Hidden Move
The promotion of PCEngine has just started, but the Nintendo empire's counterattack has already set off huge waves.
Under the iron fist of Yamauchi Hiroshi, an invisible pressure quickly enveloped the entire Japan gaming industry.
The atmosphere in the offices of major third-party game developers suddenly became tense.
In the name of assisting development and ensuring quality, Nintendo has dispatched "specialists" to almost all third parties that have signed royalty agreements.
It's called assistance, but it's actually monitoring.
These specialists are like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of each development team, always reminding them who is the rule maker.
For a time, the industry was filled with complaints, but they dared not speak out.
In the market, information about FC's game release plans for the second half of the year and even next year are emerging like snowflakes, overwhelming.
This is not only a way for Nintendo to show off its muscles and stabilize its military morale, but also objectively temporarily dilutes some of the burning eyes on PCEngine.
Within Sega Headquarters, Managing Director's Office.
Nakayama Takuya tapped his fingertips on the desktop, listening to Masao Suzuki report on the latest industry trends.
There was a meaningful arc at the corner of his mouth.
"Yamauchi Hiroshi's move may seem tough, but it's actually digging its own grave."
Takuya's eyes are sharp, as if he can penetrate layers of fog and gain insight into people's hearts.
"The greater the pressure, the stronger the rebound."
"Those manufacturers who are already dissatisfied with the terms of Nintendo will only become more dissatisfied."
He looked at Masao Suzuki, his tone was calm but with unquestionable instructions.
"I'm going to ask the board of directors for instructions to see if we can have eyeliners placed in each company to appropriately "amplify" the friction between those specialists and the development team. There is no need to take the initiative to stir up trouble, but if you say something inadvertently when the time is right, you may get unexpected results. The most important thing is not to expose yourself."
"I want those cracks to grow bigger and bigger without even realizing it."
Masao Suzuki felt a chill in his heart and nodded in agreement subconsciously.
Soon, Takuya's suggestion was approved by the board of directors, and Public Relations Department immediately took action intensively.
At the Konami headquarters, the air was so heavy it could almost squeeze out water. The blinds in the conference room were tightly closed, leaving only a depressing dimness in the room.
The young producer Hideo Kojima, with sweat dripping from his forehead, is feeling unprecedented pressure at this moment.
The game <Metal Gear> on the MSX2 computer platform, which he has devoted countless efforts to, is facing severe scrutiny from Nintendo Commissioner Kazuo Okada. Kazuo Okada, a frustrated and marginalized character in the internal power struggle of Nintendo, now vents all his anger on this non-FC platform game, as if he wants to pour out all his unsatisfactory results.
"Stealth? What kind of unfashionable gameplay is this?" Kazuo Okada tapped his knuckles on the table with a snarky tone, pointing at the design document of <Metal Gear>, without concealing his contempt. "Children only play hide-and-seek. What adults want is a straightforward technical confrontation!"
He flipped through the document and sneered, "The plot text is so long and complicated, who has the patience to read it? And these operations, with so many button presses, are they meant to make players' fingers knotted?"
"It must be modified!" Kazuo Okada's tone suddenly rose, "Everything must be greatly simplified based on the possibility of being transplanted to the FC platform in the future! The success of FC relies on simplicity and clarity, and anyone who gets a controller can get started immediately!"
Hideo Kojima The young face turned red instantly. He clenched his fists and slowly released them.
"Mr. Okada, the core charm of <Metal Gear> lies in its unique stealth experience and profound plot!" He tried to keep his voice steady.
"This is determined by the characteristics of the MSX2 platform. We are pursuing an experience that is different from FC! The player base of MSX2 is also more mature and they can accept more complex content."
Kazuo Okada let out a sneer, leaned back on the chair, crossed his arms, and looked down at Kojima.
"I am the representative of Nintendo." He pointed at the briefcase with the Nintendo logo that he brought on the table. "FC's standards are the industry's standards. If I say no, it just won't work! Don't Konami want to continue to launch best-selling games on FC?" There was an unabashed threat in these words.
In the office, some middle-level cadres of Konami also began to whisper.
"Mr. Okada is right, FC's successful experience is worth learning from." A person agreed with a smile on his face.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Kojima is still too young and has unrealistic ideas. Our games ultimately depend on sales." Another one also agreed.
At this time, a middle-aged technician who had been silent in the corner and was responsible for connecting external hardware pushed up his glasses and spoke slowly, "Mr. Okada is far-sighted. However, after all, the functions of MSX2 are different from FC. If the simplified ideas of FC are completely copied, Will it lose the characteristics of the MSX2 user base? I heard that some hardcore players like to challenge complex operations and in-depth plots." He said this impartially, as if he was just stating the facts, and also seemed to be trying to save Kojima.
This technician is one of Sega's spies installed in Konami. He knows when to "accidentally say something".
Kazuo Okada frowned, obviously not liking anyone questioning it, even in such a tactful way. He glanced at the technician, and couldn't figure out what to do for the moment. He just snorted coldly, "Humph, can the preferences of niche players be compared with the mass market? Does Konami want sales, or the so-called "features"? He said the word "features" very strongly, with a long ending, and the meaning is self-evident.
Hideo Kojima listened to the technician's words, his eyes moved slightly. He did not argue anymore, but his tight lips showed his inner unyielding. The atmosphere in the conference room was even weirder. Kazuo Okada's toughness made everyone at Konami look at each other, but the seemingly neutral "reminder" added an extra weight to the already wavering thoughts of some people in the conference room.
Kazuo Okada looked at the silent Kojima, thinking that he had given in, and cleared his throat with satisfaction. "Anyway, I will see the revised plan next week. The meeting is adjourned!"
Everyone left one after another, and Hideo Kojima was the last one to walk out of the conference room. He looked back at the closed door, as if he saw the work he had devoted his efforts to being roughly dismembered by invisible hands. He took a breath, and when he raised his head again, his eyes were no longer as dim as before.
Conflicts were reported layer by layer, and finally ended up on the desk of President Kozuki Kagemasa.
Kozuki Kagemasa frowned, he was well aware of Nintendo's strength.
He called Nintendo and tried to communicate with Nintendo, hoping to mediate the matter.
However, the person Nintendo sent to handle the matter was actually Yokoi Gunpei, who had a respected position in the industry.
Yokoi Gunpei obviously disdains such "small frictions" within third-party companies, has a rather arrogant attitude, and even dislikes games on non-FC platforms.
In the end, although Kazuo Okada was transferred, Hideo Kojima was forced to submit a review to Kozuki Kagemasa and apologized to Yokoi Gunpei for "confronting" Commissioner Nintendo.