Cooperation Reached
Inside the meeting room, the rustling sound of papers turning finally stopped.
Ken Kutaragi almost abruptly raised his head, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with an almost obsessive light.
He didn't even look at Takuya, but turned directly to Shigeo Maruyama, his voice suppressed with excitement.
"Mr. Maruyama, Mr. Mitsui, I request... we need to discuss this internally immediately."
This abrupt request instantly heightened the tension in the air.
Shigeo Maruyama frowned almost imperceptibly, but seeing Ken Kutaragi's completely absorbed expression, he finally nodded.
"Alright."
Mitsui Chuta gave Takuya a meaningful look, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, and agreed.
The three Sony members got up and walked to a small conference room next door.
Ken Kutaragi could no longer restrain himself.
"Mr. Maruyama, Mr. Mitsui, this proposal... it's practically a godsend, tailor-made for LD."
His tone was filled with undeniable excitement, and his hands were even trembling slightly, as if he were still holding that hot project in his hands.
"Kutaragi- kun, calm down."
Shigeo Maruyama was initially somewhat displeased with Ken Kutaragi's slightly "out-of-control" agitation, and raised his hand to signal him to calm down.
"I'm sorry, I lost my temper." Ken Kutaragi bowed his head in apology to the two, but then added, "However, this proposal is something Sony absolutely cannot afford to miss!"
"Its understanding and application of the large capacity and high image quality characteristics of LDs is truly appropriate."
"I dare say that only Sony currently possesses the technological reserves to perfectly implement several of these core technical aspects."
"This perfectly aligns with His Morita Morita's consistent emphasis on the strategic direction that 'hardware must be combined with excellent content.'"
After Ken Kutaragi clearly analyzed several key technical points in the proposal, especially those highly related to Sony's proprietary patented technologies, Shigeo Maruyama's cautious gaze was gradually replaced by a sharp glint.
The scales in his heart began to swing violently.
Mitsui Chuta was more direct; he tapped the table and fixed his gaze on Ken Kutaragi.
"Technically speaking, if Sony invests its full resources, how confident are they in realizing the vision outlined in the project?"
Ken Kutaragi did not hesitate.
"As long as Sony is involved, there will be absolutely no technical problems."
"In fact, it could be said that they can't do without Sony."
This statement resonated deeply.
Shigeo Maruyama and Mitsui Chuta exchanged a glance.
In an instant, a consensus was reached.
Sony must win this project.
Shigeo Maruyama pondered for a moment before speaking.
"The preferred option is to try and buy out this project."
"At any cost."
After a brief recess, both sides sat down again.
Director Yoshikawa and Masao Suzuki could clearly sense the change in the aura of the three Sony representatives; it was a sense of overwhelming determination.
With a gentle smile on his face, Mitsui Chuta looked at Takuya, his tone tinged with admiration.
"Takuya- kun, your proposal is absolutely brilliant."
Sony is extremely interested in it.
He paused, then dropped a bombshell.
"We are willing to offer US dollar 20 million to buy out this LD game project and all related rights in one lump sum."
Twenty million US dollar.
This number struck Yoshikawa and Masao Suzuki like a thunderbolt.
Masao Suzuki even clenched his fists unconsciously, his palms sweating.
Director Yoshikawa was also taken aback; this price was astronomical for a game project that hadn't even been launched yet.
Takuya's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
Sony has finally taken the bait.
He exchanged a reassuring glance with Director Yoshikawa beside him, signaling him to calm down.
Then, he met Mitsui Chuta's gaze and calmly shook his head slightly.
"Mr. Chuta, thank you for Sony's kindness."
"But the value of this proposal cannot be measured by twenty million US dollar."
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"Its potential to ignite the LD market, its strategic significance for Sony's hardware promotion, and the enormous commercial benefits it may generate in the future are immeasurable."
"More importantly, Sega also needs this game to demonstrate our strength in new technologies and solidify our position in the industry."
The smile on Mitsui Chuta's face did not fade, but his eyes sharpened a bit.
He clearly anticipated that Takuya wouldn't give in easily.
"Takuya- kun, I understand your ambition."
"However," he changed the subject, gesturing to Ken Kutaragi, "Some technical issues probably can't be solved with enthusiasm alone."
Ken Kutaragi understood. He adjusted his glasses, his tone carrying the meticulousness characteristic of a technician, along with a hint of barely perceptible arrogance.
"Mr. Nakayama, if I may be frank, your proposal regarding real-time reading of ultra-large capacity data, dynamic compression and decompression technology, and seamless interactive experience of high-quality audio and video streaming all heavily rely on Sony's core patents and long-term accumulation in LaserDisc drive technology, signal processing chips, and related audio and video codecs."
"Without Sony's comprehensive technical support, it would be extremely difficult for Sega to complete the project independently and achieve the effects touted in the proposal."
"Even some key interactive experiences may not be perfectly implemented at all."
These words carried an undisguised pressure based on technological barriers.
The implication is that without Sony, the value of this project would be greatly diminished.
The atmosphere in the meeting room became tense once again.
Director Yoshikawa and Masao Suzuki were on tenterhooks once again.
Takuya remained as steady as a mountain, even sporting a faint smile on his face.
"Mr. Kutaragi's technical analysis is very professional."
He first affirmed the other person's statement, then changed the subject, speaking calmly as if discussing the weather.
"If Sony insists on a buyout instead of choosing a mutually beneficial partnership with Sega."
"So, while Sega will face some technical challenges, it's not without other options."
He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and his gaze casually swept over Shigeo Maruyama.
"For example, we could explore in-depth content collaboration with Columbia Records in the United States."
"After all, they possess a vast library of high-quality music and film copyrights, which perfectly aligns with LD Player's entertainment positioning."
Shigeo Maruyama's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.
Sony is actively seeking to acquire Columbia Records, which is no secret among industry leaders.
Takuya put down his teacup and looked at Mitsui Chuta again, his tone still casual.
"On the hardware level, we can also consider having some technical exchanges with Philips."
"After all, Philips is also one of the main promoters of the LD technology standard. They also have considerable experience in certain technical fields, and they seem quite happy to see strong content emerge in the market that can challenge Sony's LD dominance."
Upon hearing this, Mitsui Chuta and Shigeo Maruyama's expressions changed slightly for the first time.
Philips was Sony's direct competitor in the LD standard.
Takuya's casual words undoubtedly hit Sony's Achilles' heel. Although Sega might not dare to approach Philips given Sony's size, approaching Colombia Records would be a tough one. If the game's release boosted Colombia Records' stock price, who knows how much more money they would have to spend next year.
This not only suggests that the project doesn't have to be exclusively Sony's, but also points out that if Sony insists on monopolizing Sony project, it may not only miss a good opportunity, but may even benefit its competitors and disrupt its overall strategic layout in the content and hardware fields.
A suffocating silence fell over the meeting room.
Only the faint "whooshing" sound of the air conditioner vents subtly reminded us of the passage of time.
Mitsui Chuta's deep gaze met Shigeo Maruyama's sharp eyes in mid-air, exchanging a silent message.
After a moment, Mitsui Chuta took a deep breath, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a complex and inscrutable expression, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue, and even more so, resentment.
"It seems we all underestimated Takuya- kun's determination and preparation."
"Then, let's develop it together."
"We need to renegotiate the specific terms."
Despite their reluctance, reason told them that partnering with Sega to bring this LD game, which perfectly aligned with Sony's strategy, to market was the most profitable option for Sony at the moment.
A more difficult and specific negotiation, revolving around the leadership of the project, profit sharing, and the rights and obligations of both parties, is about to begin. But at this moment, the general direction of cooperation has finally been reached, albeit with great difficulty.