397 The youth's innovations
The year 2000 witnessed a silicon supernova for Nvidia. Their once niche graphics card business, fueled by the groundbreaking GeForce 2 series, exploded into the mainstream market. Gone were the days of catering solely to hardcore gamers; now, sleek, powerful GPUs adorned the desktops of everyday users, transforming home entertainment and even professional design workflows.
The success story was reflected in the numbers. Their revenue, once a mere trickle, had ballooned to a hefty $278 million, and it showed no signs of slowing down.
The market, sensing potential, from 1 billion market cap, the company's value was pushed to a staggering $7 billion. This was a far cry from the days when a single share cost just $8 in 1999. Now, those same shares were trading at around $100...
Their groundbreaking 3D technology also had found its way into the hands of industry giants.
Besides KiShin, was utilizing it for the console KS2, Microsoft also utilized it, the highly anticipated Xbox console, would be sporting Nvidia's tech under the hood. This was validation on a global scale, solidifying their position as a leader in the field.
While Nvidia was reaping the rewards, the real beneficiary seemed to be KiShin. They held a significant chunk of Nvidia's stock, dwarfing even the investments of major players like BlackRock and Vanguard. This meant that while Nvidia's success was undeniable, a large portion of the wealth it generated was flowing elsewhere.
While KiShin undoubtedly profited from its substantial Nvidia stock holding, their relationship wasn't solely about financial gain. KiShin also played a role in fueling Nvidia's growth by reinvesting a portion of its earnings back into the company. These investments supported the development of cutting-edge 3D technology and powerful processors, key drivers of Nvidia's success.
However, this support came with a caveat: most of the technologies developed through this collaboration were patented under KiShin. This intellectual property ownership gave them significant leverage in the industry and ensured a share of the profits generated by these innovations.
Riding the wave of Nvidia's advancements, KiShin's development of its next-generation console, the KS3, progressed well. Their handheld console research also progressed well, the goal was to create a hanheld even more optimized and powerful than its predecessor, the first generation KSP. This ambition was fueled by the synergies with Nvidia technology and KiShin's own investments.
However, progress wasn't without its challenges. Balancing the KS3 and KSP development with another ambitious project, the iPhone research in collaboration with Apple, stretched resources and slowed progress of console development slightly.
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Electronic Arts, now firmly under the wing of KiShin, had soared to new heights with the success of "The Sims" and other popular titles. The company, once started in a humble garage, now boasted impressive brick-and-mortar presences in New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, with its Redwood City headquarters serving as the central hub.
Inside the bustling San Francisco HQ, a buzz of excitement filled the development department. Discussions centered around their upcoming release for the KSP console - "Bejeweled," a captivating game of matching colorful gems inspired from the Japanese game.
Just a month prior, a KSP game had taken Japan by storm. Developed by a high school club and christened, the game's name "Colorful Match Puzzle," became a success and sparked a wave of inspiration across the industry, with studios, wether small or big, eager to capitalize on its innovative gameplay.
The appeal of "Colorful Match Puzzle" lay in its accessibility. Its mechanics were relatively simple, making it an addictive pastime for players of all ages and skill levels. Recognizing this potential, even Electronic Arts, a major player, saw an opportunity to create their own version.
The EA developers undoubtedly injected their own creativity and design choices, tailoring the experience for a global audience and leveraging their extensive industry experience.
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Shin's fingers danced across the KSP screen, guiding cascading gems in "Colorful Match Puzzle." Created by a group of high schoolers, the game had captivated KSP gamers with its simple yet addictive gameplay. He couldn't help but be impressed by their ingenuity and the fresh perspective they brought to the gaming industry.
In an industry dominated by established giants, these young minds had dared to innovate, carving a niche with their fresh perspective. Here was a game that wasn't built on vast resources or years of experience, but on raw talent and a spark of ingenuity. It was a testament to the fact that innovation doesn't discriminate based on company size, but rather thrives on the creative spirit of its individuals.
News reports heard by Shin, detailing the frenzy surrounding the high school game developers. Gaming studios, both big and small, were vying for their talent. Renowned names like Tora, Suzuki, and even Microsoft were throwing their hats into the ring, eager to secure the creative young minds.
While the core gameplay mechanics evoked a sense of familiarity with "Candy Crush" from his past life, Shin felt a surge of optimism.
While KiShin undoubtedly fueled technological advancements and bankrolled major releases, it sometimes felt like a homogenizing force, churning out sequels and safe bets.
Here, in this new reality, the gaming landscape was solely shaped by the colossal presence of his company, KiShin. However, these high school students, with their creations, had proven that innovation could still bloom without fully relying on him or his company...
