Chapter: 72

"I'm very sorry, boss. The incident happened too suddenly, and we haven't had time to investigate yet. However, based on my analysis, this matter must be related to those well-established game console companies." The general manager lowered his head with some shame.

"Alright, don't worry about it. Even if they didn't initiate it, they must have played a role behind the scenes. After all, our success this time has disrupted many people's interests, so it's normal for them to resort to tricks. But anyone who dares to reach into my pocket and take money will regret it. Baymax!"

(●—●) "Yes, Master."

"Collect all the names and evidence of those spreading false statements for future use. Also, trace the IP addresses of these people and find out who the mastermind is!

Have these negative rumors affected our business and sales?"

The general manager replied, "There is some impact, but not significant. Because besides our retail business, we have a substantial portion of collaborative projects with other companies or departments. These people will not be blinded by mere rumors. So our revenue remains relatively stable.

Moreover, despite the online rumors, the allure of Nervegear is irresistible, and consumers still have a strong desire to purchase it.

However, since minors are an important target audience for us, and their economic expenses are mainly controlled by their parents, today's sales to minors have decreased significantly, indirectly affecting our sales speed. In fact, some countries and regions didn't sell out the Nervegear units that were put on shelves today, so they need to be returned to the warehouse."

After listening, Mark nodded silently. This situation wasn't far from what he had expected. He had confidence in Nervegear and "Sword Art Online". It was like how many diners know that pufferfish is poisonous, but they still take the risk to taste its deliciousness. Virtual reality possessed such attraction, not to mention that under Mark's careful design, Nervegear and "Sword Art Online" were far from being deadly poisons.

Before the product was released, Mark, with his past life experiences, had already anticipated the attitudes of parents towards virtual reality games. It was similar to when television first appeared in people's lives; it was criticized for leading to moral decay. Then, when game consoles emerged, they replaced television and were denounced as electronic products. Subsequently, with the advent of the internet, computers, mobile phones, and tablets, each new technology was accompanied by slander and doubts.

But as the saying goes, technology itself is neutral; it depends on how people use it. To promote responsible and healthy gaming, Mark added real-time body monitoring devices to Nervegear. If a user's physical condition did not meet the standard, Nervegear would not be able to log in.

During usage, if the body indicators dropped to a certain level or the gaming duration reached a certain limit, players in the virtual reality would receive reminders to log out and replenish energy or take proper breaks. In emergencies, Nervegear could even force the user to log out and had an emergency alarm function that could send distress signals to nearby hospitals.

Although adding such a configuration increased the cost of Nervegear by several tens of dollars, Mark adhered to his principles and conscience. He ordered that every machine produced must be equipped with real-time body monitoring devices, and it must be ensured that they couldn't be removed by non-violent means.

Therefore, the rumors circulating on the internet about declining grades, irregular eating habits, and mental fatigue were completely the act of competitors trying to tarnish the sales of Mark's company's new product, buying themselves more preparation time for their own business decisions.

"Do you have any strategies to deal with this situation?" Mark asked, coming back to reality from his thoughts.

"I have already held an emergency meeting with the senior executives, and the most important thing now is to clarify our stance, present facts and evidence, and engage in positive publicity. Additionally, the first phase of our collaboration with the international disability organization has been successfully concluded. I believe it will be a good weapon to counterattack and respond. It's also a great opportunity to promote ourselves. Leveraging the positive impact of this charity event can not only reverse the current negative rumors but also further promote our virtual reality technology."

"Very well, follow the strategy you have discussed. However, there is one more thing. Have the game department's developers add a unified system prompt to the login scene of Nervegear, reminding players to play in moderation and not let their immersion in the virtual world affect their real-life activities."

"Understood, boss. We will take action immediately!"

After the meeting, the company's senior executives returned to their respective departments and began actively dealing with the negative rumors crisis.

Inside the meeting room, as Mark was about to get up and return to the laboratory, he heard Baymax's voice in his ear.

"Master, I have identified the mastermind behind this attack. It's Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony. Since the release of Nervegear, the sales of their game console products, Nintendo's 'Switch,' Microsoft's 'Xbox One,' and Sony's 'PlayStation 4,' have all plummeted. The combined market share of the three companies has dropped below 30%, and their revenue and stock prices have been severely impacted."

"Therefore, the responsible personnel from these companies secretly communicated and launched this attack targeting our new product Nervegear."

"Hmph! I have already announced that we will provide a paid development platform for virtual games to all game developers. Instead of thinking about adapting to the trend and quickly transitioning to develop new virtual reality games to seize this promising blue ocean, these guys are playing dirty tricks with me."

"Then don't blame me for being petty. Baymax, add the individuals involved in this incident to the blacklist. These people should never be considered for our company's talent pool."

"In addition, put these three companies on our cooperation prohibition list. From today onwards, any business dealings between the Mark Research Center and these companies are strictly forbidden. Also, secretly infiltrate their company networks and see if there's any dirt to collect. Gather it for me."

"They want to cut off my revenue stream? I will make sure they have nowhere to go!"

"Understood, master."

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