The Media's Progress

David pressed Enter and saved the document.

The value of news lay in contrast.

US$199 was an expected price war, while four discs were a dimensional strike against existing physical media.

On the other side of the room, the photographer was emerging from the makeshift darkroom.

He hung a row of freshly developed negatives on the lightbox.

"Look at this." The photographer pointed at one of the negatives. "A close-up of Nintendo's asymmetrical controller. I found a chance and caught them repairing the controller behind the booth. You can clearly see the joystick's structural design. If we use this image with tomorrow's daily, it'll grab eyes."

The editor-in-chief walked over and picked up a magnifying glass to examine it.

"We'll use this one. Put it beside the Nintendo piece." The editor-in-chief turned to David. "Front page goes to Square. The four-disc edition of Final Fantasy VII has broken industry convention. Players' anxiety over capacity will be completely set off. N64 goes on page two."

David agreed with the arrangement.

He copied the finished article onto a floppy disk and handed it to the layout editor beside him.

There was a knock at the suite door.

Paul pushed the door open and came in.

He was staying at the other end of the same floor, and he had two wrapped sandwiches in his hands.

"Want a late-night snack?" Paul tossed the sandwiches onto the tea table. "Bought them at the restaurant downstairs. Way better than those cold hot dogs last year."

David walked over, picked up a sandwich, and tore open the wrapper.

"You guys on the PC side finished your pieces?" David took a big bite.

Paul chewed his sandwich and pointed at the laptop on David's desk.

"Does it have a phone-line port?" Paul asked.

"It does. What are