you directly, should I respect your resume or be loyal to my business judgment?"

Zheng Zhihao is not afraid of Zeng Liqing's status and qualifications. Before coming to Penguin, he held senior management positions at Microsoft, Intel, and Boeing. Although he was a foreigner, he directly took over the QQ space work after joining.

He didn't think there was a problem with his work process, but felt that Zeng Liqing was not decisive enough in making friends on QQ.

Need to personify the company? unnecessary.

Anything that can bring development to the company's business is good. If competitors are dissatisfied, just go through the legal process.

Xu Chenye heard Mr. Zheng's questioning and said dissatisfied: "Mr. Zheng, apologize to Mr. Zeng!"

Zeng Liqing smiled instead: "Zheng Zhihao, do you think I, Zeng Liqing, are afraid of others scolding me? Was it me, Zeng Liqing, or QQ Dating who was held up? In the meeting that Pony and I attended that day, was it Pony or Penguin who was held up?"

"Do you think people outside your QQ Space second-hand dealer's online QQ Farm are blaming QQ Space? Are they blaming QQ Dating?"

"Or are you blaming Penguin?"

Zeng Liqing stopped looking at Zheng Zhihao and looked at Xu Chenye: "Has this matter been discussed by the general office?"

Compared with the eight parallel systems divided by Penguin, there is still one organization responsible for the overall configuration, and this is the "President's Office".

Xu Chenye pondered: "I briefly mentioned it to Mr. Liu. Actually, Lao Zeng, this is to protect you. If you are on QQ Dating, Fang Zhuo may not be waiting for you."

"Then let's discuss it in the CEO's office." Zeng Liqing insisted, "Let's see what is more important."

A fleeting smile flashed across Zheng Zhihao's lips. The general office is not a place for the elderly. Liu Chiping, who joined Penguin from Goldman Sachs last year as chief strategic investment officer, was promoted to president in February this year. He also has a great say.

Regarding the development of social networks, we have also had simple communication with Mr. Liu on this matter.

The answer is already in front of you, you have to do it, you have to do it quickly.

…

On November 11, Penguin’s QQ Space launched QQ Farm, which is similar to Friends’ Farm.

Just one day later, Zeng Liqing, who was heartbroken, asked QQ Dating to announce that it would share data with QQ Space in QQ Farm, and users from both parties could directly log in to the farm game.

That night, Fang Zhuo, who was paying close attention to the performance of his own e-commerce promotions, was criticized on Zhihu @. He went online and saw an overwhelming amount of ridicule.

——Good guy, they are stealing vegetables, but the penguins are stealing directly from the farm!

——Does Mr. Zeng have an account on Zhihu? Someone send an invitation code to Mr. Zeng, I want to see Mr. Fang and Mr. Zeng face off!

——I deeply understand Penguin’s micro-innovation model.

——QQ Dating: I said I wouldn’t join, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t join with my brother.

Fang Zhuo saw the news about the linkage between QQ Dating and Space, and felt a little strange about this action.

He happily browsed Zhihu and only replied one sentence.

"Haha, I have psychological expectations for Mr. Zeng and Penguin. They are micro-innovators, not shabby."