Chapter 24: Press Conference

At 1:30 PM, William returned to the hotel conference hall for a press conference scheduled at 2 PM with Blockbuster.

As soon as William entered the conference hall, he was met by his anxious lawyer, Anthony. Seeing William, Anthony quickly walked over and said, "William, where have you been? I've been looking for you for an hour. The press conference is about to start. Come with me quickly; you need to get your makeup done."

"Makeup? Do I really need to go through all that trouble?" William, a novice in such matters, was surprised. He was just an ordinary person before and had no idea that appearing on camera required makeup.

"Of course," Anthony replied with a you-must-be-kidding expression. "Without makeup, you don't know how your photos might turn out. Do you think celebrities look great in pictures naturally? It's all thanks to makeup. Without it, a face that's a 90 could look like a 70, even with a good photographer."

Anthony led William to the makeup artist, and after more than twenty minutes of preparation, William was ready. By the time he appeared at the press conference, the host had already taken the stage.

William was stunned by the sight of dozens of journalists and several television cameras set up in the audience. He hadn't expected such a large turnout, including TV stations.

Curious, William asked Anthony, "Did Blockbuster arrange for all these journalists? They really pulled out all the stops for this."

"No, these journalists and TV stations came on their own. The Americans don't have that much pull. Most of them are here for you," Anthony replied with a smile.

William was taken aback, uncertain, "Really? How is that possible? I didn't know I had such news value."

"William, you're now the youngest billionaire in England. Converting your £135 million into dollars, that's $226 million. You started from nothing, with no help, and became a billionaire. After today, every young person in England will idolize you. Plus, you're so handsome; you'll become the dream idol for all the women in England. Do you think that makes you newsworthy?"

Anthony was very excited. He had never handled such a big case before, and this would greatly enhance his reputation in the legal field. Seeing how satisfied William was with his services, Anthony anticipated more future collaborations. For a lawyer, rising to prominence meant connecting with more wealthy clients.

While William was still processing Anthony's words, he heard the host announce, "Please welcome Mr. Roger Moore, Vice President of Blockbuster Group, and our English pride, the game developer Mr. William Devonshire."

William, Roger Moore, and representatives from banks, insurance companies, and law firms walked to the front of the stage amid applause. Sitting at the conference table, William felt a bit nervous and stiff; this was his first press conference in both his lives.

Fortunately, Roger Moore spoke first, giving William time to calm his nerves. Moore briefly introduced Blockbuster's overview, scale, and prospects, concluding with, "Blockbuster is a company that continuously pursues innovation. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Mr. William Devonshire. Blockbuster has purchased the full rights to Plants vs. Zombies for $226 million. We have the confidence and ability to promote Plants vs. Zombies worldwide. Gamers around the globe will soon be able to enjoy this game."

William then spoke modestly, praising Blockbuster's vision and expressing his gratitude for their appreciation of the game. He wished Blockbuster continued success.

The host then announced the start of the Q&A session, prompting a sea of raised hands from journalists eager to ask questions.

The host selected a reporter from the BBC, a beautiful woman who stood and asked, "Mr. William Devonshire, I'm Diana Rigg from the BBC. My question is, why do you think the game Plants vs. Zombies fetched such a high price? And as a student under 20, how did you become a self-made billionaire in such a short time? What advice do you have for young people in England? Thank you."

William, noticing the beautiful reporter had squeezed in three questions, adjusted the microphone and thought for a moment before responding, "I don't like giving advice. I can only share my experiences. Follow your interests, act on your ideas, and don't worry about what others say. Push through even when it's tough, and leave the rest to fate. The high price is partly due to luck—a fitting product meeting the right company, making everything fall into place."

He paused and continued, "The game's playability is also a significant factor. It sold 150,000 copies in less than a month, promoted only by students at the University of London. But honestly, no matter how well a game sells, it wouldn't typically fetch £135 million."

His admission that the high price was unusual caused an uproar among the audience. Journalists eagerly fired more questions, creating a commotion.

Roger Moore, the Vice President of Blockbuster, looked puzzled at William, unsure if he was burning bridges before receiving the money. William gave Moore a reassuring smile, tapped the microphone, and called for order, "Please calm down. If you want me to continue, please be quiet."

Once the journalists settled, William, exuding confidence, continued, "Actually, when I decided to sell the game, I considered a price of £200 million."

The journalists buzzed again, and William quickly added, "Why did I think of selling it for £200 million? Because, in my view, £200 million is a reasonable price. But in this era, few see a game's full potential, giving Blockbuster a great bargain. Many underestimate the value of game-related merchandise.

Even if a game sells well, it typically wouldn't sell 20 million copies in a few years, and you couldn't recoup £135 million just by selling the game. But the big companies also see what we see. So why did Blockbuster still spend such a large sum on this game's full rights?"

His question left the journalists deep in thought. Why indeed? Big companies wouldn't make a losing deal.

"William, why is that?" BBC reporter Diana Rigg stood up, waving her hand eagerly.

Four chapters delivered. During the new book period, please help with recommendations and favorites. Thank you very much.

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