The Green "Godfather of Gangster Games"
"What about the plot?" Takuya pushed the proposal back. "No matter how good the visuals are, the soul of an RPG lies in its story."
"You don't need to worry about that." Rieko Kodama confidently raised her chin and put the heavy document back into her bag. "I've been working on the script outline for half a year. This time, the theme is 'choice and continuation,' spanning the grudges and entanglements of several generations."
Takuya smiled and nodded, then said seriously, "Now that the plan is finalized, let's get started. The development machines for the new mainframe won't arrive for a while, so you can use the high-spec PCs to work on the materials first. Once the hardware team has set up the development environment, I want to see the first working demo."
"No problem," Rieko Kodama replied.
Takuya put down the proposal document that read "Phantasy Star III," without even bothering to draw a circle on it with the red pen.
In Sega, a company full of stereotypical straight men, it's truly remarkable to find a female producer like Rieko Kodama who possesses both technical expertise and aesthetic sense.
At this point, to offer unsolicited advice would be not only superfluous but also foolish.
"You've completely built this team." Nakayama Takuya handed the proposal back, his tone relaxed.
This is not just polite talk.
From the stunning debut of Phantasy Star II to the steady progress of the Golden Sun trilogy, and then to the Chrono Trigger project, which was hailed as the "RPG Dream Team," this team has long since shed a layer of skin and gained a steel-like backbone.
The development team, originally consisting of several dozen people, not only did not lose its fighting power by constantly absorbing new members, but instead developed an astonishing level of synergy.
Rieko Kodama took the documents but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she stepped aside to let the young man who had been standing behind her pass.
"Executive Director, for this ' Phantasy Star III ' project, I'd like to let Nagoshi take the lead in both the script and direction." She patted the young man on the shoulder. "This kid is a graduate of the Tokyo Zokei University's film department. I noticed during the ' Chrono Trigger ' project that his control over camera language and narrative pacing is far superior to ours."
Takuya looked up, and the sunlight fell on the young man named Toshihiro Nagoshi.
At this time, Nagoshi was not the "Father of Yakuza" from his previous life, who was tanned dark, covered in gold chains, and looked more like a yakuza boss than a producer.
He was wearing a slightly ill-fitting, cheap suit, his hair was a bit messy, and his face had the sallow complexion typical of someone who worked long hours. When the big boss stared at him, he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.
"A top student from the film department?" Takuya tapped his fingers lightly on the table, asking with great interest.
"Yes—yes, Executive Director." Toshihiro Nagoshi straightened his back, his voice slightly tense with nervousness.
"If Kodama says you're good, then you must be really capable. She's known for her sharp eye." Takuya smiled, leaning back in his chair. "This time, Phantasy Star III is your graduation exam. Put all the skills you learned in the film department to good use in the game."
Rieko Kodama chimed in at the opportune moment. "If he can withstand the pressure this time, I'd like to apply for Nagoshi to lead the team independently after the project concludes. Sega's current RPG product line is still too thin; we need a second or even a third RPG development team that can stand on its own."
"Granted."
Takuya answered without hesitation, so quickly that Toshihiro Nagoshi was momentarily stunned.
"Nagoshi," Takuya stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of the young man.
He was slightly taller than Nagoshi, and this imposing presence made the other person instinctively hold their breath.
"Sega doesn't lack coders, it lacks storytellers. Kodama wants you to go solo, and I happen to be short-handed." Takuya reached out to straighten Nagoshi's slightly crooked tie, his movements like an older brother, but his tone was an unquestionable command. "Make this project look good, don't embarrass your team leader. On the day of the celebration party, I'll personally approve your budget for the new project. At that time, don't just say RPG, if you want to do something more 'exciting,' I'll go crazy with you."
Toshihiro Nagoshi suddenly raised his head, and something called ambition was instantly ignited in his previously somewhat timid eyes.
"Yes! I will not fail you!"
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Takuya stroked his chin. Right now, Nagoshi is still a goody-two-shoes who only knows how to make RPGs; who would have thought he'd one day create a hardcore game Yakuza, where you can steal bicycles and smash people in the streets?
However, the contrast of letting the future "Godfather of gangster games" level up in a fantasy RPG first is quite interesting.
After seeing Rieko Kodama off, Nakayama Takuya have time to drink some water before the office door was pushed open again.
There were quite a few people coming in this time, and the leader was a young man with a buzz cut and bright eyes - Tetsuya Mizuguchi.
This group of people are the elite under Yu Suzuki's command, and also the core team that created <VR Racing>.
"Sit down." Takuya gestured to the sofa, casually pouring the long-cold tea into the trash can. "Didn't Suzuki- san assign you any tasks?"
"Our boss hasn't been back to the development team for three days." Tetsuya Mizuguchi sat down with a wry smile. "He said that if the Model 2's polygon processing capabilities don't meet his expectations, the skin texture of the characters in <Virtua Fighter 2> won't look right. Right now, half the development team is focused on the prototype of this new circuit board, and we racing enthusiasts have become the 'idle' ones."
Takuya understood the meaning behind his words.
Yu Suzuki was the technical icon of Sega's arcade machine team; working under him was both an honor and a pressure.
Especially when this expert is fully immersed in fighting games, the racing team could easily become nothing more than a mere technical support role if they don't find their own way out.
"Nobody can create something as groundbreaking as VR Racing." Takuya leaned back in his chair, observing the group of young people eager to prove themselves.
"While <VR Racing 2> is a safe choice—as long as we increase the polygon count, the visuals will definitely be stunning," Tetsuya Mizuguchi, rubbing his hands together nervously, but with a stubborn glint in his eyes. "But that's Suzuki's work. He's a genius. If we follow in his footsteps, we'll only ever be shadows. Now that you've given us autonomy, we brothers want to create something—something of our own."
Takuya laughed upon hearing this and casually tossed a cigarette to the other person.
These young people in the tech field are all ambitious.
"It's good that you don't want to be a shadow. It's comfortable for those who plant trees to provide shade, but it always lacks a sense of accomplishment." Takuya lit his lighter, watching the flame flicker. "If you don't want to race on Formula One tracks, what's in your heads? Mud-splattered rally races? Or street racing under neon lights?"