Tsujimoto Kenzo crushed the cigarette butt that had nearly burned down to his fingers into the ashtray, a flicker of resolve flashing through his eyes.
"We have to notify the people below." Tsujimoto Kenzo spoke through gritted teeth. "Stop all ineffective promotion for major titles immediately! Push every bit of the budget back until after February. Going to fight Final Fantasy VII for attention right now is nothing but throwing banknotes into the Pacific Ocean!"
Kudo Hiroshi sighed and nodded along. "Hudson will do the same. We'll focus on casual games, go with the current market mood, and avoid its sharp edge."
Kozuki Kagemasa lifted the sake cup in front of him and looked at the wavering reflection inside.
"To be humbled before a divine work like this... we really didn't lose this round unjustly." He gave a self-mocking smile, his tone carrying a trace of resigned relief.
Four wine cups clinked together in midair, letting out a crisp yet helpless sound.
Kyoto, Nintendo Headquarters building, top-floor president's office.
Outside the window, the cold wind howled past the eaves of the ancient capital, but inside the office, the heating was turned up high, even carrying a stifling, dry heat.
Yamauchi Hiroshi leaned back expressionlessly in his broad genuine-leather executive chair, flipping through a thick stack of sales reports in his hand.
Because of his advanced age, the corners of his eyes were piled with sharp wrinkles, but the eyes hidden behind his reading glasses still carried a chilling authority.
The New Year game promotion spearheaded by Sega had just come to an end amid great fanfare.
In this carnival that had swept all of Japan and even North America, Nintendo's first party had not participated at all, and Sony had likewise chosen a deathly silent forbearance.
But the real-time sales