Mega Drive Launch Day

On the television screen, Shigeru Miyamoto bowed deeply, the flashes of light on his face creating a blinding white glow.

Nakayama Takuya let out a long breath, and the cold air instantly condensed into white mist.

Cold sweat had soaked the back of his shirt collar.

fortunately.

Fortunately, Yamauchi Haku was so eager that he chose to release Dragon Quest III on a weekday.

What should have been a desperate situation, with two masterpieces attacking from the sidelines, was turned into a public relations disaster by Nintendo itself, giving Sega a chance to breathe.

If it weren't for this, with two masterpieces arriving at the same time, even with Pokémon trump card, Sega would probably have ended up in a dismal situation of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of their own.

Pioneer of the attack suffers a setback, it means that the subsequent offensive will certainly not be able to advance with unstoppable momentum.

More than two years have passed since he transmigrated here, and the memories of his past life have long since become blurred under the flapping of his butterfly wings.

The timing and sequence of events could only be roughly reminded by his own small notebook, which he recorded in a special way.

However, the feeling of lingering fear only lasted for a moment.

Nakayama Takuya quickly banished these distracting thoughts from his mind.

Ultimately, external factors are all intangible.

Having a rich and engaging roster of games at your disposal is the true key to success.

As long as the foundation is solid, and with the help of proven marketing methods from later generations, the results will not be too bad.

He extinguished the last glimmer of hope in his heart and turned to walk towards the battlefield where the clamor was about to arrive.

On the last night before the release, Nakayama Takuya once again walked the streets of Akihabara.

He was like the most discerning director, scrutinizing every scene he set up.

From the angle at which the giant inflatable models are suspended on both sides of the rooftops Chuo-dori Street, to the size and clarity of the lettering on every sign.

From the emergency response plans of the on-site staff to the security arrangements along Akihabara and around the Shinobazu Pond Open-Air Plaza.

He checked it over and over again to make sure everything was perfect.

After a period of intense preparation and review, February 13th finally arrived.

The cold wind of the early morning rushed into his collar. He took a deep breath, his chest filled with icy air, a mixture of tension and excitement.

Ultimately, all the emotions settled into absolute confidence in his crazy "brainstorming" idea.

On the south bank of Shinobazu Pond, on the observation deck of a luxury hotel, Nakayama Hayao and other Sega executives were already in place.

His expression remained as composed as ever, like a rock sculpture.

Only those sharp eyes, through the telescope, were fixed on the crowds gathering below and the enormous, faintly visible silhouettes above the streets of Akihabara.

Deep within those eyes lay a hint of expectation that even he himself was unaware of.

Nakayama Takuya jogged all the way to the observation deck.

He stood beside his father, and the two looked at each other without saying a word.

All the pressure and all the expectations were quietly conveyed in this silent collision.

8:00 AM.

Like a floodgate bursting open, crowds surged out of every exit of Akihabara Station.

When they looked up and saw the unprecedentedly magnificent sight stretching from the Akihabara Station West Exit Plaza all the way to the Electric Town, and then extending along the buildings on both sides of Chuo-dori, the air in the entire street seemed to freeze for a second.

Immediately following was a gasp of amazement that pierced the sky.

Giant Bulbasaur, Charizard, Blastoise —those bizarre creatures that had just "invaded" Tokyo a few days ago—are now surveying the entire street in a striking manner.

From Bulbasaur on No. 1 to Dragonite on number 149.

These enormous inflatable models, arranged in the order of the illustrations, form a two-kilometer-long Mew corridor leading to an unknown paradise.

The crowd, heads held high, followed the view above them, as if drawn by an invisible force, unconsciously surging in the same direction.

Countless people raised their cameras and frantically pressed the shutter button, snapping photos of the sky. Excited chatter filled the air.

The giant poster for Super Mario Bros. 3 on the roadside wall is still bright and vibrant.

Some shops have set up Mario demo areas, and a few players stop by.

However, all the limelight was completely stolen by the "Pokémon Avenue" that stretched across the sky.

Many players who originally came with a clear goal of seeing Mario were captivated by this irresistible curiosity and found themselves drawn to the dragon-like procession.

On the observation deck, Nakayama Takuya witnessed this scene, and the huge weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted halfway.

10:00 AM.

Shinobazu Pond Open-Air Plaza.

As the vanguard of the crowd turned from Chuo-dori into Shinobazu-dori and reached the end, they were greeted by a stage in the style of "Pokémon Land".

The stage was surrounded by cosplayers dressed as characters from various well -Sega known Sega games, and even the sales clerks were dressed in elaborate cosplay costumes.

In the central stage area of the square, several actors dressed in clumsy mascot costumes were performing a play without any dialogue.

A yellow electric mouse, a huge, adorable fat guy, and a silly-looking blue Squirtle.

With just simple onomatopoeia and exaggerated movements, accompanied by upbeat music, they made countless children and young women in the audience laugh uproariously.

Laughter and applause, crisp and pure.

This relaxed and pleasant atmosphere stands in stark contrast to the tense, oppressive, and even violent scenes reported in the "Dragon Quest Commotion" news a few days earlier.

Even people taking a morning stroll in Ueno Park, as well as those along the Shinobazu Pond, are drawn to the unique scenery and lively atmosphere here.

Meanwhile, the demo area on the other side was already packed with people.

A long line of people waited in front of sixty brand-new Mega Drive consoles. Not only were there demos of Pokémon Adventure available, but also other games released in the first wave of the season.

Sega staff patiently guided the players and loudly promoted the upcoming hourly events to those in line.

They kept adding fuel to the fire of this revelry.

The most outrageous section is the console and game purchase area.

The queue stretched across the square and out to the roadside, then extended along the road from where it came from, with no end in sight.

The Mega Drive console bundle, printed with the words "Pokémon Adventure Special Edition," became the most sought-after item in everyone's eyes.

In addition, the exit channels for those trying out and purchasing games were lined with trailers and posters for other games not included in the initial release, further fueling players' anticipation.

Near the perimeter of the square, free hot coffee was provided for players and passersby to ward off the cold, encouraging them to wait for the hourly programs to follow.

Metropolitan Police Department bomb disposal vehicles were parked at both ends of the square.

Nakayama Hayao put down his binoculars, and the fist that had been clenched tightly finally slowly loosened.

A genuine and hearty smile unexpectedly crept onto the corners of his serious mouth.

Less than an hour after it went on sale.

The sales manager at the front line put down the walkie-talkie he had just turned off and rushed up to the observation deck with a look of ecstasy on his face.

"President! Everyone!"

"The first batch of Pikachu limited edition bundles has sold out at all major stores in Akihabara! We've been inundated with calls asking for restocks! Our nearest temporary warehouse is already receiving stock, and we can restock all stores in Akihabara within half an hour!"

"The Pikachu limited edition bundle at the open-air plaza has sold over 1,000 sets, and together with the regular MD, a total of 3,000 units have been sold."

Media reporters, like sharks smelling blood, excitedly weaved through the crowd.

Their cameras faithfully captured this unique and spectacular launch event.

"Dragon Quest Commotion" and "Pokémon Carnival": black and white, repression and joy.

There could be no more dramatic or eye-catching news story.

Just then, a Marketing Department member walked over quickly, his expression somewhat grave.

He handed over a newly compiled intelligence report.

"President, at Nintendo, sales of Super Mario Bros. 3 are also booming."

"While it didn't have the same concentrated spectacle effect as us, Mario's brand appeal, coupled with their ubiquitous distribution channels, still sparked a terrifying buying frenzy in stores across the country."

Intelligence indicates that Nintendo's core customer base remains incredibly stable.

Nakayama Hayao's smile faded slightly as he turned to look at his son.

"Takuya, well done!"

"But it's too early to be happy."

"Yamauchi Hiroshi will not sit idly by and wait to be killed. The real battle has only just begun."

Nakayama Takuya nodded heavily, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"Father, I understand."

He looked at the players in the square, cheering and jumping for joy because they had won the game, and had already planned his next move.

"Our Pokémon has many more surprises yet to be revealed. And Nintendo isn't without its weaknesses either."