SFC's Undercurrents
Nintendo Hardware Development Department.
"Uemura-san, Takeda-san." Ken Kutaragi leaned forward slightly, placing his hands clasped on the conference table.
His gaze shifted back and forth between the two. "NEC's PCEngine has already released a CD-ROM expansion kit, and GG is everywhere. That's Sony's technology. Sega's Yu Suzuki personally led a team to inquire about licensing details."
Are you really not going to consider a CD-ROM?
His tone was somewhat urgent, more like an interrogation.
"Are you still clinging to those pitifully small cartridges? Times have changed."
"Kutaragi, regarding the CD-ROM proposal, we have formally consulted the president twice based on the technical information you provided. As you know, the president makes decisions at his own pace, and we, as his subordinates, can't just camp out at his office door every day, can we?"
Masayuki Uemura shook his head and spread his hands in front of Ken Kutaragi, indicating that he was powerless to help.
Genyo Takeda also spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone sincere. "The president has his concerns. The SFC design is far from being finalized, and everything is still subject to change. We will advise the president again, but please ask Kutaragi to give us some more time."
Ken Kutaragi's lips tightened. He could tell that these two were like two walls coated with lubricant, any pressure would be easily slipped away. He picked up his coffee and drank it all in one gulp, the bottom of the cup making a soft thud on the table.
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you both. Sony has been cooperating with your company for many years, and I personally very much hope to achieve a deeper level of cooperation." He stood up and straightened the hem of his suit jacket.
"Of course, I also hope that Nintendo and your company can continue to cooperate for a long time." Masayuki Uemura also stood up, ready to see him off.
"We'll have to continue troubling Sony's experts with the audio chip compatibility testing." Genyo Takeda, who was standing nearby, also stood up and bowed slightly to Ken Kutaragi, adopting a very humble posture.
Ken Kutaragi puffed out his chest, his face regaining its confident expression. "Don't worry. When it comes to music, whether it's software or hardware, Sony is second to none."
He turned and walked out of the conference room, his back view exuding an undeniable pride.
Masayuki Uemura escorted him all the way to the parking lot, watching the brand-new Mercedes-Benz merge into the traffic before turning back.
As soon as I entered, I saw Genyo Takeda standing by the window, looking in the direction the car had gone.
"How is it?" Genyo Takeda asked without turning his head.
"What's wrong?" Masayuki Uemura returned to his seat and picked up his half-cold coffee.
"Those engineers sent by Sony."
"Oh." Masayuki Uemura shook his head. "Very professional, technically excellent. It's just—they're not very discreet. The head of the audio department reported to me that they keep subtly inquiring about the SFC's graphics processor specifications and CPU architecture, asking questions that go beyond the scope of audio tuning."
Takeyu Genyo turned around, the faint smile on his face vanishing, replaced by undisguised disdain.
"Hmph, a bunch of ungrateful wolves." He sat back on the sofa, sinking into the soft cushions. "Sega has whetted their appetites. After tasting a bit of success in the arcade business, they're thinking of starting their own business."
"That's not quite right," said Masayuki Uemura, sitting down next to Genyo Takeda, picking up his unfinished coffee from their earlier meeting and taking a sip. "After all, we don't yet have concrete evidence."
"Moreover, we still can't do without Sony's help, after all, our own hardware technology level alone..."
We still lack the capability. Removing them too early would severely hinder the development of the SFC. SFC development remains the top priority right now.
"Hmm, Sony shouldn't be that stupid as to leave such a weakness." Genyo Takeda crossed his arms, leaned back on the soft sofa, and stared at the ceiling. "We can't let our guard down. We need to defend against Sony while also completing the development of the Super Famicom as soon as possible. The Mega Drive is on a roll this year, with installations increasing rapidly. By the end of the year, global installations will probably exceed five million units. If we fall too far behind, it will be difficult to catch up."
"I'll keep a close eye on the development progress. Find an opportunity to mention the situation with the president at Sony."
"Yes, leave it to me." Genyo Takeda nodded. "The president will like this story."
The moment the Mercedes-Benz drove out of Nintendo's sight, Ken Kutaragi's confidence vanished.
He loosened his tie and let out a deep breath.
Upon returning to Sony Headquarters, he didn't even wait for his secretary's notification and went straight to push open the door to President Norio Ohga's office.
"President."
Norio Ohga was wearing headphones, listening intently with his eyes closed, and waving a pen in the air with his right hand, seemingly drawing a rhythm.
Hearing the noise, he took off his headphones and smiled slightly. "You're back, Kutaragi- kun. Looks like the tea in Kyoto isn't very good."
"It's more than just bad." Ken Kutaragi slumped into the guest sofa, his posture completely out of place with his sharp suit. "Those two guys, Masayuki Uemura and Genyo Takeda, are like oiled walls. You push them, they slide away, never going head-on."
He mimicked Masayuki Uemura's manner, spreading his hands and imitating his helpless tone. "The president's decisions have their own rhythm; as subordinates, we can't rush him."
He then mimicked Genyo Takeda, bowing slightly, his tone sickeningly sincere. "We will offer our advice again, and we ask Kutaragi to give us some more time."
After imitating for a while, he laughed in exasperation. "Timing and rhythm? I think they just want our audio engineers to work for them long-term!"
Norio Ohga's expression remained unchanged; he simply picked up the water glass from the table and handed it to him. "And what about our engineers? Have they made any progress over there?"
"Don't even mention it." Ken Kutaragi took a big gulp of water. "Takashima in the audio department tried everything. A few days ago, they invited several core programmers from Nintendo to an izakaya and brought out all their best sake."
By the end, they were practically clinging to a pillar, shouting "Fang Sui!" And what did we get in return? All we managed to get out of them was that their Development Department's Friday lunch was a deluxe bento box, better than any other department's. Aside from that, they didn't divulge a single word about the SFC's structure. Those guys are tight-lipped."
Upon hearing this, Norio Ohga burst out laughing. "Isn't this the best intelligence?"
Ken Kutaragi was stunned.
"The more they guard against us, the more it proves their hesitation. They won't do anything to us for the time being." Norio Ohga leaned forward, his fingers interlaced. "They're afraid that if they drive us away, they won't be able to finish the SFC in time. They're also afraid that we'll use the CD-ROM we might adopt to control them. They're even more afraid that we'll join the console war."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling traffic below. "NEC has already paved the way, and Sega has followed suit. Let them test the market. We're not in a hurry."
Ken Kutaragi Norio Ohga's train of thought, and the anxiety in his eyes gradually faded.
"Nintendo is a vast empire, but within that empire, factions abound," Norio Ohga's voice drifted over. "The Super Famicom was spearheaded by Uemura's Second Development Department, so naturally they'd guard their technology like a family heirloom. But what about Yokonami Junpei of the First Development Department? He's been working under Yamauchi Haku for so long, yet he hasn't received the respect he deserves, has he? A company so tightly controlled by a family that started out making Hanafuda cards can't possibly be a monolithic entity."
Ken Kutaragi's eyes lit up, and the corners of his tightly closed mouth turned up again.
"Go find those who feel they've been wronged." Norio Ohga turned around, a knowing smile on his face. "Sometimes, what opens the strongest gates of a fortress isn't a battering ram, but a rusty key from within."
"I understand." Ken Kutaragi stood up, straightening his suit and tie. His earlier fatigue and annoyance vanished, replaced by the excitement of a hunter discovering new prey. "I'll continue to follow up, President."