Unlike the pent-up gloom over at Nintendo, or Hudson's desperate resolve to burn its boats, Sega headquarters was brimming with an irrepressible excitement.
"Did you hear? Over in Akihabara, the line in front of the Fatal Fury cabinets is almost reaching the next block!"
"Akihabara? That's nothing! My cousin's in Osaka, and he said the arcade owners there nearly got down on their knees to the buyers just to get a few more of our machines!"
In the corridors, employees gathered in twos and threes, their lowered voices full of animated, beaming discussion.
The aftershock of the national Fatal Fury tournament had yet to fade, and the market frenzy and brand effect it had stirred up had lifted the spirits of the entire company. Many people practically had wind in their steps when they walked.
The conference room on the top floor.
The rich aroma of high-grade coffee filled the air, but the relaxed smiles on the attendees' faces were even more invigorating than caffeine.
Nakayama Hayao swept his gaze over the room. Everyone looked utterly renewed.
He gave a slight nod.
"It seems the success of Fatal Fury has given everyone no small amount of encouragement."
Suzuki, the head of the Marketing Department, cleared his throat. Today, he had deliberately chosen a brightly colored tie, and even the edges of the report pages in his hand seemed to curl slightly with excitement.
"President, colleagues!"
"The success of Fatal Fury not only proves that our product direction was correct, it is also the best reward for our insistence on a premium strategy!"
He opened the report.
"For last month's arcade cabinet orders, we originally estimated that one additional round would already be the limit."
"And the result? Three rounds! Three full rounds!"
Suzuki's voice rose unconsciously, carrying a hint of