An Alert Bandai and Preparations for the Handheld's Major Launch Title
Just as the programmers were working feverishly to develop tools for the new handheld console, Takuya's office phone rang.
The person on the other end of the phone was Mitsui Chuta from Bandai, who said he wanted to meet him that evening.
"Of course, Mitsui- san." Takuya readily agreed, but he knew in his heart that this meal would not be easy.
The location is approximately a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza.
Pushing open the simple wooden door reveals a small space with only a bar counter, capable of accommodating fewer than ten guests.
The air was filled with the aroma of fine wood and vinegared rice, and it was so quiet that only the faintest sounds could be heard.
When Takuya arrived, Mitsui Chuta was already sitting at the bar, chatting quietly with the sushi chef in white about today's fish ingredients, looking as relaxed as if he were the owner of the restaurant.
"I'm sorry, Mitsui- san, I'm late."
"No, I'm early." Mitsui Chuta smiled and waved, gesturing for Takuya to sit in the empty seat next to him.
The two did not immediately get to the point.
The sushi chef seemed to be the referee of this meeting, controlling the pace.
He first warmed sake for the two of them, and then began preparing the first piece of sushi.
The chef's technique was swift and focused; with a pinch and a squeeze, a crystal-clear halibut sushi was placed on the black lacquer plate in front of the two.
Please use it.
The fish was sweet and slightly chewy, and the rice was at the perfect temperature to fit in the mouth.
Sega's recent momentum is truly enviable.
Mitsui Chuta took a sip of sake, his gaze falling on Takuya. "I heard that your Europe branch has also made some progress."
"It's all thanks to the market," Takuya, raising his glass in return. "Sega was just lucky, catching the wave and getting an Olympic Games sponsorship by partnering with EA. Bandai's model business is the real pillar of the industry, especially the Gundam series, which has become a cultural phenomenon. We at Sega want to emulate that, but unfortunately, we can't."
"Haha, Mr. Nakayama is too modest." Mitsui Chuta's laughter was not loud, but it was hearty.
Mutual flattery in business should be kept to a minimum.
Next comes the silent tasting time.
Bamboo shad, ark shell, and small grouper—the sushi chef placed each piece of sushi he had made in front of them in order.
The conversation also shifted from discussing the flavors of sushi to those of richer, more robust flavors.
They chatted about industry gossip and commented on the latest games. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but Takuya could always sense the tension in the air.
When the rich, fatty tuna belly is served, the intense fat melts on the tongue, bringing unparalleled satisfaction.
This was like the calm before the storm, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
Finally, the sushi chef solemnly served two gunkan rolls, with orange-yellow sea urchins piled up like a small mountain, each piece distinct, exuding the fresh sweetness of the ocean.
This is the most premium dish today.
Mitsui Chuta finally put down his wine glass.
He didn't touch the sushi immediately, but glanced at it warily out of the corner of his eye.
"Speaking of which, I've heard some rumors lately."
He spoke casually, as if discussing the weather, "Sega also seems quite interested in Sunrise's shares."
They've arrived.
Takuya picked up the warm banknotes and wiped his hands. Instead of answering the question first, he put the whole sea urchin warship roll into his mouth.
The rich, sweet flavor explodes in your mouth, the sea urchin melts, and it blends perfectly with the slightly sour sushi rice.
He closed his eyes, savoring the exquisite flavor, before picking up his teacup and taking a sip to cleanse his palate.
The whole process was unhurried. Mitsui Chuta just watched him, a smile still on his face, but his eyes were unfathomable.
"It's hardly a secret." Takuya put down his teacup, his voice as calm as if nothing had happened.
"We'll be having a deeper collaboration with Sunrise Animation going forward, and the process of communicating through Bandai each time is a bit cumbersome. Moreover," he looked directly into Mitsui's eyes, "Sega, as a large, independent company, constantly having to go through another company to contact its partners doesn't look good for Sega's image."
He didn't make excuses; instead, he laid out the reasons directly. This was less of an explanation and more of an announcement.
The sushi restaurant was quiet, with only the subtle sounds of the sushi chefs working behind the counter.
Mitsui Chuta's smile remained unchanged. He studied Takuya for a few seconds, then picked up his own sea urchin sushi and slowly put it into his mouth.
"I see." He chewed, nodding, seemingly savoring the sushi, yet also seemingly pondering Takuya's words. "For the sake of convenience in cooperation, this reason is quite valid. Besides, 3% really isn't much."
He seemed to have completely accepted this explanation, and didn't ask another question, as if the pointed question from before had really been just a casual remark.
After that, the two chatted about some trivial industry anecdotes, and the atmosphere returned to its previous harmonious state.
After the meal, the two politely said goodbye at the restaurant entrance.
Thank you for your hospitality tonight.
"No, let's get together again next time."
As Takuya watched Mitsui Chuta get into his car and disappear into the Ginza night, the polite smile on his face slowly faded.
He exhaled a puff of white breath; the cold night air of Tokyo finally relaxed his tense nerves.
He knew that tonight's confrontation was just the beginning.
The day after parting ways with Mitsui Chuta, Nakayama Takuya arrived at Development Group Three, which he knew best.
"Let's put the development of 'My Totoro ' on hold for now." Takuya pushed a brand-new project proposal in front of the team leader of Group Three. "Although the handheld's toolkit isn't finished yet, some aspects of the game development can be started. This is a major launch title for the handheld."
The team leader picked up the document; the cover had several eye-catching words on it: <Pokémon Red /Green>.
"The basic framework will follow the project proposal, and we'll differentiate it into two versions, red and green, based on the proposal's divisions." Takuya tapped his fingers on the table. "The content needs to be richer than any other RPG on the market, including collection, trading, and battles—none of them can be omitted."
The world map also needs to be large enough to be filled with various hidden elements.
The team leader nodded, quickly flipping through the pages, his eyes growing brighter with each reading. But he soon spotted another problem. "Takuya- san, our anime has been airing for almost two years, and the characters of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu are deeply ingrained in people's minds. Shouldn't we create a version featuring them as the main characters?"
"Out, but not quite." Takuya leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He recalled Nintendo from his previous life, which, after releasing the anime, then made a yellow version based on the red/ Green Version. But here at Sega, the anime was broadcast first, and it had been airing for almost two years.
He picked up his coffee. "That's so insincere and shameless."
The team leader was taken aback and didn't follow his train of thought.
"Make it a hidden element," Takuya explained. "A huge Easter egg. Only when players own both the Red and Green versions of the game cartridges, link them together on our handheld console, and progress through the game in a way that best matches the anime's storyline, will they be able to unlock a completely new storyline in the game that aligns with the anime. The protagonist will be Ash Ketchum, and the starting Pokémon will be forcibly changed to that yellow electric mouse. Look at page three of the project proposal; I've written the implementation plan there."
Upon hearing this, the team leader quickly turned to the third page.
After seeing Takuya's special storyline proposal, he suddenly understood and his eyes lit up with excitement.
That's absolutely beautiful.
This approach not only boosts sales of both versions but also provides a huge surprise for core fans, achieving both positive word-of-mouth and commercial success.