January 19th, Thursday...
Pei Qian had just woken up when he saw Ma Yang send him a document for the live commerce of the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine.
"Isn't that too efficient?"
"Eh? That's not right. Did he work overtime?"
Pei Qian immediately called Ma Yang to question him.
Ma Yang quickly answered, "No, Brother Qian, this is just the first draft. Chen Yufeng had it done yesterday afternoon. We managed to get it out faster since we obtained direct data and parameters."
"This is not the final manuscript. We still have to edit it during the day and arrange for a live-stream at night."
"Tengda's motto is not to work overtime. I'm a good employee who strictly adheres to the Tengda spirit. How can I let everyone work overtime? Brother Qian, don't worry. That's impossible!"
Satisfied, Pei Qian hung up.
Alright, look at how enlightened Old Ma was!
How great would it be if everyone in Tengda had such a realization!
Hold on.
Pei Qian suddenly realized that almost everyone in Tengda seemed to have realized this. However, his situation did not improve. Everyone did not work overtime but the company still continued to earn money...
Pei Qian sighed silently. Every time he thought about this, he would feel melancholic.
He should read the proposal first.
Pei Qian read the live-stream proposal of the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine from beginning to end. He found that it detailed its specific attributes, including how many speakers there were, how the specific parameters were, how different the sound parameters were for the same price, and so on.
Other than that, there was also an audio comparison segment. He found a few other brands to compare the sound quality. There was no lack of products that cost thousands or tens of thousands of yuan.
Live-streaming programs like this had to be compared in order to make content easier. If they only evaluated the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine, the parameters would be finished in a few minutes. It would not be able to sustain the entire live-stream.
Pei Qian was quite satisfied with this proposal.
In any case, as long as he compared it with other sound systems and answered the questions truthfully, it would be enough to dissuade some players.
The Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine did not have any exclusive technology after all. Its sound quality was not much different from the local echo wall that was priced at 2,000 yuan. Coupled with the few hundred yuan that the Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine cost, it would look extremely cheap.
Pei Qian immediately sent Ma Yang a message: "Sure, we can make this proposal more detailed and perfect. We just have to make sure of the details and it would be perfect!"
In any case, there were sound systems costing thousands and tens of thousands of yuan in the evaluation this time. In terms of details, the two thousand yuan from the Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine was definitely incomparable.
If he were to dig deeper into the details, it would give the audience a feeling that the details of the smart bickering machine were not very particular and of poor quality. That would definitely dissuade many consumers who were still watching.
...
On the other side, Ma Yang received Pei Qian's message and replied, "Alright." Then, he looked for Chen Yufeng.
Chen Yufeng was the person in charge of Ma Yang's live-stream. He had been working conscientiously ever since he was in charge of providing content for Boss Ma's live-stream. He was very careful in handling every detail. Every time before a live-stream, the other members of the team would look at the draft multiple times. The words would be minced many times and they would not dare to make mistakes in the data.
Chen Yufeng knew very well what Boss Ma was doing now was very hateful. There were definitely many companies who hated him to the core and were looking for problems with magnifying glasses.
Moreover, Boss Ma was doing a live-stream, not a video. If something went wrong with the data, he would be recorded and attacked crazily.
What Boss Ma did, whether it was live commerce or reviewing or showing what was fake, was all about credibility.
Once there was a small mistake in the document, their credibility would definitely decrease over time. That was something very difficult to make up for.
Therefore, Chen Yufeng had always been very serious.
At that moment, he was still editing the draft word by word, preparing for the last episode before the new year to review his own Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine.
Chen Yufeng did not know why they wanted to evaluate this. However, since Boss Pei had personally given Boss Ma the task and repeatedly instructed him to be as blunt as before, he could only do his best to prepare without any delay.
As for the others in the team, they were also doing their own jobs. Some were in charge of verification data, while others were adjusting other equipment.
Chen Yufeng was checking one of the data in the document when Ma Yang came over.
"I showed the proposal to Boss Pei just now, and he was quite satisfied. However, he hopes that this draft can be further refined and perfected, especially the details. We have to be as strict as possible."
Chen Yufeng was stunned for a moment. "He wants us to dig deeper into the details? Did Boss Pei say how to dig deeper?"
Ma Yang said, "Do we have to ask Boss Pei about this? Of course, we'll think about it ourselves."
Chen Yufeng thought about it. That seemed to be the case. It was obviously not appropriate to disturb Boss Pei over such minor details.
However, the problem was, how else could they be even stricter?
He had already listed the audio parameters of the Smart Bickering Machine and arranged for a trial segment. How could he be stricter with the details?
Should he use the macro lens to show the audience the workmanship of the details?
However, nothing could be seen on the surface. They were all products of modern technology. The quality was very high. It was impossible for the exterior to be rough or uneven.
Chen Yufeng suddenly had a flash of inspiration as he said, "I got it. Why don't we just dismantle the system? We can dismantle all the sound systems into parts. There will definitely be something inside!"
Ma Yang nodded. "Alright, that's a good idea! Are there any other details? Let's think again?"
Chen Yufeng thought hard for a long time. This time, he really could not think of anything.
"Boss Ma, why don't we ask Boss Chang of Otto Technologies? Let him briefly introduce the details of where this sound system is different from other sound systems. We can tell the audience the truth. This is not against the rules, right?" Chen Yufeng said.
Ma Yang thought for a moment. "That's fine. We have to do a live-stream tonight. Time is tight, and Boss Pei wants details. I have to ask Chang You."
"Alright, you don't have to worry about this. I'll ask him for it."
Ma Yang turned around to make a call. Chen Yufeng immediately changed the script for the live-stream and added the segment of dismantling the sound system. He also arranged for technicians to dismantle all the sound systems to study them first so that they would not have any problems.
Ma Yang returned not long after.
"Alright, Chang You said that he would send us a document in a while. The Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine has all the special functions. We can follow his instructions."
Chen Yufeng was a little hesitant. "Boss Ma, Otto Technologies seems to be quite straightforward. They probably gave it to us on account of our brotherhood. Should we be more lenient on our livestream?"
Ma Yang glared at him. "How can we do that? We'll do what we have to. Boss Pei's Tengda spirit is the truth! Boss Pei repeatedly reminded us to be stricter with our products. How can we make an exception?"
Chen Yufeng nodded. "Alright, Boss Ma. I understand."
Things were much easier now that Boss Ma had spoken.
Chen Yufeng asked out of turn mainly because he was afraid that things would not end well and he would be the scapegoat. Now that Boss Ma had spoken, based on Boss Ma's character, even if there was a scapegoat, it would be Boss Ma himself. Chen Yufeng was no longer worried.
Soon, Otto Technologies sent a document regarding the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine.
Chen Yufeng opened it and was dumbfounded.
"Huh? This bickering machine has so many functions?"
"It can automatically recite poems?"
"You can match the lines?"
"You can even start a bickering mode?"
"I knew about the bickering mode a long time ago. I don't think anyone paid attention to the poetry recital and the lines, right? The official platform didn't give any introduction, did they?"
Chen Yufeng was a little surprised.
He had done some research on this Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine. He knew that this thing's artificial intelligence was very strange. Once it entered the Bickering Mode, it could make people want to tear down their homes.
However, he had never heard of the automatic recitation function before.
The explanation in the document seemed to be because the relevant database had not been done too well before. This function had just been updated because it was about complete.
He had heard of the functions of the lines before, but the correct lines were all from Ocean Stronghold's downloadable content. This time, Otto Technologies seemed to have sent more than just lines from Ocean Stronghold. There were also a few other lines that he did not know where they came from.
Chen Yufeng looked at Ma Yang. "Boss Ma, are you going to include all these details?"
Ma Yang nodded. "Of course! Boss Pei said to be strict with the details. Of course, we have to add them in! Hurry up and prepare!"
Chen Yufeng felt immense pressure. He quickly called the rest of the team together and each of them took charge of different parts. He made use of the time to prepare.
As for Ma Yang himself, he was holding onto a Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine, constantly pressing on the stick, waiting for the machine to swing back.
He continued playing the game tirelessly.
...
At the same time, Pei Qian had finished his breakfast and arrived at the office to work.
As the new year approached, most departments had completed their tasks. He could feel that everyone was not in the mood to work.
Pei Qian was very happy about this. He hoped that everyone could continue being lazy.
When he arrived at the office, the first thing he did was to call Assistant Xin over and ask her how the Spring Festival advertisement that he had previously arranged was doing.
Assistant Xin reported in an orderly manner with a small notebook in hand. "Currently, the promotional work is mainly in Jingzhou, as well as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Pengcheng, and other major cities, including subway advertisements, bulletin boards, office building advertisements, and so on. Everything has been arranged."
"The advertisements are mainly physical industries such as Fish-Catching Internet Cafe, Fish-Catching Take-Out, Sloth Apartments, Upwind Logistics, Deposit Fitness, and so on. Each industry has hired different celebrities to be their spokespersons. The publicity materials have been arranged. They will be released during the Chinese New Year period."
"The only small problem is that some cities might not have these industries. For example, Sloth Apartments only exists in Jingzhou. Isn't it a little... too early to go to Beijing and Shanghai to advertise?"
Pei Qian smiled. "It's not early at all. The timing is just right!"
It would be best if the other cities did not have any related industries. Wouldn't the advertisements be wasted? Wouldn't the money be wasted?
He chose to advertise in Jingzhou because everyone in Jingzhou already knew about these industries. If he advertised more, the situation would not worsen.
The reason why they chose to advertise in first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai was because the advertisements there were expensive.
There was a limit to the amount of time he could spend. It would be unrealistic to spread the advertisements across the country. He could go to a few key cities to ensure that he could spend the money well.
Assistant Xin said, "Also, Boss Pei, this is the specific plan and process for this year's annual meeting. It was released quite some time ago, but you haven't had the time to read it."
She handed him a document as she spoke.
Pei Qian reached out to take it and put it aside. "Alright, I'll take some time to take a look. There's nothing else for now. I'll look for you if there's anything."
Chapter 836: Caught Off-guard
Pei Qian put the plan for the annual meeting aside, planning to read it when he had time.
It was not that he was lazy. The main thing was that he did not care about the details of the annual meeting. It was not that high on his priority.
His most important mission was to spend money. Second, he had to ensure that the businesses that were not profitable would continue that way. Third, he had to make the businesses that were already profitable earn less.
On the other hand, giving benefits to the employees during the annual meeting was only a small part of the first priority.
"The most successful part of this cycle should be the incubation base for the Destitution Plan."
"Until now, only two standalone games have been released. One is good but not popular, the other is neither good nor popular. In short, neither of the two games made much money."
"Moreover, the progress of the games that he has high hopes for are not enough to be released based on the progress that Qiu Hong sent me. They will be released next month at the earliest. They should not cause me any trouble before settlement."
"Indeed, the Destitution Plan has not let me down. At the moment, it is still purely making losses. What's more, the outside world basically doesn't know that Tengda is the one behind it."
"Not accepting both fame and fortune, very good!"
Pei Qian happened to read Qiu Hong's work report on the incubation base. He was very satisfied with the current situation there.
At that moment, Pei Qian's cell phone vibrated. Qiu Hong had sent him a new message.
"Boss Pei, good news!"
"The Survival Guide for Working Adults is officially released today. Its reputation and sales have exploded!"
Pei Qian's smile froze on his face when he saw the message.
What the hell?
What is this Survival Guide for Working Adults?
He quickly opened the report sent by Qiu Hong. It contained the names of all independent games that were being developed in the incubation base. However, he did not see the so-called Survival Guide for Working Adults even after flipping through it from beginning to end.
"What the f*ck is going on?!" Pei Qian was at a loss for words. He felt like he was about to collapse.
Didn't they say that this cycle would not be profitable?
Where did this game come from?!
...
At the same time, at Cherry Workspace in Beijing...
The boss and producer of the studio, Jiang Fan, as well as the chief designer, Yang Liang, and the others were laughing foolishly as they looked at the sales figures behind the scenes.
It was not the new year yet but the four-man team was as happy as though new year had started.
Qiu Hong had also rushed over. He could not hide the smile on his face.
The excitement on Jiang Fan's face was overflowing. "Boss Qiu! The success of this game was all thanks to your investment. If not for this sum of money, our game would not have been so successful and the development would not have been so smooth. The Destitution Plan was a timely help!"
Qiu Hong smiled and waved his hand. "You're too kind. I'm just investing in an independent game according to the boss' requirements. If you meet the requirements, I'll invest. Actually, I couldn't tell if your game would succeed or not previously."
"To be honest, I did not expect the Survival Guide for Working Adults to achieve such good sales and results. I thought it would be a small hit at most, but it was a huge hit!"
"I have to thank all of you. Initially, there was no representative work for the Destitution Plan. Even though my boss did not hold me accountable, it is indeed a little difficult for me to show such a result. I am also proud now that there is an explosive game!"
The chief designer, Yang Liang, smiled and said, "Actually, the success of our game also has a lot of luck."
"There are so many 'social animals' these days. Everyone is a working adult. They can empathize with the workplace's internal strife and forced overtime. They hate it deeply."
"It's also the end of the year now. News of the various big companies' end-of-year bonuses and annual meetings has spread throughout the internet. Everyone is busy being sour. It's a natural topic."
"On the other hand, the Survival Guide for Working Adults displayed the social status of the social animals very well. It resonated with everyone and spread immediately. That was how it became a hit!"
Qiu Hong smiled. "The reason why the game is so popular is indeed related to the environment. However, your design and perseverance are the main reasons for the success of the game!"
"An independent game is a tough job. Very few people can persevere. The four of you either quit your jobs to start a business or lower your salaries to join us. That spirit is the key to your success."
"Alright, don't look at the figures anymore. We have to celebrate. Let's go out and eat barbecue. My treat!"
Jiang Fan quickly said, "How can that do? I will be the one to treat."
Qiu Hong raised his hand. "Don't argue with me. It's my treat since I said so. Everyone, quickly pack up. We'll set off now!"
Qiu Hong was as happy as Jiang Fan and the others.
On one hand, he was genuinely pleased to see that the independent game design team had succeeded. On the other hand, he was happy that a representative game had finally appeared in the Destitution Plan project.
Boss Pei had high hopes for the Destitution Plan but no successful game had been released so far. Qiu Hong had been feeling embarrassed.
Qiu Hong took the money according to how much he invested. Whether these games succeeded or not did not affect his income. However, if there were no results, Qiu Hong would feel terrible.
Cherry Workspace's success was a pleasant surprise to Qiu Hong.
That was because Qiu Hong's focus had been on the incubation base recently. However, the games at the incubation base were still a distance away from being officially released.
On the other hand, Qiu Hong had not paid attention to Cherry Workspace ever since he invested in it. How could he not be happy when he found out that their game had been released and became popular?
Cherry Workspace was not included in the incubation base.
That was because the incubation base was targeted at game designers who were fighting alone and did not have any supporting services. Cherry Workspace was a team of four. There was an office and a clear division of roles. It might have been small but it had everything. There was no need to include them into the incubation base.
The only thing Cherry Workspace lacked was funds. After Qiu Hong filled up the biggest gap in funds, the art resources of the game were quickly in place. They no longer had to worry about their workload and their working conditions were greatly improved. Naturally, the Survival Guide for Working Adults was completed as scheduled!
It was released before Chinese New Year, and it happened to be a hot topic in the workplace: annual meetings, year-end bonuses, resignation trends, and so on. It resonated widely online.
As a representative work of domestically-produced standalone games and independent games, it was naturally popular among gamers. The UP Masters of several games on Aili Island had all done a video program, and the good effect of the program had attracted more gamers.SDFSDF
Qiu Hong waited for the others to pack up and go for lunch. As he waited, he swiped his cell phone to check the comments online.
It could be said to be highly praised!
This was an independent game and even though there were bound to be some flaws in the gameplay, system, and art, the theme was relatively novel and resonated with players. Therefore, tolerant gamers ignored these flaws and gave it a high rating.
Cherry Workspace only had to modify the flaws in the game to improve the game's completion rate. Then, it would have a higher rating.
Compared to the bitter period of development previously, the subsequent modifications were very simple.
After all, the game was now profitable. Cherry Workspace would not have to worry about money for the next few months. The game would be recognized by gamers, and work would be more motivating.
"Wait, does that mean I have something to do?"
Qiu Hong suddenly realized this problem.
Before this, he had always felt a little lost about his job and did not know what to do.
That was because being in charge of the Destitution Plan, he was only investing in independent game studios and game designers. He could not interfere with the specific game design. Thus, he often felt that he had power but could not use it.
Seeing that the sales of both games were not good and the other games could not be released this month, Qiu Hong felt that his work did not have much results. He was anxious but there was no good solution.
However, now that the Survival Guide for Working Adults had succeeded, he could do something!
With the popularity of this game, Qiu Hong planned to spread the concept of 'Destitution Plan' to gamers.
Before this, not many people would have paid attention to the game even if it had been forcibly instilled with the concept of a 'destitution plan'. However, now that there was a successful game, the situation was completely different!
Qiu Hong's goal was to let gamers think of 'Destitution Plan' once they see outstanding domestically-produced standalone games.
This was a very important part. be it for other independent game designers or for Qiu Hong's entire Destitution Plan.
"Alright, it's settled then. I'll use the Survival Guide for Working Adults to publicize the Destitution Plan."
"At the same time, take out the DEMO and promotional video that has already been completed for Black Ink and Clouds, and start pre-sales!"
Qiu Hong suddenly felt that he had found a direction to work in. He was filled with motivation!
...
At the same time, Pei Qian also searched for information about the Survival Guide for Working Adults online. However, he did not look as elated or relieved as Qiu Hong. Instead, he looked confused and lost.
Destitution Plan had been losing money as planned, where did this lousy game come from?
What's more, how could this game become popular?
What was there to be popular about a game that restored social life?
Pei Qian casually browsed the internet and quickly found a highly praised gamer comment, expressing the gamers' love for the game.
"To be honest, this game is not outstanding in terms of gameplay, graphics, or details. In fact, it can be said to be average. However, the biggest thing about it is that the theme is good. It is very realistic and resonates strongly with people."
"For example:"
"The company that joined is called 'Struggle Co., Ltd.';
"The explanation for the lack of difficulty level in the game is' there is no difficulty level to choose from in the workplace because everyone is facing HARD+mode ';"
"If you can't fulfill the Boss' expectations, the Boss' satisfaction level will decrease. The chances of applying for a promotion and a raise will decrease. However, if you work hard to fulfill the Boss' expectations, you will be given more difficult missions. The increase in satisfaction level will become slower and slower..."
"There are many points that people can resonate with in the game. We can see from that point that the designer of the game knows the hardships of society."
"At the same time, this game has many hidden meanings. If you jump out of the game and look at the options as a bystander, you would feel like you are living a helpless life. You would also feel bitter while being amused by dark humor."
"All in all, it has completely exceeded my expectations as an independent game."
"Many people think that burning hundreds of millions of yuan into a huge production means it would be a good game. There are no good games in the country because they can't bear to burn money. Obviously, that's not the case."
"A truly good game depends on whether the designer has a heart that truly loves games. Thank you, Cherry Workspace. I will continue to support you in the future!"
"In the end, most of the endings of this game are a little bitter. Things like the overwork ending, the mental breakdown ending, the mediocre ending, the mid-life crisis ending... they are all too tragic!"
"I strongly suggest adding a 'Tengda Option' so that we can fantasize about the beauty of the workplace!"
Chapter 837: Live Commerce With The Smart Bickering Machine
"What the f*ck is this Tengda Option? I've already deliberately cut ties with the Road to Poor plan. How can it be linked back to me?"
Pei Qian had nowhere to vent his anger.
It could only be said that Pei Qian was the same as Qiu Hong. He had focused all his attention on the incubation base and neglected the independent game studios that had not been included in the incubation base. Then he had been stabbed mercilessly!
The more Pei Qian read, the more frustrated he became. The Survival Guide for Working Adults seemed to have exploded in both reputation and sales. If the studio really updated and produced some interesting downloadable content, it would not be a problem to sell the game for a year or so.
The Destitution Plan would be able to get a share of the profits even if they did not earn a single cent. That would be unbearable!
The only good news was that there were only a few days left until settlement. Most of the profits would be delayed until next month. It was considered a blessing in disguise.
Pei Qian sighed silently and continued to study the sudden spending plan.
...
At night, it was time to knock off.
Pei Qian arrived at the nearby Fish-Catching Internet Cafe. He opened Old Ma's live-stream on his cell phone and waited for him to do the reverse of Live commerce for the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine.
Pei Qian trusted Old Ma very much.
Since he had already told Old Ma to be strict with the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine, be stingy with the details, and speak truthfully of the problems, Old Ma would definitely follow his instructions very seriously.
Chen Yufeng was a tool who was completely obedient to Old Ma. He had always been conscientious and hardworking. There should not be any major problems.
All in all, he hoped that the "live commerce" live-stream would dissuade consumers who were still watching from the sidelines. He hoped that the smart bickering machines would sell less, suppress more goods, and earn less money.
Soon, it was time.
Ma Yang officially started the live-stream amidst the numerous bullet screen comments.
Old Ma's live-stream also had a fixed audience after such a long period of accumulation, with the money being distributed on Weibo and the live commerce live-streams.
Some people watched Old Ma's live-stream to avoid the pitfalls. They would avoid any products that were of poor quality. Some were purely watching for fun.
At the same time, Ma Yang's team was busy.
After a whole day of work, the script that had been revised several times had been completely finalized. The various sections of the live-stream review had been arranged, including the dismantling of the machine and the various functions of the test. They had also been pre-planned to ensure that nothing went wrong.
What's more, Ma Yang was not the only one who appeared in the live-stream anymore. Occasionally, Chen Yufeng would appear as an assistant to help Old Ma with some technical work.
Ma Yang scanned the comments, his long face filled with pride.
Look at the number of bullet screen comments and the popularity. I've helped Brother Qian build his empire!
On the bullet screen, netizens were guessing what they would bring today.
"Let me see which 'lucky product' was selected today?"
"Take it down! Apologize! Take it down!"
"The various manufacturers are probably trembling in fear, waiting for justice to be carried out!"
"Boss Ma, stop wasting time. Let's start. I can't wait!"
Most of the viewers in the live-stream were old-timers. There was no need to be polite. Ma Yang briefly reviewed his script before entering the official segment.
"Today, I'll introduce a few speakers to everyone. These are the ones in front of me."
The camera zoomed out a little, showing the products on the table: there was a stereo system, an echo wall, some were just a long bar, or just a cylinder, and some were in a set with different shapes.
Among the many sound products, the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine was so outstanding that everyone's attention was attracted in a second.
The other sound systems might have certain designs to them but nothing could be compared to the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine.
This squarish black box, together with the metal rod at the top, looked like a postmodern art piece. It did not look like a technological product at all. It was obviously different from the sound system.
A bunch of question marks appeared on the bullet screen.
"Huh? Boss Ma, isn't this Tengda's own product?"
"Why, is Boss Ma going to put justice before family this time? He won't even let Boss Chang off?"
"Ask if you don't understand. Boss Ma and Boss Chang, who hold the higher position in Tengda?"
"Boss Ma has to be higher. Boss Ma is second only to Boss Pei in Tengda. What are you talking about?"
"Boss Ma wouldn't be advertising for Boss Chang out of friendship, right? Don't, the live-stream would be different! Tengda's products might be good but there's no need for Boss Ma to advertise for them personally!"
"Boss Ma, you're a little late with this live commerce. I've already bought the smart bickering machine!"
The audience was confused.
Ma Yang was completely unmoved. He continued to follow the written introduction.
After all, he had done so many live-streams and evaluated so many things. He had seen all sorts of storms. The only difference was that this time, he had one of his own products.
"The few speakers that I am going to introduce today are all items that can be purchased based on your economic conditions. You wouldn't be scammed too much even if you were scammed."
"The first one is an imported echo wall that costs 5,500 yuan. Its specifications is... the second one..."
"As for the Bickering Machine, while it sells for more than two thousand yuan, its various specifications are about the same as a two thousand yuan locally produced sound system..."
Ma Yang followed the proposal that Chen Yufeng had written and introduced all the speakers.
Ma Yang's live-stream style was to set the tone for this product from his opening speech: those products that did not meet the standards of quality and environmental protection would be "introduction to a few products that must not be bought". On the other hand, if they were products that were of quality, cost-effective ratio, and relatively popular, the opening line would be "purchase based on economic conditions".
However, no matter what kind of opening speech it was, he would introduce the detailed parameters of the product in every aspect, including its strengths and weaknesses.
What's more, there would definitely not be words like 'strongly recommended to purchase'. It did not matter whether the audience bought it or not since it had nothing to do with Ma Yang.
There were not many people in the audience who really understood the parameters of the sound systems. They could compare numbers at the very most. Therefore, most people were just listening in for this segment.
However, he could not miss out on this segment. If he did, he would look unprofessional.
After introducing the parameters, the audience had a simple impression. Basically, they would get what they paid for. Many foreign brands were three to five thousand yuan more expensive than domestic brands. The money was definitely not wasted, at least in terms of the parameters.
Of course, foreign brands had higher premiums as well.
What surprised many viewers was that Boss Ma did not praise the Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine. Instead, he spoke harshly about its shortcomings, such as its price-quality ratio.
Next was the 'detail presentation' segment.
A professional was in charge of filming the details of the few sound systems. After showing the external details, Chen Yufeng began to dismantle the system to show the internal details.
Once the internal details were displayed, the differences in the different styles of the sound system were revealed. The camera showed the details of the sound system clearly.
The brands of the various components, whether or not the arrangement of cables were neat, whether the welding points were solid, whether there were soundproof sponges, whether the backboard materials were solid...
All of these were clearly displayed in front of the audience in the live-stream.
While most of the audience did not know the brands of these components, they had a rough impression of the workmanship of the sound system.
"It feels like the sound system of this joint-owned brand really cheapened out on components inside! The cables are so messy, it feels like they are not very particular..."
"The quality of the original imported equipment is still better."
"However, some local brands are doing well as well. The gap between them and international brands is not as big as I thought."
"Why are they not so particular about the make of this 6,000 yuan sound system? It is really not worthy of its price."
"From the looks of it, the workmanship of the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine is not bad. They seemed to have found a reliable factory."
"The mechanical structure inside is so exquisite. The various gears are seamless, making me feel the beauty of machinery!"
"Tengda is very serious when it comes to finding cooperative manufacturers. They are definitely reliable substitutes. You can tell from Otto Technologies' cell phone!"
"That's right. The Bickering Machine beat the other sound systems hands down with regards to its internal structure!"
"It's not the same thing after all. It's akin to bullying the others when comparing the internal structure!"
...
Pei Qian looked at the bullet screen comments in the live-stream and scratched his head in confusion.
"This..."
He did tell Ma Yang to show more details.
Logically speaking, the production of the Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine should have been outsourced to an external domestic sound system manufacturer. What's more, it was a product that cost more than two thousand yuan. Even if the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine was more conscientious, had sufficient internal materials, and had been done well, it should not have been able to win against the sound systems costing a few thousand yuan!
However, the problem was that this was not just a sound system, but also a bickering machine!
The main structure of the Bickering Machine was very exquisite. All sorts of mechanical structures were interconnected, just like disassembling a clock, which was dazzling.
On the other hand, the other sound systems were nothing more than circuit boards, soundproofing sponges, loudspeakers and the like. No matter how detailed the workmanship was, it was not comparable to the internal structure of the smart bickering machine!
That was because apart from the sound system, the smart bickering machine had a very complicated mechanical structure, which added a lot of points to its appearance.
What's more, the Smart Bickering Machine had a very interesting bifurcation design. The two surround sound systems could be stuffed into the main body of the Bickering Machine to be charged. This novel design would also give it more points.
While Ma Yang did not emphasize the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine after the introduction and even deliberately criticized it, its unique appearance, exquisite workmanship and details still attracted many people's attention.
It might be a little more expensive than the other two thousand yuan speakers but its design was unique!
Anyone who bought it and placed it at home could most likely be guaranteed that his guests would be curious about it. It would give him so much face once he explained how it works to them.
Old Ma's 'awkward criticism' had been too strict on the smart bickering machine. That had triggered many viewers' reverse psychology.
You may say that it won't do, but I think it's rather good!
I think it's quite worth it even if you say that the price-quality ratio isn't good!
It was starting a very dangerous trend even though that only made up a few bullet screen comments.
Pei Qian sipped his drink silently to calm himself down.
"It's alright, it's alright. These are all superficial skills. He evaluated the actual functionality of the stereo system later."
"Once they evaluate the sound quality, we will definitely be exposed. After all, you get what you pay for."
Pei Qian calmed himself down and continued reading.
...
After showing the internal structure of the sound system, Chen Yufeng reloaded the sound system and began the audio testing segment.
Professional equipment had also been prepared for this segment to facilitate the collection of sounds from different directions.
After all, some of the products here were echo walls. They had to use special equipment to pick sounds to show the effect of the echo walls surrounding them.
Of course, even with the best sound system and recording equipment, the audience were still only listening to the sounds coming from their own cell phone speakers or earphones.
The sound quality would definitely be seriously distorted with these devices.
Even so, they could roughly differentiate the quality of the different equipment sounds.
Chen Yufeng adjusted all the equipment in no time and played the same song with them one by one. Each equipment would play a small segment.
The Great Master Audio Reviewers on the bullet screen started their evaluation.
"Carry this away, it's bass is bad!"
"That sounds muffled. No go."
"This is alright."
"Wow, this is good. It beats the previous ones!"
"The sound systems costing tens of thousands yuan are really good sound systems. You can really tell the difference from those costing a few thousand yuan. This is the sound of money."
"Eh, the sound coming from the smart bickering machine is actually not bad. Its performance is relatively balanced. It doesn't sound much different from a five or six thousand yuan sound system."
"Indeed, it can basically achieve a sweet high pitch, accurate medium pitch, and deep low pitch. It's quite clear. This price point is actually not bad."
"The premium on the foreign brands is very high. The smart bickering machine was produced by domestic manufacturers. It should be more affordable."
He played several songs in a row, some with high and low pitches.
The Great Master Audio Reviewers evaluated and concluded on the bullet screen that the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine sounded... not bad!
There did not seem to be much of a difference compared to other high-end sound systems.
It seemed pretty worth the purchase considering its price point and uniqueness?
Chapter 838: AEEIS Swears Excessively And Also Speak Eloquently
Pei Qian watched the live-stream silently, feeling anxious.
"What's going on? Can you be more supportive of those foreign brands? They're twice as expensive as the Bickering Machine. How can they not sound different?"
"Oh, so I can't tell the difference either because I'm using my cell phone's speaker. That's alright then."
"Damn it, Old Ma, hurry up and explain. This sound quality does not represent the sound quality in reality!"
Old Ma seemed to have heard Pei Qian's protest on the screen. He began to evaluate the effectiveness of the sound system according to the contents written on the table after all the auditions were completed.
"The sound quality of these foreign brands is still the best. I can only say that you get what you pay for. If everyone has extreme pursuits for sound quality, I would recommend paying more money to buy high-end products."
"The sound quality of the sound system is generally better than that of the echo wall products, but the echo wall can create a three-dimensional environment. Both products have their advantages and disadvantages. It depends on what you choose."
"Some local and foreign joint-venture brands' sound systems might look a little worse after dismantling because they took out certain key components. However, there is not much difference in the quality of the sound but such discrimination must be firmly resisted!"
"As for the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine... if we only evaluate it as an echo wall, it would be no different from other domestically-produced echo wall brands that are priced around 2,000 yuan. There's no need to spend a few hundred yuan more..."
At this point, Pei Qian could not help but praise Old Ma.
Well done!
Old Ma was indeed telling the truth. He could only be stricter with the Intelligent Bickering Machine than other products. He was determined not to exaggerate!
However, Pei Qian felt light-headed when he saw the bullet screen comments.
"Boss Ma is so strict with his own products! I've wronged Boss Ma previously. I'm sorry! Boss Ma, you're still the same impartial Boss Ma from before!"
"I have a deep impression of the surround sound effect of the Bickering Machine. The same sound sounds much better on the echo wall than on ordinary sound systems! To be honest, with my ears, I think that a sound system costing about two thousand yuan is already at the upper limit of my budget. No matter how expensive it is, I won't be able to hear the difference and I won't be able to afford it."
"It might be a little more expensive than the other echo walls, but the design of the smart bickering machine is nice! It's like a piece of art. The structure inside is also exquisite. It would definitely give me face when my friends visit me at home! As for the other echo walls, they look ordinary and have no special characteristics."
"What's more, this design is quite fun. I really want to buy one to play with!"
The people on the bullet screen remained unmoved even though Ma Yang had spared no effort in criticizing the smart bickering machine.
That was because Ma Yang had only emphasized two shortcomings. The first was that its sound quality was similar to a two-thousand-yuan locally-produced echo wall. It could not compete with the expensive foreign brands. The second shortcoming was that it was a few hundred yuan more expensive than the locally-produced echo wall. It was not worth it.
However, what the audience saw was the exquisite internal structure and unique design of the Smart Bickering Machine. They felt that it would not be bad to spend more money to buy a unique-looking echo wall to be placed in the living room!
Everyone focused on the advantages of the smart bickering machine when the shortcomings Ma Yang emphasized were not recognized by everyone.
On top of that, the audience who had already bought the smart bickering machines and felt that they were more useful were also sending bullet screen comments to support it. It was obvious that many people in the live-stream had loosened up.
While the Intelligent Bickering Machine had been popular for a period of time, it had not been advertised on a large scale after all. Its popularity would only experience limited increase if it were to spread solely by word-of-mouth.
Many people in the live-stream did not know about this thing. Now that they understood it, they suddenly felt that this automatic bickering machine was not a joke. Buying one and placing it at home seemed to be a good choice!
Pei Qian could not help but fall into a daze as he watched the directions of the comments change without him realizing it.
What the hell?
"Old Ma, I know you've tried your best, but work harder! Do something more, Old Ma!"
In the live-stream, Ma Yang seemed to have heard Pei Qian's inner cries once again. After 'criticizing' the smart bickering machine, he entered the last segment.
The functions of the various sound systems!
The first to be evaluated was the sound system or echo wall of the other brands.
Those speakers that cost a few thousand yuan were basically not smart speakers, so they could not participate in this segment. However, the cheaper smart speakers started to show their prowess.
For example, voice control of home appliances, inquiring about the weather, telling stories, broadcasting songs, etc. The functions were very rich.
At this point, Pei Qian was a little nervous. The AEEIS Smart Bickering Machine seemed to be the only sound product with artificial intelligence in the 2,000 yuan and above range.
It possessed artificial intelligence amongst the sound systems that produced good sound; moreover, it had the best sound system amongst those with artificial intelligence.
However, on further thought, he had set this price point at that point in time so that there would be no competition.
What's more, everyone's artificial intelligence was using Xunke Technologies' technology. Its functions should be no different from those smart speakers that cost one or two hundred yuan. It shouldn't be a core selling point, right?
Even if there was a bickering mode, no one would think that it could justify the premium of a few hundred yuan, right?
Pei Qian continued watching patiently.
Soon, Ma Yang was on the AEEIS Smart Bickering Machine. He first demonstrated the various basic functions and the extremely popular bickering model online according to the planned process.
This information had already been spread online not long after the Intelligent Bickering Machine was released. Many people had uploaded videos.
However, there were still some people in the live-stream who did not know about it. Boss Ma bickered with the bickering machine until his face turned red. The effect of the show was maxed out, causing the bullet screen comments to be filled with laughter.
Ma Yang was beside himself with anger. However, he managed to control himself under Chen Yufeng's repeated hints. He exited the bickering mode and entered the next segment.
"Next is its automatic poem recitation function. First, any poem that is recited can be matched with the next sentence and can be found and explained."
"AEEIS, Leave home laughing with head held high."
The status light on the Smart Bickering Machine flashed. "We are amongst the ordinary!"
Ma Yang asked again, "What is it's source and explanation?"
AEEIS: "From Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai's' Nanling And Childhood To Enter The Imperial Palace'. At that time, Li Bai received Tang Xuanzong's letter summoning him to the capital..."
It gave a simple and precise explanation. Not a single word was unnecessary.
Ma Yang asked another smart speaker next to him the same question. The smart speaker also gave the name of the next line and poem. However, it could not give any concise answer once he asked about the origin and explanation.
The viewers could not help but click their tongues in wonder.
"Eh? It's easy to follow up with the next sentence. You can just search it online. But what's with the origin and explanation? How can it answer so well?"
"That's right. I checked with Qiandu and found a bunch of messy content. There's an explanation but it's not as simple and clear as this."
"It feels like someone edited it in advance. There's not a single word of nonsense."
"They're both artificial intelligence. Could this be a special function of Otto Technologies? That doesn't make sense, right? There are so many poems. They can't possibly have written an explanation for every poem, right? How much work would that take?!"
Initially, the audience had thought that there was no point in automatically matching the next line of the poem. Wasn't this something that could be done by asking Qiandu?
However, they realized that it was not the case after comparing it with the other smart speakers. They were also able to match the next line of the poem but the poem's origins and explanation were worlds apart.
Ma Yang continued, "AEEIS, use 'plum blossoms' as the theme to come up with a poem."
AEEIS paused for a moment. "The winter plum trees have yet to dry, the dark fragrance remains in the moonlight; the east wind does not care if one is haggard, but keeps a clear shade to accompany one's exhausted soul."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, come up with another poem on the theme 'river water'."
AEEIS: "White clouds and rivers flowed from the west as the sun shone on the green mountains; a light misty rain showers on him as he leaves on a small boat, constantly glancing back."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, make a poem based on 'earning a living'."
AEEIS: "No matter how much time has past, I will always be burdened by the vicissitudes of life; The rain patters into the lakes and rivers, where will we meet again today."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, use 'Tengda Corporation' as an acrostic poem."
This time, AEEIS took one more second. "Leap up to the highest peak, capturing everything in view; gather all your wisdom and make a killing in the world."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, use 'Boss Pei Ma Yang' as the theme for a poem."
AEEIS: "Boss Pei's water acts like the sky, always hold up the old boat; Head up to the mountain, no one's there but the scenery in Yangzhou remains the same."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, first verse: Plenty of passengers are passing through this spring river."
AEEIS: "The bright moon has a bosom friend."
Ma Yang: "AEEIS, first verse: A thousand sails pass by the side of the heavy boat."
AEEIS: "Leaves are falling before autumn."
Ma Yang quickly displayed AEEIS' poetry function according to the contents of the proposal.
AEEIS mainly had three functions for poems: first, create a poem with a keyword as the theme; second, create an acrostic poem with a keyword; third, an automatic couplet.
These poems and couplets might have been automatically generated from the library of poetry, keywords, and algorithms, but AEEIS' emotionless electronic voice sounded quite cool.
The bullet screen was filled with all sorts of praises.
"Holy sh*t! Not only can this Bickering Machine swear excessively, it can also speak so eloquently?"
"The poems are not bad. They can be created based on keywords and can also be an acrostic poem. It can even match couplets! I guess it can probably beat 90% of the audience in the live-stream."
"Be confident, it can probably beat 99.9% of us in a heartbeat!"
"Are these really automatically generated? Could it be a pre-planned program to trick us?"
"The Intelligent Bickering Machine that I bought has been updated as well. I tried it just now and it's actually real! What's more, it's not even a seven-step poem. It's a poem made in seconds. It's ridiculous!"
"This function should have been specially developed, right? It's obviously an artificial intelligence, but they developed a poetry function instead of practical functions? That's really good! I like it!"
"This AEEIS persona is really interesting. Its general answers are very concise as well. When it bickers with you, it can use logic to make you speechless. The key is that it is very talented, and it's very eloquent. It could come up with poems or couplets in a split second!"
"Overwhelming the master's intelligence?"
"I love this artificial intelligence. I want to buy a bickering machine because of AEEIS!"