Preemptive Strike

Once the decision to name the handheld console "GAMEPOCKET" was made, Sega began operating like a war machine, as efficiently as an army.

The orders were broken down and assigned to each position, and everyone started working like cogs in a machine.

On the production line, brand-new molds, radiating heat, are quickly assembled into place.

"GAMEPOCKET".

This word, along with Sega's logo, will be permanently and deeply imprinted on every machine with a different dazzling exterior as it leaves the factory with each heavy stamping.

The printing press machines roared all night long.

The strong smell of ink permeated the humid air, like the unique smell of gunpowder on the eve of war.

Mountains of packaging boxes and instruction manuals merge with the handheld consoles at the end of the assembly line, then are quickly boxed, sealed, and secretly shipped to Sega's secret warehouses in Japan and even North America, which are already prepared.

Late March.

A massive marketing storm swept across Japan without warning, just as the oppressive atmosphere of "self-restraint" had not yet completely dissipated.

Tokyo, Shibuya.

At the busiest intersection, a huge, colorful banner suddenly hangs down from the top of a skyscraper.

There were no words or explanations on the banner.

Only countless GAMEPOCKETs of various colors, pieced together to form a dazzling pattern, forcefully assault the eyes of every passerby in the most blatant way.

During prime time on television, a mere fifteen-second clip of GG (Goblin) began to be played on a viral loop.

There were no noisy product presentations.

The game lacks flashy graphics.

There are only one rapidly edited scene after another of life:

A well-dressed office worker, looking exhausted, pulled a black GamePocket from his suit pocket on a crowded tram, which was packed like sardines.

A student in a school uniform, on the rooftop during lunch break, facing the gentle breeze, took a sky-blue game console out of his backpack.

POCKET.

A young couple sat on a park bench, heads close together, each holding a pink and white game console.

POCKET.

A data cable with a short red string tied to it connects the two machines, as if it also connects their hearts.

At the end of GG, the screen suddenly went dark.

A line of simple white text slowly appeared, accompanied by a deep and magnetic narration.

"Your pocket is another world."

The news of Game of Thrones' upcoming release on GamePocket quickly reached Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto.

Nintendo's top executives were all sitting in the conference room.

The television screen was frozen on that highly provocative GG phrase.

The head of the Marketing Department was covered in cold sweat; he had just finished playing a GG video that had been urgently recorded in Tokyo.

"It's happening again!"

An executive's voice was filled with suppressed anger as he slammed his fist heavily on the mahogany conference table, making a dull thud!

"The release of the MD was a surprise attack without warning! And this 'game pocket' thing just popped up out of nowhere! What are our intelligence agencies doing?!"

"Calm down! Don't panic!" another person tried to remain calm, but his slightly trembling voice betrayed his inner fear. "What does a fancy exterior prove? Our Game Boy has superior battery life, we have the most popular tennis and mahjong games..."

We still have Mario! The game is the core! They didn't dare show a single screenshot of the game; they're clearly guilty! They're just trying to disrupt us by forcing a release!"

"But they've already beaten us to it! Now, when kids talk about handheld consoles, the first thing that comes to mind is Sega's games."

POCKET! We can't sit idly by any longer!

Arguments rose and fell, and the entire conference room was in complete chaos, like a pot of boiling water.

In the main seat, Yamauchi Haku remained silent.

His sharp, eagle-like eyes were fixed on the television screen, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Two consecutive years of passivity, especially the collapse of the third-party exclusive alliance established under the FC royalty system, made this industry emperor feel unprecedented offense and challenge.

He slowly turned his head and turned his gaze to the head of the Development Department 1, Yokoi Gunpei.

"Yokoi-san, what's your opinion?"

Yokoi Gunpei adjusted his glasses, his expression the only one in the room who remained relatively calm.

"President, the design of the Game Boy has already been finalized, and the production line is already running at full speed. It's too late to change anything now."

"Moreover, our Game Boy has been in development for nearly three years, with chip development alone taking more than a year. No matter how strong Sega's R&D capabilities are, they cannot defy objective laws."

"The Mega Drive has only been out for a year. What they can make in this year is unlikely to surpass the Game Boy's level."

"The fact that their GG (Girl's Game Boy) retails for 12,700 Japanese yen also proves the level of their hardware configuration."

He pursed his lips, looked at the colorful game consoles on TV, and muttered something in a voice only he could hear.

"It's so flashy, it's practically visual pollution."

After listening to Yokoi Gunpei's explanation, the executives breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At this moment, Shigeru Miyamoto, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

He didn't look at anyone present, but stared intently at the moment the office worker pulled out his handheld console on the GG screen, as if he were studying a work of art.

"President, everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a needle, instantly piercing the noisy din in the conference room.

All eyes turned to him.

"I'm not worried about its shell."

"Sega's Game of Thrones didn't advertise any games or performance features."

They are promoting a "scenario."

"A way of life."

"They are telling all players that such a machine should exist in your lives. They are guiding players to aspire to such a lifestyle."

This naturally connects this scenario with their handheld console.

"This is also what the Marketing Department mentioned earlier: the handheld console is closely linked to the brand's image."

Shigeru Miyamoto's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of all the senior executives.

They finally realized that this opponent was no easier to deal with than MD, who had dominated the entire Akihabara sky last year.

Finally, Yamauchi Haku spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable and absolute authority that instantly suppressed all the noise in the conference room.

"A cheap, attention-grabbing Circus Charlie act."

He snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt that ran deep in his bones.

"The louder they shout, the more they reveal their cowardice. Trying to disrupt Nintendo's rhythm with these underhanded tactics?"

Yamauchi Haku slowly stood up, surveyed the entire room, his gaze like a cold blade, scraping across the faces of every subordinate who had bowed their heads.

"Give the order!"

"GAMEBOY's production plan remains unchanged!"

"Keep the factory running non-stop! The machines can't stop! Work in three shifts!"

"Let them heat up the market. Let them whet everyone's appetite."

"Have the Public Relations Department and Marketing Department closely follow them, engage in close combat, and launch a joint campaign for Game Boy. Disrupt their preconceived notions."

A cold and cruel smile curved the corners of Yamauchi Haku, as if he could already see the blood-soaked battlefield ending months later.

"When everyone is eagerly awaiting it."

"Let's be fair and square again, with absolute quality, with a great game, our GAMEBOY."

"Go and take everything from them."