Nakayama Takuya rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the bustling streets below.
"This is the barrier of a platform," Nakayama Takuya said. "3DO treated hardware as a one-hammer deal. Its failure was inevitable. Sega has to learn from that. Jupiter isn't just a game console. It has to become a network terminal that connects players. Only by settling players' social relationships inside our ecosystem can we stand undefeated in the competition to come."
Hisao Oguchi wrote down the key points.
Nakayama Takuya turned around. "Sega can't afford to take the development of network functions for the next-generation console lightly. The PC market is expanding faster than we expected. If Sega can't provide an online experience on consoles comparable to PC, those players who've grown used to online socializing will abandon us sooner or later."
"Understood." Hisao Oguchi nodded.
The aftershocks triggered by 3DO's exit sparked widespread discussion within the industry, but among players, it was only a trivial interlude.
To ordinary players, who sat at the card table did not matter. What mattered was who could provide fun games.
Late September.
Tokyo's sky was high, clear, and bright, and there was already a distinct chill of autumn in the wind.
Sega Headquarters building, Managing Director's Office.
The air conditioner steadily pumped out cold air, stirring a thick stack of documents at the corner of the desk.
Several finely bound institutional introduction brochures lay spread across the broad solid-wood desk.
Their covers were printed with the logos of various securities firms and investment banks.
Today's theme was very clear.
The plan to acquire Sotsu had passed unanimously at the board meeting.
Some directors even said that even without Director Hoshino's financial gains in Southeast Asia, the acquisition of Sotsu itself was an excellent deal.
With the strategic