Liu Yao sat on a bicycle parked outside the Jifeng Internet Cafe, puffing away at a cigarette until it was finished.
He then flicked the butt onto the ground, ground it with his toe until it was shapeless, and only then took out half a bottle of mineral water from his briefcase and gulped it down.
"Want to grab lunch together later?"
Liu Yao asked his colleague beside him.
The colleague was named Zhan Xingwei, with a typical square face.
Zhan Xingwei nodded,
"I've been working this area recently, and I know a good restaurant. It's affordable and tasty. Whoever finishes first waits for the other."
Liu Yao said okay, then tossed the mineral water bottle into the nearby trash can.
Liu Yao and Zhan Xingwei were both classmates from the first Renren Iron Army training camp.
Their relationship in the training camp was quite good at the time.
Unfortunately, after graduation, they were assigned to different departments.
Liu Yao went to the online gaming department, responsible for promoting DNF in internet cafes, while Zhan Xingwei was assigned to the group buy project.
Although they were in two different departments, or even two companies, their offices were just one floor apart.
Even so, it was hard for them to meet, as they were constantly out meeting clients.
After about a week of employment, Liu Yao had slowly settled into his work role.
Both the training camp and the job itself were honestly quite tiring, but Liu Yao found it fulfilling.
Firstly, the company had only recently been established, and as one of the first employees, he clearly knew that with excellent performance, he would quickly get promoted, starting much higher than employees who joined later.
Secondly, the company's benefits and compensation were excellent, at least significantly better than Liu Yao's previous workplace, which made him value his current job and enjoy the company atmosphere.
In 2007, when personal computer penetration was not yet very high, cooperation between major online game operators and internet cafes in various regions became particularly crucial.
In areas where game operators found it difficult to reach, they had to collaborate with subcontractors, with local subcontractors responsible for promotion within the province.
Regardless of the method, internet cafes were of paramount importance.
NetEase had previously implemented a main internet cafe program and a co-operative operation plan.
50% of the player spending on designated servers within partner internet cafes would be rebated to the internet cafes on a weekly basis, with no upper limit! Furthermore, partner internet cafes for the game enjoyed a host of in-game privileges—experience bonuses, attribute bonuses, new player gift packs, and so on.
This shows how important internet cafes were in the sale of online games.
To know if a game is popular, just go to a local internet cafe and see.
From the earliest days when entire internet cafes were playing Legend, to entire internet cafes playing CS and World of Warcraft.
Internet cafes are fixed, but games come and go.
Playing games in an internet cafe is about the atmosphere.
There's only atmosphere when there are many people.
If you see acquaintances playing games in an internet cafe, you'll take a look.
If you see a group of people playing the same game, you might even join in even if you don't particularly like it, which can greatly attract those who haven't played before.
At the same time, as long as game relationships exist, market share will continue to exist.
Why do many people like to play games at internet cafes?
Besides the atmosphere, they also like to show off.
Just imagine, when a Challenger player from Ionia goes online at an internet cafe, there would be a loudspeaker announcement.
That overwhelming pride and glory would make people's legs go weak.
Moreover, games often lack initiators; figuring things out alone can deter many new players.
Tedious in-game tutorials only tell new players the same things everyone else knows.
But if you're playing with friends at an internet cafe, they'll tell you what's good and what to buy, allowing players to get familiar with the game faster and avoid feeling annoyed or quitting midway.
Liu Yao, familiar with the ropes, found the internet cafe manager and, with a smile, said under the manager's watchful eye,
"Hello boss, I'm an employee of Renrenwang. You know Renrenwang, right?"
"Our company developed an online game called 'Dungeon & Fighter', or DNF for short, and we'd like to partner with your internet cafe."
"First is the dedicated machine model. We plan to reserve 30 computers in your internet cafe. Between 6 PM and 6 AM daily, internet users can play DNF on these specified machines without paying any fees; we will cover all costs."
"We will regularly host competitions. Similarly, we'll reserve an area where players can compete, and winners will receive prizes."
"Additionally, we'd like to display posters on your internet cafe's walls, place display stands at the entrance and in hallways, and put the game's icon in a prominent position on the computer desktops."
"Furthermore, your internet cafe will earn a certain profit from selling game top-up cards, souvenirs, and other related products."
With this series of offers, the internet cafe manager was long unable to resist and surrendered.
Firstly, they would receive a signing fee from Renrenwang.
Secondly, the dedicated machines provided by the publisher would help the internet cafe attract customers.
Regularly holding competitions could also boost the internet cafe's reputation.
It was all benefits with no downsides.
Only a fool wouldn't do it.
After the internet cafe manager signed several agreements under Liu Yao's guidance, Liu Yao directly paid the signing fee in cash, then arranged a time for subsequent personnel to come and put up posters.
In this manner, Liu Yao had successfully negotiated with nearly a hundred internet cafes in a week.
After meeting up with Zhan Xingwei at noon, the two went to the "fly restaurant" Zhan Xingwei had mentioned, ordered three dishes and two bottles of beer.
After a big gulp of beer, Liu Yao asked,
"How were the results this morning?"
Zhan Xingwei nodded,
"It's alright. It's just that many people don't understand this new sales model, so it takes some time to explain it to them and alleviate their concerns, otherwise, store owners are very worried about being scammed."
Liu Yao had also learned about the group buy project during the training camp and fully agreed with Zhan Xingwei.
He personally felt that the idea of group buying was very brilliant and definitely beneficial for businesses, but limited by it being a new concept, merchants would more or less worry about issues like settlements.
But the good thing was that Renren Group Buy started early and currently had no competitors.
The market expansion might be slow, but it was solid.
"It's better doing online game promotions, isn't it? As soon as you discuss the terms, internet cafe owners can't wait to sign the contract?"
Zhan Xingwei exclaimed after letting out a burp.
Liu Yao waved his hand,
"It's not as easy as you say. Besides, I envy you guys. After the game promotion is done, our importance greatly diminishes, unlike you who have the entire national market to conquer."
"Those of us doing group buying are just a bit slower than you. Once the national market is fully promoted, it's either an internal transfer or a successful promotion for everyone; it's pretty much the same."
"You're right, why think so much? Better to focus on what's in front of us. We are the first Renren Iron Army. If we work in this industry for so long and still don't get promoted, it just means we're not suited for it."
"I used to sell cars, and when I left that industry, I had no intention of going back. Now the company benefits are good, so just work hard."
......
By the end of November, Renren Farm continued to advance triumphantly as a victor.
The speed of data expansion left industry insiders dumbfounded.
In just one month, Renren Farm's daily active users reached 60 million, and Renrenwang's registered users surpassed 80 million, heading towards 100 million.
Miao Bingwei repeatedly added servers for Renren Farm.
From an initial 500 units, to 1000 units, and now already 4000 units.
And more still need to be added!
The costs for renting and purchasing various servers were enormous expenses.
Fortunately, Renren Farm also brought in nearly 50 million in game revenue for Chen Pingjiang in November.
Although it wasn't like online games where one needed to buy game cards with RMB to play, playing for free certainly didn't mean Renren Farm was "spending money for attention".
In fact, it was Renren Farm's low barrier to entry for free play that attracted thousands of players, and with these thousands of players, came those who were willing to spend money on the farm.
Why?
"If you want to play better than others, you have to spend money to buy more items."
It is estimated that by the end of December, this number could increase by at least fifty percent.
The nationwide "vegetable stealing" craze created a huge market.
The phrase "Did you steal vegetables?" was becoming the most common topic among internet users and even in people's real lives.
From seven or eight-year-old elementary school students, to young white-collar workers in their twenties, and even middle-aged and elderly people past their prime... the current popularity of Renren Farm was an undeniable fact.
It even spawned online hourly workers who would "steal vegetables" for others.
Now, the most anxious people were Chen Yizhou, Cheng Binghao, and Xiao Mage.
But no matter how anxious they were, it was to no avail.
Game development takes time, even when copying.
The rise and explosion of Renrenwang made Chen Pingjiang a hot commodity in the eyes of investors.
In addition, news somehow spread from Renrenwang, a major taxpayer in the district, that it planned to build its headquarters in Wujiang District.
It was this news that alerted Wangjiang District.
For a while, many officials came to sound out Chen Pingjiang, expressing their hope to keep Renrenwang in Wangjiang District.
Chen Pingjiang was almost an old fox.
He pushed the ball to Wujiang District, and for a time, it was rumored that the leaders of the two districts met at a city meeting and gave each other cold shoulders, refusing to greet each other.
Under these circumstances, Yan Liming unexpectedly became a hot commodity.
After the data center began construction, Wujiang District started thinking about Chen Pingjiang's earlier mention of building a headquarters and then relocating.
Many people tried to persuade Yan Liming, hoping he could use his status as a future "father-in-law" to convince Chen Pingjiang.
This left Yan Liming a bit dumbfounded.
So, he had "taken" their prize, and now he had to "beg" them.
However, this was a political task; he had to do it whether he wanted to or not.
After the future father-in-law and son-in-law had several drinks together.
Renrenwang announced that it would build two buildings exceeding twenty stories in Wujiang District to serve as its global headquarters.
After all, as Renrenwang grew larger, its business became increasingly diversified, and its employee numbers increased exponentially.
The current office location was becoming increasingly crowded, no longer befitted Renrenwang's status, and was unable to meet the dining needs of so many employees.
Building office towers was very reasonable.
Suddenly, various VCs/PEs, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed to Dongjiang.
Why!?
Even a fool would know that building two towers would cost a lot of money.
Renrenwang was bound to initiate its second round of financing.
(End of Chapter)