Chapter 624: VR Internet Cafe Cooperation Strategy
Chen Mo naturally understood this principle well. In a sense, "Prototype" was also a game of this type. Individually, its levels, story, combat system, and other aspects weren't particularly outstanding. Compared to VR game pods costing over 100,000 and games priced at over 1,000, 100 yuan per hour was a completely acceptable figure. Some smaller games only took about seven or eight hours to complete a single playthrough, and a quick calculation would make it seem very cost-effective.
As for games that lost their appeal after just one or two hours of play, going to a VR internet cafe to play them was even more worthwhile.
For VR internet cafes, although the internet cafe version was priced at twice the standard version, the return on investment was very fast. With each game pod priced at 1,998, it meant that as long as players spent 40 hours playing "Prototype" on it, the cost would be recouped, and everything beyond that was pure profit.
With such an enjoyable game, wasn't it reasonable for all the players on that game pod to collectively play for 40 hours?
Moreover, this effectively tied the interests of VR internet cafes to Chen Mo's. To make more money, the cafes would definitely find ways to promote "Prototype."
For example, putting up promotional posters on the exterior walls of the internet cafe, placing the "Prototype" game icon in a prominent position on the VR game pod desktop, or launching special bundled recharge events where recharging a certain amount would grant free hours of "Prototype" gameplay, and so on.
This created a win-win-win situation: players could experience the game for less money, internet cafes could make money, and Chen Mo could also make money.
Of course, the reason this worked was ultimately because "Prototype" was an extremely satisfying fast-food game.
In Chen Mo's previous life, the reason "Prototype" maintained relatively high popularity in China was largely due to internet cafes.
Even though they were all pirated copies.
It had to be said that internet cafes and this kind of fast-food game were a perfect match. Many players, tired of playing other games at internet cafes, would choose to open "Prototype." It required no precise controls, no leveling up or questing—just jump into the game and enjoy the thrill from start to finish!
Thus, in Chen Mo's previous life, "Prototype" was always a popular single-player game in internet cafes, and many people first encountered it there.
In the parallel world, as the developer of "Prototype," Chen Mo naturally had to make good use of this and absolutely couldn't adopt a free-to-play strategy that would kill the game.
After Chen Mo sent out cooperation proposals to major VR internet cafes, they all expressed willingness to cooperate. Some bought more copies, some bought fewer, but regardless of the quantity, they were all willing to use this game to enrich their game libraries.
These internet cafe owners were also very shrewd. They keenly sensed that this game perfectly suited the characteristics of VR internet cafes.
This was "Prototype." If it were "Dark Souls," the effect probably wouldn't be as good...
After receiving the cooperation plan for "Prototype," these VR internet cafes immediately put up signs or even banners, using eye-catching fonts to advertise: "Experience Chen Mo's new work 'Prototype' directly at our cafe!"
Chen Mo also specially produced a batch of cool Alex posters and peripheral products, giving them to internet cafes that ordered more copies as promotional tools.
Additionally, the Thunder Game Platform added a new "List of 'Prototype' Partner VR Internet Cafes," allowing players to search for the nearest "Prototype" partner VR internet cafe and go experience the game!
Genius remembers this site's address in one second.