The image switched again.
A straw-hatted pixel figure swung a hoe in a field.
Beside him were several cows and a flock of chickens. A fresh, pastoral style.
Harvest Moon. Another new title making its first appearance on Jupiter.
The montage ended, and the lights came up.
Hisao Oguchi stood at center stage and gave a slight bow.
"This is Sega's answer sheet for this year. Thank you all for your time."
No extra nonsense, no dragging industry outlooks through the mud.
The press conference ended cleanly and decisively.
David closed his notebook and let out a long breath.
"These Japanese guys." David slipped his pen into his pocket. "They're holding so many good cards, and they're still playing them this calmly. Sony and Nintendo are going to have a rough time ahead."
Paul stood up and worked his aching neck.
"Let's go, to the press center. The pieces from today are enough to make my editor double my bonus. Especially that pink ball. Tomorrow, it'll definitely be the headline in every major gaming magazine. Nintendo's legal department is probably checking the contracts for loopholes right about now."
In the front-row VIP seats.
Nakayama Takuya stood up and tossed the empty mineral water bottle in his hand into the trash can beside him.
Hisao Oguchi came over from backstage, a fine layer of sweat on his forehead.
"Not bad." Nakayama Takuya patted his shoulder. "You controlled the pace better than during rehearsal. Especially the Ghost in the Shell segment. You explained the commercial logic behind the simultaneous VHS release very thoroughly. The reporters below understood it."
Sega's press conference had just ended, and the audience was given only ten minutes to rest.
Ten minutes later.
The lights on the main stage dimmed.
The big screen lit up with Eni's blue-and-white