tkworld #201 - Hey, Steamed Goose Heart with Four Vegetarian Dishes (2 in 1, please order)
#201 - Hey, Steamed Goose Heart with Four Vegetarian Dishes (2 in 1, please order)
To promote their VTuber, Leopard Tooth Streaming also held a grand launch event, broadcast live across the entire network.
On the live broadcast screen, the Deep State Grand Theater at night, with its neon lights emitting a soft glow, attracted the attention of numerous media outlets and viewers.
On the stage, a huge screen projected the flashing Leopard Tooth Streaming logo.
Accompanied by rousing music, the atmosphere was instantly ignited.
Seated in the VIP section were the senior management of Leopard Tooth Streaming, including President Qian, who was in charge of the entertainment business of the Liu Group.
"Dear media friends and fans, thank you all for coming to Leopard Tooth Streaming's new concept transformation launch event!"
Under the host's introduction, a clip of Candy Heart flashed on the big screen.
The media representatives below the stage were in an uproar. Leopard Tooth was really willing to spend a fortune, directly poaching Douyu's top streamer.
Candy Heart smiled, her eyes revealing confidence and pride.
Without a doubt, as Leopard Tooth's top streamer, she was the focus of this new product launch.
Candy Heart was slender, fair-skinned, with delicate features, and large, bright eyes that revealed a deep brown color.
Candy Heart also had another characteristic that impressed fans: she liked to choose brightly colored clothes, especially leopard-print tights.
Her sweet, angelic face and fiery, devilish figure were her trump cards to instant fame.
"Dear new and old viewers, hello everyone, I am Candy Heart, and also a member of the Leopard Tooth Streaming family.
Of course, the protagonist of today's launch event is not me. I am honored to introduce my new sister to everyone."
As the spotlight focused, a new virtual girl appeared on the screen.
Her appearance and features closely resembled Candy Heart herself, but her eyes and face were more two-dimensional, with large eyes that sparkled as if they contained stars.
The iconic leopard-print decorated skirt fluttered on the stage, and a pair of small wings were faintly visible behind her.
"Hello everyone, I am the two-dimensional version of Candy Heart. I hope I can spend the wonderful time ahead with you all."
Although the viewers in the live broadcast room all knew that this was just Candy Heart's avatar, this virtual skin was so realistic and lively that everyone couldn't help but praise it.
"Damn, isn't this cosplay? Is it a real virtual image?"
"This level of beauty and styling, AWSL! I'm completely captivated. You are my only sister!"
"Candy Heart, take me to the two-dimensional world!"
Hearing the shouts of the nerds below the stage, Candy Heart frowned slightly unintentionally, then resumed her formulaic business smile and quickly finished her closing remarks:
"As Leopard Tooth Streaming's chief mascot and operations officer, I will always uphold the spirit of innovation and breakthrough to bring fans a richer live streaming experience. Thank you all!"
In this era, the development of virtual VTubers had just begun. A Live2D standing image of an avatar could be so exquisite that it was unimaginable in the past, so Candy Heart's image was simply a dimensionality reduction strike in the live streaming circle.
Many self-media outlets in the live streaming circle began to come down and rave about it:
@Live Streaming Entertainment Review: Relying on the graphic technology support of Liu Group and Youyi Company, Leopard Tooth Streaming's virtual streamer business has undergone a new technical upgrade. The detail processing is impeccable and is simply the pinnacle of this year's virtual image!
@Weekly Streamer Highlights: Candy Heart's new sister is breathtakingly cute. Coupled with the diversion of traffic from the former Douyu's top streamer as the person in the middle, it is estimated that Leopard Tooth Streaming's traffic will reach a new peak this year!
@Virtual Cute Master Express: It can be seen from the press conference that this is not a simple makeup or cosplay, this is a brand new virtual image! It's simply a dimensionality reduction strike for other virtual streamers, far ahead!
This live broadcast created a record-breaking 10 million total viewers on Leopard Tooth's main platform.
Before this, until Leopard Tooth Streaming was acquired by Liu Group, the highest single live broadcast on the platform had never exceeded 8 million.
At the same time, several related trending topics from this live broadcast also topped Weibo's hot search list:
#CandyHeartVirtualImageFirstExposureAcrossTheNetwork#
#LeopardToothStreamingNewMascotDeified#
#VirtualVTuber:ANewTrendInTheLiveStreamingIndustry#
Seeing that this launch event was even more popular than expected, Leopard Tooth Streaming's official also seized the opportunity to release a series of subsequent national tour events such as offline meet-and-greets and autograph sessions.
Major financial media outlets focusing on the development of the cultural industry also did not miss this wave of popularity. Regardless of whether they had received public relations fees from Liu Group, they all began to collectively praise:
Financial Commentary:
"Leopard Tooth Streaming's virtual idol economy is beginning to emerge, not only setting off a social phenomenon, but also a profound industrial revolution. The rise of the virtual economy will bring more possibilities."
Internet Finance:
"《The Economics Behind Virtual Idols》: Letting a popular streamer with over 10 million fans across the network become the person in the middle wearing a skin, Leopard Tooth Streaming's virtual idol contains profound business logic."
Later, not only the economic field, but even social media participated:
Social News Weekly:
"Leopard Tooth Streaming's virtual idols have played a positive role in the field of mental health. Research has found that viewers relieve psychological problems such as anxiety and depression through interacting with virtual idols. It seems that we have all underestimated the social impact of virtual idols."
……
Tuesday.
Just as the outside world was shocked by the Liu Group's high-profile entry into the live streaming industry and its huge success with Candy Heart's debut, Peach Garden Village's official Weibo quietly released a new poster.
The background of the poster presents a scene of the deep universe, with stars twinkling and dazzling.
The main body of the poster is the back view of a girl wearing a shiny silver-white costume. The lines of the costume are simple and neat, revealing a sense of technology, and are embellished with LED lights. She stands on a high platform, her silhouette is soft, and she exudes a sense of the future.
A beam of light penetrates the clouds above the poster and shines on the girl, as if it is the light of the future, surrounding her with a faint halo.
The entire poster is filled with a strange sense of mystery and science fiction.
Below the poster is the silver-white font:
"The Voice of the Future, Coming Soon"
Below is a line of small characters: Peach Garden Village Official Live Streaming Platform, Coming Soon.
Below the poster, many fans of Peach Garden Village were excited:
"Damn, what's going on? Peach Garden Village has new activities again? Are they going to do live streaming?"
"Liu Group just acquired Leopard Tooth, and Peach Garden Village is quickly following up. Goodness, are they going to compete head-on with Liu Group?"
"Isn't Peach Garden Village's recent energy all focused on participating in the Heavenly Venerate Cup's new work? The animation business has just stabilized, and now they are engaged in both a game platform and a live streaming platform. Are they spreading themselves too thin?"
"To be fair, I really like Candy Heart's virtual image. I heard that Liu Group spent a lot of money to hire a two-dimensional illustrator from the island nation to design it. I think even if Peach Garden Village enters the live streaming circle, it will be difficult to surpass it."
In addition to the fans of Peach Garden Village, outside public opinion also expressed concern about Peach Garden Village's live streaming attempt:
A senior cultural industry critic who swore that he did not take a penny from Liu Group:
"From Peach Garden Village's new live streaming platform poster, it can be seen that they seem to want to launch their own virtual idol.
However, this poster looks futuristic, but it actually lacks design. This kind of design is not new in the virtual idol circle. At the same time, Liu Group's Candy Heart has already caused a sensation in the industry. Peach Garden Village's attempt can only be regarded as following the trend. If they don't have unique skills, it will be difficult for them to stand out in the fierce market competition."
The industry critic's meaning is very clear. If you want to operate a live streaming platform in the early stage, you have to desperately burn money to attract traffic.
Peach Garden Village's current size will definitely not be able to compete with Liu Group in terms of spending money to buy traffic.
A popular spicy chicken with 5 million fans on Leopard Tooth Streaming Platform:
"Peach Garden Village's new move seems aggressive, but it is actually following Liu Group's old path.
Users will not stay between multiple identical streamers. Peach Garden Village's imitation behavior will hardly establish a sense of trust in the audience's mind. The attraction of virtual idols lies in personality and uniqueness, not simple packaging. Peach Garden Village needs more originality to truly impress the audience."
A variety show host:
"Having participated in the production of many variety shows, I know the charm of virtual idols.
From my past interaction with Candy Heart in a show, their team's emphasis on the audience experience far exceeds Peach Garden Village.
You should know that virtual idols are not just images, but also carriers of interaction. In this regard, I think Candy Heart, who has many years of three-dimensional idol experience, definitely far exceeds the fledgling Peach Garden Village."
Seeing Peach Garden Village's new live streaming platform fall into a public opinion vortex, some passers-by sighed:
"Peach Garden Village's live streaming platform plan was announced too suddenly. It is difficult not to compete with Liu Group in the same schedule, and Peach Garden Village, which is at a disadvantage, is being pushed to the forefront of public opinion by Liu Group. It's not surprising at all."
……
At this time, in Peach Garden Village's villa, Liu Mengyuan, sitting at her workstation, frowned slightly as she looked at the various online public opinion storms.
Heh, our family's so sci-fi girl is following the trend, and your streamer wearing leopard print is original, right?
She glanced at Lu Yu beside her, and found that he was dozing off on the small bed in the workstation.
Look, recently Lu Yu must have worried a lot about the Heavenly Venerate Cup.
So she, as the vice president, can completely handle these small problems encountered by the live streaming platform herself.
At this time, Lu Yu looked at Liu Mengyuan sleepily. He stayed up too late last night playing those classic old games, so he had to take a nap.
What is Liu Mengyuan busy with? Live streaming platform?
Didn't she say just make a small platform?
Emmm... Forget it, never mind her, with the Candy sisters as the bottom line, it should be fine.
He changed to a more comfortable lying position and continued to doze off.
Liu Mengyuan flipped through the company's public mailbox and soon found that
The self-media team of "Weekly Streamer Highlights" sent an invitation to Peach Garden Village for an interview.
Liu Mengyuan thought about it, replied to the email, and then called the Candy sisters over.
"There will be a video interview with a self-media tomorrow. You will represent the operations负责人 of Peach Garden Live to answer questions."
"Eh?"
The Candy sisters exclaimed in unison in panic.
They themselves serve as the operations director of the live streaming platform, which feels a bit like being forced onto the shelf by Lu Yu. If the other party asks some professional questions in the industry, and they can't answer them, wouldn't they be embarrassing the company?
The most ⊥new⊥small⊥say⊥in⊥six⊥9⊥⊥book⊥⊥bar⊥⊥first⊥send!
Liu Mengyuan seemed to see the other party's nervousness and unease, and smiled to comfort them:
"It's okay, didn't you work as a streamer for two years before? Just answer according to your own experience."
……
The next night, the column team's official D station account released a video, the content of which was this exclusive interview.
The self-media reporter on the opposite side, worthy of being immersed in the live streaming industry for many years, was quite sharp with the questions that came up:
"You announced the poster of the live streaming platform on Weibo before, but in the domestic live streaming industry, only Douyu and Leopard Tooth divide the world, and all the small manufacturers that followed suit have had all their projects rejected. Compared with the two giants, what unique advantages does your platform have?"
The eldest sister Cotton Candy tilted her head and thought for a while, and tentatively replied:
"To talk about our advantages, it is that the members of our team are very loving, and we have no revenue pressure.
When the project was launched, our boss told us that this live streaming platform is just for fun..."
The reporter rolled his eyes, what kind of advantage is this, doesn't this further illustrate that your boss is a fool who has no project management ability?
The reporter asked again: "In your opinion, if Peach Garden Village will have virtual idols in the future, will she have any characteristics?"
"Of course!"
As someone who just watched the technical demonstration demo internally, the second sister Lollipop showed her little tiger teeth, and her little head nodded like a high-end one.
"Features, definitely features! I guarantee you this, and it's the kind of color that you can't hold back after seeing it!"
The reporter was directly silenced.
The features you said and the features I said don't seem to be the same thing...
The reporter continued to ask patiently: "I heard that Candy Heart's virtual image was designed by a two-dimensional illustrator from the island country. Who is your virtual idol designer?"
The screen switched to the third sister Lollipop. The third sister tilted her small head like Nya Pass, staring with harmless big eyes, thinking for a long time, and then her stomach grumbled:
"Isn't it over yet, should... should we have lunch?"
So, this interview ended in an unusually awkward atmosphere.
This interview video was uploaded to the Internet by the self-media official without a second cut.
The comment area was overjoyed:
"Are you sure this is the level that the operations director should have?"
"I always feel that these three reveal a clear and pure idiot temperament..."
"And why are there three operations directors at the same time? The boss of this company is so casual."
"Damn, I'm starting to worry about the future of Peach Garden Village's live streaming business, can they really do it?"
"Damn, the highest decision-makers of the team are so abstract, then the style of the entire team is simply unimaginable, can this really compete head-on with Liu Group?"
"Cough, the only good news is that Peach Garden Village's idols will be very lustful, which is as stable as ever."
Shenzhen City, the top floor of a high-end apartment.
Gummy Candy, who had just finished showering, was wearing a facial mask and had her hair up.
She was eating fruit from a fruit platter while watching the live recording of Leopard Tooth's press conference from earlier.
When the video played to the scene of Gummy Candy's appearance, the barrage began to frantically spam:
"Wife!!!"
"Gummy Candy, let me be your sugar daddy, Gummy Candy!"
"Wife's leopard print is so hot today!"
Watching it, Gummy Candy frowned and closed the video.
Tch, these otakus are disgusting!
But in order to earn money, she has to wear leopard print to please these deadbeats.
So annoying!
Gummy Candy curled her lips and swiped down on the video a few times listlessly, quickly sliding to this week's "Weekly Highlights of Streamers" interview.
When she saw the Candy trio appear on the screen, Gummy Candy's pupils suddenly dilated.
When she discovered that they were the operations directors of the Peach Blossom Paradise streaming platform, the shock in her heart was beyond words!
She subconsciously murmured:
"These... these three naturally ditzy little dopes actually made it to this level?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she fell into a brief reverie.
Three years ago, the Candy trio and Gummy Candy were all trainees in the 101st class of the idol training camp [Sweetness Girls].
All the girls in this class of trainees had the character "Candy" in their stage names.
Even now, she still remembers the unremarkable, passerby-like aura of the Candy trio when she first met them.
There were even rumors in the training camp at the time that the three sisters' idol dreams were not supported by their families and that they had secretly signed up as trainees without their families' knowledge.
During the Sweetness Girls 101 period, they received strict training together, practiced singing and dancing in the same dance studio, and even had the same choreography teacher.
The talent agency they signed with had them do some small variety show appearances in order to promote them. Gummy Candy vaguely remembers that the three sisters' performances in the shows at the time were quite bewildering and abstract.
Unlike the main members of the group, Gummy Candy and the Candy trio were background fillers from the start. The center position in the main songs' music videos was always occupied by those high-popularity prospects heavily promoted by the company, while their appearances in each music video did not exceed 10 seconds.
From the moment they signed with the talent agency, fringe idols like Gummy Candy and the Candy trio could only receive the most basic salary for a considerable period of time. Many appearances not only didn't pay them, but they might even have to pay out of their own pockets.
Unable to endure the talent agency's exploitation, many fringe idols had conflicts with the agency.
As the incidents escalated, Sweetness Girls 101 could no longer return to its former glory, and the members went their separate ways.
Although Gummy Candy was a flop during her idol days, she was skilled at livestreaming and creating humorous content, which revitalized her career.
She had heard that the Candy trio were also short video bloggers on Douyin, focusing on travel content, but their performance was terrible, so she didn't take it seriously.
Unexpectedly, now both sides have become high-level executives of streaming platforms.
Of course, Gummy Candy's complex feelings upon seeing the Candy trio also stem from another reason.
During their time as idol trainees, Gummy Candy and the Candy trio were close friends who talked about everything, because Gummy Candy had also had a big fight with her parents before running away from home to become an idol.
In the training camp, they once lived in the same dormitory and jointly resisted the talent agency's overbearing contract, but after that, something happened that made it impossible for their relationship to return to what it once was...
She recalled the past events with these three sisters.