Nintendo's Press Conference
Sony's people have vanished without a trace, as cunning as a pack of wolves that disappear into the shadows as soon as they've succeeded.
A quick-thinking reporter slapped his thigh and yelled, "Go to the Nintendo booth! Go ask them!"
What does it feel like to have your wife stolen in public and then forced to have a child with someone?
Those words were a wake-up call!
A large number of reporters and analysts, carrying cameras and recorders, flooded into the Nintendo booth in the North Hall.
The Nintendo booth, which had been relatively orderly, was instantly surrounded by a huge crowd.
The flashes of light came like machine gun fire, illuminating the faces of several young booth staff members until they were pale and could barely open their eyes.
"Did Nintendo have any information about the content of Sony's Nintendo conference?"
"Has PlayStation's compatibility feature been authorized by Nintendo?"
Does this mean that the partnership between Nintendo and Sony has broken down?
Problems came crashing down on us like cannonballs.
The staff were clearly well-trained; despite their nervousness in the face of such a large crowd, they remained tight-lipped, repeatedly bowing and saying the same thing, "No comment. Please wait for our official press conference this afternoon for all information."
This standard answer clearly fails to satisfy the media wolves who have already sniffed out a major news story of the century.
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the crowd was separated.
Minoru Arakawa, president of Nintendo of America, walked over unhurriedly, surrounded by a group of senior executives.
He even had a faint smile on his face, as if he hadn't just gone next door to watch a business betrayal, but rather enjoyed an amusing farce.
"Mr. Arakawa!" The Wall Street Journal reporter was the first to rush forward, practically shoving his recorder into Minoru Arakawa's face. "Sony claims that PlayStation is licensed by Nintendo and is compatible with all SNES cartridges! Isn't this blatant betrayal?!"
Everyone fell silent, staring intently at Minoru Arakawa, awaiting his reaction.
Was it rage? Shock? Or helplessness?
However, Minoru Arakawa merely glanced at the recording pen that was almost touching his nose, and instead of being angry, asked with interest, "Sir, your tie is crooked."
The reporter was stunned.
The entire audience was stunned.
Minoru Arakawa calmly raised his hand to straighten the reporter's tie before slowly speaking. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the room. "Authorization? Of course it's real. It's written in black and white in the contract. Sony is a reputable company; they wouldn't lie about something like this."
"Boom!" The crowd erupted again.
They admitted it? Nintendo actually admitted it themselves?!
Just when the reporters thought they had grasped the core issue and were about to press for more information, Minoru Arakawa suddenly changed the subject.
"As for other questions—" He raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and said calmly, "It's 11:30 a. m. Two and a half hours later, at 2 p. m., in the same place, on the main stage, it will be Nintendo conference. Please stay tuned."
He looked around at the faces filled with shock, confusion, and fervor, and his smile deepened.
"My personal suggestion is that you all go and grab a good spot now. After all, Chicago might be a bit crowded this afternoon."
After saying that, he ignored everyone else, took his men, turned around and left, leaving behind a calm and unhurried figure.
The media representatives looked at each other, their pens hovering in mid-air, speechless for a long time.
What's this?
Not only were they not angry, but they acted as if nothing had happened, even having the leisure to tease the reporters and conveniently ruin their own press conference?
This calm and collected demeanor is more unsettling than a fit of rage!
"Damn it—" the Wall Street Journal reporter muttered, touching his straightened tie, "This guy—it seems like he knew all along?"
The moment this thought crossed the minds of all the reporters, a chill ran down their spines.
Without further hesitation, they rushed back to the main stage like madmen.
That's right, we have to grab a good spot!
Sony's betrayal was certainly shocking news, but Nintendo's reaction as the victim revealed an eerie composure.
Everyone had a strong premonition.
This afternoon, what will unfold on the CES stage is not a Q&A session about a business dispute, but a real war!
2 PM, main stage.
With only a few minutes to go before Nintendo's press conference was scheduled to begin, the venue was already packed, with even the aisles filled with reporters carrying cameras and analysts craning their necks to get a better look.
The entire venue was like a scalding pressure cooker, with everyone anxiously waiting for the final pressure relief valve to be opened.
Minoru Arakawa's calm and collected statement this morning not only failed to quell the situation, but instead poured a whole barrel of gasoline on this already raging fire.
Everyone understands that Sony's press conference was just the prelude; now, the main event is about to begin.
The lights dimmed, and the entire venue fell silent instantly.
Minoru Arakawa walked onto the stage unhurriedly. He didn't even go directly to the podium, but stood at the edge of the stage, his gaze sweeping over the tense and expectant faces below the stage.
"Good afternoon, everyone." He began, his voice carrying a peculiar calmness that resonated throughout the hall through the speakers. "I know you all had a very information-intensive morning."
A low chuckle rippled through the audience, interspersed with the clicks of camera shutters.
"Sony is a good friend of ours. They are very creative and also have a great sense of humor," Minoru Arakawa continued, his expression unreadable. "They presented us with a truly outstanding product, and even thoughtfully considered compatibility issues for our existing users. On behalf of Nintendo, I express my gratitude."
These words were spoken flawlessly, yet all the seasoned veterans present sensed something was amiss.
grateful?
Doesn't this sound like praising the deceased for being in good health during their lifetime at a funeral?
Minoru Arakawa didn't give them much time to ponder; he walked behind the podium and pressed the remote control.
"Of course, as a response to our friends, Nintendo has also prepared a small gift."
The large screen behind him lit up, and an image of a console peripheral with the words "SNES-CD" printed on it, which looked completely different from the Sony PlayStation, was clearly presented to everyone.
The audience reacted with expressions of "I knew it," but more than anything, they showed confusion and disappointment.
That's it? Sony has already built a 32-bit next-generation console that's compatible with all your cartridges, and you're going to come up with a CD peripheral that's been leaked eight hundred times already?
Many astute journalists are already convinced that Nintendo is about to admit defeat. After all, the contract loophole was a foolish mistake they made themselves, and what can they do now but swallow their pride and bear it?