The "Corrected" Mobile Suit Gundam 0083
"And, doesn't President Yamashina think it's a pity?" Nakayama Takuya's tone carried a perfectly measured hint of regret. "These games are only mediocre in quality, at best catering to fans of the original work. They're not enough to break into the mainstream," he said. "They can't attract a player who hasn't seen the anime to develop an interest in the original work after playing the game. This is a waste when it comes to deeply exploring the value of the original work."
He looked at Yamashina Makoto with sincere eyes, as if he were heartbroken for the other's loss.
"Constantly releasing reskinned games like this might seem like a good way to make money in the short term, but in the long run, it will only quickly deplete the fans' enthusiasm. Once that enthusiasm is gone, the value of these games will have reached its limit. Please forgive me for saying this, but Sega acquired Sunrise, and they had to consider the long-term value of Sunrise's games."
Every word was like a small hammer, striking precisely at Yamashina Makoto's heart.
He knew better than anyone else about Bandai's current predicament.
"So, I have a suggestion, albeit a tentative one." Takuya finally revealed his true intentions, but his voice was even softer, as if afraid of startling the other person. "Has Bandai considered merging its Game Development Department entirely into Sega?"
Yamashina Makoto's pupils suddenly contracted.
"In this way, all of Sega's latest technologies, most mature engines, and top-notch gameplay ideas can be applied to the excellent titles that Bandai has licensed. This powerful alliance allows us to create truly phenomenal titles that will ignite the market."
Before Yamashina Makoto could process this bombshell news, Takuya took another step forward.
"Ultimately speaking, with the overall economic downturn in Japan over the past two years, Bandai must be under considerable pressure, right?"
These words, like a bolt of lightning, instantly pulled Yamashina Makoto back to that afternoon more than a year ago Mitsui Chuta came knocking with generous gifts, seeking help.
Takuya's face still wore a gentle smile, but his words sent a chill down Yamashina Makoto.
"So why don't we take this collaboration a step further? Sega and Bandai, just merge."
"Merge?" Yamashina Makoto's voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Yes, a merger." Takuya said decisively, "Bandai's strongest competitive advantage is its top-tier toy and peripheral development and production capabilities. After the merger, you can completely shed the businesses you're not good at and focus solely on what you do best."
He raised his glass and pointed to the other side of the hall, where Sunrise Inc. Ito Nobutatsu was chatting and laughing with someone.
"President, look at Sunrise. After being acquired by Sega, aren't they living a more relaxed life? They no longer have to worry about a game's payback period dragging down their cash flow. They can focus wholeheartedly on polishing the script and creating critically acclaimed and commercially successful works like G Fighter Legend and <Cyber Formula>. The longer the lifespan of a work and the more stable its reputation, the higher the final return will be."
"Look at Tamiya again," Takuya's gaze swept around once more, "Last year, almost all of their best-selling 4WD cars were licensed models from 'Future Cyber Formula.' This is the best proof that professionals are doing what they do best, and that everyone can work together to make the market bigger."
He paused, giving Yamashina Makoto a moment to catch his breath, before throwing out a fatal temptation.
"After the merger, Bandai's copyright operations can be integrated with Sega's ' Sega Galaxy ' plan. I guarantee that all future peripheral licenses for all Sega titles, including Sonic and Pokémon, will be exclusively handled by Bandai's division. You, President, know better than I how big this market is."
Yamashina Makoto's breathing suddenly caught in his throat.
This is no longer a collaboration; it's like handing Sega's fortune to Bandai.
"Moreover, Sega has the most professional Investment Department, which can ensure the entire group's healthy cash flow and strong risk resistance." Takuya's tone became meaningful. "Your company's attempts in game hardware a few years ago—the impact they left must have been considerable, right?"
This is reopening Bandai wounds for Bandai.
Every failure by Bandai in the hardware field is like a bleeding wound, constantly draining the company's vitality.
Bandai's erroneous decisions were clearly made blindly and without deep consideration.
Yamashina Makoto fell completely silent.
He found himself powerless to refute.
Nakayama Takuya's blueprint precisely addressed Bandai's pain points at every step, offering a solution that was almost impossible to refuse.
This is an open strategy.
A calculated scheme that uses huge profits and a bright future as bait to lure you in willingly.
Seeing the complex and unfathomable expression on Yamashina Makoto, Nakayama Takuya knew that the time was right.
He stopped pressing forward, instead taking a step back and resuming his relaxed tone.
"Of course, this is just my personal opinion. It concerns the future of both companies, so it's a very important matter. President Yamashina can take his time to consider it and there's no need to rush to answer."
After saying that, he smiled, raised his glass, downed the remaining champagne in one gulp, turned and blended into the crowd, leaving Yamashina Makoto standing there in a daze, speechless for a long time.
After the premiere banquet came to an end, Nakayama Takuya followed the crowd into the theater, ready to watch this work, which was completely different from his previous life.
The theater was brightly lit, and President Ito of Sunrise and Mitsui Chuta of Bandai were by his side, their excitement barely concealed.
"Executive Director Nakayama, the OVA videotapes and LDs have already sold out. This theatrical version will definitely receive an even more enthusiastic response!" President Ito rubbed his hands together, his tone excited.
Mitsui Chuta couldn't stop smiling, "Thanks to you, the GP Series HG Models have been restocked three times already, and the warehouse is almost empty!"
Nakayama Takuya simply smiled and said, "It's the result of everyone's joint efforts." He glanced around the room and asked, feigning curiosity, "Where's Coach Imanishi? Why haven't I seen him on such an important occasion?"
President Ito coughed lightly, gestured with his lip towards an inconspicuous shadowy spot in the corner, and said in a low voice, "It's over there."
Soon, the lights dimmed, the dragon emblem flashed, familiar music began, and on the big screen, <Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Light of Zeon> officially started.
Thanks to the tone set by Nakayama Takuya at the initial planning meeting, the background filled in by the "Space Completion Plan" including comics and novels, and the "correction" of the empty and ridiculous "grand principles" in the script, the logic of the whole story became incredibly solid.
On screen, facing the situation where his test MS was taken away as soon as it arrived at Torrington Base, the newly debuted Kou Uraki was no longer the helpless tester who faced the enemy.
After witnessing his comrades being vaporized by the GP02 nuclear bomb, there was no confusion in his eyes, only overwhelming anger and hatred.