Scheming (Part Two)

The air in the study seemed to grow even more stagnant because of Nakayama Hayao's blunt question.

Light spilled from beneath the shade of the green banker's lamp, casting interlaced shadows and brightness across his steady face.

Takuya met his father's probing gaze, and the faint excitement he had shown while laying out that grand strategy settled back down.

His straightened spine did not relax in the slightest.

"Father, no matter how grand a blueprint is, it still has to be realized step by step."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable certainty.

"My personal top priority is to produce, as quickly as possible, a new game proposal that can truly 'ignite the market.'"

He did not pause, but continued.

"This is not fantasy."

"In fact, I've already used this period of time to prepare several relatively complete game proposals."

"These proposals are not merely focused on the present, but fully take into account future technological development, especially in coordination with the 16-bit console strategy I just mentioned."

A trace of surprise flashed through Katsuya's eyes, and the way he looked at his younger brother became even more complicated.

He had not expected that while Takuya was busy with the Tetris project, he had actually been conceiving entirely new proposals in parallel.

Takuya's gaze swept over his father and elder brother.

"These new games are not aimed only at profit."

"More importantly, they must clearly display Sega's technical strength and innovative capability to the market, to players, and even to our opponents."

"We have to break the stereotype that Sega is rigid, hardcore, and single-minded, and build momentum and reputation in advance for the subsequent 16-bit console strategy."

He adjusted his sitting posture slightly, leaning forward a little.

"Isn't the arcade version of Hang-On, led by Mr. Yu Suzuki, about to complete its final debugging soon?"

"That motorcycle racing game using motion-sensing technology is itself an excellent publicity point, proving that Sega's exploration of cutting-edge technological applications has never stopped."

"With my new proposals, I hope to go one step further on that foundation."

After speaking about his own core task, he drew the topic back to the project before them.

"As for Tetris, which is about to be rolled out on a full scale..."

The corners of his mouth curved in a meaningful arc.

"This game, especially the handheld version we have placed great hopes in, the one that can be played 'anytime, anywhere,' will be an excellent 'weapon.'"

"Alongside its strong sales, I plan to strategically release some 'rumors' through certain media channels, or through more hidden, unofficial routes."

Hayao's eyebrow moved almost imperceptibly, signaling him to continue.

"For example, hinting that Sega is secretly developing a next-generation arcade board with performance far beyond the current level."

"Or, for example, revealing that we have several 'epoch-making' new games based on this advanced board already brewing in our hands."

Nakayama Hayao's brow furrowed slightly, as if he were weighing the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach.

Takuya caught his father's expression, but he did not stop. He continued speaking.

"This is a way of 'striking the mountain to shake the tiger.'"

"We have to directly pluck the nerve Nintendo already has stretched taut because of the deadlock in the North America market."

"With President Yamauchi Hiroshi's suspicious nature and extremely strong desire for control, faced with this potential technological threat from a direct competitor, as well as the possible pressure of market opinion, he may well make some kind of response."

Takuya answered his own question, his tone carrying a hint of calculation.

"After all, Nintendo's royalty system controls third-party developers far too heavily: raising the royalty threshold, limiting development numbers, shifting risks, even making moves over cartridge supply. With Yamauchi Hiroshi's desire for control, trying to hold every 'unstable factor' firmly in his hand and consolidate his 'Nintendo Empire,' in his eyes, third parties are no more than slightly more advanced chess pieces."

The air in the study seemed to sharpen because of those words.

"Once Nintendo really does that, once it overreacts, it will be playing right into our hands."

"We can seize that opportunity and use every possible method to magnify the contradictions between Nintendo and its third-party developers, completely setting ablaze those resentments that have been piling up for so long."

"Not only can this create excellent soil for our subsequent strategy of 'driving wedges and dividing them,' it may even attract some developers who have long harbored grievances, or who have strength but have been suppressed, to take the initiative and move closer to us."

After hearing Takuya's detailed plan to use Tetris for a war of public opinion and psychological warfare, Hayao's fingers, which had been lightly tapping the armrest, came to a stop.

In his deep eyes, a rare glimmer of approval flashed, so faint it was hard to detect.

This line of thought—taking the initiative to attack, even carrying a hint of "conspiracy"—was far more clever than simply waiting for market feedback, and it was also more in line with the aggressiveness he hoped to see when dealing with his old rival, Nintendo.

However, after that brief approval, the caution unique to a giant of the business world once again took the lead.

"Using existing resources to build momentum and pluck at the opponent's nerves. Not a bad line of thinking."

Hayao's voice sank, as if the approval from before had never appeared.

"But, Takuya."

His gaze was as sharp as a knife, stabbing straight over.

"The two-player battle version of Tetris that you previously led may have received a decent market response, but in essence, it was still a modification and optimization made on the basis of a work that had already been proven successful."

"That was more of a kind of 'clever trick,' an embellishment on something already splendid."

There was no emotion in his words, yet every syllable weighed a thousand jun.

"Conceiving strategy is one thing, but truly starting from zero and leading the development of a successful original game—especially a large-scale one capable of defining the shape of the market—is an entirely different realm."

"You need an extremely precise judgment of market demand, powerful leadership to integrate and drive the development team, and a clear understanding of and ability to control the countless risks throughout the project's progress."

Hayao leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure spread through the room.

"You're too young, Takuya."

"Inside the company, you lack the seniority and prestige needed to control a large, complex original project."

"Why would those experienced development directors and veteran producers fully trust your judgment and invest enormous resources into realizing those so-called 'era-defining' ideas of yours?"

These words directly pierced the core practical issue—even the most perfect strategic concept ultimately had to come down to "people" and "execution."

The look Katsuya gave his younger brother also showed a trace of worry.

Their father's doubts were not arrows shot without a target; this was indeed Takuya's greatest shortcoming at present.

The study once again fell into silence.

Faced with his father's merciless questioning, however, not the slightest hint of retreat or dejection appeared on Takuya's face.

He calmly met that hawk-falcon-sharp gaze, and in his eyes, instead, there was an undisguised confidence that longed to prove himself.

He knew that empty talk was useless. Only by producing something real and tangible could he dispel his father's misgivings and win true trust and support.

"I understand your concerns, Father."

Takuya's voice was clear and firm, falling in the quiet study like metal striking the floor.

"Discussing warfare on paper always proves shallow in the end. My proposal will answer your doubts."

He paused, his burning gaze turning to Hayao.

"Next week, the company will hold its routine internal development planning seminar. At that time, I will bring a concrete, detailed proposal for an original game and make a formal report to you, as well as to the seniors from the various development departments."

"Please, wait and see."