Exploring miHoYo, The Past and Present

Summary

This entertaining video script chronicles the evolution of Mihoyo, a gaming company that transitioned from a startup in 2012 to a major player in the industry with hits like *Genshin Impact*. Through a humorous lens, it highlights their initial struggles, innovative games rooted in anime culture, and the eventual success of titles that captivated audiences worldwide. The narrator humorously critiques fan reactions and compares Mihoyo's games to popular titles, showcasing the unique charm that propelled the company to fame and redefined mobile gaming in the process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrative begins in 2012, highlighting a chaotic world where three Chinese post-graduates from Shanghai Jiao Tong University aim to save humanity.
• 🎮 The main characters initially participate in a business startup competition, pitching an anime-themed mobile game centered around cute characters.
• 📉 Mihoyo's first game, 'Fly Me to the Moon,' launched in 2011, was a notable success, outshining popular games like Angry Birds.
• 💸 The company secured a deal with Sky Moby, gaining $150,000 in exchange for a 15% stake in the company, marking a turning point in their journey.
• 👾 Despite initial struggles, Mihoyo rebounded with 'Honkai Gakuen II,' which gained immense popularity and changed the mobile gaming landscape.
• 🚀 The development of 'Genshin Impact' began in 2017, with an ambitious budget of $100 million, involving a significant expansion of the team.
• 🛡️ Genshin Impact faced scrutiny for similarities to 'Breath of the Wild,' leading to heated debates within the gaming community.
• 📈 Genshin Impact achieved remarkable financial success, generating over $1 billion in revenue within two weeks of release.
• 🎉 Mihoyo's unique approach to monetization tapped into the market for paying for anime characters, which became a cornerstone of their business model.
• ✨ The script concludes with appreciation for the journey from humble beginnings to creating a globally successful franchise, emphasizing the innovation and effort behind Mihoyo's games.

Q & A

What was the main objective of the three Chinese post-graduates from Shanghai Xiaotong University in 2011?

Their main objective was to pitch a business idea in a startup competition, focusing on converting people into 'weebs' through an anime-themed mobile game.

How did the boys plan to attract users to their game?

They aimed to attract users by featuring cute anime characters, which they believed would resonate well with the otaku culture.

What was Mihoyo's first game, and how was it received?

Mihoyo's first game was titled 'Fly Me to the Moon,' which received positive feedback and was considered better than 'Angry Birds' by some users.

What were the challenges Mihoyo faced in 2013?

In 2013, Mihoyo's first official game 'Zombie Gal Kawaii' flopped, leading to financial difficulties as they earned significantly less than their peers.

What significant change did Mihoyo implement in their next game after 'Zombie Gal Kawaii'?

They focused on improving graphics and voice acting, resulting in the development of 'Gun Girl Z,' which was a make-or-break project for the company.

How did 'Honkai Gakuen II' perform upon release?

Upon its release, 'Honkai Gakuen II' ranked number one in China for paid games and had strong performance in popularity as well.

What led to the success of 'Honkai Gakuen II' according to one of the founders?

The success was attributed to making an otaku game where 'girls are important,' tapping into the growing popularity of cute anime characters.

What was the budget and timeline for developing 'Genshin Impact'?

The development budget for 'Genshin Impact' was around $100 million, and it took approximately three years from inception to release.

How did 'Genshin Impact' perform commercially after its release?

It made back its $100 million budget in just two weeks and reached 1 billion downloads in a very short period, showcasing its massive popularity.

What was the controversy surrounding 'Genshin Impact' at its reveal?

There was significant backlash from gamers who accused Mihoyo of copying 'Breath of the Wild,' leading to heated discussions and hate speech on social media.