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Chapter 159: Handheld Development
Fresh from handling Sunrise matters, Takuya Nakayama hadn’t even sipped water when his desk’s intercom buzzed urgently. It was the hardware department—Minister Nakamura’s voice crackled with barely contained excitement. The long-awaited Z80-compatible chip’s first engineering sample had succeeded.Takuya’s spirits lifted. Dropping his papers, he strode to the hardware department. Nakamura greeted him, pride radiating as he carefully extracted a fingernail-sized black chip from an anti-static box, holding it like a rare gem. “Nakaya...
Chapter 158: Visiting Sunrise
Days after his dinner with Director Takahashi and Yutaka Suzuki, Takuya Nakayama stood outside Bandai’s office building. Officially, he was there to check on a joint Sega-Bandai game project’s progress. The meeting dragged on, tedious as expected, with technicians debating minor details. Takuya sat at the head, smiling, offering few comments.As it ended and attendees dispersed, Takuya stopped Bandai’s project lead, Koji Yokoi. “Yokoi-san, great work.”“No, Executive Nakayama, you’re the one working hard,” Yokoi replied respectful...
Chapter 157: New Game Ideas
Monday, 3 PM, Sega’s development department conference room. The long table was lined with key figures from development and marketing. Masao Suzuki sat ready, notebook open, pen in hand, expression serious. Development team leads were present—some fidgeting, others staring blankly at the table’s grain.Takuya Nakayama entered, his usual smile breaking the silence. “No need to be so formal, everyone.” He took the main seat, scanning the room. “Before today’s agenda, let’s sync on your project progress.”The reports began. Leads f...
Chapter 156: Supporting Third Parties
After meeting with the arcade faction, Takuya Nakayama dove back into his hectic schedule.Days later, his assistant knocked on his office door. “Executive, here’s the preliminary sales feedback for *The Revenge of Shinobi* and *Ace Attorney*.”Takuya looked up from a stack of papers, gesturing for her to continue.“*The Revenge of Shinobi* met expectations, selling 80,000 units in its first week. Players love it, calling it a must-play MD action game. Many magazines hail it as MD’s best action title.” The assistant’s tone brimmed wi...
Chapter 155: The Arcade Faction’s Challenge
After the board meeting, Takuya Nakayama returned to his office, barely setting down his notes when a knock came. To his surprise, it was Yutaka Suzuki—not the marketing head Masao Suzuki, but Sega’s arcade tech genius. Rarely seen outside his circuit boards or graphics lab, Suzuki’s visit to the executive office was a first.“Executive Nakayama,” Suzuki greeted stiffly, unaccustomed to formalities.“Suzuki-san, come in,” Takuya said warmly, rising. “No need for ceremony between us.”Suzuki nodded but stayed standing, cutting to ...
Chapter 154: New Authority, New Strategy
The Mega Drive’s near-two-million first-month sales were a shot of adrenaline, electrifying every corner of Sega. Employees moved with a spring in their step, laughter lacing their chatter, buoyed by visions of a brighter future. Takuya Nakayama’s name echoed through these triumphs, his reputation soaring to new heights within the company.Days later, Sega’s top-floor boardroom, the seat of its highest authority, hosted the first board meeting since MD’s launch. President Hayao Nakayama sat at the head, his weathered eyes scanning the di...
Chapter 153: First-Month Sales
Leaving the development department, Takuya Nakayama was in high spirits. Hideo Kojima’s unleashed creative drive reassured him—once freed, its energy was staggering.Back in his office, his assistant had tea ready and a file waiting. “Executive, here’s the first-month sales report,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with subtle excitement.Takuya sipped his tea, leisurely picking up the report. He opened it, eyes scanning the numbers.Japan: 1,215,700 units.North America: 498,300 units.Europe: 221,400 units.Global total: 1,935,400 un...
Chapter 152: *Metal Gear* Reborn from the Ashes
Leaving the *Phantasy Star* team, Takuya Nakayama headed straight to another section of Sega’s headquarters, where Hideo Kojima’s *Metal Gear* development team was based.Takuya recalled last year’s Konami release. After Kojima left, Konami salvaged his abandoned project, but the result was unrecognizable. The stealth game once called *Metal Gear* was gutted into a generic action shooter, its story reduced to a shallow revenge tale, retitled *Metal Armed* for a rushed FC launch.Sales were mediocre—decent but lackluster for Konami’s FC ...
Chapter 151: The Troubled Birth of *Phantasy Star*
Fresh off *Final Fantasy*’s victory party, Takuya Nakayama left the celebration behind, striding through Sega’s headquarters toward the *Phantasy Star* development team’s room.Pushing open the door, he was hit by a stale mix of instant coffee and stifled silence. No bustling energy—screens flickered with green code, but keyboard clacks were sparse, hesitant, often followed by long pauses. One developer repeatedly deleted fresh lines.Takuya’s gaze swept the room, settling on a slumped figure in the corner. Yuji Naka, hands buried in me...
Chapter 150: *Final Fantasy* Launches
One month after the Mega Drive’s release, its first true RPG masterpiece, *Final Fantasy*, hit retail shelves—a critical battle to boost MD’s install base.The outcome exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts.In its first week, fueled by Sega and Square’s relentless pre-launch hype, nearly every early MD adopter grabbed *Final Fantasy*. Initial sales were strong, as expected by Sega’s marketing team.The real explosion came a week later. As players cleared or dove deep into the game, a tidal wave of word-of-mouth surged from the comm...
Chapter 149: *SD Gundam G Generation* Development Plan
Sega Headquarters.*Super Robot Wars*, first-week sales: 210,000 units. *Puyo Puyo*, first-week sales: 220,000 units. The latest sales report sat on Takuya’s desk. He nodded calmly, no trace of surprise. “Noted. PR, keep an eye out—Square’s *Final Fantasy* launches next month. Ensure promo resources are ready.”“Yes, sir!” His subordinate left, inwardly grumbling. *Two games projected to break 500,000 units each, and he’s unfazed, as expected.*Takuya gathered his materials and drove to Bandai’s headquarters. This time, the recep...
Chapter 148: *Puyo Puyo*, Catalyst for Connection
Monday, Kenshi sat in his office, mind still on *Super Robot Wars* strategies. His paperwork flipped page after page, but he saw only Perfect Gundam’s glory. *Should I rent *Aura Battler Dunbine* tapes to rewatch? Maybe catch a hidden plot.*“You guys saw the *Puyo Puyo* ad? Those critters are so cute!” “Totally! My sister got it last weekend—lots of mini-games, up to four players!” “Koko, what’d you think? Wanna try it at my place?”Female coworkers’ chatter broke through Kenshi’s robot reverie. He looked up, catching Koko...
Chapter 147: New Discoveries in *Super Robot Wars*
Akihabara’s electronics district.Kenshi, fresh off beating *Space Harrier* yesterday, dragged his buddy Tatsuya to Akihabara for new MD games. His eyes locked onto a shop’s poster, pupils reflecting giant robots bursting off the page.“Tatsuya, look! Getter Robo and Mazinger Z—in the same game!”The poster showed steel titans from different worlds side by side, set against a burning city and shattered stars—a dream no robot-anime kid could resist. Kenshi’s mind raced with impossible scenarios. “How’ll they interact? Team up or f...
Chapter 146: Relentless New Game Offensive
Kyoto, Nintendo headquarters.The president’s office, usually cold, held a rare warmth. Hiroshi Yamauchi leaned back, sales report in hand, a faint smile on his lips. Before him, marketing heads sat upright, their faces beaming.“*Super Mario Bros. 3* is gaining steam,” a sales manager reported. “Since week two, our sales curve’s climbing, closing the gap with Sega’s *Pokémon Park* fast. By next week at latest, we’ll overtake them.”Another added, “Sega’s MD launch hype is fading; players’ novelty is wearing off. Mario’s b...
Chapter 145: *Mewtwo Strikes Back* Teaser
“Where’s this? The control room?”In a dim room, a figure faced away from the player, oppressive BGM swelling. As he turned, revealing a face iconic from the anime, kids gasped in front of their TVs. “It’s Giovanni! Viridian Gym’s leader!”The sudden boss battle shifted the game’s tone. Giovanni’s cold glare and intense music spiked kids’ pulses. “How’s it him?!”Gone was the carefree Pokémon Park. Machamp, Rhydon, and Kingler—terrifying in the anime—were relentless in-game. Rhydon shrugged off Pikachu’s shocks; Ma...
Chapter 144: Nintendo’s Reaction
Takuya Nakayama’s handheld project proposal passed unanimously at the board meeting. No surprise—MD’s unstoppable sales fueled Sega’s soaring morale. No one would reject a project poised to open a new battlefield, especially after *Tetris*’ handheld version proved the market’s potential.Post-meeting, Takuya returned to his office, where marketing’s Masao Suzuki awaited with a brief. “Check this—Kyoto’s latest move.”Takuya scanned the document, eyes locking on the headline: February 20, Nintendo’s *Super Mario Bros. 3* fi...
Chapter 143: Third-Party Recruitment Progress
Back from Bandai, Takuya added their name to the reserved spot on the launch command room’s whiteboard.Teams returned to headquarters, reporting third-party negotiation results. “Executive Nakayama, here’s the summary,” a sharp subordinate placed a file on Takuya’s desk. “As expected, the most enthusiastic are small-to-mid PC game developers.”His tone carried excitement. “Our terms are a godsend. Unlike Nintendo’s full upfront cartridge orders and risk burden, our approach spares them that agony. Small studio heads are practic...
Chapter 142: Securing Bandai
Takuya’s gaze shifted to the development head, a knowing smile on his face. “Minister, I recall our *Super Robot Wars* collaboration was quite pleasant. Light workload, hefty profits, right?”The development head’s mouth twitched, silent. Light workload? It was practically fill-in-the-blank, but the profits were undeniably sweet.“What’s the next step?” Makoto Yamashina asked. “Can Sega support Bandai in developing new games to boost our skills and expand MD’s lineup?”“I have a two-step plan,” Takuya mused, raising two fin...
Chapter 141: Return to Bandai
Takuya returned from Yokohama to Tokyo, stepping into the MD launch command room where a wave of coffee, sweat, and exhilaration hit him. The whiteboard’s dazzling figures no longer held focus—everyone craved new victories.The head of Development Team 1, a scruffy tech enthusiast, was gleefully arm-around the sales manager, waving a fax. “Told you Fujita’s my best mate from college! We built software together, made some cash, and he used family money to start a company!”“Fujita? Which Fujita?” a marketing staffer asked.“NCS’s ...
Chapter 140: EA Joins and Bandai’s Dilemma
Across the Pacific, San Mateo, California. Trip Hawkins, EA’s founder and CEO, exuding Silicon Valley swagger, welcomed Sega’s American chairman, David Rosen, into his office. “David, congrats.” Hawkins gestured to a fax on his desk—North America’s first-week sales report. “250,000 units. Impressive.”Beside the report sat a half-disassembled Genesis console, chips and circuits neatly arranged like an unfinished surgery. Rosen glanced at it, unfazed. “Looks like you’ve done our quality check.”“Habit,” Hawkins leaned bac...
Chapter 139: Winning Over Konami and Koei
Monday, Konami’s headquarters, in a meeting room overlooking Osaka’s industrial district. Kagemasa Kozuki, ever the genial host, poured tea for Hayao Nakayama with the same practiced grace as when he hosted Takuya, as if nothing had changed.“President Nakayama, congratulations. The MD’s launch was earth-shattering, truly eye-opening,” Kozuki said, pushing the teacup forward, his tone ambiguous between sincerity and courtesy.Hayao left the tea untouched. From his briefcase, he produced a slim document, placing it beside the exquisite A...
Chapter 138: First-Week Sales
Monday morning after Valentine’s Day, the MD launch command room buzzed. The sales manager, dark circles under his eyes, clutched a stack of fresh faxed reports. Standing before the whiteboard, he stared at Saturday’s bold “>” symbol of victory, lips moving silently.All eyes were on him. “Speak!” the marketing lead urged.The manager’s face twisted with joy and disbelief. His marker squeaked harshly as he wrote: “Valentine’s Day! *Super Mario Bros. 3*, Tokyo sales—68,300 units!”A hush, then low chuckles erupted. “And us?...
Chapter 137: Valentine’s Day Offensive Continues
At 11 p.m., Sega’s headquarters blazed with light. The sales manager, the same man who nearly fainted watching unsold stock pile up in the crowded plaza, clutched a freshly printed report, hands trembling—not from fear, but exhilaration.Clearing his throat to steady his voice, he still sounded off-key: “Everyone! Final numbers are in!”The office fell silent, all eyes on his paper.“Japan-wide, first-day sales—over 100,000 units!”Cheers and whistles erupted, nearly lifting the ceiling. Desks were pounded, colleagues embraced. The ma...
Chapter 136: The Pokédex 151 at the Launch Site
Hayao Nakayama exchanged glances with his executives, finally settling on Takuya, signaling him to proceed. Takuya smiled cryptically. “No rush, Father. Today’s Tokyo sales will speak for themselves.”As he spoke, the plaza’s clock tower struck 11, its hands aligning.Onstage, Pokémon mascots, fresh from a warm-up act, waddled off, waving clumsily. The host, brimming with energy, seized the microphone, his voice booming across the plaza: “Good morning, everyone! Check your wristbands—each has an ‘MD’ code and six digits. That’s...
Chapter 135: Mega Drive Launch Day
On the TV screen, Shigeru Miyamoto bowed deeply, flashbulbs weaving a blinding glare across his face. Takuya Nakayama exhaled, his breath forming mist in the cold air. Sweat soaked his shirt collar.Thankfully, Hiroshi Yamauchi’s impatience led to *Dragon Quest III*’s weekday launch. What could have been a crushing dual masterpiece attack became Nintendo’s PR disaster, giving Sega breathing room. Without this misstep, Sega’s *Pokémon* ace might have faced a brutal 1,000-enemy, 800-self-inflicted-damage outcome.Nintendo’s vanguard falt...
Chapter 134: The Dragon Quest Uproar
Shigeru Miyamoto, clutching Sega’s Mega Drive demo reports, knocked on the president’s office door. Hiroshi Yamauchi calmly skimmed the final report. Unlike his prior outbursts, his stillness was chilling.He leaned back, sinking into his massive leather chair. “Our small tricks can’t keep up with their pace,” he said softly, tightening every executive’s nerves.His gaze landed on Maeda’s reclaimed “Tokyo propaganda vacuum” report. Without scolding, he tapped it lightly. “Conventional warfare is meaningless now.”Pausing, a g...
Chapter 133: Propaganda Showdown
January 28, 1988, dawn. Tokyo’s sky hung in a hazy, half-awake blue.Nintendo’s marketing team, nursing a slight hangover from their perceived triumphs, braced for another “victorious” workday. To them, Tokyo—the empire’s capital—was drowned in Mario’s promotional tide.But as citizens stepped outside, they found the city transformed overnight.A schoolboy, backpack slung, took his usual shortcut through Yoyogi Park. He froze, gazing upward. A vibrant Butterfree model hung from a tall beech tree, its wings quivering in the morning ...
Chapter 132: The Channel War
With Nintendo and Sega locking their launch dates for February 13, 1988, a ground war over distribution channels, retail, and promotion erupted the moment the announcements dropped. Its intensity stunned onlookers.Nintendo sales rep Mori stood in a cramped game shop, his tailored suit clashing with the cluttered space. The air carried the distinct smell of old cardboard and plastic, walls plastered with fading, curling game posters. This was shopkeeper Takeda’s lifeblood.As a cog in Nintendo’s “Shoshinkai” war machine, Mori’s mission ...
Chapter 131: Pre-Order! Super Mario Bros. 3 vs. Mega Drive
The first workday after the DDR Global Finals, in Kyoto, at Nintendo’s headquarters, Hiroshi Yamauchi sat silently behind his massive black-lacquered desk, staring at the TV screen. It replayed the finals, with the LA brothers hoisting the trophy against a colossal Sega-Sony logo backdrop. The crowd’s feverish roars, even through the screen, radiated searing intensity.The boardroom was grim. The DDR finals’ Olympic-scale spectacle weighed like a boulder on every executive’s chest. Sega and Sony’s combined might—capable of captivatin...
Chapter 130: DDR Global Finals Night
January 1988, Tokyo’s crisp air carried the lingering warmth of New Year festivities.In Akihabara, under neon signs, a peculiar scene unfolded. Groups of blond or brown-skinned foreign youths, cameras slung around their necks, clutched arcade maps. They bypassed Asakusa Temple and the Imperial Palace, diving into smoky, synth-heavy arcades.At the “GIGO” arcade, a DDR machine was mobbed, Dancing Hero by Yoko Oginome blaring at max volume. A tall LA boy in baggy sweats dueled a Japanese high schooler in a black uniform, their sweat-soaked s...
