Building a Gaming Empire From Scratch

Chapter 2: Equipment

Only an hour later, Lincoln posted the video on the social media platform "Spiritual Rhinoceros."

NetDragon PR Department staff, from interns to department supervisors, all suddenly received calls and had to return to work overtime.

Numerous netizens who thought he would apologize and back down also clicked on the video.

In the video, dressed in a white shirt, Lincoln sat squarely in front of the camera. Just by his demeanor, he seemed like a sincere and introverted good student.

But that good student was gone.

So his opening words were full of venom: "Some people say I know nothing and yet demean, quotes, 'national technology enterprises,' quotes, their innovative spirit, warning me not to cause trouble if I can't make something better."

"Even though they know shit about technology, they can arrogantly demand others learn refrigeration before judging a refrigerator. This bunch of people either have bad intentions or are just insane."

"But I'm a compassionate person, so to take care of the mentally ill, I'll educate them for free!"

"By the way, I'll also teach NetDragon what real, epoch-making human-computer interaction technology is, so they can at least have some reference next time they talk nonsense at a press conference."

"See you in a week."

Undoubtedly, the online public opinion exploded.

Lincoln was already at the center of the internet whirlpool, and now netizens saw this ungraduated person suddenly arrogantly claiming to make a global leading technological breakthrough—it was as absurd as some pseudoscientific figure suddenly claiming to unify algebra and geometry and promising to reveal the proof process in a week.

No one believed he could actually do it.

The comment section was immediately seized.

"Just a cry for attention, has he gone mad?!"

"I bet he's lost his mind."

"Ten years of research by the world's scientists = I can do it in a week."

"Turing Award winner 2031 locked in! Let's congratulate Lin, in addition to receiving the highest honor in the field of computer science, for being Donghua University's outstanding student /sarcasm!"

"Suggest calling a mental hospital, room and board expenses could be paid for by selling his brain, if anyone wants it."

...

Of course, there were supporters on the internet, but they were few and quickly drowned in the tsunami of abuse.

But whether it was support or insults, Lincoln had no time to pay attention - he was busy eating.

The meal was brought to him by the property management after he demanded they protect his personal safety.

Lincoln ate in front of his computer, enjoying the food and occasionally glancing at his code that improved without stopping. His mood soared with every bite.

This was way better than watching TV while eating.

As he ate, he pondered how far to go this time.

First of all, it would be difficult for artificial intelligence alone to make a shocking effect, as his equipment was so rudimentary and the predecessor didn't have the money for high-end AI devices. The full potential of AI couldn't be demonstrated, and people would have a hard time believing it, thinking it was just high-end simulated intelligence.

Moreover, he was reluctant to publicly disclose AI technology.

So he had to perfect the Brainwave Neural Interaction Device.

NetDragon's press conference presented this device—a large helmet that captured brain waves in which the wearer could control cursor movement. However, the interference made the cursor move slowly and could only perform simple operations.

It could also only receive brain wave signals, convert them to electrical signals, and input them into the computer; not the other way around.

But Lincoln could do it! He had perfected the technology in his mind!

This brain wave signal decoding and translation technology was far more advanced than the current one! It could not only translate brain wave signals into electrical signals for the computer to recognize but also convert electrical signals into neural signals for the brain to recognize!

Just like telepathy, magical effects could be achieved.

At that time, there would be no need for hands; whatever the brain thought, the computer could do.

When playing games and losing, one could no longer blame "clumsy hands" but instead "a clumsy brain"!

If left to develop at the pace of technology, this would be as difficult to achieve as controllable nuclear fusion—requiring "the next 50 years."

But for Lincoln, it was straightforward to implement, as a complete set of brain-recognizable instructions was already in his mind. It was just a matter of getting his hands to work.

Once the AI was fully optimized, he wouldn't even need to do it himself; the AI would do it for him.

His only problem was the lack of money.

He needed to purchase many devices for modification and adjustment. What would otherwise require millions or even tens of millions in research investment, he could accomplish with just a few thousand dollars—it was amazingly cheap!

But the problem was, he didn't even have ten thousand yuan. To be precise: his entire savings was only 7800 yuan.

"What a problem," Lincoln thought, suddenly finding his food unappetizing, "Where do I get the equipment?"

"Buzzzzz―"

Lincoln picked up his vibrating phone and saw a message from the class group, with Edmund jumping up and down.

"Lincoln, do you know what you're doing? You're tarnishing our school's reputation!"

"If you've said something wrong, just admit it honestly, is it that hard? You're stubborn and not afraid of losing face, but other classmates are, they're afraid of saying they're from the same school as you. Delete it quickly, stop embarrassing the school."

Lincoln immediately leaned back in disbelief, what's wrong? Isn't this the jerk who secretly recorded the video and posted it online?

Does he even have the face to set the rhythm here?

Lincoln grabbed his wireless keyboard and connected it to his phone.

There's no choice, you can't spoil such petty people, he must get on the keyboard to enjoy it. The small phone screen affects his performance.

But before he had time to type, he saw a classmate step forward and say, "Edmund, how could you talk like that? Wasn't the video posted by you? The issue started because of you, and you're still making sarcastic comments here?"

That's good, Lincoln nodded in approval, this classmate was on the right track.

Let me make way, the keyboard wizard is coming on stage, be careful of keyboard energy hurting you all.

Lincoln began typing furiously on his keyboard.

"Tarnishing school reputation? Does telling the truth tarnish a school's reputation? Does respecting scientific research and technology tarnish a school's reputation? Does being an honest person tarnish a school's reputation?"

"You're the one tarnishing the school's reputation, aren't you? Speaking ill of people behind their backs, employing cunning tricks against your classmates, submitting to authority and showing no respect for academics! What kind of authority is NetDragon, that you can't even stand upright? Your character is not only poor, your knees are soft too! You're used to being a petty person, aren't you!"

Having probably never seen such firepower, the class group fell silent for a moment as they watched Lincoln's output. Even the class counselor, who had intended to say something, had his fingers hovering over the phone screen, unsure of what to say.

Edmund was clearly furious, "What nonsense! Who has soft knees! Who has spoken ill of people!"

Alas, too naive, Lincoln sighed and shook his head.

But it didn't affect his output.

"Of course, it's you! Edmund! The cause of all these problems, the culprit behind the destruction of class unity, the one who maliciously caused a classmate to be exposed online, and never forgetting to kick them while they're down. You're the rotten applesauce in a pot of good porridge— Edmund."

"You motherfu—" In the dorm, Edmund clenched his phone tightly, teeth grinding in hatred, but didn't know what to retort.

The key to winning an argument is momentum. That's why, with just a few harsh sentences, one can win by sheer volume alone—it's all about momentum.

However, students often have a thinner skin, and fights usually don't escalate to name-calling. They usually resort to passive-aggressive remarks, let alone engaging in phone and keyboard arguments. Lincoln's onslaught could be considered a dimensional strike.

The class counselor, who had seen some situations, quickly snapped out of it and stopped Lincoln. "Alright, don't fight in the class group. Students don't need to worry that the video Lincoln posted will affect the school; it's an exaggeration. Donghua University has been around for a hundred years; its reputation isn't so easily affected."

"Also, Lincoln, since you posted this video, you must have made some technical improvements, right?"

In the counselor's eyes, Lincoln has always been an excellent student. Although brain control technology hasn't made much progress in recent years, scattered small innovations have occurred. It's entirely possible that Lincoln has made some minor optimizations in its application.

Exaggerating doesn't count as a big problem for a young and spirited individual like Lincoln. Encouragement is the main strategy here.

"Yes, I've made a few improvements." They're probably on par with the kind of improvements that turned a caveman's bones thrown into the sky into a spaceship.

"If you need any help, just let me know. I'll help you find the relevant professors if I can't solve the problem myself."

Lincoln hesitated for a moment, "I need some equipment..."

"Leave it to me. I have a responsibility to help Lincoln with this issue. At the very least, I can help with equipment and materials."

Lincoln looked at the message, from Camille Victoria. Goodness.

It does have something to do with her. Not only did her fans push the video to the top of hot searches, but ever since she transferred to double major, Edmund has been infatuated with the girl, but Princess Camille has always been polite and distant with him.

Edmund saw Princess Camille being indifferent to him, but often actively talking to Lincoln, so he's always been at odds with Lincoln.

However, thinking about it, Lincoln couldn't help but smile and replied, "Okay, then I'll trouble Miss Camille, we'll chat privately."

"Ahh!" Edmund roared in fury in his dorm and slammed his phone hard on the floor; the parts scattered everywhere with a "clang."

But that's not Lincoln's problem, Princess Camille is already texting him.

"Lincoln, what equipment do you need? I'll do my best to get it to you quickly."

Lincoln hesitated to ask a stranger for money, so he thought for a moment, then listed the equipment he needed in detail, ranked them by cost-effectiveness, and sent it to Princess Camille.

"I'm not sure about the market prices of these items now, the budget is 7000 dollars, just let someone help you buy them according to the list from top to bottom. Stop when the money runs out, and don't buy the rest of the items."

According to his estimate, 7000 dollars should be barely enough to put together a "homeless version." There's no way he could produce a virtual game straight away to blow everybody's mind, but it should be enough to handle the situation a week from now.

"Wait!" Lincoln suddenly thought, "Why call it the 'homeless version?' This is clearly the 'youth version!'"