Ikari Team? Metal Slug Team!

Nakayama Takuya held up three fingers.

"Captain, Mark Rossi, a man with a white headband who specializes in heavy firepower. His fists should feel like they're firing cannonballs."

"Team member, Tama Robin, wears sunglasses, has a frivolous personality, and excels in close combat and throwing techniques."

As Takuya spoke, he mentally sketched out the two iconic figures who would one day devour countless game coins in the arcade. These names were completely unfamiliar to the developers before him, but to Takuya, they were laying the groundwork for a great series that was about to be born.

"There's also a female character," Takuya, looking at Shimizu. "A demolition and assassination expert named Eri Kasamoto."

"Executive Director, what about their moves—" Team Leader Shimizu pressed, feeling his brain struggling to keep up. These three people who appeared out of nowhere, without even a sketch, how were they supposed to design them?

"That's exactly what I wanted to say." Takuya's lips curled into a smile. "Didn't we reserve a set of action designs for the Peregrine Falcons Squad? Give that female soldier's one to Eri Kasamoto first."

Team Leader Shimizu was taken aback. That was the design they had created for the core female character of the Peregrine Falcons Squad: a taciturn descendant of a soldier, with sharp movements and ruthless moves.

"Especially that ultimate move." Takuya made a V-sign in the air with his hand, "He rushes up to the enemy, cleanly draws a giant V-shaped slash across their body, then detonates the energy—clean, swift, and a one-hit kill!"

His description was so vivid that several team members responsible for motion design listened with wide eyes, instantly conjuring up images in their minds.

"That move—that move is practically tailor-made for assassination experts!" one of the team members couldn't help but shout.

"Right?" Takuya snapped his fingers. "Give her that move, she absolutely has to have it! It'll become her signature move!"

Team Leader Shimizu listened with great excitement. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was clearly premeditated!

By seamlessly integrating a pre-existing design into a completely new "parachuted" character, the new character's image was not only perfectly established but also instantly solidified!

"And that move of hers, isn't she good at explosions? You could make Kamen Rider Black RX's 'Kidney Stabbing Sword' into a super finishing move where you insert a detonator into your opponent's waist, and then use the finishing move of the 'Kidney Stabbing Sword' as a tribute while waiting for the detonator to explode. That would be really interesting."

At this point, everyone in the development team wore a "thank you" expression.

The backstory of "That... that executive officer, this Metal Slug Team" - "Team Leader Shimizu's mind raced, trying to keep up with Takuya's wildly imaginative thoughts."

Three new characters, and from another hugely popular game at that—that's no small undertaking.

"Background story?" Takuya waved his hand, as if discarding something unimportant. "Let the 'Children of the Star Ring ' worry about it; they're not main characters anyway. Let them plant some seeds for a sequel to Metal Slug while they're at it."

In a single sentence, he passed the buck to the Creative Department he had personally established.

Upon hearing this, the other group members couldn't help but laugh.

The executive director's passing the buck was all too practiced and natural.

Shimizu breathed a sigh of relief; what he feared most was the executive director throwing over another stack of detailed character profiles, dozens of pages long.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looked at the screen in front of him where the special effects of the ultimate moves were being tested, and proactively reported to his supervisor, "Executive, the basic moves, special techniques, and ultimate moves for all characters have been completed, and we are currently conducting final tests on single-player performance and presentation effects."

"Once this round of testing is complete, we can integrate all the roles and enter the most crucial phase of comprehensive testing and balance adjustments."

Takuya nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on the dazzling flame effects on the screen before turning to Shimizu.

"Make me a special version."

"Special Edition?"

"Yes." Takuya held up a finger, beginning to specify his request, "A demo version where you can only choose the Japan Team."

The format is fixed: the first opponent is the Kyokugenryu Karate Art of Fighting Team), and the second opponent is the Fatal Fury Team.

After these two teams are defeated, the game will be over.

Shimizu was stunned. "Executive Director, you mean... we're going to take it out for off-field testing?"

"Not just field testing." Takuya smirked. "I'm going to take it to United States Chicago the end of May, to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and surprise the world."

CES?!

The moment that word was uttered, the entire Development Group Three erupted in chaos!

That's the world's largest and most prestigious consumer electronics show!

It's the stage that every tech company and game developer dreams of!

"But the executive director, the time is too tight! And won't it be too monotonous to only have two opponents?" Shimizu said anxiously, both excited and worried.

"That's exactly the effect we wanted," Takuya explained confidently. "First, having Kyo Kusanagi, the original protagonist, in the center position announces the birth of a new series. Second, using the teams from Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting as sparring partners tells all veteran players—yes, your favorite stars are here, this is an unprecedented Mew showdown!"

"We're only releasing the Yamaichi to whet everyone's appetite, to make them guess, to discuss, and to eagerly anticipate. Only when the game officially launches will we release all the teams at once, truly igniting the market!"

His words ignited the passion of the entire development team. They could almost picture the stunned expressions on the faces of players and media worldwide when they saw the game at the Chicago exhibition.

What a magnificent sight that would be!

"I understand!" Team Leader Shimizu had no more doubts. He slammed his fist down, his eyes blazing with fury. "We guarantee to complete the mission! Even if we don't sleep, we'll make the perfect version for you!"

"That's the spirit I'm looking for." Takuya patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction, then turned and left Team Three.

As soon as I got back to my office door, my assistant came up to me with a newly printed fax containing the booth layout for CES at the end of May.

"Manager, Mr. Tom Kalinske from the North American Branch just contacted us about an urgent matter concerning our participation in CES, which he needs to discuss with you."

Nakayama Takuya took the still-warm paper, nodded, and pushed open the door to his office.

He sat down behind his large desk, casually put the fax aside, picked up the phone, and dialed the dedicated line across the Pacific Ocean.