"Xiao Si. What is my current source of income?"
[The host's avatar did not originally have a job as the plot did not require it. The plot only required him to live for a month while touching the target.]
"That- makes sense I guess."
So that explains why he has 55k yuan. He could certainly live 1 months no problems with 55k. But that isn't the point! How was he supposed to earn money if he was jobless?
Ah- perhaps it was actually a good thing that Lan Lingxiao was now jobless. He could start anew no problems. So the only question left is how to earn money.
There are 3 types of money. Earned, portfolio, and passive. Earned, or hourly wage type income is definitely out since the higher my income, the higher my tax rate. It would be ridiculously difficult to earn 7M yuan a year on earned income.
Portfolio income like stocks and Passive income like real estate would be the best long-term. But the problem is, they both need you to have money to begin making money.
He needs something that would pay off quickly to get started. . .
A patent.
"Xiao Si. I want to buy information. Something that doesn't exist yet in this world that would be ground breaking. It can't be literature as that wouldn't be easy to sell. And it can't be something that would require for me to have a degree to have it processed. Something that the country is urgently facing!"
[Ding! The request is too broad. Cannot load page.]
"Dangit."
Lan Lingxiao rushed to his computer turning it on. Opening the internet browser, he browsed through all sorts of random topics and announcements.
/S*GA Genesis released in America: A big hit!/
Oh? Looking down at the corner of his screen. The year was 1990. Searching for Ac*olade, they have yet to release any game compatible with S*GA Genesis.
"Xiao Si. Does S*GA have a patent for developing games for the Genesis console?"
[It does not exist.]
In the early 1990's S*GA Enterprises sued Ac*olade for reverse engineering Sega's Genesis console. Instead of taking a license from Sega to develop games for the Genesis console (because the license would have required that Sega be the manufacturer of all Accolade games), Ac*olade reverse engineered the console in order to discover the requirements for a game to be compatible with the Genesis console. Reverse engineering would not have been a valid defense had S*GA had a patent. But they did not! And the court ruled in favor of Ac*olade.
"I wish to purchase it. How much?"
[Shop
Information F -
Patent : Development of games compatible with S*GA Genesis - 250pts.]
250pts so roughly 25,000 yuan. In 1990 this would be equivalent to USD 5,000 which was on the higher end of prices for a patent during this time period. In a way it makes sense because it is a software patent. However, this price would also include lawyer's and etc. as I would directly skip those steps and save on cost and time.
Xiao Si is giving me a really really good price!
"I'll buy it!"
[Ding! Item "Patent : Development of games compatible with S*GA Genesis" purchased. A physical print-out of "Patent No. 6,024,069." has been added to your inventory. Inventory is full.]
Having a system is really really easy!
"I want to purchase games that are compatible with S*GA Genesis, as well as a Gaming company. How much?"
[Shop
Item F -
Patent: New Gaming Company - 125pts.
Start-up Gaming Company (Fully Furnished) - 1000pts.(F-), 1500pts. (F), 2000pts.(F+)
Game Development compatible computer - 50pts.(F-), 90 pts. (F), 130pts.(F+)
Game Development compatible computer upgrade (unlocked) - 30pts.(F-), 70pts.(F), 100pts(F+)
Game (software):(locked) - 1pt. (F---) - 250,000pts. (F+)
Game cartridge:(locked) 1pc. - 1pt.
Game cartridge:(locked) 100pc. - 90pts. (10% off)
Game cartridge:(locked) 1,000pc. - 400pts. (60% off)
Game cartridge:(locked) 10,000pc. - 3,000pts. (70% off)
Game cartridge:(locked) 100,000pc. - 20,000pts. (80% off)
Game cartridge:(locked) 1,000,000pc. - 100,000pts. (90% off)
Please note that every purchase affects the quality and customer demand of the game.]
??? Oi! Oi! Oi! Lan Lingxiao blinked his eyes and rubbed them again and again. Looking at the ridiculous price that was beside the Game
"Xiao Si! What is the meaning of the points beside the Game? Ah but first why is the game locked?"
[You cannot purchase a Game without first being in possession of a Game Developing compatible computer. You also cannot purchase a cartridge without being in possession of the game software.]
Lan Lingxiao still couldn't believe his eyes that were staring at the 250,000 pts.
"Isn't it still too much?!"
[It is not too much. The highest average cost for a Game Company like Nintendo when developing a game is $5M or 25M yuan. This includes labor, electricity, tax, etc. A game worth 1 point would be equivalent to a game developer with average skills working on it for 8 hours. Also, when purchasing the cartridges, store space, shipping, etc. are already included and you don't have to move a finger. As long as it is sold, the income would automatically enter your bank account but with taxes and international exchange rate deducted if you choose to have it sold overseas. There is no way it is too much.]
"Ah… is that so."
Lan Lingxiao was dumbfounded by the information he had just received. He didn't realise making a game cost so much. With only 250 points - subtracting the patent for a new company, and the minimum upgrade of existing computer - He would still be left with only 95 points. Exchanging all his money to points would earn him 550 points in addition to the 95. He could purchase 1000 pcs. of cartridgese for 400pts.
An average official game cartridge would sell for $60 per piece. But I can't do that or it wont sell. But if I sell all 1000pcs for $50. I would earn roughly 350,000 yuan. Turning it back into points is 3,500 points. Then I can purchase the 3k point cartridges for cheaper and repeat!
Damn… selling games are so expensive. It is a close shot, but it is manageable! Besides, selling games is not the end goal.
"Ah wait. Xiao Si. If I only need to purchase the games and the cartridges to sell games. Then why is there an option for purchasing a start-up gaming company?"
[This is an item to complete a hidden achievement that will open a route to sub-quests. It includes rent, legal fees, accounting fees, and etc. You will also be required to pay an additional point fee per month and per year to keep the company running which depends on how big it is. However you will also receive an additional 10% permanent top-on discount when purchasing anything related to that company via the system shop. If an item is marked at 50% off, you can purchase it at 55% off.]
Oh? There was something that good?! Currently, there was no other method for obtaining sub-quests. However, it is not something Lan Lingxiao can purchase right now.
It is decided. His company does not even have to be successful, the games just need to be popular enough to gain the attention of S*GA. And when they do, he will sell the patent for millions of dollars! He just needs the system to purchase the best lawyers and it is practically already a win that S*GA will not win via the law.
"Xiao Si! I will purchase
500 System points for 50,000 yuan
Patent: New Gaming Company - 125pts.
Game Development compatible computer upgrade - 100pts.(F+)
Game (software) for 125 pts.
Game cartridge 1,000pc. - 400pts"
[Are you sure? Purchases are non-redundable.]
"I'm sure!"
[Ding! Purchases Complete. Due to lack of inventory space, items will appear beside the host in the physical world. Please watch your step!]
"Wahh!!!"
In a blink of an eye, Lan Lingxiao's computer suddenly upgraded! 100 large boxes, each labeled to contain 100 game cartridges in their boxes were pilled up in his room. In his hand also appeared a document labeled Patent No. 6,024,070.
[Does the host can customize the game genre or choose to randomize it. Please also choose the destination for where the games will be sold]
With Lan Lingxiao's current luck, he does not dare randomize it. It is the year 1990. . .
Lan Lingxiao took out his phone and searched "S*nic the Hedgehog", "Blue Hedgehog", "List of all S*GA games, and it turns out as he suspected. He could still still remember the year S*nic was made. He got it for his birthday. 1991
S*GA… I am really sorry!!! I promise to never pirate anything from you again after this!
"The game will be sold for USD50, 800 pieces in Japan and 200 in America. Make sure the front says Genesis compatible. The game will be called S*nic the Hedgehog. It is about a blue- . . ."
After completing his description of the game. Lan Lingxiao was no longer surprised when the boxed vanished as quickly as they appeared.
.
.
.
Mini Theatre: (not part of main story)
Mi Bai in middle school : *looks left*
*looks right*
. . .
Mi Bai : Maybe it's still too early. Afterall, there is still one month until graduation! My Top may attack me at any time so I should always be prepared. *squeezes fists* Jiayou!